Industrial Purposes Research Articles

New combined absorption/1H NMR method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of PET degradation products

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a very valuable and beneficial material for industrial purposes, with various different applications. Due to the high annual production volume of over 50 million tons worldwide and the indiscriminate disposal by consumers, the polymers accumulate in the environment, causing negative effects on various ecosystems. Biodegradation via suitable enzymes represents a promising approach to combat the plastic waste issue so validated methods are required to measure the efficiency and efficacy of these enzymes. PETase and MHETase from Ideonella sakaiensis are suitable enzymes needed in combination to completely degrade PET into its environmentally friendly monomers. In this project, we compare and combine a previously described bulk absorbance measurement method with a newly established 1H NMR analysis method of the PET degradation products mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid and terephthalic acid. Both were optimized regarding different solvents, pH values and drying processes. The accuracy of the measurements can be confirmed with sensitivity limits of 2.5–5 µM for the absorption method and 5–10 µM for the 1H NMR analysis. The combination of the described methods therefore allows a quantitative analysis by using bulk absorption coupled with a qualitative analysis through 1H NMR. The methods established in our work can potentially contribute to the development of suitable recycling strategies of PET using recombinant enzymes.

Extraction of chlorophyll a from Tetradesmus obliquus—a method upgrade

Nowadays, the use of algae is prevalent for both industrial and agricultural purposes. The determination of chlorophyll (Chl) content is a commonly used method for estimating the phytoplankton abundance in different water bodies or biomass density of algal cultures. The aim of the present work is to optimise the efficiency of the Chl extraction from the green alga Tetradesmus obliquus using methanol as extracting solvent. The extraction efficiency was estimated by measuring the Chl a concentration of the extracts using fluorescence spectroscopy. To increase the extraction yield, glass fibre filters with algal cells on top were treated with 10% (v/v) formalin prior to the extraction. We found that this pretreatment significantly enhanced the extraction yield of Chl without its chemical decomposition. We also found that the optimal cell concentration for Chl determination ranged from 1.44 × 104 to 3.60 × 105 cells/mL and the extraction efficiency was lower when the cell density of the culture was out of this range. These results highlight the importance of the optimization of the pigment extraction for the studied algal species.

Ultrasound-assisted removal of Imidacloprid from aqueous solutions using carboxymethyl cellulose-based bionanocomposite hydrogel beads (CMC/Fe3O4-Zeolite): Emphasis on effects Fe3O4-Zeolite nanoparticles and ultrasound

In the present work, carboxymethyl cellulose-based bionanocomposite hydrogel beads with diverse concentration ratios of Fe3O4-Zeolite were produced and used for the removal of Imidacloprid from an aqueous solution. Optimization of various factors such as Imidacloprid initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH solution, and sonicating time (42 kHz) affecting Imidacloprid removal was evaluated by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum values for these parameters were obtained at 38 mg L−1, 1.9 g L−1, 7, and 19 min, respectively. The adsorption process of Imidacloprid by CMC/Fe3O4-Zeolite20 is multilayer adsorption (Jossens model) and was controlled by internal and external diffusion (double-exponential model). Additionally, the study of the ultrasonic effect on Imidacloprid removal performance showed that the ultrasound combined with adsorption significantly reduces the equilibration time. Also, the adsorption and desorption study showed that the adsorbent with high stability in adsorption performance was recycled in 6 cycles without a significant reduction in adsorption efficiency. And finally, the removal performance of CMC/Fe3O4-Zeolite20 was studied on the real wastewater samples and confirmed the feasibility of adsorbent for practical applications in industrial purposes.

Incorporation of palladium into pyrite: Insights from X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis and modelling

Pyrite (FeS2) often accommodates elevated concentrations of platinum-group elements in ores of magmatic and hydrothermal origin. In order to elucidate the role of pyrite in concentrating Pd, Pd-doped synthetic crystals were studied via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Crystals were obtained by salt-flux method in the system saturated with respect to Pd at the temperature of 580 °C and sulphur fugacity of log f (S2) = −0.4. Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry studies demonstrated a uniform distribution of Pd within the pyrite crystals. The median and average values of Pd content of ∼0.7 ± 0.1 wt% were measured. Comparison of the Pd K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra with the spectra of standards revealed that the formal oxidation state of Pd was close to +2. Fitting of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and Finite Difference Method for Near-Edge Structure (FDMNES) theoretical simulations of XANES spectra showed that Pd substituted for Fe in the crystal structure of pyrite. The isomorphous Pd in pyrite was octahedrally coordinated by S atoms at ∼2.385 Å. The PdS interatomic distance was 5.6 % larger than that of FeS due to the difference in their covalent radii of ∼5.3 %. The expansion caused by the incorporation of Pd into the pyrite structure disappeared at the distance of R > 3 Å. The information on the state of Pd in pyrite, including the local atomic environment and formal oxidation state, is essential for scientific and industrial purposes, e.g. physical-chemical modelling and improvement of leaching and extraction processing respectively.

Rumen microbes: Exploring its potential for productivity and commercial use

Ruminant animals are known for their dairy and meat products worldwide. They are the best converters of poor quality fibrous feed ingredients, and presence of rumen, the anaerobic chamber that harbours vast category of microbes, is attributable to this phenomenon. The microbes include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, archaea and bacteriophages that work on synergistically for optimal performance of ruminant animals. These microbes help not only in digestion of fibrous materials, but also involved in various biological functions, such as probiotic activity, antimicrobial metabolite production, synthesis of health promoting bioactive fatty acid molecules, biomass conversion, etc. Earlier, the probiotic organisms used in food animals (calves, sheep, goat, swine and poultry) were mainly originated from dairy products but today organisms of autochthonous origin are being used, as they show better adaptability. Since, rumen do possess organisms with probiotic and fibre utilising activity, these organisms are now explored for their suitability as a probiotic and fibrolytic agent in monogastric food animals. Diversity of rumen microbes was not properly understood through the conventional culture methods, however with advancement in ‘Omic’ technologies, researchers could identify new class of organisms from the rumen and their potential use for the commercial and industrial purposes.

Fermentation Techniques and Biotechnological Applications of Modified Bacterial Cellulose: An Up-to-Date Overview

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a pure exocellular polysaccharide produced by micro-organisms. It has several properties in comparison with plant-derived cellulose that make it perfectly suitable for many applications, ranging from the food industry to the biomedical area. Different production methods and modification or functionalization procedures have been investigated in response to the many possible attractive applications of BC. This review overviews the different fermentation techniques and functionalization methods together with the main possible biotechnological applications of BC for food industry and biomedical purposes.

Efficient CO2 adsorption using chitosan, graphene oxide, and zinc oxide composite

This study was deeply focused on developing a novel CTS/GO/ZnO composite as an efficient adsorbent for CO2 adsorption process. To do so, design of experiment (DOE) was done based on RSM-BBD technique and according to the DOE runs, various CTS/GO/ZnO samples were synthesized with different GO loading (in the range of 0 wt% to 20 wt%) and different ZnO nanoparticle’s loading (in the range of 0 wt% to 20 wt%). A volumetric adsorption setup was used to investigate the effect of temperature (in the range of 25–65 °C) and pressure (in the range of 1–9 bar) on the obtained samples CO2 uptake capability. A quadratic model was developed based on the RSM-BBD method to predict the CO2 adsorption capacity of the composite sample within design space. In addition, CO2 adsorption process optimization was conducted and the optimum values of the GO, ZnO, temperature, and pressure were obtained around 23.8 wt%, 18.2 wt%, 30.1 °C, and 8.6 bar, respectively, with the highest CO2 uptake capacity of 470.43 mg/g. Moreover, isotherm and kinetic modeling of the CO2 uptake process were conducted and the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.99) and fractional order model (R2 = 0.99) were obtained as the most appropriate isotherm and kinetic models, respectively. Also, thermodynamic analysis of the adsorption was done and the ∆H°, ∆S°, and ∆G° values were obtained around − 19.121 kJ/mol, − 0.032 kJ/mol K, and − 9.608 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating exothermic, spontaneously, and physically adsorption of the CO2 molecules on the CTS/GO/ZnO composite’s surface. Finally, a renewability study was conducted and a minor loss in the CO2 adsorption efficiency of about 4.35% was obtained after ten cycles, demonstrating the resulting adsorbent has good performance and robustness for industrial CO2 capture purposes.

Standardization of teff (Eragrostis teff) injera making process conditions for better physicochemical and sensory quality.

Injera is a type of flatbread that is fermented, naturally leavened, and native to Ethiopia. However, injera quality can vary depending on the processing steps used, even if the same variety of teff is used. This research was conducted to optimize the prebaking processing and baking conditions to produce better quality teff injera suitable for industrial and export purposes. Four experiments were conducted to optimize the injera-making process. The first two phases focused on optimizing the prebaking processing conditions (fermentation temperature and time, absit mixing ratio, absit cooking time, and secondary fermentation time). The best physicochemical qualities were obtained at a primary fermentation temperature of 25°C for 64 h, an 8% mixing ratio of absit with 10 min of cooking, and a secondary fermentation time of 4 h. In the third phase, baking temperature (195 ± 5, 215 ± 5, 235 ± 5, and 255 ± 5°C) and time (1, 2, and 3 min) were evaluated. The results showed that the best response variables were obtained at a temperature of 255 ± 5°C for 2 min or 235 ± 5°C for 3 min. Finally, the optimized conditions were validated on five different varieties [DZ-Cr-387, DZ-Cr-2124, white (T-BT), white (T-GK), and sergegna teff (T-E)] of teff grain. The results indicated that the optimized conditions could produce better quality and consistent teff injera on a large commercial scale, which would suit both local and export markets.

Optimal water tariffs for domestic, agricultural and industrial use

Consider a water supplier who determines sales rates with the goals of maximizing profits, protecting consumer welfare, and ensuring adequate future water supplies. Buyers are differentiated and can use the water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. We propose a leader-follower finite-horizon differential game. The leader (the water supplier) determines the selling price and the followers (consumers) react by requesting their optimal amount of water. We calculate a feedback Stackelberg equilibrium assuming that all user demand is satisfied (interior equilibrium). We compare two different tariff schemes: linear tariffs (the price paid is a multiple of the volume of water purchased), and increasing block tariffs (the unit price is lower for quantities of water that do not exceed a fixed threshold). We show that block pricing is never optimal and linear pricing is always preferred.

Reflecting Picasso in Glass

Whereas Picasso’s work in ceramics, wood and bronze is rather well known, the body of his sculptures in glass remains an object of little research. In fact, as a thorough analysis reveals, they rarely find mention in publications or catalogues on Picasso and seldom are included in exhibitions or retrospectives on the great Spanish artist. This may on the one hand be attributed to a still prevailing perception of glass as a medium for industrial, functional or everyday purposes—hence discounting the material in terms of artistic output—while on the other to controversies of authorship, related to the question of ideation versus creation. Unlike ceramics or bronze, the realisation of blown glass sculpture hinges on the involvement of the maestro vetraio as the mediator between thought and form—thus resulting in a distancing between artwork and artist conditioned by the nature of the medium. Against this background, the paper aims at a better understanding of Picasso’s vision of sculpture through an examination of his creations in the vitreous medium. On these grounds, a closer look at Picasso’s works in glass is meant to highlight his unique ‘hand’ in terms of idiom, line and form.

Degradation Effect of Moisture on Mechanical Properties of Kevlar/PVB Composites with TiO2 Nanoparticles

Kevlar fibers are widely used for industrial and military purposes due to their remarkable mechanical properties, such as their high tenacity and high strength-to-weight ratio. In this study, two-layered Kevlar composite specimens were impregnated with 10 wt.% poly (vinyl butyral)/ethanol solution which contained TiO2 nanoparticles as reinforcement. The concentrations of the nanoparticles were 1 wt.% or 2 wt.% with respect to the poly (vinyl butyral), PVB. The single-axial tensile test and three-point bending test of the Kevlar/PVB composites have been performed according to the ASTM D 3039 and ASTM D 790-03 standards, respectively. The tensile and bending properties of the dry and wet Kevlar/PVB composite specimens after a 56-day immersion are examined in this work. Upon the addition of the 2 wt.% TiO2 nanoparticles, the tensile strength and modulus of the dry specimens without reinforcement were increased by 39.8% and 24.3%, respectively. All the submerged specimens’ tensile and flexural property values were lower than those of the dry specimens. After comparing the wet composite specimens to their dry counterparts, the percentage decrease in tensile strength was approximately 20%. The wet Kevlar/PVB specimens with no TiO2 reinforcement showed the greatest reduction in bending strength, 61.4% less than for the dry Kevlar/PVB specimens, due to the degradation of the PVB matrix. In addition, a numerical simulation of the three-point bending test was carried out in Abaqus.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AL'GOFLORA IN OPTIMIZING WATER TREATMENT PROCESSES

Water treatment facilities play a vital role in ensuring the availability of safe and clean water for human consumption and various industrial purposes. Among the innovative approaches in water treatment, the integration of Al'GOFLORA stands out as a promising method for optimizing the treatment process. Al'GOFLORA, a long water treatment facility utilizing algae and other flora, offers a sustainable and effective solution for water purification. This article explores the importance of Al'GOFLORA in optimizing water treatment processes, highlighting its benefits, mechanisms, and potential applications.

Application of Trametes pubescens for dye removal and biological pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse

AbstractSugarcane bagasse (SB) is an abundantly available agrowaste that is used extensively as a substrate for the production of different industrial enzymes. It is a renewable resource, rich in fermentable sugars. However, the presence of lignin makes it difficult for microbes to degrade it and so it is difficult to utilize it. Keeping in mind the role of white rot fungi in lignin degradation, Trametes pubescens MB89 was used in this study for the delignification of SB with the simultaneous production of laccase. The fungus was also used for the degradation of malachite green dye. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize variables affecting solid state fermentation of SB for laccase production. The leftover SB after fermentation was used for cellulase production by the thermophilic bacterium Neobacillus sedimentimangrovi UE25. The BBD depicted optimized conditions as 60% moisture, particle size 100 μ, 10 days’ incubation period, 450 μM CuSO4, and a temperature of 30 °C. The laccase titers of 1271 IU mL−1 were obtained under optimized conditions. Neobacillus sedimentimangrovi UE25 produced 4.574 IU mL−1 of endoglucanase and 1.812 IU mL−1 of β‐glucosidase by utilizing fungal pretreated SB. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the impact of fungal cultivation on SB. Pores were observed after microbial pretreatment and there were changes in the morphological characteristics such as the pith and fiber of SB. To test the ability of laccase to break down aromatic dyes, we grew the fungus T. pubescens MB89 in a nutrient‐rich medium supplemented with malachite green dye. The fungus was able to remove 73.68% of the malachite green dye from the medium in 24 h. This shows that T. pubescens MB89 has a range of potential applications for environmental and industrial purposes.

Molecular Dynamic, Hirshfeld Surface, Computational Quantum and Spectroscopic analysis of 4-Hydroxy-1-Naphthaldehyde

aims: Computational Quantum and Spectroscopic analysis of 4-Hydroxy-1-Naphthaldehyde Background: Known also as 4-Hydroxynaphthalene-1-carbaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde (4H1NA) is a crucial precursor of many coordinating agents. A commercial compound called 4-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde (4H1NA) can be used to make a number of different sensors. In the development of many chemosensors, they operate effectively as a functionalized fluorescent backbone. Objectives: Molecular Dynamic, Hirshfeld Surface, Computational Quantum analysis of Naphthalde-hyde. Methods: The methods employed in the analysis of the compound involve the DFT calculations, using the DFT method and B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p) basis set with respect to its FTIR, NMR, and UV-Visible spectrum. The NMR chemical shifts of carbon and protons in CDCl3 were determined by the GIAO method. For the molecule of reference, HOMO-LUMO and Donor-Acceptor interactions were also taken into consideration. Investigations also looked into E.L.F., Fukui activity, and non-linear optical properties. Results: The investigation of compounds at their atomic level was analyzed using computational methods so that chemical, medicinal, and environmental research make use of them to make the molecule more in an improved form with distinguished properties. Strong interaction has been produced as a result of electron transfer from the oxygen atoms lone pair LP (2) to the anti-bonding orbital *(C3-C5) with a significant stabilization energy of 42.61kcal/mol. The attributes of the NLO molecule were calculated and found to be superior to those of the urea molecule, with linear and first-order hyperpolarizability situations. Our findings imply that the reference molecule can be a heavier contender for NLO as a surface material and could be considered a vital substance for medical purposes in the drug industry due to its maximum electrophilicity index. Conclusion: A commercial compound called 4-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde (4H1NA) can be used to make several different sensors. The compound has good structural and optical properties. They can be employed for a variety of optical limiting applications because of their unusual optical characteristic, which exhibits third-order non-linear behavior.

Widespread dissolved inorganic carbon-modifying toolkits in genomes of autotrophic Bacteria and Archaea and how they are likely to bridge supply from the environment to demand by autotrophic pathways.

Using dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) as a major carbon source, as autotrophs do, is complicated by the bedeviling nature of this substance. Autotrophs using the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle (CBB) are known to make use of a toolkit comprised of DIC transporters and carbonic anhydrase enzymes (CA) to facilitate DIC fixation. This minireview provides a brief overview of the current understanding of how toolkit function facilitates DIC fixation in Cyanobacteria and some Proteobacteria using the CBB and continues with a survey of the DIC toolkit gene presence in organisms using different versions of the CBB and other autotrophic pathways (reductive citric acid cycle, Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, hydroxypropionate bicycle, hydroxypropionate-hydroxybutyrate cycle, and dicarboxylate-hydroxybutyrate cycle). The potential function of toolkit gene products in these organisms is discussed in terms of CO2 and HCO3- supply from the environment and demand by the autotrophic pathway. The presence of DIC toolkit genes in autotrophic organisms beyond those using the CBB suggests the relevance of DIC metabolism to these organisms and provides a basis for better engineering of these organisms for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Silver nanoparticles biogenically synthesised using Maclurodendron porteri extract and their bioactivities

Silver nanoparticle is widely used in various field including medical, cosmetic, food and industrial purposes due to their unique properties in electrical conductivity, thermal, and biological activities. In the medical field, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been reported to have strong antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Maclurodendron porteri (MP) extract and to evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the synthesised MP-AgNPs. Green method of Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (UAE) was used to extract the leaves of M. porter. Liquid Chromatography -Mass Spectrometry/Quadrupole time-of-flight (LC-MS/QTOF) was used to identify the compounds in the leaf extract of M. porteri. Characterisation of the synthesised nanoparticles involved ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), scanning electromagnetic microscopy (SEM), Zeta potential Analyzer and Particle Size Analyzer. The cytotoxic assay was conducted on MCF-7 and Caco-2 cell lines by MTT assay. Antimicrobial activity was tested on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria using the disc diffusion method. Based on LC-MS/QTOF analysis, 430 compounds were found. The identified major compounds consist of amino acids, polyphenols, steroids, terpenoids and heterocyclic compounds which possibly act as reducing agents. 1 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM of silver nitrate solution were mixed with the leaf extract to form silver nanoparticles. 1.2 mg/ml of MP-AgNPs were found to have antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa with inhibitory zones of 8.0 ± 0.36 mm, 8.5 ± 0.45 mm, 7.5 ± 0.36 mm, and 9.0 ± 0.40 mm respectively. MP-AgNPs showed no cytotoxic activity against Caco-2 and MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, the presence of major amine compounds such as 10,11-dihydro-10,11-dihydroxyprotriptyline and harderoporphyrin in the extract facilitated the synthesis of AgNPs and the nanoparticle showed weak bioactivities in the assay conducted.

Optimization of Expression and Purification of Recombinant One of Central Nervous System Enzyme (Acetylcholinesterase)

In general, the use of natural enzymes is very limited and they are not economical to use in industry. To solve this problem, the recombinant expression systems approach has been used. Optimization of production processes in heterologous expression systems is one of the most important activities in today's competitive industries. One of the key factors for the commercialization of recombinant proteins is the achievement of a low-cost culture medium available for the production of suitable cell biomass that can be used on an industrial scale. Commercialization of recombinant products requires process economics and cost reduction, and reducing the cost of the product is possible by using a cheaper culture medium, so decided optimization of expression and purification of recombinant acetylcholinesterase (EC.3.1.1.7), because it’s one of the body's vital enzymes, that by hydrolyzing acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter, terminates neural messages in the area of cholinergic synapses. Because the enzyme acetylcholinesterase produced from natural sources is not suitable for industrial purposes and semi-mass production due to low production efficiency and high costs of enzyme preparation and purification processes, optimizing the growth conditions of microorganisms capable of the production and secretion of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase are very important, both in terms of yield and economic costs. The present study seeks to increase productivity and reduce the cost of producing this enzyme by optimizing the growth medium and expression of pichia pastoris yeast cells that have genes related to this enzyme and also by optimizing the purification and mass production of this enzyme.

Mechanical Alloying Synthesis of AB3 Zirconium Substituted Intermetallic

Abstract: Several ternary RareEarth-Magnesium-Nickel intermetallics (RE-Mg-Ni) emerged in last decade for their specific hydrogen storage capability. Nickel is now considered among strategic metals with recurrent rising price, Magnesium although its good gravimetric facility suffers from frequent oxidation or irreversible poisoning. Zirconium alloys are recognized for their improved anti-corrosion properties with enhanced wear resistance for high temperature machinability in industrial applications or energy research purposes. We proposed in this paper double substitution possibility replacing Magnesium and reducing Nickel charge. We developed new generation of quaternary Zirconium-AB3 intermetallic LaZr2Ni5Al4 using mechanical alloying method. Two binary raw materials are involved in this alloying reaction, the first is LaNi5 and the second is ZrAl2 (Laves phase C14) and both precursors are achieved quasi-quantitively using high frequency induction melting. The final target AB3 compound crystallizes in Trigonal system with space group R-3m (166) and following experimental conditions (Fritsch P7, Ω = 450 rpm) an acceptable synthesis yield (>80%) is obtained starting from 20 hours mechanical alloying. Rietveld refinement is performed to have real matrix parameters and AB3 powder surface is analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Food insecurity and water management shocks in Saudi Arabia: Bayesian VAR analysis.

The existing conditions of domestic agricultural production and the resulting products will not be able to fruitfully address the increasing food demand due to the limited fertile land and water resources in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the escalating threat of a hotter climate, the deterioration in precipitation, and harsh droughts in Saudi Arabia have reduced the predictability of water management efficiency and resulted in the exhaustion of water bodies and serious degradation of ecosystems that have directly affected agricultural systems and indirectly, food security. This study also aims to assess the impact of water efficiency on food insecurity in Saudi Arabia. The study applied the Bayesian Vector Autoregressive (BVAR) model for the reference period for the data extended from 2000-2020. Likewise, we used both impulse response functions (IRFs) and forecasting variance error decomposition (FVED) through 1000 Monte Carlo simulations according to the BVAR model to examine both the response of food insecurity to the shocks on water management efficiency used for various purposes and the decomposition of error variance in food insecurity. The results show that food insecurity was not observed throughout this study. The results of the BVAR analysis indicate that in the short run, the coefficients of water use efficiency are significant based on the Food Insecurity Multidimensional Index (FIMI). Also, the BVAR model provides a better forecast with an interdependence on water use efficiency for agricultural purposes and FIMI. Moreover, the results obtained from IRFs have shown a significant effect of water efficiency on FIMI. Water use efficiency for agriculture and industrial purposes reduces food insecurity while increasing water for services use increases food insecurity. Water use efficiency is the key factor affecting food insecurity in the short run. The results reveal that the water use efficiency shocks will decrease food insecurity. The shocks experienced by food insecurity can be predicted as self-shock over a span of ten years. Emphasis is given to the task of water management that may support food security in Saudi Arabia through implementing and enhancing the water use efficiency as an integral part of achieving the SDGs in Saudi Arabia.

Increasing Oil Recovery by Varying Surfactant Concentrations and Expanding the Well Drainage Area

Surfactant flooding plays a crucial role in advanced techniques for boosting oil recovery. There remains a significant volume of unrecovered oil in reservoirs, particularly in carbonate reservoirs. These reservoirs often face challenges with low primary and water-flood recovery due to inadequate sweep efficiency, resulting in the presence of bypassed or trapped oil. Chemical flooding approaches, including surfactant flooding, have demonstrated their effectiveness in the retrieval of this trapped oil. The fundamental concept of surfactant flooding involves injecting a surface-active agent, known as a surfactant, to reduce the interfacial tension and mobilize the residual oil saturation. Surfactants have been widely utilized for various purposes in the petroleum industry since its early years, owing to their capacity to modify interfacial interactions between two immiscible fluids in contact with one another. Interfacial phenomena play a significant role in rock-fluid interactions and the interactions between fluids from the reservoir to distribution pipelines. Consequently, surfactants find application in a variety of activities within the petroleum industry. Laboratory experiments, pilot-scale projects, and field-scale initiatives worldwide have yielded diverse outcomes regarding the use of surfactants for enhancing oil recovery. Multiple types of surfactants have been investigated to determine highly effective chemical formulations for enhanced oil recovery, with anionic and non-ionic surfactants being commonly employed in sandstone reservoirs.