Chemical Usage Research Articles

The use of cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This study was planned to determine the use of cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products containing chemicals during pregnancy and the affecting factors. The study is quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional. The sample size was calculated using the G*Power program. 287 puerperant women were reached. Data were obtained with the Introductory Information Form and Cosmetic and Chemical Product Usage Form. In the study, number and percentage values were given and chi-square and regression analysis were performed. In cosmetics and personal care products, shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant/perfume are among the top three most commonly used products, while dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent and bleach are among the cleaning products. The products that are most restricted in use are hair dye and descaling. It has been determined that education level, occupation, income and number of pregnancies are effective in the use of some products. Taking measures to protect pregnant women is important for improving maternal and newborn health.

Electrocoagulation as a Remedial Approach for Phosphorus Removal from Onsite Wastewater: A Review

Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs), although essential for managing domestic sewage in areas without centralized sewerage treatment plants, often release phosphorus (P) into the environment due to inadequate treatment. This unregulated P discharge exacerbates water quality degradation and jeopardizes aquatic habitats and human health. Among different treatment technologies, electrocoagulation (EC) demonstrates considerable potential for addressing this challenge by efficiently removing P from OWTSs and thus protecting water resources and ecological integrity. Through electrochemical reactions, EC destabilizes and aggregates P-bearing particles, facilitating their removal through precipitation. Compared to conventional treatment approaches, i.e., chemical and biological methods, EC offers several advantages, including high efficiency, minimal chemical usage, and adaptability to varying wastewater compositions. This review underscores the urgent need for mitigating P discharge from OWTSs and the efficacy of EC as a sustainable solution for P removal, offering insights into its mechanisms, reactor design considerations, important operational factors, performance, and potential applications in OWTSs as well as providing future research directions.

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The cover illustrates electrochemical recycling advancements for lithium‐ion batteries, showcasing a selective recovery process for valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. This approach focuses on reducing environmental impact by minimizing chemical usage and energy consumption. We emphasize the importance of sustainable technologies to enhance resource recovery, critical for supporting the energy transition and addressing resource scarcity. image

Technology Focus: Drilling and Completion Fluids (November 2024)

This year’s primary selections for the Drilling and Completion Fluids Technology Focus reflect now-well-established industrywide emphases on machine learning (ML), automation, and the achievement of successful drilling of CO2 storage wells. Enhanced methods of modeling and monitoring allow time and cost savings while surpassing safety goals and furthering efforts to optimize CO2 storage. Paper OTC 35433 discusses a study centered on accurate gel-strength estimation. The authors leverage ML techniques, particularly the use of artificial neural networks, to develop predictive models for forecasting the gel strength of synthetic oil-based mud systems at both 10-second and 10-minute intervals, surpassing the precision and speed of techniques based on traditional rotational viscometers. In a similar vein, paper SPE 216322 seeks to bypass traditional manual methods of monitoring drilling fluids, its authors describing a novel online system that measures 10 key parameters continuously. They write that the system has been field-trialed across 200 wells with results that highlight the system’s reliability, with continuous operation for over 125 days. Finally, paper SPE 217711 involves evaluating the effects of an influx of CO2 into drilling fluids, a key task in the drilling of CO2 storage wells. Concentrating on oil-based drilling fluid, the presented study describes the development and integration of models for properties of drilling-fluid/CO2 mixtures into an existing software suite. Recommended-reading papers include an investigation of the use of microwave power in recovering oil from contaminated drill cuttings, reduction of the carbon footprint of drilling fluids, and sedimentation behavior of particles in fibrous sweep fluids. As always, the long-sighted ambition of such research, and the skill applied in its pursuit, reflects the commitment to excellence embodied by the authors of technical papers presented at SPE conferences. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 217140 Microwave-Assisted Technique for Oil Recovery From Oily Sludge Shale Drilled Cuttings by A. Agi, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, et al. OTC 34667 Successful Decarbonization of Drilling Fluids by Using Highly Efficient Technology and Reduced Chemical Usage, Logistics, and Casing Sections by Gerardo Jardinez, Pemex, et al. SPE 218631 Application of Machine-Learning Method for Modeling Settling Behavior of a Spherical Particle in Fibrous Drilling Fluids by R.M. Elgaddafi, Australian University, et al.

Thermal explosion and distribution of hydromagnetic Eyring–Prandtl double exothermic diffusion-reaction fluid in a porous channel

Harmful waste discharge poses a global threat to environmental degradation, as incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons can lead to unusual diseases and natural disasters, as well as toxic discharge. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the thermal explosion and distribution of hydromagnetic Eyring–Prandtl fluid during double exothermic combustion in a porous channel. The working Eyring–Prandtl fluid is assumed to be fully viscoelastic to inspire the combustion process in the absence of material deformation. A partial differential model of an electromagnetic pressure-driven flow is developed to govern the combustion reaction process in the presence of chemical kinetics, non-isothermal fixed wall constraints, and without fluid material reactant consumption. The model is transformed into an invariant form by introducing similarity variables; the resultant dynamical equations are solved via a finite difference semi-implicit scheme. The graphs and tables demonstrate that the rising parameter values for the double reaction step propelled heat transfer to help improve combustion processes. Also, the material dilatant parameter enhanced the fluid viscosity for increased chemical industrial usage which implies that, excessive heat generation due to exothermic combustion must be supervised to circumvent reactant species blowup. In addition, the magnetic field created complex dynamics in the fluid by introducing electromagnetic Lorentz forces, which changed the reaction rate and heat distribution inside the channel. Furthermore, there is a strong positive correlation between the results obtained in the current study and the existing published data.

The Impact of Agricultural Socialization Services on the Ecological Protection of Rice Farmland in Jianghan Plain, China

The ecological protection of cultivated land is crucial for advancing high-quality agricultural development. This study analyzes the impact of agricultural socialization services on the ecological conservation of farmland, focusing on the reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides among rice farmers in the Jianghan Plain area. Utilizing data from 743 farmer household surveys conducted in 2023, the findings reveal that agricultural socialization services significantly encourage farmers to reduce chemical input usage. For every 1% increase in the level of agricultural social services, the average fertilizer use per hectare will decrease by 14% and the average pesticide use per hectare will decrease by 16.4%. The study identifies scale operation, factor substitution, and alleviation of capital constraints as mediating factors enhancing the efficacy of these services. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis indicates that these services are more effective in reducing chemical inputs among large-scale and newer-generation farmers compared to their small-scale and older counterparts. Additionally, technology-intensive socialized services exhibit a stronger impact on reducing chemical inputs than labor-intensive services.

Revolutionizing Textile Manufacturing: Sustainable and Profitable Production by Integrating Industry 4.0, Activity-Based Costing, and the Theory of Constraints

The textile industry, a cornerstone of daily life and a highly globalized sector, faces significant environmental challenges due to its high water and energy consumption and extensive chemical usage. This study proposes a comprehensive green production planning and control model integrating Industry 4.0 concepts, activity-based costing (ABC), and the theory of constraints (TOC). The model utilizes mathematical programming to optimize product mix, maximize profitability, and minimize environmental impact. It leverages real-time sensing technologies and ERP systems to facilitate waste recovery, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve energy savings. Various carbon emission cost models, including continuous and discontinuous tax functions, are explored to balance corporate profitability with environmental sustainability. The findings demonstrate the model’s potential in optimizing resource utilization, reducing the environmental footprint, and enhancing profitability.

Study on performance of cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata L.) under different production systems

Coimbatore is located in the western part of Tamil Nadu and nestled against the foothills of the Western Ghats. This region's cool climate and favourable terrain make it ideal for cultivating hill vegetables. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) is a significant cole crop known for its high nutritional value. Excessive chemical usage in cabbage cultivation leads to residual effects on soil and produce. This study aimed to identify the best production system for cabbage cultivation in the northwestern parts of Tamil Nadu. An experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2023-2024 at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with four treatments and five replications. The organic farming system exhibited the highest values for plant height (21.47 cm), stalk length (8.49 cm), dry matter accumulation (71.34 g per plant), days to head formation (18.75 days), days to harvest (56.25 days), head diameter (17.70 cm), head compactness (33.91), head weight (945.35 g per plant) and cabbage yield (24.92 t ha-1), surpassing both conventional and natural farming systems. A similar pattern was observed in quality parameters, including TSS (6.54 °Brix), shelf life (12.21 days) and ascorbic acid content (44.26 mg per 100 g). This study highlights an efficient cabbage cultivation system in the Coimbatore region, leading to improved yield, soil health and quality.

Efficient removal of COD, BOD, oil & grease, and turbidity from oil-field produced water via electrocoagulation treatment.

The simple design, compactness, simultaneous treatment of multiple contaminants, absence of chemical usage, minimal sludge formation (reducing secondary pollution), low maintenance cost, and versatility to operate in both batch and continuous modes make electrocoagulation (EC) a promising choice for treating various types of industrial wastewater. In this study, EC was employed in batch mode to treat produced water obtained from an oil drilling site, to reuse it for injection purposes in the reservoir. Produced water typically contains high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and oil & grease (O&G) contaminants. High-performing aluminum (Al) electrodes were chosen due to their stability, conductivity, and, most significantly, their high capacity for generating aluminum hydroxide ([Al(OH)₃]ₙ) flocs, which serve as carriers for contaminant capture. This compound has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in trapping the aforementioned contaminants from produced water under various operating conditions, including the number of electrodes, supplied current, and electrode configuration (bipolar and monopolar). The impact of several factors, including the number of electrodes (varying from 4 to 8), current density (varying as 16, 79, 158 A/m2), and electrode configuration (bipolar and monopolar), was studied at room temperature and 250rpm agitation speed. Initial turbidity, COD, BOD, and O&G concentrations were measured at 38 NTU, 700.7ppm, 120ppm, and 32.8ppm, respectively. The EC treatment exhibited removal efficiencies of 51% for TDS, 85% for turbidity, 78% for COD, 80% for BOD, and 85% for O&G using a monopolar configuration with 8 electrodes, and 59% for TDS, 90% for turbidity, 85% for COD, 84% for BOD, and 86% for O&G using a bipolar configuration with eight electrodes. Additionally, cost estimation, considering electrode dissolution rate and power requirements, was conducted for the operation of both configurations.

Universal, Time-Cost-Effective, and Inside-Out Strategy for Synthesis of Plant-Based Flow Catalysis Microreactors.

The utilization of plant-based flow catalytic microreactors has been increasingly gaining traction in the fields of water treatment, energy generation, and biotechnological science due to their inherent channel structures, renewable properties, and environmentally friendly nature. The conventional outside-in strategy for synthesizing plant-based monolithic microreactors typically entails prolonged hydrothermal modification, extensive chemical usage, or energy-intensive equipment. The present study presents a universal inside-out strategy for the rapid synthesis of monolithic catalytic microreactors derived from plant materials. This approach enables the direct formation of catalytic metal nanoparticles within specific plant microchannels through regioselective deposition, resulting in reduced chemical usage and an accelerated process. Moreover, this method effectively minimizes the required catalyst dosage. In this process, the plant monolith's aligned, narrow, and accessible channels provided a higher contact area, shorter diffusion path, and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups for rapid transformation of metal salt precursors into catalytic metal nanoparticles with excellent dispersion. The inside-out strategy can be extended to various plant-based monoliths and diverse metal/metal oxide/MOF materials within the plant monolith, thereby offering a facile, time- and cost-effective universal approach for skillfully designing plant-based flow microreactors for a wide range of applications.

Photocatalytic Bleaching Process of Cotton Fabric with H2O2 and H2O2 /n-TiO2

This study delves into the exploration of an alternative bleaching method as a substitute for hydrogen peroxide, addressing concerns related to its excessive chemical usage, high waste load, and elevated energy and water consumption. Photocatalytic bleaching was implemented on 100% cotton fabrics. Initially, hydrogen peroxide served as a catalyst, and the photocatalytic effect was meticulously examined. Subsequently, nano-sized TiO2 was introduced into the photocatalytic recipe, and operational conditions were fine-tuned to determine the optimal bleaching process for cotton fabrics. All photocatalytic experiments were systematically compared with conventional hydrojen peroxide bleaching method. A comprehensive analysis, encompassing color spectrum values, SEM, SEM-EDX, XRD, and FTIR-ATR tests, was conducted. The results revealed a notable 13.36% enhancement in whiteness performance during bleaching when subjected to photocatalytic treatment with nano TiO2 and H2O2 in tandem. This study posits itself as an environmentally conscious alternative to the long-standing conventional bleaching processes prevalent in the textile industry.

Sustainable management of end of life crystalline silicon solar panels in Australia: Advancing circular economy practices

The worldwide adaptation of Photovoltaic (PV) technology as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, has experienced exponential growth in recent years. However, the lack of effective waste management policies has hindered efficient PV panel disposal and recycling practices. In the absence of effective policies, the worldwide End-of-Life (EoL) PV module accumulation is predicted to reach a critical stage in the early 2030s. This study examines the environmental impacts of different EoL management practices using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), based on a comprehensive database generated from both literature and industrial data. Five different EoL scenarios were considered for 1000 kg of Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) PV modules with a focus on Australia as a case study, while considering the energy recovery options and emphasizing the economic benefits. From a comprehensive LCA study, it is found that upcycling options reduce the environmental impacts significantly compared to downcycling, while chemical treatment emerges as a preferred option, demonstrating a reduced environmental burden. Nevertheless, the utilization of toxic chemicals during chemical treatment-based PV recycling needs to be reconsidered. Additionally, the usage of chemicals during the metal recovery process of PV module recycling caused the highest environmental burden, necessitating the importance of moving to greener treatment practices. This research study will enable the identification of optimum EoL c-Si module recycling options, contributing to sustainable waste management.

Enhanced Removal of Malachite Green from Wastewater Using Nonthermal Plasma Gliding Arc Discharge Combined with Ferrate Oxidation

The rapid and complete removal of Malachite Green (MG) dye was effectively achieved by combining potassium ferrate (Fe(VI)) treatment with nonthermal plasma discharge in both deionized water (DIW) and tap water (TW). This study evaluated the decolorization and mineralization efficiencies under varying MG concentrations, Fe(VI) dosages, and pH levels, as well as the impact of radical scavengers on the process. Fe(VI) alone resulted in moderate decolorization (35.01%) and low mineralization (21.46%) at an MG concentration of 50mg/L in DIW. Plasma discharge alone achieved mineralization rates of 20.6% in TW and 24.16% in DIW. While complete decolorization was observed for all initial MG concentrations, it required significantly longer treatment times (>30min). However, the combination of Fe(VI) with plasma (Fe(VI)-Plasma) demonstrated significant synergistic effects, achieving total decolorization and high mineralization rates -up to 92.5% in DIW and 88.7% in TW for 20mg/L MG- at much shorter treatment times. Radical scavenger tests revealed that hydroxyl radicals (OH) were the primary oxidants in MG degradation, followed by superoxide radicals and electrons. These findings suggest that the combined Fe(VI)-Plasma technology is a promising and efficient solution for dye removal, reducing both chemical usage and treatment time.

Determining the Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the Growth of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Rajat Rekha

Tuberose, a valuable ornamental crop, requires optimized nutrient management to maximize its potential. With increasing concerns about chemical fertilizer usage, integrated nutrient management (INM) offers a sustainable alternative. This study investigated the effects of INM on Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Rajat Rekha, exploring combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers to promote growth and productivity. The results showed that integrated nutrient management significantly enhanced growth parameters. Specifically, the treatment combining 75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) with 2 kg Farm Yard Manure (FYM)/m2, 300g Vermicompost (VC)/m2, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), and Azospirillum (T15) yielded superior results. This treatment reduced days to sprouting (12.10 and 14.18), and improved plant height (40.8 and 41.7 cm), leaf length (48.0 and 48.6 cm), leaf width (1.78 and 1.80 cm), and leaf number (60.8 and 61.4). These findings suggest that integrated nutrient management can enhance Tuberose productivity while minimizing chemical fertilizer reliance. The identified optimal treatment combination offers a viable strategy for sustainable Tuberose cultivation, contributing to environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Future research can focus on scaling up these results and exploring potential applications in other ornamental crops.

Catalytic conversion of soluble aniline into insoluble N-phenylphenazine for wastewater treatments

Aniline, a common pollutant in industrial wastewater, requires an effective treatment method with minimal chemical usage. In this study, a two-stage catalytic oligomerization process has been developed to address this issue by converting soluble aniline into insoluble oligomers for wastewater treatment. In the first stage, aniline is oxidized using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and a green catalyst, iron tetraamido macrocyclic ligand (Fe-TAML) to form aniline tetramers or pentamers. In the second stage, these oligoanilines undergo further oxidation with H2O2 alone at a higher temperature, resulting in the formation of N-phenylphenazine or its derivatives. These macrocyclic compounds precipitate from the wastewater due to π− π stacking, allowing easy separation through decantation or gravity filtration. After process optimization, only 3 mg/L of Fe-TAML and 2 g/L of H2O2 are required to treat 1 g/L of aniline, achieving a remarkable 96.8% aniline removal efficiency and a 62.5% precipitate yield. This two-stage oxidation approach shows promise for treating aniline and similar aromatic compounds in real industrial wastewater.

Design of a continuous plasma activated water (PAW) disinfection system for fresh produce industry

This study introduces an innovative, industrial-scale continuous Plasma Activated Water (PAW) system, specifically designed for the fresh produce industry and optimized for micro to small enterprises. The system leverages a novel non-uniform electrode design to enhance average field strength, driving the efficient generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) for steady-state PAW production. Key components include a venturi bubble generator for optimized gas-liquid interaction and a plasma reactor integrated with a continuous spray and drying setup, enabling consistent PAW production and application. Our preliminary results indicate about 1.5 log10 CFU/g decrease in microbial load on treated produce, which further decreased to 2.5 log10 CFU/g towards the end of storage life for tomatoes, with 20 kV applied to the reactors and a total residence time of 20 min. An evaluation of the maximum energy consumption of system indicated a process cost contribution of less than $0.5 per ton of treated produce. The promising initial results, scalable design, cost-effectiveness and sustainability aspects make this technology suitable for improving food safety while reducing chemical usage.

Effects of Plant Extracts on Growth Promotion, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Secondary Metabolites in Rice (Oryza sativa) Plants

Plant extracts are widely used in sustainable agriculture practices to enhance crop production and reduce chemical usage in agriculture. This study employed several extraction solutions of various plant extracts to synthesize planting and spraying strategies, assess the persistence efficacy of rice, and investigate the influence of selected water extracts on secondary chemicals at different rice planting stages. Among 17 water extracts that were evaluated on rice seeds, 7 were enhanced to align with the lengths of rice roots 50–70% and shoots 40–50%. The analysis of extraction, spraying, and planting experiments revealed that water extracts, soil application, and transplanting were the most efficient methods for stimulating rice growth, especially 0.1 and 0.5% concentrations. The efficacy of the extracts remained intact also after 14 days of treatment. This study showed that photosynthesis and antioxidant activities may play crucial roles in plant growth. Rice growth stimulation has been linked to photosynthesis, flavonoid contents, and antioxidant enzymes, providing a balanced supply of nutrients for plant growth. Among all tested water extracts, Psidium guajava, Aloe vera, Allium sativum, and Medicago sativa extracts can be used to promote plant growth in organic farming.

Optimizing bioencapsulation of yeast cells by Aspergillus tubingensis TSIP9 and applications in bioethanol production through repeated-batch fermentation

This study aimed to immobilize yeast cells using filamentous fungi owing to a number of advantages including less chemical usage, spontaneous encapsulation, strong adhesion and biocompatibility. Filamentous fungus, Aspergillus tubingensis TSIP9 could form sphere-shape and packed pellets using either fungal fresh spores or those stored in liquid medium for 6 weeks at 4 °C. The fungus was used to immobilize yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae FAI via adsorption and co-cultivation methods. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the bioencapsulated yeast cells via co-cultivation seemed to be more tightly adhered on fungal mycelia and surrounded by extracellular polymeric substances. The yeast biocapsules also exhibited higher stability and maintained their structural integrity during repeated-batch fermentation while the immobilized yeast cells by adsorption gradually degraded during their repeated uses. The bioethanol production from glucose by yeast biocapsules were in the range of 95–98 g/L with the bioethanol yield of 0.49–0.54 g-ethanol/g-consumed glucose. The yeast biocapsules could produce bioethanol well when using enzymatic hydrolysate of lignocellulosic palm waste, as alternative cheap carbon source, with the comparable bioethanol yield of 0.49 ± 0.17 g-ethanol/g-consumed glucose. The spontaneous and inter-species bioencapsulation show the perspectives as active biocatalysts with high cell retention for repeated uses.

Quantification of guanidine in environmental samples using benzoin derivatization and LC-MS analysis

The recent discovery of guanidine-dependent riboswitches in many microbes raised interest in the biological function and metabolism of this nitrogen-rich compound. However, very little is known about the concentrations of guanidine in the environment. Several methods have been published for quantifying guanidine and guanidino compounds in human urine and blood, often relying on derivatization followed by fluorescence detection. We adapted this analytical approach using benzoin as the derivatization agent to sensitively and selectively quantify guanidine in environmental samples, thereby facilitating future research on the biological and environmental roles of guanidine. This adapted method was applied to human urine, raw wastewater, and biological growth media as relevant matrices. Our liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of the derivatized solutions identified a different major derivatization product than previously reported. This product was consistently observed across various substrates (guanidine, methylguanidine, and arginine) and derivatization agents (benzoin and anisoin). We observed a constant background signal, restricting our analyses to a lower limit of quantification of 50 nM. Despite this limitation, our method allowed for the quantification of guanidine concentrations significantly lower than those reported in previous derivatization-based studies.•Selective and sensitive detection of guanidine by LC-MS.•Method development and validation for robust detection of guanidine in environmental samples.•Reduction of sample preparation steps and reduced usage of toxic chemicals compared to previous methods.

The adsorption of chlorpyrifos and malathion under environmentally relevant conditions using biowaste carbon materials

Water bodies face persistent contamination from organophosphorus pesticides like chlorpyrifos and malathion, which pose substantial environmental and health hazards due to their toxicity and resilience in ecosystems. This study explores the potential of spent coffee grounds, a common agricultural byproduct, as an eco-friendly adsorbent for eliminating these pesticides from polluted water. Spent coffee grounds underwent carbonization at 400 °C and various activation treatments using KOH, H3PO4, CO2, and their combinations. The impact of these activation methods on the adsorption capacity of carbonized materials was assessed under environmentally relevant conditions (25 °C, pH=6, and typical pesticide concentrations in wastewater). Results revealed that the physical and chemical properties of biowaste-derived materials significantly influence their adsorption efficiency, with KOH-activated adsorbents exhibiting the highest capacities ((16.1 ± 0.8) mg g−1 for chlorpyrifos and (11.2 ± 0.2) mg g−1 for malathion). Spent coffee grounds carbonized at 400 °C without additional activation demonstrated similar adsorption performance to the best-performing material ((19.4 ± 0.4) mg g−1 for chlorpyrifos and (10.6 ± 0.4) mg g−1 for malathion), with notably lower economic and environmental costs. Given its straightforward preparation and significant adsorption capacity, this material stands out as a sustainable solution for treating agrochemical wastewater containing chlorpyrifos and malathion.