Subchronic Residual Oil Fly Ash (ROFA) exposure induces oxidative stress in brain, lung, and cardiac tissues and promotes neuroinflammation, with partial attenuation by taurine.

The objective of this study was to investigate the adsorption of 11 azoles (tebuconazole, ketoconazole, econazole, miconazole, fluconazole, clotrimazole, climbazole, flutriafol, epoxiconazole, tiabendazole, and imazalil) on natural and waste-derived sorbents such as ceramsite, perlite, pumice, sawdust, coconut fibers, heavy oil fly ash (HOFA), activated carbon, and silica gel. The results of adsorption efficiency for most sorbents varied depending on the azole compounds and their concentration. The highest adsorption for all tested compounds was obtained for activated carbon and heavy oil fly ash, reaching about 100% in both tested concentrations (0.2 mg L−1 and 0.02 mg L−1). The HOFA material was characterized in terms of elemental analysis (CHNS), confirming the elemental contents of 52% C, 0.65% H, 0.4% N, and 2.3% S. The specific surface area of HOFA was 11.2 m2 g−1, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed the spherical yet porous nature of the particles. Furthermore, the calculated adsorption isotherms demonstrated that for most tested azoles, the Dubinin–Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm best fits the data, with R2 = 0.93 or more, which is characteristic of porous carbon materials. The results highlight the significant potential of the tested HOFA sorbent for effectively removing azoles, as the tests performed showed that it was possible to remove these compounds with a concentration of up to 0.2 mg L−1 within an hour. This is particularly important because HOFA is an easily accessible waste material. Furthermore, the adsorption of azoles will not increase the cost of HOFA disposal when using the standard procedures currently applied to this waste.

Unlike oil well, gas well cement formulation requires special additives to take care of the microannuli that may arise as a result normal water cement ratio. The normal water cement mixing ratio usually yield low volume of cement slurry with attendant problem, chief of which is shrinkages. Hence, calcium oxide is used to expand the cement to mitigate against shrinkages and subsequently increase the slurry’s yield. The expanded cement ensures the integrity of wellbores and prevents the migration of fluids into the wellbore.Traditional oil and gas well cements are composed primarily of Portland cement, water, and admixtures. However, concerns over environmental sustainability and resource depletion have driven the exploration of alternative cement additives, such as pozzolanic materials.Pozzolanic materials, such as silica fume, rice husk ash, and palm oil fly ash, have emerged as promising alternative additives in formulating cement slurries due to their sustainability benefits and potentials to enhance cement properties.The fracture pressure of the weakest formation is usually considered when formulating cement slurry. In formulating the cement slurry under investigation, a fracture pressure of slurry density of 15.4 ppg equivalent was used.The normal mixing ratio of 0.44 as per API standard would give 15.8ppg. With a specific gravity of 3.25, calcium oxide is a density increasing material which allowed for the use of considerably lower amount of water, silica fume is a density reducing material, hence the use of higher amount of water. The incorporation of calcium oxide (25 % BWOC) and silica fume (15 % BWOC) lowers the slurry density to 15.4ppg. The results obtained at 100 Bc consistencies showed a gradual decrease in thickening time with increase in temperature in both the expanded and nonexpanded cements. The porosity of the expanded was determine using fresh and saline water and was found to be lower than 0.05 % which shows that the silica fume acted on the micro spaces in the cement.

Oil well cementing is a crucial aspect of completion process when drilling oil and gas wells. It ensures the integrity of wellbores and prevents the migration of fluids into the wellbore. The rheological properties of oil well cement slurries play a crucial role in their successful placement and performance. Traditional oil well cements are composed primarily of Portland cement, water, and admixtures. However, concerns over environmental sustainability and resource depletion have driven the exploration of alternative cement additives, such as pozzolanic materials. Nigerian pozzolanic materials, such as silica fume, rice husk ash, and palm oil fly ash, have emerged as promising alternative additives in formulating cement slurries due to their sustainability benefits and potentials to enhance cement properties. A slurry of Class-Gcement and water only was initially formulated, with a water-cement ratio of 0.44 as per API Standard. The slurry was stirred for 5 minutes to get a good homogeneous mixture and the slurry’s density was determined using Mud Balance which gives a cement density of approximately 15.8 ppg (lbm/gal). Bentonite was introduced as an extender and it reduced the slurry’s density to 13.1 ppg. Bentonite is considered an extender additive in cement, which means bentonite reduces the cement density by increasing its volume (yield). Using a mixing ratio of 0.44 as per API standard for class G cement would give a slurry density of 15.8 ppg. The introduction of the extender (bentonite) at 8 % BWOC reduced the slurry’s density from 15.8 ppg to 13.10 ppg and subsequently increased the slurry’s yield,The rheology tests were performed at the temperature of 80, 100 and 120 ℉ for the cement slurries, and the tests were conducted when the temperatures in the slurry reached this temperature. Silica fume and rice husk ash performed credibly well at the determined temperature and pressure.

Crude Palm Oil (CPO) contains β-carotene as source of pro-vitamin A. Alternative adsorbent that can be used to adsorb β-carotene is Palm Oil Fly Ash (POFA). This study aims to determine the ability of POFA activated with H3PO4 and Cu/Zn impregnation to adsorb β-carotene from CPO to obtain characteristics data of modified POFA and its ability to adsorb β-carotene. The main materials used were CPO and POFA. The parameters observed were the characterization and performance test of 9% H3PO4-activated POFA produced at various heating times for 90, 150, and 210 minutes with Cu/Zn impregnation. BET analysis showed the POFA with heating time of 90 minutes had the largest surface area of 19.4785 m2/g, XRD showed the presence of CuO, ZnO, quartz, and SiO2 diffraction patterns, FTIR showed that the POFA contained O-H groups, O-H, Si-H, Al-O, asymetric Si-O, and Si-O-Si bending vibrations, and SEM-EDX results showed that POFA has hollow pores and a rough spherical surface. Based on the results of UV-Vis Spectrophotometry analysis, the most optimal result was obtained in the β-carotene adsorption process with POFA-modified 2 variations of activation heating time for 150 minutes, which succeeded in adsorbing 86% of ꞵ-carotene.

This study investigated the impact of the heavy oil fly ash landfill at Rabigh governorate, Saudi Arabia, on the growth and heavy metal accumulation in the indigenous plants Zygophyllum coccineum L. and Leptadenia pyrotechnica L. Samples of these two plant species together with the soil were collected from inside the landfill and at distances of 250, 500, and 1000 m away from the landfill in the north, east, west, and south locations. Data of the fresh and dry weights of the plant samples (aerial parts and roots) were collected and elemental analyses of the plant samples were conducted. The results showed that vegetation within the landfill exhibited the lowest overall fresh and dry biomass values of aerial and root parts. However, growth progressively improved with the increasing distance, with maximum growth reached at 1000 m from the landfill. Metal concentrations were highest in the samples collected from inside the landfill, and they diminished with increasing distance away from it. Plants located in the south exhibited the greatest metal deposition. Roots consistently surpassed aerial parts in terms of metal accumulation, both proximally and distally. Sulfur, aluminum, and iron were the predominant elements accumulated in Z. coccineum and L. pyrotechnica plants across all sites and distances from the landfill. The sequence of heavy metal concentrations from highest to lowest in the roots and shoots was as follows: sulfur > aluminum > iron > zinc > manganese > nickel > chromium > vanadium > copper > cobalt. The plants exhibited elevated chromium levels that surpassed the European Union (2002) requirements; however, they remained below Indian regulations. Zinc concentrations, however, exceeded both the European Union and World Health Organization (WHO)/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines. All other heavy metals were within the permissible levels established by the WHO/FAO, European Union, and Indian regulations. The translocation factor for heavy metals from roots to shoots was less than one for all 10 metals, signifying metal build-up in roots relative to the shoots. It could be concluded that there is a significant relationship between the plant growth rate and magnitude of metal accumulation. Plants with the lowest growth rate exhibited the highest heavy metals accumulation, as seen at the southern location, whereas plants with the highest growth rate (those at the northern location) had the least metal accumulation. This phenomenon highlights the potential of these plants for phytoremediation and phytostabilization to extract deleterious heavy metals from contaminated landfill soils.

Influence of Concentration and Particle Size of Yellow Oil Fly Ash on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of High-Density Polyethylene

Exposure to airborne particulate matter and undernutrition in young rats: An in-depth histopathological and biochemical study on lung and excretory organs.

Achieving the New World Sustainability Vision 2030 leads to enacting environmental restrictions, which aim to partially or totally reduce the negative impacts of different forms of waste and develop alternative technologies for eco-friendly and cost-effective utilization. Solid waste is a hazardous waste with many environmental and economic problems resulting from its storage and disposal. However, at the same time, these wastes contain many valuable elements. One of these solid wastes is heavy oil fly ash “HOFA” generated in power stations using heavy oil as fuel. HOFA is produced annually in massive amounts worldwide, the storage of which leads to the contamination of water resources by the contained heavy metals, resulting in many cancerogenic diseases. At the same time, these ashes contain many valuable metals in significant amounts, such as vanadium “V” and nickel “Ni” that can be extracted effectively compared to their low content and difficulty processing in their main ores. Hence, recycling these types of wastes reduces the environmental adverse effects of their storage and the harmful elements in their composition. This paper critically reviews the world resources of vanadium-bearing waste and various approaches described in the literature for recovering V, Ni, as well as other valuable metals from (HOFA) and other wastes, including pyro- and hydro-metallurgical processes or a combination. Hydro-metallurgical processes include alkaline or acidic leaching using different reagents followed by chemical precipitation, solvent extraction, and ion exchange to extract individual elements. The pyro-metallurgical processes involve the non-salt or salt roasting processes followed by acidic or alkaline leaching processes. The operational parameters and their impact on the efficiency of recovery are also discussed. The digestion mixtures of strong mineral acids used to dissolve metal ions in HOFA are also investigated. Bioleaching is a promising eco-friendly technology for recovering V and Ni through appropriate bacteria and fungi. Oxidation leaching is also a promising environmentally friendly approach and more effective. Among all these processes, the salt roasting treatment showed promising results concerning the cost, technological, and environmental effectiveness. The possibility of complex processing of HOFA has also been investigated, proposing innovative technology for completely utilizing this waste without any remaining residue. Effective zeolite for wastewater treatment has been formulated as a good alternative for conserving the available water resources.

Crude oil, a natural hydrocarbon mixture, is a key energy source and the petrochemical industry's primary feedstock.Its large-scale processing produces heavy oil fly ash (HOFA), a solid waste that demands effective management.This study explores HOFA's valorization as a low-cost, carbon-based filler in isotactic polypropylene (iPP) composites.Composites containing 1-20 wt% HOFA were prepared by extrusion and injection molding, then subjected to tensile, impact, and structural analyses (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), microscopy).Mechanical testing revealed that even small HOFA additions raised Young's modulus proportionately to filler content, consistent with typical filled-polymer behavior.Impact strength increased by roughly 25% at both 1 and 20 wt% loadings, while tensile strength and elongation at break remained comparable to neat iPP.DSC and WAXS demonstrated that HOFA acts as a nucleating agent, promoting the -crystalline phase, known to enhance toughness, without significantly altering the melting or crystallization temperatures.These findings confirm that HOFA, a waste by-product, can be an effective filler for iPP, improving stiffness and impact resistance without compromising other key properties.Its use offers both economic advantages, through reduced material costs, and environmental benefits by diverting industrial waste from disposal.This approach holds promise for developing sustainable, high-performance polymer composites.

Airborne particles affect the health of the population. As particles decrease in size, they can penetrate deeper into the respiratory system, reaching the terminal bronchioles and alveoli. Particles as small as 0.1 µm in diameter may translocate into the bloodstream, potentially impacting various organs. Additionally, the smaller the particle size, the longer they remain suspended in the air, thereby increasing their deleterious damages. The aim of this work is to study the size distribution of airborne particles emitted from anthropogenic sources of air pollution, with a special emphasis on estimating the distribution of micro and nanoparticles considered the most harmful to health. The Bidimensional Empirical Mode Decomposition (BEMD) algorithm was used on micrographs of the particles obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). BEMD is a current empirical computational tool applied to image analysis that allows extracting non-linear heterogeneous oscillations of brightness. We studied ROFA (Residual Oil Fly Ash) from industrial sources and DEP (Diesel Exhaust Particles) from vehicular emissions as airborne particles. After collecting the particles on filters, micrographs were taken using SEM at different magnifications to which the BEMD algorithm was applied. Particle size and asymmetry distributions were obtained for each mode, allowing the identification of the most deleterious particles. The methodology employed herein is relatively simple and effective for inferring the impact of airborne particulate matter on health and the environment.

Cadmium is one of the heavy metals with high toxicity that can harm human health and the environment. A commonly used method to remove heavy metals is adsorption. One of the widely used adsorbents is zeolite, which is composed primarily of silica and alumina. Palm oil fly ash (POFA) is a waste from palm oil mills that is rich in silica and alumina so that it can be used as a basic material for zeolite. This research aims to study the factors that affect the adsorption process of Cd metal using zeolite synthesized from POFA and determine the kinetics and isotherms of adsorption. The factors observed were pH (3, 4, 5, 6; 7), adsorbent dosage (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 g/l), contact time (5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 min), and initial concentration of Cd metal (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 mg/L). Adsorbent characterization was performed by XRF and XRD analysis. The results showed that pofa-based zeolite can remove Cd metal with an efficiency above 95%. The adsorption process can follow well the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models with a maximum adsorption capacity of 64.58 mg/g. The zeolite synthesized from POFA can remove Cd metal well and has the potential to be developed into an adsorbent

Speciation, phytoavailability, and accumulation of toxic elements and sulfur by humic acid-fertilized lemongrass and common sage in a sandy soil treated with heavy oil fly ash: A trial for management of power stations wastes

Air pollution induces morpho-functional, biochemical and biomechanical vascular dysfunction in undernourished rats

The effect of acid mine drainage on the properties of an all-solid waste paste backfill body based on oil shale residue

Decreased immune response in undernourished rats after air pollution exposure

This study explores the effects of incorporating palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and fly ash (FA) as partial cement substitutes on the mechanical properties and characteristics of high-quality mortar, specifically Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). ECC mortar was fabricated by milling POFA waste and FA through a top-down method utilizing a ball mill. The resulting material was subjected to tests for slump flow, water absorption, compressive strength, and characterized through XRF, FTIR, SEM/EDX, and XRD analyses. FTIR analysis verified the existence of Si-O and Al-O groups within the composite made of POFA-FA ECC. XRF analysis of FA and POFA showed cementitious properties, with SiO2+Al2O3+Fe2O3 exceeding 50% and CaO surpassing 10%. SEM and XRD results indicated minimal cavity formation, suggesting a high compressive strength in the mortar. Particle size distribution analysis revealed prevalent particles in the 1.5×10−1 to 2.0×10−1 μm range. The compressive strength test after 28 days, incorporating 15% FA and 10% POFA, yielded the highest strength at 59.30 MPa. The water absorption values ranged from 1.25% to 2.67%, indicating that POFA-FA assists in the cement hydration process and also serves as a filler. As a result, the material’s density is very high, leading to fewer voids formed, thus reducing the trapped water, which significantly affects the mortar’s strength.

Managing water treatment sludge (WTS) is challenging due to its continuous production and environmental impact. Traditional disposal in landfills is standard but risky for groundwater contamination. Researchers are exploring a more environmentally friendly method using a blend of binders, partially replacing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with waste materials like Waste Paper Sludge Ash (WPSA), Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Fly Ash (FA). These materials not only help reduce environmental waste but also decrease cement usage. The study assesses the Atterberg Limits of the treated sludge to design the appropriate solidification/stabilisation (S/S) method, providing essential data on its physical and mechanical properties Using waste materials as binders effectively stabilises the sludge, reducing reliance on cement, cutting disposal costs, and minimizing environmental pollution. The study identifies WPSA as the most suitable replacement, offering self-cementing properties, and demonstrates that combining WPSA OPC, and WTS creates a stable mix with liquefaction resistance. This approach presents a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally solution for WTS management.

Polyester was examined in combination with oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and fly ash to create hybrid composites. Various ratios of OPEFB to fly ash were tested, including 10/1, 10/5, 20/1, and 20/5, along with two sizes of OPEFB (80 and 40 mesh). The hybrid composites were fabricated using the hand lay-up method through hot pressing. The density of hybrid composites increased with varying sizes of fly ash. Compared to neat polyester, the hybrid composite exhibited higher water absorption, and thickness swelling was also greater. Despite these differences, the functional groups in the hybrid composites did not show variance from those in neat polyester. The incorporation of OPEFB fibers and fly ash in composite hybrids did not result in a significant difference. The thermal decomposition of hybrid composites at 600°C occurred in two stages. The initial weight loss between 100 and 300°C, followed by a substantial weight loss between 300 and 450°C. Subsequently, the composite hybrid experienced slower degradation after reaching 450°C. DSC analysis revealed that the addition of OPEFB fibers and fly ash as fillers increased the melting point. This is attributed to the thermal stability maintained by the OPEFB fiber filler and fly ash, leading to an elevation in the melting point of the hybrid composites. The shape of molecular symmetry, the molecular weight of the polymer compound, and the degree of crystallinity of the composite also influenced the melting point. A higher degree of crystallinity in the composite material correlated with a higher melting point.

Exposure to air pollution fine particulate matter (PM2.5) aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It has been proposed that PM2.5 uptake by alveolar macrophages promotes local inflammation that ignites a systemic response, but precise underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PM2.5 phagocytosis leads to NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent release of the pro-inflammatory master cytokine IL-1β. Inflammasome priming and assembly was time- and dose-dependent in inflammasome-reporter THP-1-ASC-GFP cells, and consistent across PM2.5 samples of variable chemical composition. While inflammasome activation was promoted by different PM2.5 surrogates, significant IL-1β release could only be observed after stimulation with transition-metal rich Residual Oil Fly Ash (ROFA) particles. This effect was confirmed in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages and murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), and by confocal imaging of inflammasome-reporter ASC-Citrine BMDMs. IL-1β release by ROFA was dependent on the NLRP3 inflammasome, as indicated by lack of IL-1β production in ROFA-exposed NLRP3-deficient (Nlrp3−/−) BMDMs, and by specific NLRP3 inhibition with the pharmacological compound MCC950. In addition, while ROFA promoted the upregulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression and cytokines release, MCC950 reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and CCL2 production. Furthermore, inhibition of TNF-α with a neutralizing antibody decreased IL-1β release in ROFA-exposed BMDMs. Using electron tomography, ROFA particles were observed inside intracellular vesicles and mitochondria, which showed signs of ultrastructural damage. Mechanistically, we identified lysosomal rupture, K+ efflux, and impaired mitochondrial function as important prerequisites for ROFA-mediated IL-1β release. Interestingly, specific inhibition of superoxide anion production (O2•-) from mitochondrial respiratory Complex I, but not III, blunted IL-1β release in ROFA-exposed BMDMs. Our findings unravel the mechanism by which PM2.5 promotes IL-1β release in macrophages and provide a novel link between innate immune response and exposure to air pollution PM2.5.