Macromolecular Compounds Research Articles

Macromolecular Diamidobenzimidazole Conjugates Activate STING.

Pharmacologic activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has broad potential applications, including the treatment of cancer and viral infections, which has motivated the synthesis and testing of a diversity of STING agonists as next generation immunotherapeutics. A promising class of STING agonists are the non-nucleotide, small molecule, dimeric-amidobenzimidazoles (diABZI), which have been recently used in the synthesis of polymer- and antibody-drug conjugates to improve pharmacokinetics, modulate biodistribution, and to confer other favorable properties for specific disease applications. These approaches have leveraged diABZI variants functionalized with reactive handles and enzyme-cleavable linkers at the 7-position of the benzimidazole for conjugation to and tunable drug release from carriers. However, since this position does not interact with STING and is exposed from the binding pocket when bound in an "open lid" configuration, we sought to evaluate the activity of macromolecular diABZI conjugates that lack enzymatic release and are instead conjugated to polymers via a stable linker. By covalently ligating diABZI to 5 or 20 kDa mPEG chains via an amide bond, we surprisingly found that these conjugates could activate STING in vitro. To further evaluate this phenomenon, we designed a diABZI-functionalized RAFT chain transfer agent that provided an enabling tool for synthesis of large, hydrophilic, dimethylacrylamide (DMA) polymers directly from a single agonist and we found that these conjugates also elicited STING activation in vitro with similar kinetics to highly potent small molecule analogs. We further demonstrated the in vivo activity of these macromolecular diABZI platforms, which inhibited tumor growth to a similar extent as small molecule variants. Using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy to evaluate intracellular uptake and distribution of Cy5-labeled analogs, our data indicate that although diABZI-DMA conjugates enter cells via endocytosis, they can still colocalize with the ER, suggesting that intracellular trafficking processes can promote delivery of endocytosed macromolecular diABZI compounds to STING. In conclusion, we have described new chemical strategies for the synthesis of stable macromolecular diABZI conjugates with unexpectedly high immunostimulatory potency, findings with potential implications for the design of polymer-drug conjugates for STING agonist delivery that also further motivate investigation of endosomal and intracellular trafficking as an alternative route for achieving STING activation.

A surfactant-polymer and macromolecular surfactant compound system for enhancing heavy oil recovery: Synthesis, characterization and mechanism

A surfactant-polymer and macromolecular surfactant compound system for enhancing heavy oil recovery: Synthesis, characterization and mechanism

Catalytic conversion of the heavy fraction of bio-oil into phenol-rich oils using an Fe-carbon catalyst during straw pyrolysis

This study examines the catalytic cracking of the heavy fraction of bio-oil to produce phenol-rich oils, emphasizing the enhancement of biochar-based catalysts through the incorporation of metallic iron (Fe) species. Results indicate that the Fe-carbon catalyst significantly enhances the conversion of heavy oil constituents into phenolic compounds, increasing the relative content of phenolics from 41 % to over 76 %, compared to unenhanced co-pyrolysis, which primarily yielded methylphenols, phenol, 2-methylphenol, and 3-methylphenol. These findings suggest that the heavy fraction of bio-oil, typically abundant in macromolecular compounds, offers viable opportunities for the targeted production of phenolic oils utilizing Fe-carbon catalysts. The findings suggest a viable pathway for the conversion of bio-oil heavy fractions into valuable phenolic compounds, highlighting the potential for industrial applications and the optimization of biorefinery processes.

The flotation deashing separation performance of high-ash fine coal-slime using humic acid depressant and insights to its depressant mechanism

Effective inhibition of clay minerals remains a challenge in the flotation separation of fine coal with high ash content. The quest for efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective depressants to improve the flotation efficiency of fine coal-slime has become a focus of current research. Humic acid (HA), a macromolecular organic compound widely present in nature, is known for its non-toxic, low-cost, and biodegradable properties. In this study, the potential selective depressant HA was utilized to enhance the recovery of low-ash clean coal in the coal-kaolinite system. Adsorption and inhibition mechanisms were explored through contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods. Flotation tests demonstrated that HA, at varying dosages, significantly increased combustible matter recovery while reducing ash recovery compared to conventional flotation. Optimal conditions, with an HA dosage of 750 g/t, resulted in a combustible matter recovery of 40.56 % and an ash content of 17.77 % in the clean coal. Contact angle measurements confirmed that high-dosage HA significantly reduces the coal surface hydrophobicity, resulting in a rapid decline in the recovery of combustible matter. It did not significantly alter the contact angle of kaolinite, however, across the entire range of HA dosages. Furthermore, XPS studies revealed that the reduction in hydrophobicity on the coal surface after HA adsorption is mainly attributed to the coverage of surface carbon–carbon/carbon-hydrogen groups (C–C/C–H) and the increased presence of carbonyl groups (C = O). Additionally, the study found that HA predominantly adsorbs on the Si-OH groups of kaolinite. Finally, AFM results showed that the primary mechanism underlying the altered heterocoagulation behavior between coal and kaolinite is HA’s effect on their interaction forces. The optimal flotation results achieved at the HA dosage of 750 g/t are primarily attributed to the consistent presence of repulsive forces during the approach process and weak adhesion forces during the retraction process between coal and kaolinite, thus reducing kaolinite coating on the coal surface. These findings provide a promising direction for utilizing HA to enhance flotation deashing of high-ash coal-slime.

Hypoglycemic and intestinal microbiota-regulating effects of melanoidins in diabetic mice.

The aqueous extraction of sesame oil is a traditional process that generates a large amount of melanoidins. However, little is known about the characteristics and bioactive functions of these melanoidins. Electronic tongue, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses indicated that melanoidins from sesame residues (MELs) are brown macromolecular compounds with protein skeletons and heteroaromatic ring structures, a bitter taste, and instability in strong oxidative and reductive environments. The MELs demonstrated inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, α-amylase and pancreatic lipase in vitro. These MELs mitigated weight loss in mice with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), reduced their fasting blood glucose to 54.73% (500 mg kg-1 day-1) of the initial value, increased the glycogen levels in the liver and skeletal muscles, lowered blood lipid levels, and protected the liver. Western blot analysis revealed that MELs inhibited the activities of enzymes such as PEPCK, FBPase, and G6Pase through the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways, increased the activity of the enzymes hexokinase (HK) and pyruvate kinase (PK), enhanced liver glycolytic ability, and promoted liver glycogen synthesis, thereby reducing blood glucose levels in T2DM mice. Moreover, MELs reduced the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroides (F/B) in the intestines of T2DM mice, increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus, and reduced the propionic acid content. Melanoidins can regulate T2DM by activating the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt and AMPK-signaling pathways and ameliorating gut microbiota imbalances in T2DM mice. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exploration of Bacterial Community Structure Profiling and Functional Characteristics in the Vermicomposting of Wasted Sludge and Kitchen Waste

Nowadays, the enormously growing amount of kitchen waste and wasted sludge has greatly received global attention. Vermicomposting has been represented as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative for organic waste management. This study utilized kitchen waste generated by the university canteen and excess sludge from municipal wastewater treatment to collaboratively realize waste to resource through vermicomposting with a composting control. The results indicated that the treatment utilizing an equal mass ratio of wasted sludge and kitchen waste (T3) exhibited the greatest reduction in total organic carbon and the highest increase in total nitrogen. Furthermore, the predominant phyla observed were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Functional prediction analysis demonstrated higher relative abundances of β-glucosidase (ascF) and 6-phospho-β-glucosidase (bglA, celF) in the vermicomposting, suggesting that the earthworms essentially enhanced the cellulose degradation. More importantly, the co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that the vermicomposting showed a stronger interaction between Gordonia and other bacteria, thereby enhancing its ability to degrade macromolecular compounds. In general, the vermicomposting can smoothly and remarkably stabilize the kitchen waste, assisted by excess sludge and sawdust.

Preparation of TA-O-MoS2/PES mixed matrix ultrafiltration membrane for rare earth wastewater treatment

The trade-off between permeability and selectivity, along with the issue of membrane fouling, has constrained the widespread application of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes in recycling rare earth wastewater. Here, we present the incorporation of tannic acid (TA) modified molybdenum disulfide oxide (O-MoS2) as a functional enhancer to fabricate polyethersulfone (PES) based mixed matrix membranes through a nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) approach. Compared to the unmodified PES membrane, the integration of TA-O-MoS2 significantly improves the hydrophilicity, porosity in the mixed matrix membrane. By altering the concentration of TA-O-MoS2, the TA-O-MoS2/PES UF membrane achieves enhanced hydrophilicity and charge properties, resulting in a remarkable improvement in separation performance. Specifically, the optimized membrane M2 (TA-O-MoS2 addition of 0.1 wt%) exhibits a water flux of 140.98 Lm−2h−1bar−1 and a PEG 20000 rejection rate of 91.00 %, representing increases of 180 % and 120 % over the control PES membrane, respectively. Notably, membrane M2 effectively retains 91.31 % of macromolecular organic compounds in rare earth wastewater, while permitting nearly complete passage of inorganic salts, for instance CaCl2 (3.26 %) and MgSO4 (4.84 %). Moreover, the TA-O-MoS2/PES membrane demonstrates robust antifouling properties and exceptional durability, indicating its significant potential for efficient treatment and resource recovery in rare earth wastewater.

Application of lentinan in suppression of Marek's disease virus infection

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an extremely widespread avian immunosuppressive virus. In recent years, many reports have shown that there are still cases of MDV infection and immunosuppression after immunization with the vaccine. Consequently, there is a need to develop alternative complementary approaches for strengthening the efficacy of MDV prevention and control measures. Lentinan (LNT) is a macromolecular compound with immune-enhancing activity extracted from shiitake mushrooms. To explore the value and effectiveness of administering LNT through drinking water in the prevention and control of MDV, this study first observed the effects of high and low doses of LNT on weight gain, organ development, viral replication, and antibody titer of an avian influenza virus subtype H9 (AIV-H9) inactivated vaccine in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicks infected with the wild strain of MDV. The results showed that both high and low doses of LNT significantly alleviated the weight gain retardation and liver and spleen enlargement caused by MDV infection, and significantly inhibited the replication of MDV in SPF chicks (P < 0.05), compared with the MDV-positive control group, both high and low doses of LNT significantly increased the antibody titer of AIV-H9 after immunization with inactivated AIV-H9 vaccine (P < 0.0001). On this basis, we also observed the effects of a chicken Marek's disease meq gene deletion live vaccine (SC9-1 strain), administered alone or in combination with LNT, on MDV infections of varying virulence in Hy-Line Brown chicks. The results showed that combined administration of LNT and the SC9-1 vaccine resulted in a significant alleviation of weight gain retardation and liver and spleen enlargement due to MDV infection (P < 0.05), as well as a significant inhibition of MDV replication and release in Hy-Line Brown chicks compared to the vaccine alone (P < 0.0001). These findings suggest that LNT not only alleviates the adverse effects of MDV infection in chickens but also enhances the efficacy of MDV vaccination, offering a potential auxiliary measure for controlling MDV infection.

Characteristic and mechanistic study of enhanced carbon-based synfuel from biomass and coal by magnetite additive for synergistic co-carbonization technology

Biomass is a renewable and potentially carbon-neutral energy source and can be a promising alternative to fossil fuels in the ironmaking industry. The co-carbonization technology of biomass and coal for high-quality biofuel production has great potential. This study investigated the effects of the addition of magnetite (Fe3O4) on the physicochemical properties and combustion performance of wood shavings (WS) and bituminous coal (BC) (WS/BC = 4/6) sintered with a carbon-based synfuel. The results indicate that increasing the proportion of 2 wt% Fe3O4 can increase the high calorific value to 34.60 MJ kg−1 and the maximum combustion rate temperature reaches 469 °C, however, increasing the proportion decreases the burnout temperature to 575 °C, and the activation energy of the rapid pyrolysis stage decreases to 43.54 kJ mol−1. In addition, the activation energies of WS/BC char in the fast co-pyrolysis stage and the combustion reaction decrease significantly to 43.54 kJ mol−1 and 92.96 kJ mol−1, respectively, with the addition of 2 wt% Fe3O4. The area ratio of the fitted aromatic C−O reaches 79.91 %. Fe3O4 can form active centers on the surface of a carbon-based synfuel, improving the stability and orderliness of the fuel. The catalysis of the Fe3O4 additive with macromolecular organic compounds involves mainly oxygen-containing functional groups, promoting the cleavage of C−C bonds connected to oxygen-containing functional groups. In general, these results provide certain theoretical guidance for the preparation and application of sintered carbon-based synfuels.

Oncological Aspects of Lysosomal Storage Diseases.

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are caused by the deficient activity of a lysosomal hydrolase or the lack of a functional membrane protein, transporter, activator, or other protein. Lysosomal enzymes break down macromolecular compounds, which contribute to metabolic homeostasis. Stored, undegraded materials have multiple effects on cells that lead to the activation of autophagy and apoptosis, including the toxic effects of lyso-lipids, the disruption of intracellular Ca2+ ion homeostasis, the secondary storage of macromolecular compounds, the activation of signal transduction, apoptosis, inflammatory processes, deficiencies of intermediate compounds, and many other pathways. Clinical observations have shown that carriers of potentially pathogenic variants in LSD-associated genes and patients affected with some LSDs are at a higher risk of cancer, although the results of studies on the frequency of oncological diseases in LSD patients are controversial. Cancer is found in individuals affected with Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, Niemann-Pick type A and B diseases, alfa-mannosidosis, and sialidosis. Increased cancer prevalence has also been reported in carriers of a potentially pathogenic variant of an LSD gene, namely CLN3, SGSH, GUSB, NEU1, and, to a lesser extent, in other genes. In this review, LSDs in which oncological events can be observed are described.

Electrochemical advanced oxidation of biotreated dyeing and finishing wastewater by boron doped diamond electrode

The combination of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and biological treatments is a promising technique for the treatment of textile wastewater. In this study, a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode was utilized for electrocatalytic oxidation to abate organic pollutants in biotreated dyeing and finishing wastewater (BDFW). Three operational parameters of BDD electrochemical oxidation of BDFW were evaluated. The results showed that increasing the applied current density, decreasing the planar electrode spacing, and lowering the pH value all enhanced the COD removal efficiency. After 300 min, the COD removal efficiency exceeded 90 % and the specific energy consumption (Esp) was 129 kWh/kg COD. BDD electrochemical oxidation removed most of macromolecular organic compounds from the wastewater. Based on the excellent performance of five consecutive runs, the BDD electrochemical oxidation proves to be a promising technique as an advanced treatment of biologically pretreated wastewaters in practical applications.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide promotes broiler health by regulating lipid metabolism, antioxidants, and intestinal microflora

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) are the primary bioactive macromolecular compounds of Ganoderma lucidum, possessing antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. Hot water extract of Juncao-substrate Ganoderma Lucidum residue (HWE-JGLR) is abundant in GLP. There are few research reports on the application of HWE-JGLR in animal husbandry. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of HWE-JGLR supplementation on growth performance, serum biochemistry, the antioxidant function of serum and liver, and the intestinal microbiota of yellow-feathered broilers. The control group was fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet, while the HJ I, II, and III groups received diets supplemented with 0.25 %, 0.5 %, and 1 % of HWE-JGLR, respectively. Results showed that HWE-JGLR increased the serum HDL-C content and decreased the TG content in broilers. Moreover, HWE-JGLR enhanced the antioxidant function by the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and the antioxidative enzyme in broilers. In addition, the cecum of the metagenomic analysis of 16S rRNA showed that the relative abundance of no-rank Ruminococcacea was increased in the HJ I group. Our findings indicate that HWE-JGLR has strong potential for development as a green feed additive based on its functions of lipid-lowering, antioxidation, and the modulation of gut microbiota composition.

Removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) by coagulation: Influence of coagulant and dosing conditions

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant risks to the environment and human health. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are two of the most frequently detected PFAS in the environment. In most surface water drinking water treatment works (WTW), coagulation is the first processes exposed to a range of contaminants, including PFAS. While not designed to be a process for removal of micropollutants, it is important to understand the fate of PFAS in coagulation processes, intended or otherwise, to determine whether water treatment sludge can be a significant sink for this group of micropollutants. This work advances understanding of PFAS removal in coagulation processes by comparing the removal of PFOA and PFOS by four metal coagulants (Zr, Zn, Fe, and Al) from real water matrices. The coagulant performance followed the order Al > Fe > Zr > Zn. Al was taken forward for further evaluation, with significant removal of PFAS (>15 % for PFOA and > 30 % for PFOS) being observed when the pH<5.5 and the dose was > 5 mg Al·L-1. The adsorption of PFOA and PFOS onto flocs through hydrophobic interaction was the primary removal route. The impacts of background matrix on the mechanisms of coagulation for PFAS were explored using five organic compounds. Macromolecular organic compounds contributed to an increase in removal due to the sorption of PFAS and subsequent removal of the organic-PFAS aggregate during coagulation. Low molecular weight organic matter inhibited the removal of PFAS due to the ineffective removal of these compounds during coagulation.

Sustainable Biomass Acts as an Electron Donor for Cr(VI) Reduction during the Subcritical Hydrothermal Process: Molecular Insights into the Role of Hydrochar and Liquid Compounds.

Heavy metal pollution is a critical environmental issue that has garnered significant attention from the international community. Subcritical hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) as an emerging green technology has demonstrated remarkable promise in environmental remediation. However, there is limited research on the remediation of highly toxic Cr(VI) using HTL. This study reveals that the HTL reaction of biomass enables the simultaneous reduction and precipitation of Cr(VI). At 280 °C, the reduction of Cr(VI) was nearly complete, with a high reduction rate of 98.9%. The reduced Cr as Cr(OH)3 and Cr2O3 was primarily enriched in hydrochar, accounting for over 99.9% of the total amount. This effective enrichment resulted in the removal of Cr(VI) from the aqueous phase while simultaneously yielding clean liquid compounds like organic acids and furfural. Furthermore, the elevated temperature facilitated the formation of Cr(III) and enhanced its accumulation within hydrochar. Notably, the resulting hydrochar and small oxygenated compounds, especially aldehyde, served as electron donors for Cr(VI) reduction. Additionally, the dissolved Cr facilitated the depolymerization and deoxygenation processes of macromolecular compounds with lignin-like structures, leading to more small oxygenated compounds and subsequently influencing Cr(VI) reduction. These findings have substantial implications for green and sustainable development.

The Potential Role of Plant Polysaccharides in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) results in inflammation and ulceration of the colon and the rectum's inner lining. The application of herbal therapy in UC is increasing worldwide. As natural macromolecular compounds, polysaccharides have a significant role in the treatment of UC due to advantages of better biodegradation, good biocompatibility, immunomodulatory activity, and low reactogenicity. Therefore, polysaccharide drug formulation is becoming a potential candidate for UC treatment. In this review, we summarize the etiology and pathogenesis of UC and the therapeutic effects of polysaccharides on UC, such as regulating the expression of cytokines and tight junction proteins and modulating the balance of immune cells and intestinal microbiota. Polysaccharides can also serve as drug delivery carriers to enhance drug targeting and reduce side effects. This review provides a theoretical basis for applying natural plant polysaccharides in the prevention and treatment of UC.

Dielectric barrier discharge low-temperature plasma modification of bamboo charcoal for supercapacitor applications

Biochar is commonly utilized as an electrode material in supercapacitors. However, the conventional carbonization process often results in macromolecular compounds, which obstruct the porous structure of carbon materials, thereby reducing their capacitance. Dielectric barrier discharge low-temperature plasma (DLTP) is a technology that transforms gases into highly excited states, utilizing high-energy particles for enhanced energy applications. This study investigated the effects of DLTP on the electrochemical performance of bamboo charcoal (BC), utilizing bamboo shavings (BS) as the carbon source. The results indicated that the specific capacitance of BC varied under different atmospheric conditions, input voltages, and treatment durations, thereby achieving a maximum increase of 144 F/g. Furthermore, when combined with KOH activation, DLTP modification further enhanced the specific capacitance of BC to 237 F/g. The DLTP treatment enhanced the specific surface area and the types of functional groups in BC, thereby leading to a significant enhancement of its electrochemical properties.

Efficient treatment of high-concentration pharmaceutical wastewater with high-salinity by chemical synthesis coupling with evaporation: From lab-scale to pilot-scale

This study focused on the treatment of high-concentration pharmaceutical wastewater with high-salinity by pretreatment of chemical synthesis coupling with evaporation. Via chemical synthesis, this pretreatment process was developed to remove the organic matter that inhibited evaporation of wastewater, resulting in improved evaporation efficiency. Lab-scale results demonstrated that under the optimum conditions (∼pH 9, 2 mL/L demulsifier, 98 mM/L H2O2, 3 h of aeration time, 80 °C, 500 mg/L PAC, and 20 mg/L PAM), 54.9 % of COD was successfully removed by single pretreatment and 98.6 % after coupling with evaporation. Compared to the 80.1 % COD removal efficiency of direct evaporation of 100 mL with 30 min, the pretreatment process coupling with evaporation demonstrated superior performance and halved the evaporation time. A pilot-scale chemical synthesis pretreatment (120 t/d) was further developed to treat pharmaceutical wastewater of both high COD concentrations and high salinity. Under the optimal conditions determined in the lab-scale experiments, the pilot-scale achieved a COD removal efficiency of 49 % with a single pretreatment and 95.8 % after coupling with mechanical vapor recompression (MVR). Additionally, the obtained salt appeared visually clean and white compared to that obtained from the treated wastewater without pretreatment. Furthermore, to elucidate the possible mechanisms driving the efficient removal of COD, GC–MS was performed on the wastewater before and after pretreatment, and the resulting products from pretreatment in pilot-scale applications were further determined by both FTIR and GC–MS. It was proposed that the aldol condensation reaction increased the formation of carbon chains to macromolecular compounds might be the possible mechanism. This study gives insights into the future application of low-investment and low-cost technology in the treatment of high-concentration pharmaceutical wastewater with high salinity in industry.

Biogeochemical changes during supercritical CO2–H2O-coal-microorganism interaction

A 100-day scCO2-H2O-coal-microorganism interaction experiment was conducted in this study to explore the biogeochemical changes during the supercritical CO2 (scCO2) storage in deep water-bearing coal seams. Compared to a control experiment without microorganisms, the presence of microorganisms resulted in a slightly increase in pH but a marked reduction in oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). An increase in Fe2+ ions and decrease in SO42− ions in the experimental group were found to be closely related to microbial mediation, potentially leading to an increase in secondary pyrite. Networked biofilms and N-acetyl-L-leucine as a leucine derivative were only appeared in the experimental group, indicating microbial growth and metabolism. Microbial activities increased the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), accelerated the accumulation of aromatic organic compounds, and diminished macromolecular organic compounds. After scCO2 injection, microbial number and diversity exhibited a sharp decline and gradual recovery. The dominant Clostridium sensu stricto 13 (>50%), Desulfohalotomaculum (>20%) and norank Desulfallas-Sporotomaculum (>9%) may play important roles in the biogeochemical processes of Fe and S through cooperative relationships. Microbial communities resisted scCO2-H2O stress through diversified defense strategies such as spore formation, enhanced leucine metabolism level, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion. The recovery of the number and activity of methanogens indicated potential for the biomethanation of sequestered CO2.

EOR Technology (Patents) and Science (Articles) Assessment of BRICS and nonBRICS with Growth Rates and Specializations within Responsible Global Energy Transition: A Critical Review

To achieve a low-carbon energy transition, it is essential to ensure that, as long as fossil fuels are needed, their production is sustainable, minimizing the environmental impact and securing resources for advancing greener technologies, in alignment with SDGs 7, 13, and 14. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) increases the recovery rates without new developments. The recent expansion of the BRICS consortium, involving major producers, underscores the need to evaluate their EOR technologies, particularly potential gaps that could hinder global energy transition strategies. We analyzed intermediate levels of technological readiness levels (TRLs) utilizing patents (TRL4-5) and articles (TRL3) for 18 EOR methods between 2002 and 2021. Composite indicators derived from patents including compound annual growth rate, specialization, concentration, diversification, and Gini inequality were employed. Both BRICS and nonBRICS exhibited analogous distributions in the articles (particularly Norway, United Kingdom, Canada) and patents (particularly Russia, China, and Ukraine). The decline in growth rates among BRICS and negative rates in nonBRICS suggest a technological plateau for traditional methods. However, environmentally low-impact EOR methods are experiencing exponential emergence (low salinity water, MEOR, polymers and macromolecular compounds, their associations with surfactants, and WAG). Both groups are self-sufficient in EOR, ensuring a responsible and low-impact energy transition. This ensures energy quality while facilitating the maturation of renewable technologies.

Comprehensive hydrothermal pretreatment of municipal sewage sludge: A systematic approach

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) on municipal thickened waste-activated sludge (TWAS) and its integration with anaerobic digestion (AD). The research demonstrates that HTP conditions (170 °C, 3 bars for 30 min) can increase the solubilization of macromolecular organic compounds by 41%, which enhances biodegradability in semicontinuous bioreactors. This treatment also results in a 50% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and a 63% increase in the destruction of volatile solids (VS). The combination of HTP with AD significantly boosts methane yields by 51%, reaching 176 ml/g COD, and improves the digestate dewaterability, doubling the solid content in the dewatered cake. However, a higher polymer dose is required compared to conventional AD. Microbial community analysis correlates the observed performance and alterations; it indicates that HTP enhances resilience to stress conditions such as ammonia toxicity. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the transition from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to resource recovery facilities (RRF) in line with circular economy principles.