Increase In Oil Content Research Articles

Transition from a Sponge-Like to a Foam-Like Nanostructure in a Water-Rich L3 Phase: A Confirmation

Early studies on water - n-alkane - ionic surfactant microemulsions provide first hints for the possible existence of a foam-like nanostructure, i.e. a dense packing of polyhedral nanometer-sized water droplets separated by a thin layer of a continuous oil phase. Indeed, we found a foam-like structure in the system water/NaCl - hexyl methacrylate (C6MA) - dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT). We were able to locate an isotropic one-phase channel, the L3 phase, emanating from the pseudo-binary system water/NaCl - AOT at ambient temperature and extending towards lower NaCl content with increasing oil content. We showed in our previous work that already upon addition of small amounts of oil to the L3 phase the conductivities become very low and the viscosities very high. Freeze fracture electron microscopy allowed us to visualize the anticipated foam-like nanostructure. To complement our previous work, we investigated the structural transition in the L3 channel by NMR self-diffusion measurements. The new data unambiguously confirm the existence of a foam-like structure. Based on this confirmation we offer an explanation for the topological transition to a foam-like structure, which one can also consider as a “super-swollen reverse micellar phase” – the first of its kind reported so far.

Influence of biological products on the productivity of high oleic sunflower hybrids

The study's objective was to evaluate the efficacy of biological substances in enhancing the growth, development, and productivity of high-oleic sunflower hybrids, aiming to increase seed yields and improve oil quality. An investigation was carried out in the Mykolaiv region throughout 2021-2023 to assess the efficacy of seven different foliar feeding methods in producing five high-oleic sunflower hybrids. The findings indicated that the application of foliar feeding had a beneficial impact on the measured variables, such as plant height, leaf area, seed count per boll, seed yield, and oil and oleic acid concentration in seeds. In particular, the P64HE133 hybrid demonstrated the highest average yield of 3.89 t/ha, followed by Columbi with 3.69 t/ha, with no statistically significant difference between them. Foliar application of Organic-Balance helped to increase the average seed yield to 3.58 t/ha, exceeding the results of other types of spraying. The use of biological products contributed to an increase in yield by 0.21-0.4 t/ha compared to control, as well as an increase in oil content by 0.6-2.1-5.3%. The overall impact of the combination of hybrid and foliar feeding methods on yield was the largest, amounting to 63.5%, where the impact of hybrid selection was 27.4%, foliar feeding – was 5.4%, and other factors had an impact of 3.7%. The findings suggest that the use of foliar feeding can significantly enhance productivity and enhance the quality attributes of sunflower seeds. The utilisation of these biological substances not only enhances seed production and oil content but also promotes more sustainable and robust plant development. Accordingly, the integration of such methods into agronomic practices can significantly improve crop productivity and increase the economic benefits of growing high-yielding sunflower hybrids

The Influence of Fibres on the Properties and Sustainability of Oil-Impacted Concrete

There are significant environmental and health consequences associated with oil-contaminated sand due to its toxic and persistent nature. The impacts include disrupted ecosystems with harm to plants and animals and contamination of water sources, requiring immediate and sustained remediation. Using oil-contaminated sand in construction addresses waste management and promotes sustainability by reducing waste, protecting the environment, saving energy, and driving innovation. This study investigates the impact of crude oil-contaminated sand on concrete’s physical and mechanical characteristics. It focuses on assessing the impact of incorporating four different fibres (Forta Ferro PP, ReoShore 45 PP, glass, and steel fibres) and finding the optimal quantity (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5%) to improve the physical and mechanical properties of concrete prepared with sand contaminated by crude oil. The impact of crude oil on the bond strength between fibres and concrete was examined. Additionally, the effect of crude oil on heat flow and cumulative heat was analysed. The results demonstrated that increasing oil content decreases concrete density and compressive strength. Nevertheless, the findings indicated that sand contaminated with 10% oil is suitable for low-strength concrete applications. Incorporating 0.1% of Forta Ferro PP, glass, and ReoShore 45 PP fibres had a negligible impact on the mechanical properties of concrete contaminated with 10% oil. Comparatively, steel fibres enhanced the concrete’s compressive strength by 30% at 0.1%, and the flexural strength improved by 9.6% at 0.5%. Concrete with a 10% crude oil content reinforced with steel fibres hinders fracture stabilisation and load transfer, making it suitable as a sustainable material for low-strength civil engineering applications.

High-resolution mapping through whole-genome resequencing identifies two novel QTLs controlling oil content in peanut

Increasing oil content is a key objective in peanut breeding programs. Accurate identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with linked markers for oil content can greatly aid in marker-assisted selection for high-oil breeding. In this study, a high-density bin map was constructed by resequencing a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (ZH16×J11) consisting of 295 lines. The bin map contained 4,212 loci and had a total length of 1,162.3 cM. Ten QTLs for oil content were identified in six linkage groups. Notably, two of these QTLs, qOCB03.1 and qOCB06.1, were consistently detected in a minimum of three environments and explained up to 13.62% of phenotypic variation. They have not been reported in previous studies and thus are novel QTLs. The combination of favorable alleles from the qOCB03.1 and qOCB06 in the RIL population could increase oil content across multiple environments from 1.50 to 2.46%. Two InDel markers linked to qOCB03.1 and qOCB06.1 were developed and validated to be associated with oil content in another RIL population (ZH10×ICG12625) with diverse phenotypes. Additionally, the high-resolution map allowed for the precise positioning of qOCB03.1 and qOCB06.1 within a 1.77 Mb-interval on chromosome B03 and a 1.51 Mb- interval on chromosome B06, respectively. Annotation of genomic variants, analysis of transcriptome sequencing, and evaluation of the allelic effects in 292 peanut varieties revealed two candidate genes associated with oil content for each of the two QTLs. The identification of candidate genes in this study can enable the map-based cloning of key genes controlling oil content in peanut. Furthermore, these novel and stable QTLs and their tightly linked markers are valuable for marker-assisted breeding for increased oil content in peanut.

The effect of trehalose on the contents of starch and oil in microalga Dunaliella parva

Dunaliella parva (D. parva) is a green alga with an extremely salt tolerance, that can synthesize a lot of oil. Its oil composition is similar to that of oil plants. It can accumulate a large amount of oil under stress conditions, making it an ideal raw material for biodiesel production. Previous studies have found that trehalose can inhibit starch synthesis in plants. In this study, D. parva was treated with trehalose at different concentrations (1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM, 5 mM, 10 mM) to explore the suitable trehalose concentration to increase oil content. The results showed that 3 mM trehalose significantly reduced starch content by inhibiting the expression of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) gene and increased oil content. Trehalose also affected the contents of carbohydrate and protein in D. parva. In addition, trehalose treatment increased the proportions of palmitoleic acid, linolenic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, and reduced the proportions of myristic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. This study investigated the effect of trehalose on D. parva, and improved its economic benefits.

Sensory quality of emulsions prepared with the seaweed Ulva spp. or a derived protein ingredient

The sensory quality of seaweed, whether as a whole biomass or as a protein ingredient, plays a crucial role in its successful commercialization. This study explored the effect of different Ulva species, biomass washing, and pH-shift-based protein extraction on the sensory quality of emulsions with 0, 5, and 10 % oil. A trained panel assessed the sensory profile, complemented by analyses of volatile compounds, total ash, and amino acids. Saltiness emerged as the primary distinction between emulsions with unwashed U. linza and U. fenestrata, due to higher ash in the former. Washing U. fenestrata retained sensory qualities despite reduced ash and increased content of the lipid oxidation-marker pentanal. Protein extraction up-concentrated total amino acids 2.9-fold, and yielded emulsions with reduced particle sensation and grassy flavor, while bitterness, sourness, dark color, pentanal, hexanal, and 2-ethylfuran increased. Increased oil content of emulsions lowered their grassy odor which correlated with reduced hexanal content. Overall, these findings can contribute to the development of food products containing seaweed or protein ingredients thereof that match consumer preferences.

Role of biochar addition to improve anaerobic membrane bioreactors to resist oil stress in synthetic food wastewater treatment

This study investigated biochar addition to improve the performance and stability of anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) to resist different oil contents in food wastewater treatment. Results show that an increase in oil content in synthetic food wastewater from 2 to 4 g/L of oleate-Na aggravated AnMBR performance in terms of methane (CH4) production and membrane fouling as showed by an obvious increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP). The reduced performance was caused by the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to inhibit the growth and activity of Methanobacterium in response to increased oil content. Nevertheless, biochar addition improved AnMBR resistance to against oil increase. The dominance of Methanobacterium and their potential mutualism with genus T78 were enhanced by biochar to sustain CH4 yield. Moreover, biochar reduced the production of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) to alleviate membrane fouling.

Studies of Molecular Marker in Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Helianthus annus L., known as sunflower, is belong to Asteraceae family. This family is one of the biggest angiosperm plant families in between dicotyledons and cultivated sunflower is an important oil plant all around the world. Chloroplast DNA analysis reveals that the origin of the genus dates back to 4.75 to 22.7 million years ago. Sunflower seeds contain 18% protein, 15% cellulose, 9% water, 14% minerals and carbohydrates. In general, sunflower seeds contain 35% to 50% oil by weight. The oil content of sunflower had been specified from 36.9% to 50.2%. These features have made sunflower an important plant worldwide. In principle, the breeding of sunflowers aims to improve the oil content and to get a plant resistant to disease. All breeding methods both classical and biotechnological methods try to contribute these aims. With the help of technology DNA markers have provided useful information about polymorphism, genetic relatedness, and diversity. Technology advances in breeding, especially the use of molecular markers, offer new strategies to obtain high-yielding and resistant plants through DNA sequences located at a known location on the chromosome. Sunflower has been a model plant in Asteraceae family in molecular marker studies because of its economic importance. Many molecular marker studies have been conducted against biotic and abiotic stress conditions, increase oil content and nutritional value, and water consumption etc. Considering its economic value, current studies on the plant will shed light on future studies and improvements can be observed in many yield criteria such as water consumption, harvest efficiency, resistance to pests.

Effects of postharvest piling up in bulk on qualities of Camellia oleifera seeds

The study investigated the effects of postharvest piling up in bulk on Camellia oleifera seed qualities, including moisture content, oil content, fatty acid composition, soluble sugar, soluble protein content, acid value, peroxide value, lipase activity, lipoxygenase activity, and mold colony, under varying relative humidity (60%, 80%, 98%) and time durations (1–8 days). Additionally, it examined the impact of piling temperature and diverse postharvest treatments. The results revealed that piling up in bulk promoted the post-ripening of Camellia oleifera seeds, leading to a gradual decrease in seed moisture content while initially increasing oil content before stabilizing. After 2 days of piling, seed oil content increased by 5.65%, 4.40%, and 1.06% under RH conditions of 60%, 80%, and 98%, respectively. However, after 4 days, the oil content declined by 8.36%, 6.06%, and 4.14%, respectively. The proportions of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids declined gradually, while monounsaturated fatty acids increased significantly. The acid value decreased, correlating positively with lipase activity. Mold colonies on seeds increased minimally with piling duration, while those on fruit shells increased sharply by 1–4 logarithmic units after the 4th day. When examining the effect of temperature, higher piling temperatures were found to gradually increase the seed oil content. Based on the order of oil content, the different treatment methods were ranked as follows: piling up in bulk-sun drying > piling up in bulk-drying > shelling-sun drying > direct sun drying > shelling-drying. Therefore, these findings advance our understanding of postharvest piling up in bulk of Camellia oleifera seeds and provide valuable insights for selecting treatment methods and parameters.

Effect of Crude Oil Contamination on Compaction and Consistency of Some Clay Soils from Parts of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Bayelsa state is the southernmost part of the crude oil prolific Niger Delta region of Nigeria where oil exploration and exploitation activities have resulted to the pollution of its land, water, and air. Most parts of the area have experienced crude oil contamination of one form or the other, and the effects on man and the ecosystem are wide ranging. This study has examined the effect of oil contamination on the compaction behaviour of two clay samples obtained at shallow foundation depths in Yenagoa. The two clay samples, A and B are classified according to the unified soil classification system (USCS) as high plasticity inorganic sandy fat clay, and sandy lean clay, respectively. 4, 8, and 12 % crude oil by mass of dry soil were used to mix with the soil samples and left to cure in plastic bags for 48 hours before testing. In sample B, liquid limit (LL) was found to increase by about 9% for all proportions of crude oil while plastic limit (PL) was increased by 13%, 15%, and 27% for 4, 8, and 12 % oil content, respectively. These increase in LL and PL also brought about an increase in plasticity index except for 12% crude oil treatment. However, in all, a low plastic soil was changed to a slightly high plastic one as plotted on the Casagrande chart. The maximum dry density (MDD) of the two samples was also reduced by oil contamination with an increasing oil content exacerbating the reduction of MDD. It is therefore, recommended that care be taken during construction when dealing with clay soils within a potential crude oil contaminated region.

Underutilised palm stearin as hard stock for deep-frying medium and its performance for oil uptake in instant noodles.

As a by-product of the palm oil industry, palm stearin is often overlooked despite having several beneficial properties, such as excellent stability, which is critically essential to meet the demand of the global food trend in producing safer processed food. Specifically, deep frying of food is often associated with the production of toxic compounds that could potentially migrate into the food system when oils are degraded under continuous heating. The incorporation of palm stearin is regarded as a cost-effective and efficient method to modify the fatty acid composition of oils, enhance the frying qualities and lower the degradation rate. This study blended 5% and 10% palm stearin into palm oil to investigate the deep-frying performance and impact on food quality. Increasing the palm stearin content improved the frying oil's oxidative and hydrolytic stability, evidenced by reduction of total polar material, free fatty acid and total oxidation value. Addition of palm stearin increased the slip melting point which improved the oil's oxidative stability but no significant increase in oil content of instant noodles was observed. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy showed the formation of larger pores in the noodle structure that facilitated oil retention. Blending palm stearin into frying oil enhanced the frying stability and minimally affected the oil uptake in instant noodles. This article presents the viability of blending palm stearin into frying oils to develop longer-lasting frying oils. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Fabrication and characterization of W1/O/W2 double emulsions stabilized with Pleurotus geesteranus protein particles via one-step emulsification

In this study, Pleurotus geesteranus protein isolate (PPI) with low solubility in water was fabricated into nanoparticle (PPIP) that can be uniformly dispersed in pH 7.0 aqueous solution using pH cycle method. PPIP with a zeta potential of −19.21 mV had a mean size of 250.53 nm and two main peaks in particle size distribution profile. This was consistent with the TEM results, which existed both as individual particles and as particle aggregates. The main force responsible for maintaining the structure of protein particles was hydrogen bonding. Interestingly, these protein particles were successfully utilized to fabricate W1/O/W2 double emulsions using one-step homogenous emulsification, and the formation and properties of PPIP-stabilized W1/O/W2 double emulsions were significantly influenced by the protein particle concentration, oil content, and salt concentration in W2 continuous phase. Specifically, higher particle concentration and salt concentration caused a reduction in the number of W1/O droplets and the size of oil droplets. Conversely, an increase in oil content increased the number of W1/O droplets primarily due to the augmentation in the size of oil droplets. The gel strength of double emulsions was enhanced with particle concentration and oil content, as this led to the formation of stronger particle networks and droplet networks. While an opposite phenomenon was found in increasing salt concentration in W2 continuous phase, possibly resulting from the disruption of the ordered gel network. These findings not only provide new food-grade emulsifiers for W1/O/W2 double emulsions, but also broaden the application of edible mushroom proteins in food industry.

Biochar Application Reduces Saline–Alkali Stress by Improving Soil Functions and Regulating the Diversity and Abundance of Soil Bacterial Community in Highly Saline–Alkali Paddy Field

Saline–alkali soils seriously restrict the soil functions and the growth and diversity of soil microorganisms. Biochar can alleviate the negative effects of saline–alkali stress. However, it remains unclear how biochar reduces saline–alkali stress by improving soil functions and regulating the abundance and diversity of the soil bacterial community in highly saline–alkali paddy fields. To address this, a paddy field experiment was conducted in a highly saline–alkali paddy field using two nitrogen application levels (0 and 225 kg ha−1) and four biochar application rates (0, 1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5% biochar, w/w). The results show that, compared with C0, biochar application, especially when combined with N fertilizer, significantly decreased the soil pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), saturated paste extract (ECe), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) while significantly increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC). These indicated that biochar can effectively reduce saline–alkali stress. Biochar application significantly increased soil content of total nitrogen (TN), alkali-hydrolysable N (AN), available P (AP), available K (AK), soil organic matter (SOM), and soil C/N ratio, both with or without N fertilization. Furthermore, biochar application further increased the relative abundance of bacterial communities and modified the bacterial community structure in highly saline–alkali paddy soils. Under C3N2, C2N2, and C1N2, Chao1 increased by 10.90%, 10.42%, and 1.60% compared to C0N2. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi were the top three phyla in bacterial abundance. Biochar significantly increased the abundance of Proteobacteria while reducing Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi, regardless of N fertilization. Correlation analysis results showed that the improvements in soil chemical and saline–alkali properties, as well as nutrient bioavailability after biochar application, had a positive effect on bacterial communities in highly saline–alkali paddy soils.

Effects of pyrolysis bio-oil derived from palm kernel shell on modified bitumen properties

Economical and environmental friendly materials that able to replace petroleum based binder has become an urgent demand in road industry. Bio oil from palm oil waste is relatively more economical and has the potential to used as bitumen replacement as bio asphalt. The performance of bio asphalt derived from different source and process to produce bio oils are varies. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of palm kernel shell bio-oil in terms of physical properties, the chemical functional group, and the morphology. The bitumen properties were evaluated by the conventional physical tests, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The palm kernel shell bio-oil was added into the bitumen by weight of bitumen at 0%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% and blended using mechanical stirrer. From the conventional physical test, it was found that bio-oil modified bitumen increased in penetration and ductility with decreased softening point. This indicate that direct addition of bio oil soften the modified bitumen. The change of the functional group in FTIR is significantly influenced by the increasing content of bio-oil. The morphology of the modified bitumen showed inhomogenous surface with noticeable wrinkles as the bio oil content increase. Based on the physicochemical evaluation, 3% bio oil replacement passed all the physical tests requirement with less changes in FTIR result. Therefore, 3% bio oil content is proposed for further tests for direct inclusion of bio oil into bitumen for local road construction utilization.

Effect of Vermicompost Treatment on Oil Quality and Fatty Acid Composition of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

This study examined the impact of vermicompost treatment on the oil quality and fatty acid contents of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in 2020-2021 under the ecological conditions of Osmaniye. The research was designed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Peanut variety NC 7 was used in the study. Vermicompost was applied in nine different doses. In the research oil content, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, iodine value, and O/L ratio were examined. According to the results, it has been found that oil content varies between 48.38% (T9) and 50.43% (T5). The ratio of oleic acid was recorded between 56.90% (T9) and 59.42% (T5) while the ratio of linoleic acid was between 21.15% (T9) and 23.59% (T8). The lowest palmitic acid value (8.87%) was recorded for the T8 treatment whereas the highest palmitic acid value (9.21%) was obtained from the T6 treatment. The lowest O/L ratio (2.42) was obtained from the T8 treatment while the highest O/L ratio (2.77) was obtained from the T4 treatment. The iodine value varied between 85.56% and 90.28% for T9 and T5 applications, respectively. The findings indicate that under the ecological conditions of Osmaniye, soil and leave treatments of vermicompost show a significant increase in oil content, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and iodine values of peanut.

Targeted mutagenesis of BnTTG1 homologues generated yellow-seeded rapeseed with increased oil content and seed germination under abiotic stress

Yellow seed is one desirable trait with great potential to improve seed oil quality and yield. The present study surveys the redundant role of BnTTG1 genes in the proanthocyanidins (PA) biosynthesis, oil content and abiotic stress resistance. Stable yellow seed mutants were generated after mutating BnTTG1 by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Yellow seed phenotype could be obtained only when both functional homologues of BnTTG1 were simultaneously knocked out. Homozygous mutants of BnTTG1 homologues showed decreased thickness and PA accumulation in seed coat. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis indicated that BnTTG1 mutation inhibited the expression of genes involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. Increased seed oil content and alteration of fatty acid (FA) composition were observed in homozygous mutants of BnTTG1 with enriched expression of genes involved in FA biosynthesis pathway. In addition, target mutation of BnTTG1 accelerated seed germination rate under salt and cold stresses. Enhanced seed germination capacity in BnTTG1 mutants was correlated with the change of expression level of ABA responsive genes. Overall, this study elucidated the redundant role of BnTTG1 in regulating seed coat color and established an efficient approach for generating yellow-seeded oilseed rape genetic resources with increase oil content, modified FA composition and resistance to multiple abiotic stresses.

Thermophysical properties of blends composed of Amazonian fats and soybean oil

Thermophysical properties of blends composed of soybean oil and fats obtained from fruits and seeds from Brazilian Amazonian region (Murumuru, Tucuma, and Bacuri) were investigated, looking for more sustainable alternatives to the mostly used industrial fats, for applications in product formulation. Fatty acid (FA) and triacylglycerol composition, nutritional indexes, solid fat content (SFC), compatibility, consistency, melting, and crystallization profiles were determined. Soybean oil increased blends’ unsaturated FA profile, leading to lower SFC, but higher nutritional quality. Fats’ melting profiles were significantly altered with soybean oil addition: temperatures decreased with the increase in oil content. Iso-solids diagrams showed that lipids were compatible, which is a technological advantage. SFC and consistency profiles suggested that tucuma and murumuru fats could be used as hardstocks for lipid products, and bacuri fat could be applied in products such as margarine and spreads. Blends could improve fats’ spreadability and other technological properties, which is promising for applications in products formulation.

Influence of varying oil phase volume fractions on the characteristics of flaxseed-derived diglyceride-based Pickering emulsions stabilized by modified soy protein isolate

This research aimed to create Pickering emulsions using modified soy protein isolate (SPI) as a stabilizer and flaxseed-derived diglyceride (DAG) as an oil phase. The SPI was modified through a process involving both heating and ultrasound treatment. The result indicated that the droplet size of emulsions increased with the increase in oil content (p < 0.05). For instance, the largest droplet size (23 µm) was observed at an oil-to-SPI dispersion ratio of 4:1 ratio (φ = 80), whereas the smallest droplet size (6.39 µm) was noticed at the 1:4 ratio. During the 7-day storage period, the emulsions with a 4:1 ratio (φ = 80) showed the lowest droplet size increase (from 23 µm to 25.58 µm). In contrast, the emulsions with a 1:1 ratio displayed the highest increase (from 19.39 µm to 74.29 µm). Creaming index results revealed that emulsions with a 4:1 ratio (φ = 80) showed no signs of creaming and phase separation than all other treatments (p < 0.05). Backscattering fluctuations (ΔBS) and turbiscan stability index (TSI) showed that emulsions with 4:1, 2:1, and 1:1 oil-to-SPI dispersion ratios had consistent ΔBS curves with higher and TSI curves with lower values. Optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning, and cryo-scanning electron microscopy revealed that emulsions with oil-to-SPI dispersion ratios of 4:1 and 2:1 had well-organized structures with no visible coalescence. Macromorphological and microrheological investigations demonstrated that emulsions with 80% oil content had the highest viscosity, both moduli, elasticity index, macroscopic viscosity index, and the lowest fluidity index and solid–liquid balance values. Moreover, these emulsions were more resistant to centrifugation and storage environments. In conclusion, the study determined that flaxseed-derived DAG-based high internal phase Pickering emulsions (φ = 80) had superior stability, improved viscoelasticity, and better rheological properties.

Emulsion System With Nanoparticles Suitable for High-Temperature, High-Salinity Reservoirs

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 211167, “Selective and Reversible Water-Shutoff Agent Based on Emulsion System With Nanoparticles Suitable for Carbonate Reservoirs at High-Temperature and High-Salinity Conditions,” by Masashi Abe, SPE, Jumpei Furuno, and Satoru Murakami, Nissan Chemical Corporation, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ The complete paper presents the evaluation results of a water-shutoff (WSO) agent based on an emulsion-type chemical material with nanoparticles. The WSO agent, which the authors call an emulsion system with nanoparticles (ESN), has several advantages to existing polymer and gel materials, including high thermal stability, low sensitivity to mineralization, thixotropic characteristics, selectivity of blocking effects for oil and water, and reversibility of blocking effects. In WSO applications, these properties of ESN could be well-suited for improved oil recovery. Introduction ESN is recognized as a proven technology for carbonate reservoirs. However, the reservoir under study did not feature harsh conditions; therefore, this work evaluated ESN potential for carbonate reservoirs in the UAE typically having high-temperature and high-salinity conditions. A primary purpose of the technology, aside from improved oil recovery, is contributing to greenhouse-gas emission reduction and building competitive low-CO2-intensity oil-brand value. In general, produced water volume dramatically increases in maturing oil fields. Reducing water production also can contribute to saving water injection from a reservoir-voidage-replacement viewpoint. Therefore, the functional chemical WSO concept has a significant effect on contributing to the International Energy Agency’s sustainable development scenario. Materials and Physicochemical Property Tests Oil, Water, and Carbonate Core. Dead oil is sampled from an offshore carbonate field in the Middle East containing light crude oil (32.3 °API). Brine and plug core properties are summarized in Tables 1 and 2 of the complete paper. For thermal-stability tests, both brines were used for making the ESN. The WSO coreflood tests used the ESN made with injection water. Advanced Features of ESN. Rheology. The viscosity of ESN is controllable by changing the water/oil ratio; viscosity becomes lower with increasing oil content and higher with increasing water content. These components were stirred, and two ESN samples were prepared using Crude Oil A (from Oil Field A, UAE) or diesel oil. The samples are referred to as Crude Oil A-based ESN and Diesel Oil-based ESN in this paper. Both ESN samples showed similar viscosity curves; such thixotropic characteristics are an important property of ESN. ESN is flowable at stirring conditions. In particular, the viscosity of ESN can be decreased to less than 50 cp at high shear rates, so it can be injected into the reservoir by pumping. On the other hand, ESN becomes highly viscous and less flowable when no energy is applied to it (the ESN surface looks semisolid in this condition). In field operations, the viscosity of ESN decreases depending on the pressure generated by injection pumps on the surface. However, the injection pressure also releases in a radial direction from the bottomhole zone. As a result, ESN recovers a high-viscosity state because of decreasing shear rate with pressure release.

Methyl Ester-Mineral Oil Mixture under Thermal Aging

Replacement with natural esters (retrofilling) is an alternative solution to extend the life expectancy of an oil-filled transformer containing mineral oil. During the retro-filling process, some portions of the mineral oil remain inside the transformer's tank, forming a mixture between the used mineral oil and the new vegetable oil. In this investigation, methyl ester was mixed with a relatively low percentage of mineral oil to simulate the retro-filling process. The aim is to examine the characteristics of a mixture of mineral and vegetable oils under thermal aging. Thermal aging treatments were carried out at 120°C for 28 days and 140°C for 14 days. Kraft paper and copper wire were incorporated during the aging test. After thermal aging, the characteristics of the oil mixture were evaluated based on electrical, physical, and chemical characteristics. The result shows that physical and chemical characteristics are significantly influenced by the increase in mineral oil content and the temperature of thermal aging. However, the breakdown voltage increased after thermal aging, but at a higher temperature, the breakdown voltage dropped as the mineral oil content increased.