Salt Water Research Articles

Investigation of Corrosion Behavior of Cenosphere reinforced Iron Based Composite Coatings

In the present study cenopshere was reinforced with FeCrNiC (Metco 42C) as matrix material and prepared four different feedstock powders such as FeCrNiC+0%Cenosphere, FeCrNiC+5%Cenosphere, FeCrNiC+10%Cenosphere and FeCrNiC+15%Cenosphere were coated by plasma spray technique on T22 substrate. Evaluation of the substrate and coatings potential under salt spray test was performed. Dense fog of 5% NaCl salt water was used to create a corrosive atmosphere within the chamber. The salt water's pH was kept constant at 6.5-7. The materials that underwent corrosion were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The FeCrNiC+15%Cenosphere and FeCrNiC+10%Cenosphere coatings exhibited reduced weight loss during a 168-hour corrosion test compared to the FeCrNiC+5%Cenosphere, FeCrNiC coatings, and substrate. The excellent chemical stability and corrosion resistance of Cr23C6, SiO2, NiO, and Cr2O particles contribute to gradually avoid the formation of red rust on Fe-based coated samples with exposure approaches to 52 and 130 hours.

Graphene oxide/silicon dioxide (GO/SiO2) hybrid coating on zirconia ceramic for sustainable water desalination

Hybrid membranes combining graphene oxide (GO) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) were successfully developed for pervaporation desalination using porous zircon tube substrates. These GO/SiO2 membranes were carefully designed by adjusting the amount of GO and the pH levels during the dip-coating process on the zircon tube surface. The study aimed to investigate how varying amounts of GO and pH levels affect the membranes' properties and desalination performance. The results indicate that raising the pH level decreases the membranes' hydrophilicity and enhances their stability. Conversely, increasing the amount of GO increases the membranes’ hydrophilicity and reduces their pore size. Higher pH levels and GO amounts resulted in better salt rejection but lower water flux. Among the tested membranes, GS-6 (0.3 % GO/SiO2, pH 6) achieved the highest salt rejection rate of 99.96 % at 30 °C with a 1 % NaCl feed concentration. In contrast, GS-1 (0.1 % GO/SiO2, pH 4) showed the highest water flux of 8.54 kg m−2 h−1 at 60 °C with the same feed concentration. Increasing the temperature led to decreased salt rejection but increased water flux. Additionally, higher feed concentrations lowered both salt rejection and water flux.

Optimising the effectiveness of osmotic desalination process by using graphene-based nanomaterials

This work examines how graphene-based nanoparticles can be integrated into membranes to improve the effectiveness of water treatment in osmotic desalination processes. This is important since sustainable practices can help address the world's water scarcity. Water treatment, desalination, and resource recovery are areas where osmotic desalination shows great potential. However, membrane performance constraints frequently impede its efficacy. High mechanical strength, superior hydrophilicity, and the ability to lessen internal concentration polarisation are just a few of the remarkable qualities that make graphene-based nanoparticles stand out. In order to increase the membranes' overall functionality, these nanoparticles were created and added to them. Comparing the study to conventional membranes, the main goals were to increase water flux rates and salt ion rejection capacities. It was shown by experimental results that the membranes strengthened with graphene-based nanoparticles performed better. They outperformed conventional membranes in terms of water flow growth and salt ion rejection rates improvement. In order to advance osmotic desalination technologies towards more effective and sustainable water treatment options, this study highlights the revolutionary potential of graphene-based nanoparticles. Graphene-based nanoparticles provide an attractive option for tackling major water issues worldwide by improving membrane characteristics that are essential for osmotic desalination, such as permeability and selectivity. Water management techniques that are environmentally sustainable are supported by their integration into membranes, which also enhances performance metrics. This study opens the door for creative approaches to resource recovery and water treatment by providing important insights into the creation of cutting-edge materials specifically designed for osmotic desalination applications.

A preliminary evaluation of the effects of aquatic environments on the recovery of fingermarks on porous substrates

Latent fingermark detection can become increasingly difficult in the weeks following deposition, due to chemical and physical changes influenced by environment. There has been increased research interest into ageing mechanisms of fingermark residue, however these studies have typically been conducted in dry, indoors conditions. Less information is available regarding degradation processes that may occur in scenarios involving water and the potential longevity of porous substrates under such conditions. A pilot study was conducted to investigate the performances of Oil Red O (ORO) and physical developer (PD) on samples submerged in different aquatic environments in a laboratory setting. Charged fingermarks from three donors were deposited on copy paper and immersed in either salt water or freshwater; still or with water flow. Samples were treated at multiple intervals (1, 12, 20 and 40 days) after submersion. Results showed that high quality of development could be achieved up to 40 days after immersion. The overall performances of ORO and PD were generally unaffected in the early stages of the study. Physical and chemical degradation of both latent residue and substrate were observed, which were increased by salt and water movement. While PD appeared to be less affected by potential chemical changes, it was less effective than ORO due to substrate degradation in moving salt water. These results present the first steps towards better understanding the practical effects of degradation processes specific to fingermarks on porous substrates underwater.

Preparation and evaluation of a pyridine sulfonate betaine-based zwitterionic stationary phase for hydrophilic interaction chromatography

A zwitterionic stationary phase comprising pyridinium cations and sulfonate anions was successfully developed through thiol-ene click chemistry. Using seven polar small molecules as probes, the zwitterionic stationary phase showed high separation selectivity and excellent column efficiency (35,200–54,800 plates/m) compared with two commercial columns. The influence of water proportion, salt concentration, and pH in the mobile phase, and column temperature, on the retention of six polar compounds was examined. The retention mechanism was explored by three hydrophilic retention models, Tanaka test and linear solvation energy relationship analysis. For the analysis of sample dairy products (milk powder, milk, and yogurt), the stationary phase was operated in hydrophilic interaction chromatography mode without the addition of buffer salts, facilitating rapid and efficient detection and quantification of melamine. The LOD and LOQ are 0.04 mg⋅g−1 and 0.13 mg⋅g−1, respectively, and the recovery rate is 90.3 − 102.8 %. The zwitterionic stationary phase has the advantages of simple preparation, good method reproducibility, good selectivity and high precision.

The Phase Distribution Characteristics and Interphase Mass Transfer Behaviors of the CO2-Water/Saline System under Gathering and Transportation Conditions: Insights on Molecular Dynamics.

In order to investigate the interphase mass transfer and component distribution characteristics of the CO2-water system under micro-scale and nano-scale transport conditions, a micro-scale kinetic model representing interphase mass transfer in the CO2-water/saline system is developed in this paper. The molecular dynamics method is employed to delineate the diffusion and mass transfer processes of the system's components, revealing the extent of the effects of variations in temperature, pressure, and salt ion concentration on interphase mass transfer and component distribution characteristics. The interphase mass transfer process in the CO2-water system under transport conditions can be categorized into three stages: approach, adsorption, and entrance. As the system temperature rises and pressure decreases, the peak density of CO2 molecules at the gas-liquid interface markedly drops, with their aggregation reducing and their diffusion capability enhancing. The specific hydration structures between salt ions and water molecules hinder the entry of CO2 into the aqueous phase. Additionally, as the salt concentration in water increases, the density peak of CO2 molecules at the gas-liquid interface slightly increases, while the density value in the water phase region significantly decreases.

Recurrent Relationships as an Important Class of Mathematical Equations in Chemistry

The unique potential and different areas of applications of recurrent (synonymous: recursive) relationships in chemistry and chromatography are considered. Recurrent relations can be used in two forms: as functions of integer arguments, y(x+ 1) = ay(x) + b, and as functions of equidistant argument values, A(x+ Δx) = aA(x)+ b, Δx= const. The first form applies to all physicochemical properties of homologs in organic chemistry, because the number of carbon (and other) atoms in a molecule can be integer only. The second one applies to chemical variables depending on temperature, pressure, concentrations, etc., when the chemists should provide equal “steps” of their variations. Recurrent relations combine the properties of arithmetic and geometric progressions, which accounts for their unique approximation abilities. This was illustrated by approximating the number of isomers of alkanes, the boiling points of homologs (nonlinear dependencies), the melting points of homologs (alternation effects), the temperature dependence of the solubility of inorganic salts in water, and by revealing the anomalies of gas chromatographic retention indices and retention times in reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Salt-resistant continuous solar evaporation composites based on nonwovens with synergistic photothermal effect of graphene oxide/copper sulphide.

Solar interfacial evaporation is an innovative and environmentally friendly technology for producing freshwater from seawater. However, current interfacial evaporators are costly to manufacture, have poor tolerance to environmental conditions, exhibit instability in evaporation efficiency in highly saline solutions, and fail to prevent salt crystallization. The production of user-friendly, durable and salt-resistant interfacial evaporators remains a significant challenge. By spraying graphene oxide on a nonwoven material using PVA as a binder and adding biphasic Cu x S by an in situ growth method, we designed 2D/3D micro- and nanostructured graphene oxide nanosheets/copper sulfide nanowires (GO/Cu x S) with synergistic photo-thermal effects in the full spectral range. The evaporation efficiency in pure water was 94.61% with an evaporation rate of 1.5622 kg m-2 h-1. In addition, we enhanced convection by employing a vertically aligned water-guide rod structure design, where the concentration difference drives salt dissolution thereby reducing the formation of salt crystals. The evaporation efficiency in 20% salt water was 80.41% with an evaporation rate of 1.3228 kg m-2 h-1 and long-term stability of brine evaporation was demonstrated under continuous sunlight. This solar steam generator expands the potential application areas of desalination and wastewater purification.

Microwave-assisted alkaline fusion followed by water-leaching for the selective extraction of the refractory metals tungsten, niobium and tantalum from low-grade ores and tailings

The refractory metals tungsten, tantalum and niobium are considered critical raw materials in Europe. Diversifying the supply of such materials, for instance by recovering refractory metals from local low-grade ore materials could reduce their supply risks. However, the extraction processes require to be efficient with a low energy and material consumption and a minimal environmental impact. In this work, microwave (MW) assisted alkaline fusion was explored to extract tungsten from scheelite containing ore materials with different grades (high to very low) and tantalum and niobium from a columbite-tantalite [(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6] concentrate. During the fusion process scheelite was converted into soluble alkali tungstate salts [Na2WO4, K2WO4 and/or K3Na(WO4)2] and the reaction temperature could be lowered to 150–200 °C by fusion with a low-melting eutectic alkali salt system of an 1:1 (m/m) NaOH:KOH mixture. The application of MW-assisted heating allowed for fast and volumetric heating, thereby lowering reaction times to 10 min – 30 min. After fusion, tungsten was extracted by a simple water leaching step leading to extraction efficiencies ranging from 77 % to 97 %. Noteworthily, also P, S and As, which all form soluble oxyanions were extracted from the studied materials. Extraction of niobium and tantalum was also achieved though MW-assisted alkaline fusion as an alternative to acidic fluorine-based hydrometallurgical processes. MW-assisted heating allowed for a fast conversion of the (Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 into alkali tantalate and niobate salts. Under optimal conditions, MW-assisted fusion with KOH (salt:sample = 3:1 (m/m)) at 400 °C for 10 min leached ca. 74 %–88 % of tantalum and 77 %–86 % of niobium into water (L/S=10) at 40 °C for 120 min, while the main matrix elements Mn and Fe displayed limited dissolution (<4%). Due to the low solubility of sodium tantalate and niobate salts in water, MW-assisted alkaline fusion in an eutectic NaOH:KOH mixture followed by water leaching was not efficient.

The Role of Cyano-HAB (Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms) in the One Health Approach to Global Health

Harmful algal bloom events occur in salt, brackish, and fresh water. In bodies of water such as oceans and estuaries, diatoms or dinoflagellates form “tides” that produce toxins associated with seafood poisoning, including paralytic shellfish poisoning, or respiratory distress from inhalation of aerosolized toxins. Cyanobacteria predominantly bloom in fresh water; they can produce microcystins; cylindrospermopsin; and other toxins that humans or animals might be exposed to through water contact, inhalation, or ingestion. Animals that become ill or die can be sentinels for harmful algal bloom events. In a One Health approach, information about harmful algal bloom exposures and health effects support efforts to detect these events and mitigate and prevent associated illnesses. Human, animal, and environmental health partners can work together to document the occurrence and impacts of harmful algal bloom events and characterize associated illnesses.

Characterization of the Alkali and Hydrolysis Resistance of Polymer-Impregnated, Alkali-Resistant Glass Filaments.

The aim of this series of tests was to characterize the alkali and water resistance of alkali-resistant (durability) glass filaments, which were optimized with two non-vulcanized formulations based on co-polymerizing styrene-butadiene rubbers (CemFil-SBR1 and CemFil-SBR2). Furthermore, it was assessed which of the two polymer-impregnated multifilament yarns is the better alternative for use in cementitious binders. For this purpose, the impregnated multifilament yarns were chemically conditioned for up to twelve months at temperatures of 23 and 50 °C in 2.5 percent sodium hydroxide solution and 2.5 percent potassium hydroxide solution as well as in 3 percent salt and distilled water. The samples were then subjected to material science tests. The liquid absorption capacities and the changes in the mass of the composite materials were determined at different times during conditioning. The load-bearing capacity of the samples was also tested using uniaxial fiber strand tensile tests. The durability of the polymer-impregnated multifilament yarns was described in detail in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy images and nominal cross-section determinations. The test liquids caused a reduction in strength during the storage period, which was accelerated by increased temperatures. The reduction in strength is mainly due to glass corrosion of the filaments. Glass corrosion is delayed due to the good impregnation quality, which fundamentally improves the durability of the yarns. The results of the durability tests show that the polymer-impregnated multifilament yarns CemFil-SBR2 are probably more suitable for use in cementitious binders, as they have better alkali and hydrolysis resistance.

Efficient interfacial solar evaporation using a novel carbonized foam as photo-thermal converter

Recent research shows that one of the effective and green methods to reduce freshwater scarcity is interfacial solar evaporation. This method does not require energy consumption. One of the important challenges that should be taken into consideration in interfacial solar evaporator systems is the fabrication of solar absorbers with easy, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, efficient and scalable methods. Herein, a carbonized melamine foam (CMF) fabricated via a one-step, fast, low-cost and easy method for solar desalination. The CMF is fabricated by an electrical heat gun within a few minutes and is characterized by various techniques. The prepared CMF as a black foam shows excellent properties for solar desalination such as superhydrophilicity, high light absorption, high water transportation rate, good photo-thermal conversion, high rate of water evaporation and salt resistance. The prepared CMF shows repeatable performance in solar evaporation at consecutive evaporation cycles with solar evaporation rate of 3 kg m−2h−1 and high solar thermal conversion efficiency of 90 % under 1000 W m−2 illumination.

Genome editing for improvement of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in cereals

Global agricultural production must quadruple by 2050 to fulfil the needs of a growing global population, but climate change exacerbates the difficulty. Cereals are a very important source of food for the world population. Improved cultivars are needed, with better resistance to abiotic stresses like drought, salt, and increasing temperatures, and resilience to biotic stressors like bacterial and fungal infections, and pest infestation. A popular, versatile, and helpful method for functional genomics and crop improvement is genome editing. Rapidly developing genome editing techniques including clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) are very important. This review focuses on how CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing might enhance cereals’ agronomic qualities in the face of climate change, providing important insights for future applications. Genome editing efforts should focus on improving characteristics that confer tolerance to conditions exacerbated by climate change (e.g. drought, salt, rising temperatures). Improved water usage efficiency, salt tolerance, and heat stress resilience are all desirable characteristics. Cultivars that are more resilient to insect infestations and a wide range of biotic stressors, such as bacterial and fungal diseases, should be created. Genome editing can precisely target genes linked to disease resistance pathways to strengthen cereals’ natural defensive systems.

Response of Subpolar North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation to Variability in Surface Winds on Different Timescales

Abstract A large part of the variability in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and thus uncertainty in its estimates on interannual time scales comes from atmospheric synoptic eddies and mesoscale processes. In this study, a suite of experiments with a 1/12° regional configuration of the MITgcm is performed where low-pass filtering is applied to surface wind forcing to investigate the impact of subsynoptic (&lt;2 days) and synoptic (2–10 days) atmospheric processes on the ocean circulation. Changes in the wind magnitude and hence the wind energy input in the region have a significant effect on the strength of the overturning; once this is accounted for, the magnitude of the overturning in all sensitivity experiments is very similar to that of the control run. Synoptic and subsynoptic variability in atmospheric winds reduce the surface heat loss in the Labrador Sea, resulting in anomalous advection of warm and salty waters into the Irminger Sea and lower upper-ocean densities in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic. Other effects of high-frequency variability in surface winds on the AMOC are associated with changes in Ekman convergence in the midlatitudes. Synoptic and subsynoptic winds also impact the strength of the boundary currents and density structure in the subpolar North Atlantic. In the Labrador Sea, the overturning strength is more sensitive to the changes in density structure, whereas in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic, the role of density is comparable to that of the strength of the East Greenland Current. Significance Statement A key issue in understanding how well the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is simulated in climate models is determining the impact of synoptic (2–10 days) and subsynoptic (shorter) wind variability on ocean circulation. We find that the greatest impact of wind changes on the strength of the overturning is through changes in energy input from winds to the ocean. Variations in winds have a more modest impact via changes in heat loss over the Labrador Sea, alongside changes in wind-driven surface currents. This study highlights the importance of accurately representing the density in the Labrador Sea, and both the strength and density structure of the East Greenland Current, for the correct representation of overturning circulation in climate models.

Productivity, energy, and exergy analyses of a water desalination system-based vortex tubes with different configurations: An experimental implementation

The present implementation explores the use of vortex tubes (VTs) as an alternative thermal technology for water desalination systems (WDSs). VTs are utilized to provide hot air for evaporating salt water in the evaporator, while simultaneously supplying cold air to condense the water vapor in the condenser. The study investigates the influence of a number of operating parameters, including inlet water temperature (Ti,w), cold mass ratio (CR), and vacuum pressure (pvac) on the performance of WDS-based VTs through experimental analysis. Different configurations of VTs are tested for WDS applications, including WDS-based single vortex tube (VT), WDS-based two series vortex tubes (2SVTs), and WDS-based two parallel vortex tubes (2PVTs). Performance metrics such as the evaporation heat (QEvap), desalinated water production (DWP), gain output ratio (GOR), and exergy performance are evaluated for each configuration. Results show that the WDS-based 2SVTs exhibits the highest QEvap; while the WDS-based 2PVTs demonstrates the lowest value. Correlations are proposed to predict DWP for different configurations of WDS based on pvac, Ti,w, and CR with a maximum deviation of ±12.2 %. Furthermore, the WDS-based 2SVTs achieves the best GOR of 2.5 at an inlet water temperature of 80 °C, representing a significant improvement compared to the WDS-based VT and 2PVTs. The exergy efficiency (ηex) increases with higher CR, and the WDS-based 2SVTs ensures the best exergy performance, and its maximum overall ηex equals 78.2 %.

A hydrophobic phase-locking strategy enabling ultrarobust and water-stable self-healing elastomers for underwater ionotronics

Water-resistant conductive elastomers can endow soft electronic devices with reliable sensing performance for motion monitoring and real-time communication in aquatic environments. Nevertheless, traditional conductive elastomers typically suffer from notable shortcomings in terms of inferior mechanical robustness, weak stability, and self-healing capabilities in wet conditions and even underwater, significantly restricting their practical utility. Drawing inspiration from the optimization of multiphase structure, an ultrarobust underwater healable elastomer is constructed by incorporating biomass-derived long-chain segments with a large number of amide/benzene groups into a hierarchical H-bonding supramolecular network. The locking of multiple dynamic bonds by uniformly distributed hard-phase domains with dense hydrophobic barriers leads to the resultant elastomer gaining remarkably enhanced mechanical properties (stretchability, 2217.2 %; toughness, 272.97 MJ m−3) and outstanding capability to autonomously self-heal even underwater with a high ultimate strength over 10 MPa (aqueous healing for 24 h). Notably, it boasts exceptional healing stability to all types of harsh aqueous environments, such as strong acid/alkali, high temperature, and salty water. The application of the developed elastomer is also demonstrated by creating a multifunctional wearable sensor that can accurately detect and transmit information for a variety of human motions in both atmospheric and aquatic environments. The viable strategy reported herein for designing advanced multifunctional healable materials can be applicable for all-environment flexible iontronic devices.

Impacts of land use changes on the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater quality in the Yinchuan area, China, based on long-term monitoring data

Agricultural activities and rapid urbanization have significantly impacted groundwater quality, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. This study comprehensively evaluated the quality of phreatic and confined groundwater in the Yinchuan area, China, using long-term monitoring data from 1991 to 2018. Geospatial analysis model was employed to explore the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater hydrochemistry. The effects of land use changes on groundwater quality were assessed using correlation analysis and a multiple linear regression model (MLR). The findings indicate significant temporal variations in groundwater quality, with phreatic water consistently exhibiting high salinity and hardness. The groundwater quality indices for phreatic water were frequently more polluted than confined water. From 1991 to 2018, the hydrochemical composition of phreatic water evolved from HCO3-Mg and HCO3•SO4-Mg to more complex forms such as HCO3•SO4•Cl-Mg and HCO3•Cl-Mg. In contrast, confined water predominantly maintained its HCO3-Mg type and HCO3•Cl-Na (Na•Mg) type water. Urban land had rapidly expanded in the past three decades, increasing by 318.75% compared to 1991. The water body and urban area diminished the quality of phreatic water. High salt water in increase of TDS, Cl–, SO42–, Mn, TH, NO3–, F–, and Fe into phreatic water. NO3–, NH4+, and F− in phreatic water could be impacted by human and industrial activity in urban areas. This study provides valuable insights for local decision-makers to effectively manage groundwater resources and solve issues of groundwater scarcity and water quality problems in arid and semi-arid locations.

Preparation and characterization of MgO-based composites: Analysis of moisture, corrosion, and fungal resistance, and mechanical properties

Magnesium oxide (MgO) composite boards are valued in the construction industry because of their outstanding fire resistance, however, the long-term viability of MgO boards is affected by atmospheric humidity. This research work aims to investigate the environmental impacts and mechanical properties of four types of MgO boards from four different manufacturers under varying relative humidity (RH) levels. Three of them contained a high amount of chlorine known as magnesium oxychloride (MOC) boards, and one of them contained a high amount of sulfur known as magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) boards from their elemental composition observed by EDX. Microscopic images showed a rougher and porous surface for MOC boards, whereas smoother surface for MOS boards. MOS boards exhibited 37 % (average) lower moisture absorbency than MOC boards at 95 % RH and remained dry, while the MOC boards leaked salty water drops under the same condition. As a result, the MOS boards exhibited much better corrosion and fungal protection than the MOC boards. Mechanical properties, for example, tensile strength decreased by 45 % in MOC boards and 31 % in MOS boards at 95 % RH compared to 50 % RH. Therefore, the sourced MOS composite boards outperformed the contemporary MOC boards in all parameters.

Combining magnetized water with biodegradable film mulching reshapes soil water-salt distribution and affects processing tomatoes' yield in the arid drip-irrigated field of Northwest China

In arid areas, biodegradable film has recently had the potential to replace polyethylene (PE) film to address plastic pollution. However, the positive effect of biodegradable film on soil moisture and salt control is weaker than that of PE film. Magnetized irrigation water technology is expected to compensate for this limitation. This study comprised a field experiment in 20212023 to study how two types of biodegradable film (M1, black; M2, transparent) and six magnetization intensity on irrigation water (T0, 0 Gs; T1, 1000 Gs; T2, 2000 Gs; T3, 3000 Gs; T4, 4000 Gs; T5, 5000 Gs) affect the degradation rate of biodegradable film, soil watersalt distribution, growth, and quality of processing tomatoes. The traditional PE film mulching and non-magnetized irrigation were used as the control group (MPET0). The results demonstrated that magnetized water irrigation slowed down the degradation rate of biodegradable film. In addition, the magnetized irrigation water can redistributed the soil water-salt patterns under the biodegradable film, improving the soil water content and salt leaching efficiency, with better results in M1 than in M2. Moreover, magnetized water irrigation promoted the growth of tomato leaf area under the biodegradable film, enhancing photochemical efficiency and potential activity of PSII, thereby improving fruit yield, quality, and water use efficiency of tomato. Principal component analysis showed that the comprehensive score of M1T3 treatment was the highest throughout the three years. Furthermore, M1T3 treatment has the highest processing tomato economic benefits during 2021–2023 (24634986 CNY hm2 more than MPET0). Therefore, the use of 3000 Gs magnetized irrigation water combined with black biodegradable film is conducive to improving soil water and salt conditions, reducing residual film pollution, and improving the yield and quality of processing tomatoes, thus ensuring the sustainable development of oasis agriculture.

Produced Water from the Oil and Gas Industry as a Resource—South Kuwait as a Case Study

Produced Water (PW) represents the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry. As a water resource and as a source of valuable minerals such as alkali salts, it is has been highly under-valued, especially in hyper-arid regions. The beneficial use of PW ranges from water reinjection to elevated oil recovery from reservoirs with almost instantaneous returns, to the extraction of minerals from PW, which involves a number of different processes and setups. The economic value of PW-derived end products offers alternative revenue sources, with market fluctuations and conditions different from those of the hydrocarbon market. The end products of water and industrial salt support local industries such as agriculture, reflecting positively on the gross domestic product (GDP). Furthermore, resource extraction from PW of the oil and gas industry helps countries augment their circular economy. In this regard, the economic feasibility of three scenarios—the use of PW for oil recovery, the use of PW as an alternate source of water and industrial salt, and a hybrid process of both—is explored. The results show that there is great potential for water reuse in Enhanced Oil Recovery operations, as well as in the reduction in freshwater consumption for oil- and gas-extraction operations in the state of Kuwait by up to 4.8 percent when PW generated by SK oilfields is considered, and by 42 percent if PW from all oilfields in Kuwait is reused in the same manner.