Oil Removal Research Articles

Factors affecting the development of cystoid macular edema following pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil placement: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundCystoid macular edema (CME) can develop following silicone oil placement in complex vitreoretinal surgeries, contributing to poor visual outcomes. In this study, we investigated the clinical and surgical characteristics associated with the development of CME following the use of silicone oil (SO) in pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgeries.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent implantation of SO during PPV from 2010 to 2020 by a single surgeon. Patient demographics, type of oil, duration of oil tamponade, retinectomy size, diabetic status, lens status, prior panretinal photocoagulation, visual acuity, and incidence of CME were reviewed.ResultsThis study included 43 eyes from 40 patients who underwent SO tamponade for retinal detachment (RD) surgery. The mean duration of SO tamponade was 15.7 ± 12.7 months (range: 1–58 months). The most common indication for surgery was diabetic tractional RD (32.7%), followed by traumatic RD (16.3%) and rhegmatogenous RD with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (11.6%). Of the 43 eyes, 18 (41.9%) developed CME for the first time after PPV with SO placement, with 8 (44%) resolving within a year of oil removal. The mean duration for the development of CME was 9 months. A logistic regression model showed that a scleral buckle procedure and poor initial vision were statistically significant factors for predicting the development of CME (ORs: 11.65 and 16.06, respectively). Overall, 91% of the patients had stable or improved vision after surgery.ConclusionsThe use of a scleral buckle procedure and poor initial vision are significant factors for predicting CME following silicone oil tamponade in PPV surgeries, with 41.9% of patients developing CME with an average duration of 9 months. Recognizing such factors can lead to early monitoring and prompt management of CME.Meeting presentationPartial analyses were presented at the ASRS 2020 conference.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

Bioinspired surface silicification of cellulose-mediated PVDF membranes for significantly enhancing superhydrophilicity and anti-oil adhesion toward ultrafast oil/water emulsion separation

Cellulose is a widely used hydrophilic material due to its rich hydrophilic hydroxyl groups. However, the presence of its lipophilic segment will affect the antifouling performance. Finding strategies to improve this problem has attracted considerable attention. In this work, a layer of silica was applied to a cellulose-deposited polyvinylidene fluoride membrane through a straightforward in-situ bionic silicification process of tetraethyl orthosilicate. The contact angle and oil droplet contact test proved that the high-hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity of the silicified membranes were significantly enhanced. The surface structure and composition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results of show that this improvement was mainly attributed to the presence of silicon hydroxyl groups, buried cellulose chains, and micro-nanostructures composed of cellulose and silica. The stable silica coating also provided protection for the polymeric membrane against degradation after water washing for 24 h, ultrasonic treatment (40 KHZ) for 10 min or exposure to different pH levels (pH=1, 4, 9 and 12) and saturated sodium chloride solution for 24 h. Furthermore, the silicified membrane showed outstanding oil adhesion resistance and permeation flux, enabling effective purification of different oil-in-water emulsions that were stabilized by emulsifiers. Notably, the membrane achieved a high oil removal rate (> 99.4 %) of various emulsions (toluene-in-water, cyclohexane-in-water, tetrachloroethane-in-water, soybean oil-in-water, toluene-in-salt solution, toluene-in-acid solution and toluene-in-alkaline solution emulsions). In particular, for toluene-in-water emulsions (oil droplets in the emulsion ranged from 58.77 nm to 615.1 nm), a significantly enhanced permeation flux (4777 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1) was obtained at 0.8 bar pressure. Even after multiple cycles of separation, the flux was higher than that of the unsilicified membrane. Overall, this approach is mild, simple, efficient, and easily scalable, making it an ideal method for producing superhydrophilic coatings with substantial application potential.

Preoperative OCT-Derived Nasal Perifoveal Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Predictively Correlates Long-Term Visual Acuity Post Oil Removal Surgery.

With the widespread application of silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery, the purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors of long-term vision loss 12months post oil removal in retina-detached eyes treated with vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade. Of the 592 patients approached, eligible eyes completed the investigation up to 12months post-oil-removal. Eligible eyes underwent pars-plana vitrectomy following oil tamponade. Oil removal was performed after 3 to 28months in different individuals, under the condition that the retina has reattached as well as the hemorrhage and inflammation has dissolved. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), age, sex, and interval between tamponade and removal were recorded, and retinal thickness was determined using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Fifty eyes of 50 participants aged 31 to 83years were enrolled. BCVA (LogMAR) 12months post-oil-removal improved in 25 of 40 (62.5%) patients, varying from 0.05 (20/22) to 1.0 (20/200) (mean ± SD = 0.55 ± 0.32). Pre-oil-removal nasal perifoveal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness varied from 16 to 83µm (38.40 ± 18.50), and was significantly linked with post-oil-removal BCVA (0.5%, 95% confidence interval 0.0%-1.0%; P = 0.046). This study demonstrates the risk factors and prognosis of visual function after long-term regeneration post vitrectomy, oil tamponade, and oil removal, thereby underscoring the need for a complete, dynamic examination of retinal structure via OCT measurement. Related studies should be conducted on a larger scale to facilitate the stratification of late-period vision damage in retina-detached eyes. This study developed OCT-based clinical markers for the postoperative visual prognosis of eyes affected by retinal detachment.

The influence of asphaltene and resin on the stability of crude oil emulsion and its demulsification mechanism

Currently, the effects of natural emulsifiers such as resin and asphaltene in crude oil on the stabilities of the emulsions as well as the demulsification mechanism of oil–water separation are still not well understood. In this study, the changes in oil–water wetting angle and interfacial tension (IFT) of crude oil emulsions were compared by extracting resin and asphaltene from crude oil to expound the effects of resin and asphaltene on the stabilities of crude oil emulsions. Meanwhile, the mechanism of demulsifier was discussed based on the competitive adsorption test of demulsifier and asphaltene. It was found that asphaltene was the main emulsifier in the process of oil–water emulsification. With the increase of asphaltene contents, the oil–water wetting angle decreased from 72.9° to 37°, the IFT decreased from 27.13 mN/m to 11.23 mN/m, and the emulsion droplet decreased from 10.3 mm to 1 mm. Demulsifier mainly reduced the stability of crude oil emulsion and realized oil–water separation by the replacement of the interface film-forming substances, the reduction of the oil–water interface tension, and the neutralization of interface charges. The results provide useful information for the demulsification and oil removal of oil-bearing wastewater emulsion.

Evaluation of Post-fracturing Imbibition Oil Displacement Efficiency in Shale Reservoirs

In order to clarify the imbibition law of shale oil after fracturing with guanidine gum and nano-slickwater, this study quantitatively analyzed the imbibition efficiency of shale core under different time periods of two kinds of fracturing fluids through the imbibition experiment of natural shale core and nuclear magnetic resonance test technology, and preliminarily understood the microscopic crude oil production characteristics of pore throat of shale imbibition. The experimental results show that the imbibition oil removal efficiency of nano-slick water reaches 34.7 %, which is higher than that of guanidine gum fracturing fluid. In the high imbibition efficiency stage of rock samples, within 6 h of the beginning of the experiment, the small pore porosity reaches 20.8 %, the large pore and fracture reach 30 %, and the final imbibition oil displacement rate can reach 31.7% and 39.6 %. The development of micro-fractures and bedding fractures is beneficial to improve the imbibition efficiency. With the extension of time, the imbibition rate gradually decreases, and the utilization degree of pore throat is limited.

Mixed superoleophilic/superoleophobic hard granular media for coalescence of oil-in-water-emulsion

To enhance the coalescence separation efficiency of oil/water emulsions, the coalescence mechanism of oil droplets between two media of opposite wettability was investigated. A coalescent-bed comprising a mix of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic quartz sand, along with superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic quartz sand, was constructed in a coalescer. Single-factor and response surface experiments were used to study the effects of oleophilic/oleophobic sand mixing ratio, apparent velocity, initial oil concentration, bed thickness, sand particle size on coalescence-separation performance, and to determine the optimal experimental conditions. Employing the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory, the agglomeration mechanism of oil droplets within the mixed particle bed was analyzed based on interfacial energy dynamics. Results indicate that the mixing ratio of the two sands significantly influences coalescence separation performance. An optimal oleophilic/oleophobic sand mixing ratio of 1:1 yielded a mass factor of 0.69 kPa−1, showcasing superior coalescence separation efficiency and an optimal balance of separation efficiency and pressure drop. Under the optimal conditions of apparent velocity of 2.7 m/h, initial oil concentration of 471.9 mg/L, bed thickness of 12.6 cm and mixed sand particle size of 0.5 mm, the oil/water separation efficiency reached 98.08 % ± 0.87 %, with effluent oil droplet size being 2.5 to 3 times larger than at the inlet. Analysis of the oil droplet coalescence mechanism revealed a synergistic effect between the two quartz sands, enhancing oil removal performance. The strong affinity of oil to the superhydrophobic and superoleophilic sand surface increases oil droplet wetting and coalescence efficiency, while the water attraction on the superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic sand surface forms a stable water film, improving the flux of the continuous water phase and reducing pressure drop across the bed. This study demonstrates that combining quartz sands of opposite wettability not only overcomes the limitations of single-wettability surfaces in coalescing oil removal but also achieves high efficiency and low energy consumption in oil removal.

Controllable Oil Adsorption from water Using Hydrophobic (Paraffin/Stearic Acid)/CoFe2O4 Magnetized Fibril Wax

Abstract The development of efficient oil-water separation techniques is critical for mitigating environmental pollution from industrial oily wastewater. This study synthesized a hydrophobic and oleophilic (paraffin/stearic acid) (Par/St)/CoFe2O4 magnetized fibril wax for controllable adsorption and removal of waste engine oil from water. Structural and morphological characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of 30 wt% CoFe2O4 nanoparticles into the Par/St wax matrix with fibril morphology. Structural and morphological characterization using TEM, UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, and SEM consistently confirmed the successful integration of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles into the Par/St wax matrix, forming fibrils with a high surface area. The oleophilic fibril demonstrated rapid adsorption and excellent removal efficiency of 99% for waste engine oil within 30 seconds. The fibrils could be magnetically guided for oil collection, ensuring reusable and eco-friendly oil remediation. This work introduces a novel solution for controllable oil spill clean-up and oily wastewater treatment.

Hydrophobic modification of biomass chitosan for treatment of oily wastewater and its demulsification mechanism

Traditional demulsifiers are commonly produced using raw materials like ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, which deplete significant petroleum resources and involve hazardous and complex manufacturing processes. In this investigation, a hydrophobically modified chitosan (HMC) was synthesized by grafting dodecyl diethanolamine onto natural chitosan to facilitate the separation of O/W emulsions. Characterization of HMC was conducted using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H NMR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The demulsification efficacy of HMC was assessed through a bottle test in an O/W emulsion containing 0.2 % crude oil. Results showed that at a HMC dosage of 40 mg/L, the light transmission (WT) and oil removal efficiency (WR) of the resulted water phase were 93.4 ± 0.8 % and 99.8 ± 0.1 %, respectively. Furthermore, the competitive adsorption between natural surfactants and HMC at the interface was investigated using interfacial tension (IFT), three-phase contact angle (CA), droplet coalescence time (CTA), and interfacial film substitution. A potential demulsifying mechanism was also proposed, emphasizing HMC’s hydrophilic core and dispersed hydrophobic alkyl chains that enable rapid diffusion to the oil–water interface, replacing interfacial active components to induce demulsification by destabilizing the composite film. The advantages of HMC demulsifier over commercial demulsifiers lie in its superior environmental benefits, diverse range of sources, higher efficiency, and outstanding demulsification performance.

An eco-friendly approach to separate emulsified oil from water using all natural materials of chitosan and beach sand

Oil-contaminated water from oil and gas exploration remains the industry’s primary waste stream. The common method of using chemical coagulation/flocculation followed by air flotation has drawbacks such as generating non-biodegradable and toxic sludge and high operational costs. This study presents an eco-friendly alternative utilizing chitosan and beach sand to remove emulsified oil from water. Chitosan acts as a biodegradable flocculant, while beach sand aids in high-density floc formation and accelerates settling velocity. This approach achieved up to 94 % oil removal efficiency and reduced settling time from 90 to 15 min by using 100 mg/L chitosan and 500 mg/L beach sand with a particle size distribution of 50–100 μm. Shorter settling time reduces capital expenditure compared to conventional methods. Additionally, using natural materials like chitosan and beach sand minimizes toxic sludge generation. This eco-friendly approach offers a promising alternative to conventional methods for treating oily wastewater.

Simple and eco-friendly fabrication of hempseed protein by one-step low-temperature-induced phase separation and centrifugal removal of oil

Hempseed protein is an emerging plant-derived alternative protein with unmatched nutritional and health benefits. However, the currently available industrial hempseed protein production relies on a defatting step using an organic solvent, hexane with health and environmental risks, which also damages the proteins’ structural and functional properties. In this study, we describe a successful method for the simple and eco-friendly simultaneous extraction of proteins and removal of oil based on the “hydrophilic” properties of hempseed oil. Both hempseed protein isolates (HPIs) extracted from hexane-defatted hempseed flour (HHPI) and non-defatted hempseed flour (NHHPI) exhibited great similarities in protein contents (both >90%), amino acid composition, protein subunits and functional properties (solubility, water retention and foaming). However, NHHPI significantly outperformed HHPI in keeping native structural and some processing properties. NHHPI exhibited a higher percentage of α-helix (44.29%) with lower amount of random coil (15.33%) than HHPI (α-helix 41.71%, random coil 19.07%), higher fluorescence intensity with lower incident wavelength (λmax = 326) than HHPI (incident wavelength λmax = 329). Meanwhile, NHHPI displayed higher surface hydrophobicity (807.01), fat absorption (1.35 g/g) and emulsion activity (2.36 m2/g) as compared to HHPI (743.48, 1.14 g/g, 1.78 m2/g, respectively). These findings highlight the importance of a new defatting method for HPI extraction, which may also be applicable to other oilseed proteins.

Surgical Outcomes of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Associated with Regressed Retinopathy of Prematurity.

To evaluate the characteristics and surgical outcomes of late-onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) associated with regressed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the status of fellow eyes. Retrospective review of consecutive cases undergoing surgery for regressed ROP-related RRD and the fellow eyes between 2012-2022. Demographic data, fundus findings, retinal detachment characteristics, surgical procedures, and anatomic and functional outcomes were analyzed. Anatomic success was defined as retinal attachment after silicone oil removal at final follow-up. Fifteen eyes of 14 patients with a history of regressed ROP underwent surgical repair for RRD at a mean age of 12 (range, 3-26) years. Primary surgical intervention yielded a 53% failure rate overall. This rate was 33% for scleral buckling (SB), 100% for pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and 40% for combined SB-PPV surgery. Eyes with posterior cicatricial changes and/or proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) demonstrated a higher tendency for recurrence. The final anatomic success rate was 73% after a mean number of 2.3 (range, 1-5) surgeries. The chances of restoring useful vision diminished with repeated surgery despite the improvement in anatomic success. In the fellow eyes, peripheral retinal pathologies were universally observed, with posterior cicatricial changes noted in 33%. The study reveals a significant initial failure rate in surgical treatment of cases with late-onset RRD associated with regressed ROP, particularly in eyes with posterior cicatricial changes or PVR, suggesting the need for a combined surgical approach as an initial strategy in such high-risk cases. The consistent presence of retinal abnormalities in fellow eyes calls for proactive monitoring and potential prophylactic intervention.

Comparative Analysis of Macular and Optic Disc Perfusion Pre and Post Silicone Oil Removal: A Machine Learning Approach.

In the realm of ophthalmic surgeries, silicone oil is often utilized as a tamponade agent for repairing retinal detachments, but it necessitates subsequent removal. This study harnesses the power of machine learning to analyze the macular and optic disc perfusion changes pre and post-silicone oil removal, using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) data. Building upon the foundational work of prior research, our investigation employs Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to create predictive models based on OCTA scans. We conducted a comparative analysis focusing on the flow in the outer retina and vessel density in the deep capillary plexus (superior-hemi and perifovea) to track perfusion changes across different time points. Our findings indicate that while machine learning models predict the flow in the outer retina with reasonable accuracy, predicting the vessel density in the deep capillary plexus (particularly in the superior-hemi and perifovea regions) remains challenging. These results underscore the potential of machine learning to contribute to personalized patient care in ophthalmology, despite the inherent complexities in predicting ocular perfusion changes.

Facile Preparation of Smart Sponge Based on a Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework for the Efficient Separation of Oily Wastewater

The fabrication of durable materials with excellent oil-adsorption capacity and separation performance for the treatment of oily wastewater is meaningful based on the special property of smart responsiveness. Herein, a solvent-responsive melamine sponge (MS) was developed via silanization and the in situ growth of a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). Detailed characterization of the resultant composite MS was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The multiscale hierarchical MS substrate exhibited highly hydrophobic properties in the pH range of 1–11, along with a satisfactory adsorption capacity in the range of 65.4–134.2 g/g for different oils. The modified surface transformed from superhydrophobic/superlipophilic to superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic upon ethanol wetting, reverting to its original superhydrophobic state upon drying. The separation flux of the MS substrate was above 1.5 × 104 L/m2h for both oil and water removal, and the separation efficiency was greater than 98.7%. The absence of obvious changes in separation performance after 50 successive immiscible oil−water separations indicated the excellent durability and robustness of the anchored ZIF-8 nanoparticles on the surface of the modified MS substrate. More importantly, oil-in-water emulsion separation was successfully carried out via the ZIF-8 MS composite, showing high separation efficiency (over 99.1%). The developed smart sponge, which had high oil-adsorption capacity, excellent chemical stability, and fire resistance, has a wide range of potential practical applications in the convenient treatment of oily wastewater.

Phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil using Vigna Unguiculata and associated rhizosphere bacteria

Persistent crude oil contamination poses a significant environmental challenge. In this study, the efficacy of Vigna unguiculata (L.) and associated rhizospheric microorganisms in remediating crude oil-contaminated soil within a microcosm setting was investigated. A randomized block design was employed, and soil samples were subjected to varying degrees of contamination: 0% (UR), 2.5% (CR2), 5.0% (CR5), 7.5% (CR7), and 10.0% (CR10) w/w crude oil. The investigation aimed to assess the potential of Vigna unguiculata (L.) in mitigating crude oil contamination across these defined contamination gradients. The plant growth and crude oil removal were monitored concurrently post-emergence. Plant emergence and growth were significantly affected due to contamination, especially among plants in CR5 and CR10. The bacterial population was higher in the rhizosphere, and the treatments with lower hydrocarbon contamination. It was shown that plant density encouraged the growth of bacterial communities. Significant reduction in soil TPH was observed in CR2 (76.61%) and CR7 (65.88%). There was a strong correlation between plant growth and oil-utilizing bacterial population (r2 = 0.966) and plant growth and hydrocarbon reduction (r2 = 0.956), signifying the role of plant-bacterial synergy. Saturate fractions (C30 – C32) were significantly degraded to lower molecular weight compounds (C11 – C14). Except in CR5 and CR10, the remediation within the cowpea rhizosphere was effective even at regulatory standards. Understanding the rhizosphere ecological dynamics would further highlight the role the bacteria played; hence, it is recommended.

Retinal redetachment after silicone oil removal: a risk factor analysis

PurposeTo report the rate of retinal redetachment after silicone oil removal following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery and to determine potential risk factors.MethodsRetrospective observational case series of 161 eyes who underwent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery and subsequent silicone oil removal. Pre- and intraoperative risk factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. We also evaluated the effect of tamponade duration on anatomical outcomes.ResultsThe median tamponade duration was 5.9 [4.3;7.6] months. Seventeen (10.6%) eyes underwent silicone oil removal within 3 months of surgery, with a median delay of 2.3 [2.0;2.8] months. The rate of retinal detachment after silicone oil removal was 14.9%. A history of previous unsuccessful surgery was the only significant risk factor for retinal redetachment after silicone oil removal (OR 4.8, 95%CI [1.5;19.0], p = 0.02). The use of 360° laser retinopexy and concomitant air or gas tamponade during silicone oil removal were not found to affect the redetachment rate. Eyes with silicone oil tamponade ≤ 3 months showed an increased, albeit not significant, risk of developing recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after silicone oil removal (35.3% versus 12.5%, p = 0.06).ConclusionA retinal redetachment occurred in 14.9% of eyes undergoing silicone oil removal following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery. Previous failed surgery was associated with a 4.8-fold increased risk of developing recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after silicone oil removal. Eyes with silicone oil tamponade ≤ 3 months tended to have a higher redetachment rate.Trial registration numberID NCT05647928 (12th April 2022)

Synthesis of carbon nanotube aerogels from cross-linked polyacrylamide/chitosan hydrogels via gamma irradiation for efficient oil removal

Environmental pollution, stemming from oil spills and improper disposal of organic solvents, severely threatens global water resources and ecosystems. This study addresses this concern by introducing carbon nanotube (CNT) aerogels as efficient adsorbents for removing pump oil and various organic solvents from water. Aerogels were synthesized from cross-linked Chitosan/polyacrylamide hydrogels using gamma irradiation in the presence of sodium silicate, incorporating varying concentrations of CNTs (1 %, 2 %, and 3 %). Characterization techniques, including FTIR, SEM, EDX, BET surface area analysis, and compression testing, unveiled the structural and physicochemical properties of the aerogels. Incorporation of CNTs substantially enhanced surface area and compressive strength, with the CNT 3 % aerogel exhibiting remarkable values (316 m2/g and 8.677 MPa, respectively). Hydrophobicity was confirmed by water contact angles (89° to 94°). The CNT aerogels demonstrated outstanding oil removal efficiency, reaching 93.15 %, surpassing the blank aerogel (38.01 %). The CNT aerogel achieved 80.68 % efficiency for methanol removal compared to 62.09 % for the blank aerogel. Kinetic studies revealed a chemisorption process, emphasizing the enhanced chemical interactions facilitated by CNTs. These findings underscore the promising potential of CNT aerogels for effectively removing oil and organic solvent contaminants from water, even at low concentrations.

Reducing oil and grease on-site in real offshore oilfield-produced water through feasible adsorption-desorption cycling

Although produced water treatment is witnessing an increasing demand worldwide, conventional treatments are limited, marginally aiming at water-soluble pollutants. Here, we develop a cycling adsorption process, targeting water-soluble compounds and mapping the conditions to yield oils and grease content in real water matrix below the legislation requirements, allowing full adsorbent reuse through a feasible offshore route. The adsorption performance was evaluated in terms of pH, adsorbent concentration, and contact time, while the desorption performance was assessed in terms of eluent type, concentration, and contact time. The polymeric resin MN 202 presents an excellent ability to remove oil and grease from the real produced water matrix, and acid pHs favored the process. The adsorption equilibrium is reached after 12 h, with an oil and grease removal of 92 % at pH 5, presenting multilayer adsorption during the process, with an influence of external diffusion governed by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. In the desorption process, CH3O− species, originated by NaOH's solubilization in methanol, enables complete adsorbent regeneration in 2 h. The adsorption-desorption cycling is stable, and the adsorbent microstructure assessment indicates no significant changes in the resin surface due to adsorption-desorption runs.

Novel avenues for achieving simultaneous high-efficiency oil removal and sterilization: Designing a quaternary ammonium-hydrophobic ternary template copolymer

In treating complex sewage containing microorganisms, flocculation and disinfection typically occur as distinct stages, involving the addition of flocculants and disinfectants separately. To integrate oil removal and disinfection, a novel quaternary ammonium-hydrophobic ternary template polymer, TPAMA-DA, was engineered with capabilities for both flocculation and sterilization functions. Optimal copolymer characteristics were determined through Response Surface Methodology of the preparation parameters for TPAMA-DA. The copolymer prepared was applied to model wastewater, and the results indicate that, in emulsified oil and E. coli single systems, TPAMA-DA achieved removal rates of 95.71 % and 97.19 % for emulsified oil and OD600 (residual OD600 = 0.0239), respectively, showcasing superior oil removal and antibacterial capabilities compared to TPAMA and PAMA. Meanwhile, TPAMA-DA exhibited excellent oil removal efficiency across a broad range of pH environments, contrasting sharply with its pH-sensitive antibacterial properties. Surprisingly, applying TPAMA-DA to the oil-E. coli binary systems, it not only maintained high efficiency in oil removal but also showed certain pH adaptability in antibacterial activity, suggesting TPAMA-DA’s outstanding ability for simultaneous oil removal and antibacterial action in oil-E. coli binary systems. Impressively, SEM and 3D-EEM analyses confirm that TPAMA-DA disrupts the bacterial cell, resulting in the death of E. coli. These findings may pave the way for new avenues in the development of multi-functional, efficient, low-consumption, and environmentally friendly high-performance copolymers with dual capabilities for oil removal and sterilization.

Impact of Partial Oil Removal on Energy Content of Distillers Grains Plus Solubles for Finishing Cattle.

Two experiments evaluated the impact of the reduction in the percentage of corn oil remaining in distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) after the ethanol plant de-oiling process or by adding corn oil back to DGS following de-oiling on finishing cattle performance and nutrient digestion. Experiment 1 utilized 320 yearling steers (initial BW = 413 kg; SD = 25 kg) fed in 32 pens (10 steers/pen) and assigned to one of four treatments (n = 8 pens/treatment). The four treatments consisted of a blended DRC:HMC corn control diet (CON), de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles included at 40% of diet DM (DODGS), de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles included at 38% of diet DM plus 2% added corn oil (DODGS + Oil), and full-fat modified distillers grains plus solubles included at 40% of diet DM (FFDGS). The DODGS product contained 8.9% fat while the FFDGS product contained 11.6% fat. Dry matter intake (DMI) was impacted by treatment (p = 0.01) with steers fed DODGS having the greatest DMI and steers fed CON, DODGS + Oil, and FFDGS having lower DMI. Dietary treatment tended to impact ADG (p = 0.06) with steers fed DODGS and DODGS + Oil having greater gains than CON, with FFDGS being an intermediate. As a result of increased ADG, G:F differed between treatments (p < 0.01) with the greatest feed efficiency observed for steers fed DODGS + Oil and FFDGS. Including MDGS in the diet improved G:F by 6 to 11% compared to feeding DRC:HMC corn blend, with an improvement in G:F of 4.9 and 1.2% for DODGS + Oil and FFDGS, respectively, compared to DODGS. Hot carcass weight was impacted by dietary treatment (HCW; p = 0.05), with DODGS- and DODGS + Oil-fed steers having the heaviest HCW, CON steers having the lightest HCW, and FFDGS being an intermediate. Experiment 2 was a 5 × 4 unbalanced Latin rectangle digestion experiment with four diets, five ruminally cannulated steers, and five periods that utilized the same treatments as Exp. 1. Dietary fat measured 4.2, 6.0, 7.9, and 7.1% for CON, DODGS, DODGS + Oil, and FFDGS, respectively. Intakes of DM, OM, and energy as well as total tract fat digestibility and DE (Mcal/d) were not impacted by dietary treatment (p ≥ 0.46). When corn oil was added back to de-oiled MDGS, there was a negative impact on digestibility of OM (p < 0.01) and NDF (p = 0.07) compared with DODGS, FFDGS, and CON. Partially removing oil from modified distillers grains plus solubles did not significantly impact cattle performance, carcass traits, energy content, or digestibility when MDGS was included at approximately 40% of diet DM.

Hybrid amphiphilic janus PDMS sponge enabling electrical sensing of organic solvents

Porous materials exhibit exceptional suitability for underwater pollutant purification through selective absorption of water and oil. However, most reported porous materials designed for oil absorption, removal, and reuse lack the selectivity necessary to distinguish between different types of organic solvents. In this study, a sponge-based sensor that is responsive to and capable of distinguishing changes in resistance induced by physical deformation of the conductive layer is presented. The sensor is a Janus-structured porous PDMS sponge fabricated using sugar cube templates. The solvent-absorbing section features 300 µm pores to maximize absorption relative to its volume. The resistance-sensing section was created with 600 µm pores and PDMS mixed with the surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) to enhance hydrophilicity, allowing for low-cost dip coating with a water-dispersible conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). Detecting the physical changes in the PEDOT:PSS film on the sponge surface allowed distinguishing responses to physical stimuli. Analyzing the trends in resistance changes under physical stimuli and in polar/nonpolar solvents, conductivity change mechanisms are proposed. The type of organic solvent absorbed by the sponge can be differentiated using these mechanisms.