Petroleum-based Products Research Articles

Preparation and properties of rosin-based naphthalene fluorescent polyurethane

Fluorescent polyurethanes (FPU) have been widely used in coatings, temperature recognition, fluorescent probes, and other fields because of their diverse structures and properties. Unfortunately, most FPUs are currently produced from petroleum-based products. Herein, a thermoplastic rosin-based naphthalene FPU was prepared by using the biobased ester of acrylic rosin and glycidyl methacrylate, polycaprolactone, 1, 5-dihydroxy naphthalene (1, 5-DN) and isophorone diisocyanate as the raw materials. The structure of FPU was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, thermal performance analysis (TGA, DSC) and water contact angle analysis (WCA) showed that the addition of 1, 5-DN improved the thermal stability and hydrophobicity of FPU. More importantly, FPU exhibited good fluorescence performance in both liquid and solid states, and the fluorescence intensity increased with increasing temperature. Both aniline and trichloromethane showed effective fluorescence quenching for FPU. Therefore, FPU is a promising material for applications in temperature recognition and fluorescence probes.

Biomass valorization toward sustainable asphalt pavements: Progress and prospects

To cope with the global climate crisis and assist in achieving the carbon neutrality, the use of biomass materials to fully or partially replace petroleum-based products and unrenewable resources is expected to become a widespread solution. Based on the analysis of the existing literature, this paper firstly classified biomass materials with potential application prospects in pavement engineering according to their application and summarized their respective preparation methods and characteristics. The pavement performance of asphalt mixtures with biomass materials was analyzed and summarized, and the economic and environmental benefits of bio-asphalt binder were evaluated. The analysis shows that pavement biomass materials with potential for practical application can be divided into three categories: bio-oil, bio-fiber, and bio-filler. Adding bio-oil to modify or extend the virgin asphalt binder can mostly improve the low temperature performance of asphalt binder. Adding styrene-butadienestyrene (SBS) or other preferable bio-components for composite modification will have a further improved effect. Most of the asphalt mixtures prepared by using bio-oil modified asphalt binders have improved the low temperature crack resistance and fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures, but the high temperature stability and moisture resistance may decrease. As a rejuvenator, most bio-oils can restore the high and low temperature performance of aged asphalt and recycled asphalt mixture, and improve fatigue resistance. Adding bio-fiber could significantly improve the high temperature stability, low temperature crack resistance and moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures. Biochar as a bio-filler can slow down the asphalt aging process and some other bio-fillers can improve the high temperature stability and fatigue resistance of asphalt binders. Through calculation, it is found that the cost performance of bio-asphalt has the ability to surpass conventional asphalt and has economic benefits. The use of biomass materials for pavements not only reduces pollutants, but also reduces the dependence on petroleum-based products. It has significant environmental benefits and development potential.

Repercussions of Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Indian Response to Attain Trade and Industrial Sustainability

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has created caused great “uncertainty” and has challenged many assumptions about the existence of the nation and bilateral relations. It has given rise to geopolitical tensions influencing international trade. Given the significant contribution of petroleum-based products in India’s import basket, this study examines the changing international trade pattern for India. It ultimately seeks to highlight key opportunities, challenges, and suggestions for India’s aim to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ or ‘self-reliant’. We reviewed trade and economic data (for imports and exports, inflation) in the context of India. Data from sources like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and government sources such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the Ministry of Commerce, is reviewed. The analysis highlights an increasing trade deficit (i.e., imports higher than exports). The lessons India can learn from this battle to go forward and truly become "Atmanirbhar" are the main topic of this essay. The purpose of this study is to explain the significant effects of the aforementioned dispute on and impacting numerous aspects like the economy, trade, bilateral relations, and manufacturing capacities, we adopt an evidence-based approach. The current research (study) just presents one point of view; more sector-specific research using an empirical methodology is advised to explore the manufacturing sector segments (in the context of India) that have strong potential to turn India into "Atmanirbhar."

Use of Propyl Gallate in Cardoon Biodiesel to Keep Its Main Properties during Oxidation

The use of alternatives for petroleum-based products is becoming more and more important, especially considering the new and constantly changing geopolitical context, where excessive energy dependence is not desirable. Thus, biodiesel could play an important role in contributing to the implementation of biorefineries, which represent desirable goals in terms of sustainability, green chemistry and the circular economy. However, one challenge related to biodiesel based on vegetable oils is its low oxidative stability, which can alter the properties of these products during storage. To avoid this problem, interesting antioxidants, such as propyl gallate (PG), could be added to biodiesel to allow it to keep its main properties during oxidation. Additionally, monitoring PG content during oxidation is interesting, and the use of voltammetry could be suitable for this purpose. The aim of this work was to assess the effectiveness of PG during cardoon biodiesel oxidation, while monitoring the process through cyclic voltammetry (CV). As a result, it was proven that PG was highly effective, increasing the length of oxidative stability to more than 10 h at low concentrations (600 mg·L−1) and retaining its main properties (viscosity and acidity) during oxidation. Regarding CV, this technique was successfully optimized to determine PG concentration in cardoon biodiesel during oxidation.

Green Approaches on Modification of Xylan Hemicellulose to Enhance the Functional Properties for Food Packaging Materials-A Review.

Based on the environmental concerns, the utilisation of hemicelluloses in food packaging has become a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers and an important method for the efficient utilisation of biomass resources. After cellulose, hemicellulose is a second component of agricultural and forestry biomass that is being taken advantage of given its abundant source, biodegradability, nontoxicity and good biocompatibility. However, due to its special molecular structure and physical and chemical characteristics, the mechanical and barrier properties of hemicellulose films and coatings are not sufficient for food packaging applications and modification for performance enhancement is needed. Even though there are many studies on improving the hydrophobic properties of hemicelluloses, most do not meet environmental requirements and the chemical modification of these biopolymers is still a challenge. The present review examines emerging and green alternatives to acetylation for xylan hemicellulose in order to improve its performance, especially when it is used as biopolymer in paper coatings or films for food packaging. Ionic liquids (ILs) and enzymatic modification are environmentally friendly methods used to obtain xylan derivatives with improved thermal and mechanical properties as well as hydrophobic performances that are very important for food packaging materials. Once these novel and green methodologies of hemicellulose modifications become well understood and with validated results, their production on an industrial scale could be implemented. This paper will extend the area of hemicellulose applications and lead to the implementation of a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based products that will decrease the environmental impact of packaging materials.

The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on world trade

Following on from the Covid global pandemic, the world shared a common hope that international trade would soon get back on track. However, the events of February 2022 created a new reality as the Russian-Ukrainian war impacted on all the aspects of world trade. It is now predicted that world trade will decrease by 1%, which may significantly deepen the impending recession. This article is an attempt at answering the question about the effect that the Russian/Ukranian war has on world trade. The changes that have occurred in the global coal, oil, gas and grain markets are enormous. The war has disrupted global and in particular European supply chains and Russia which was one of the main suppliers of coal to Europe before the introduction of embargos has meant that the countries of the European Union must now find new sources of supply for these essentials .,Some countries, such as Germany, have, in retrospect, made strategic mistakes by closing some of their coal fired nuclear power plants and now they have to reopen these power plants, which will in turn increase their demand for coal. In addition, most Western European countries have closed their coal mines, which means that they too are now forced to import coal and while coal producers will be able to increase production it will certainly not happen before the winter of 2022 which will clearly make things hard for most European citizens . Additionally, over 50% of gas imported to the EU comes from Russia which can cut supplies off at any moment and Europe is caught in a bind of its own making and does not know how to get out of this clinch. Russia has already cut off gas to some countries, such as Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Denmark, Latvia and Finland demonstrating the vulnerability of the dependent nations on their main source of supply. Moreover, European countries must find new sources of oil and petroleum-based products because starting at the end of December 2022 there will be an additional embargo imposed on the import of these products from Russia. The war has also disrupted the global grain market because Ukraine is one of largest grain producers in the world. Is Europe in danger of going hungry? Maybe not, but such a disruption to the supply chain can have a devastating effect on Africa. A famine in Africa may destabilize local governments and cause a new wave of immigrants into Europe. Additionally, if there is a real recession combined with high inflation and an increase in unemployment in Europe, the public mood may become radicalized, and it can thus affect the policy of the European Union. Of course, nobody knows for sure what the future will bring. Three years ago, no one thought about a pandemic and hardly anyone thought that Russia would attack Ukraine in 2022. In the face of these changes and many other unknowns, it is difficult to unequivocally predict how these events will affect the world trade of goods.

Effectiveness of Protein and Polysaccharide Biopolymers as Dust Suppressants on Mine Soils: Results from Wind Tunnel and Penetrometer Testing

For the dust control of barren mine soils, protein and polysaccharide biopolymers have recently shown potential as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional dust suppressants (e.g., salt brines or petroleum-based products). However, laboratory studies that determine suitable application parameters are required for large-scale field trials. This study performed wind tunnel and pocket penetrometer tests to investigate the wind erosion and penetration resistance of treatments with different biopolymer types, concentrations (wt%), and application rates (L/m2) on two mine soils. The results demonstrate that all treatments significantly enhanced the wind erosion resistance of both tested soil types, with the biopolymer type, concentration, and application rate having a significant effect. Depending on the biopolymer type and application parameter, the wind-induced soil loss ranged from 0.86 to 423.9 g/m2 (Control = 2645.0 g/m2) for medium-grained sand and from 0.3 to 225 g/m2 (Control = 26,177.0 g/m2) for fine-grained silica sand, with the soil loss reducing as concentrations increase, until it reached a plateau concentration. For a similar performance, the tested proteins (wheat and fava bean protein) must be applied at higher concentrations than those of the polysaccharides (xanthan gum, corn starch, and carboxymethylcellulose). Spearman rank correlation revealed a moderate-to-strong negative correlation between soil loss (g/m2) and penetration resistance (N), rendering the pocket penetrometer a rapid, low-cost, and indirect method for evaluating potential dust suppressants. This research contributes to evaluating biopolymers as alternatives to traditional dust suppressants for controlling dust emissions on barren surfaces. Biopolymers are biodegradable and can be sourced regionally at a relatively low cost, reducing the environmental impact and expenses associated with dust suppression.

Green Surfactants (Biosurfactants): A Petroleum-Free Substitute for Sustainability-Comparison, Applications, Market, and Future Prospects.

Surfactants are a group of amphiphilic molecules (i.e., having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains) that are a vital part of nearly every contemporary industrial process such as in agriculture, medicine, personal care, food, and petroleum. In general surfactants can be derived from (i) petroleum-based sources or (ii) microbial/plant origins. Petroleum-based surfactants are obvious results from petroleum products, which lead to petroleum pollution and thus pose severe problems to the environment leading to various ecological damages. Thus, newer techniques have been suggested for deriving surfactant molecules and maintaining environmental sustainability. Biosurfactants are surfactants of microbial or plant origins and offer much added advantages such as high biodegradability, lesser toxicity, ease of raw material availability, and easy applicability. Thus, they are also termed "green surfactants". In this regard, this review focused on the advantages of biosurfactants over the synthetic surfactants produced from petroleum-based products along with their potential applications in different industries. We also provided their market aspects and future directions that can be considered with selections of biosurfactants. This would open up new avenues for surfactant research by overcoming the existing bottlenecks in this field.

Assessment of the Current State of Photovoltaic Panel Mounting Systems and Related Concerns in Northern Cyprus

Abstract The efficiency of energy resources and the research and development of electricity generation technologies from renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important as the use of renewable energy has increased. Northern Cyprus has undertaken attempts to boost the use of renewable energy sources and reduce its reliance on petroleum-based products, similar to many other countries, and as a result, Solar energy utilization has recently grown in this country. This article assesses the current state of PV panel mounting systems and related concerns in Northern Cyprus. In this regard, extensive and reliable data were collected from five distinct sources including authorities, ministries, stakeholders, and inspections. The current state of PV panel mounting systems was evaluated based on data analysis, and the main weaknesses, major concerns, and critical problems were identified. Ultimately, two fundamental recommendations were made to overcome the identified problems. First, developing stringent guidelines to properly use renewable energy sources while minimizing side effects and unwanted losses, second, considering quality control and strict supervision to inspect the implementation of standards.

Characteristics and Functional Application of Cellulose Fibers Extracted from Cow Dung Wastes.

The widespread use of petroleum-based products has led to increasing environmental and ecological problems, while the extraction and application of various natural cellulose fibers have received increasing attention. This research focuses on the extraction of cellulose fibers from cow dung using different treatments: hot water, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) boilings, as well as a selection of the best quality cow dung fibers for papermaking with quality control. The study's objective is to find a sustainable method to extract as much material as possible from renewable biomass feedstock. The results show that the best extraction rate is obtained by KOH boiling with 42% cellulose fibers extracted. Corresponding handmade paper has a burst index of 2.48 KPam2/g, a tear index of 4.83 mNm2/g and a tensile index of 26.72 Nm/g. This project expands the sources of natural cellulose fibers to an eco-friendly and sustainable one and opens up new applications for cow dung.

Replacing all petroleum-based chemical products with natural biomass-based chemical products: a tutorial review

Production quantity ratio of petroleum derived chemical products. This also presents the concept of replacing all petroleum-based chemical products with natural biomass-based chemical products.

Lignin-enhanced wet strength of cellulose-based materials: a sustainable approach

Cellulose is the most abundant renewable polymer resource in nature and cellulose-based materials are expected to serve as viable replacements to petroleum-based plastic products.

Benzene exposure assessment of printing workers treating petroleum-based cleaner in South Korea.

This study was conducted to check whether benzene is contained inside the petroleum-based cleaning agent used in the printing industry and measure whether it is actually exposed to the air. Benzene was analyzed inside the cleaning agent and air exposure evaluation was done by area sampling. Risk assessment was performed using the Chemical Hazard Risk Management (CHARM) technique. Most products contained benzene based on the results obtained from this study. As a result of collecting air samples and checking whether the workers were exposed to benzene actually, benzene was detected in three samples. As a result of the risk assessment, most of printing businesses scored more than four points. Benzene was detected in all petroleum-based cleaning products. In addition, benzene was detected in some of air samples. Considering the fact that even small exposure level of benzene is dangerous to worker health and most of the printing businesses in South Korea operate on a small scale with fewer than five employees so the health management system is poor, it is necessary to prepare appropriate measures to prevent work diseases provoked by benzene exposure.

Production and characterisation of waste tire pyrolytic oil – Investigating physical and rheological behaviour of pyrolytic oil modified asphalt binder

The effort of basic restrict the use of petroleum-based products, the use of recycling and alternative resources have tremendous gained interest in the last decades. In this experimental study, waste tire granules were pyrolyzed under a vacuum atmosphere. Pyrolysis experiments occurred in a fixed bed reactor at 450 °C. The chemical characterisation of the pyrolytic oil was exanimated by various analytical methods, such as Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultimate and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was determined that mainly contains aliphatic and aromatic compounds. In addition, pyrolytic oil was used as a partial replacement for conventional asphalt (petroleum-based) to limit the use of conventional asphalt in the applications of road engineering. The effect of the pyrolytic oil additive on the fundamental physical behaviours of the asphalt was evaluated, and also rheological behaviour of the asphalt binder was investigated by the viscosity (RV) and bending-beam-rheometer (BBR) tests. The addition of pyrolytic oil affected some physical properties of asphalt binders more or less. It was found that conventional and pyrolytic oil-modified asphalt samples met the technical requirement based on BS EN 14771 standard. Finally, it can be concluded that asphalt modified with pyrolytic oil can be used in road engineering applications under low-temperature conditions.

Sustainable Development Approaches through Wooden Adhesive Joints Design

Over recent decades, the need to comply with environmental standards has become a concern in many industrial sectors. As a result, manufacturers have increased their use of eco-friendly, recycled, recyclable, and, overall, more sustainable materials and industrial techniques. One technique highly dependent on petroleum-based products, and at the edge of a paradigm change, is adhesive bonding. Adhesive bonding is often used to join composite materials and depends upon an adhesive to achieve the connection. However, the matrices of the composite materials and the adhesives used, as well as, in some cases, the composite fibres, are manufactured from petrochemical products. Efforts to use natural composites and adhesives are therefore ongoing. One composite that has proven to be promising is wood due to its high strength and stiffness (particularly when it is densified), formability, and durability. However, wood must be very carefully characterised since its properties can be variable, depending on the slope of the grains, irregularities (such as knots, shakes, or splits), and on the location and climate of each individual tree. Therefore, in addition to neat wood, wood composites may also be a promising option to increase sustainability, with more predictable properties. To bond wood or wooden composite substrates, bio-adhesives can be considered. These adhesives are now formulated with increasingly enhanced mechanical properties and are becoming promising alternatives at the structural application level. In this paper, wooden adhesive joints are surveyed considering bio-adhesives and wood-based substrates, taking into consideration the recent approaches to improve these base materials, accurately characterise them, and implement them in adhesive joints.

Self-assembled/composited lignin colloids utilizing for therapy, cosmetics and emulsification.

Lignin, the most abundant source of renewable aromatic compounds on the planet, is attracting more scholarly attention due to its possibility of replacing petroleum-based chemicals and products. However, it remains underutilized because of the heterogeneity of its multi-level structure that prevents homogenization and standardization of derived products. The key to solving these problems lies in finding a general preparation method to achieve the integrated utilization of lignin molecules at all levels. The assembly-mediated granulation methods provide a significant means for the integrated value-added utilization of lignin, and for biomass productization applications, it is significant to understand the molecular mechanisms of lignin nano-colloids (LNCs) formation thus accurately guiding their functionalization. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the assembly morphology and behavior of lignin in different solutions towards colloids is of great scientific importance. In this minireview, we focus on the assembly behavior of lignin in different solvents, specifically in mono-solvent and multi-solvent, and in particular, we review various methods for preparing lignin composite colloids and concentrate on the applications in therapy, cosmetics and emulsification, which are important for guiding the preparation and efficient utilization of LNCs.

Simple lignin-based, light-driven shape memory polymers with excellent mechanical properties and wide range of glass transition temperatures

Lignin is the most abundant biomass source of aromatic hydrocarbons but, at present, is not effectively utilized. The development of simple and efficient methods for producing lignin-based polymers to replace petroleum-based products is an important strategy for promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and controlling carbon emissions. In this work, lignin-based, light-driven shape memory polymers (ELIDs) with improved mechanical properties have been prepared from enzymatic hydrolysis lignin, itaconic acid and 1,12-dodecanediol, without any chemical modification of the lignin. The polymers contain large proportions of lignin (20–40 wt%, designated ELID20 to ELID40) and their mechanical properties are dependent on the lignin content. Maximum tensile strength (46.9 MPa) was achieved with ELID30, maximum elongation at break (93.7 %) was achieved with ELID20 and highest fracture energy (10.75 J cm−3) was achieved with ELID25. These excellent mechanical properties are accompanied by good thermal stability and a wide range of glass transition temperatures (21.2–157.3 °C), supporting a broad range of applications. The shape fixation rate (Rf) and shape recovery rate (Rr) were highest for ELID30 (98.7 % and 97.4 %, respectively). Under 1 sun simulated solar irradiation, ELID20 reached a temperature exceeding the glass transition temperature in 15 s and, under 3 sun simulated solar irradiation, ELID30 reached a temperature of 130 °C and shape recovered in 60 s. The excellent mechanical properties and good light-driven shape memory of ELIDs provide inspiration for the development and utilization of lignin-based polymers.

Monitoring tert-Butylhydroquinone Content and Its Effect on a Biolubricant during Oxidation

The use of biolubricants as a replacement for petroleum-based products is becoming more and more important, due to the current global energy and crude oil scenario. Thus, the production of biolubricants (which could take place in biorefineries) should be as efficient as possible, obtaining high-quality products with suitable viscosity or oxidation stability values to compete with oil refineries. One of the ways to produce biolubricants is through double transesterification from vegetable oils, where the role of catalysts (usually homogeneous) is vital, as they can improve the yield of the process. However, they should be removed after the chemical reaction, which is difficult once the biolubricant is obtained. Otherwise, they could act as catalysts during oxidation, contributing to a further decrease in oxidation stability and provoking significant changes. To avoid this, antioxidant addition could be an interesting choice. The aim of this work was to assess TBHQ addition in frying oil biolubricants, monitoring properties such as viscosity, acid number, absorbance or TBHQ content (through voltammetry) during oxidation. TBHQ addition (2114 mg·L-1) kept the main quality parameters during oxidation compared to control samples. In contrast, TBHQ content decreased during oxidation (to 160 mg·L-1), which proved its antioxidant effect.

THE GLOBAL PETROLEUMSCAPE AND ITS IMPACT ON DESIGN PRACTICE

Over the last century the petroleum industry’s rapid growth has been accompanied by a steady flow of aggressively promoted petroleum-based products. The petroleumscape’s spatial expansion and visual representation achieved widespread citizen buy-in. Following World War II the use of plastic materials in the building industry significantly increased through efforts from architects and industry leaders. The House of the Future, built by MIT architects, the Monsanto Chemical Company, and Disneyland exemplified a modern lifestyle: clean, functional, and fun. The architectural and technocratic dream of a mass-produced, fully plastic house that seemed possible in the post-war years did not survive the subsequent commercialisation of the plastics industry in the 1960s and 70s.

Influence of mass transfer on the estimation of the thermal conductivity of a wet material by the hot wire and parallel hot wire methods

Biosourced insulating materials can provide an interesting response to climate challenges by reducing the energy consumption of buildings without using petroleum-based products. Compared to traditional insulating materials, they have the particularity of being hydrophilic so that mass transfer by water evaporation and condensation occurs when temperature or humidity boundary conditions change. To estimate the influence of mass transfer on the thermal conductivity estimation in the hot wire and in the parallel hot wire method, a coupled heat/mass transfer 1D model in cylindrical geometry was developed and numerically solved. Its exploitation to perform numerical experiments showed that the hot wire method allows the measurement of the thermal conductivity while the parallel hot wire method allows the measurement of an equivalent conductivity, sum of the thermal conductivity and of a term related to the phase change phenomena of water within the medium. These theoretical results were confirmed by an experimental study carried out on an anisotropic wood wool.