Search Results (2,345)

Roasting time strongly influences almond oil yield, flavor and oxidative stability. This study investigated almond oils obtained by pressing almond kernels roasted at 130 °C for 0, 5, 10 and 20 min, corresponding to cold-aroma, light-aroma, strong-aroma and sauce-aroma groups, respectively, by combining physicochemical analysis, fatty acid quantification, gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), machine learning and lipidomics. Increasing roasting time enhanced oil yield from 45.81% to 50.34%, with no further significant increase after 10 min. Stronger roasting moderately reduced the free radical level. In contrast, acid value, peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increased from 0.28 to 0.38 mg KOH/g oil, 1.20 to 1.46 meq O₂/kg oil and 0.38 to 0.46 mg malondialdehyde/kg oil, respectively, indicating limited oxidative deterioration. Fatty acid analysis showed that oleic acid remained relatively stable at 644.37–647.03 mg/g oil, whereas linoleic acid decreased significantly from 150.42 to 140.19 mg/g oil. GC-IMS detected 59 volatile signals and clearly separated the four processing groups, indicating substantial roasting-induced changes in volatile fingerprints. A positive–unlabeled (PU) learning model used 27 literature-supported aroma-active compounds as the positive class and 32 compounds without confirmed aroma-activity evidence as the unlabeled class. The model showed good cross-validated discrimination, with a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.866 and a mean area under the precision–recall curve (PR-AUC) of 0.756, and prioritized eight unlabeled compounds, mainly alcohols and methional, as candidate aroma-active compounds requiring further sensory validation. Lipidomic analysis showed that accelerated oxidation caused broad lipid remodeling, with 327 differential lipids between cold-aroma oxidized and unoxidized oils, mainly involving glycerophospholipids, glycerol lipids, sphingolipids and fatty acyls. Overall, increasing roasting time improved oil recovery and promoted aroma differentiation while causing only limited initial oxidative deterioration, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing roasting conditions in industrial processing. Full article

Organic pollutants in industrial wastewater present a severe threat to both the environment and human health. Photocatalytic technology, recognized for its eco-friendliness and high efficiency, has become a leading approach for degrading such pollutants. In this work, BiOCl nanosheets were first synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Subsequently, an anion exchange reaction with TAA in an oil bath generated a Bi₂S₃ intermediate layer on the BiOCl surface, followed by the in situ growth of ZIS nanostructures, successfully constructing a BiOCl@Bi₂S₃@ZIS double Z-scheme heterojunction. By adjusting the amount of BiOCl, the interface contact and dispersion of the heterojunction were optimized. Characterization results demonstrate that the BiOCl@ZIS-25 heterojunction possesses the highest specific surface area (103.5 m²·g⁻¹) and the most efficient charge separation. Under visible light irradiation, it achieved 97.88% degradation of methylene blue within 20 min, with a reaction rate constant 8 and 4 times higher than those of pure BiOCl and ZIS, respectively. Mechanistic investigations indicate that Bi₂S₃ interlayer acts as an electron-transfer bridge between BiOCl and ZIS, establishing a double Z-scheme charge transfer pathway that significantly enhanced the separation and utilization efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. This study offers valuable insights for designing highly efficient and stable photocatalytic composite materials. Full article

Stable emulsified oil droplets are difficult to separate because of persistent interfacial films and colloidal stability. Garlic-extract-functionalized Fe₃O₄ magnetic colloids, operationally denoted Allicin@Fe₃O₄, were prepared by in situ coprecipitation as organic–inorganic building blocks for gel-like interfacial capture. The sample name identifies the allicin-containing garlic-extract route and does not imply that allicin was proven to be the predominant surface species. SEM, FTIR, and XRD supported deposition of an organic, sulfur/oxygen-containing surface layer and retention of crystalline Fe₃O₄, but these methods are not species-specific. The colloids removed more than 95% of emulsified oil within 20 min and reached an experimental equilibrium apparent uptake of approximately 380 mg·g⁻¹. Tests across pH 3–11, 0–50 g·L⁻¹ NaCl, 15–55 °C, and representative coexisting ions showed robust but condition-dependent removal. Removal remained above 90% after five reuse cycles and was approximately 84% after ten cycles. Calculations using allicin as a representative garlic organosulfur molecule suggest how polar sulfur/oxygen regions and allyl segments could favor oil–droplet anchoring and association; they do not establish the surface composition of the extract-derived coating. The capture behavior is consistent with transient, gel-like particle–droplet association coupled to magnetic recovery. These results connect bio-derived surface functionalization, gel-related colloidal structuring, and magnetic separation under the tested batch conditions. Full article

Water flooding in low-permeability, highly heterogeneous reservoirs often causes a rapid increase in water cut and inefficient pressure maintenance because injected water preferentially flows through high-permeability channels. In this study, a field-scale compositional simulation model was established to evaluate CO₂ water-alternating-gas (WAG) enhanced oil recovery in a mature waterflooded reservoir in the Daqing Oilfield. The model was constrained by geological data, experimentally tuned pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) behavior, relative-permeability measurements, and slim-tube tests. The minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) of the CO₂-oil system was estimated to be 19.8 MPa. An 187-month production history was matched using field oil rate, water production, water cut, and reservoir-pressure data. At the current development stage, the reservoir has an oil recovery of 23.6%, an average water cut of 61.34%, and an average reservoir pressure of approximately 6.9 MPa. A 30-year prediction was then performed to compare continued water flooding with several CO₂-WAG development strategies. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for the pressure-restoration level, pre-injection fluid, well-pattern conversion, slug size, and gas/water slug-size ratio. Continued water flooding increased the final oil recovery to only 28.4% and resulted in a water cut of 92.8%. Sequential scenario screening identified a best-performing case among the tested scenarios, consisting of CO₂ pre-injection to restore the average reservoir pressure to 11 MPa, conversion to a staggered line-drive well pattern, a slug size of 0.025 PV, and a gas/water slug-size ratio of 1:1. Under this sequentially selected case, the end-of-forecast oil recovery reached approximately 57.24%, which was the highest value among the cases evaluated in this study and was 28.84 percentage points higher than continued water flooding. The predicted recovery is conditional on the adopted geological, relative-permeability, EOS, and history-matching assumptions. Because the designed average reservoir pressure is below the measured MMP and local pressure above the MMP was not demonstrated, the modeled process is consistently interpreted as immiscible CO₂-WAG. The predicted recovery improvement is interpreted as being associated with pressure support, gas-mobility control, improved sweep efficiency, and compositional CO₂–oil interactions represented by the model, including CO₂ dissolution, oil swelling, and viscosity reduction. The contribution of this work is a field-scale, experimentally constrained workflow for selecting CO₂-WAG operating parameters in mature waterflooded low-permeability reservoirs; CO₂ storage performance should be quantified separately in future work. This study provides an experimentally constrained and history-validated field-scale workflow for identifying a best-performing CO₂-WAG operating case among the tested scenarios in mature waterflooded low-permeability reservoirs. Full article

The valorisation of textile wool waste through sustainable conversion technologies such as pyrolysis has gained increasing attention as an effective strategy to reduce textile waste, recover valuable resources, and support the transition toward a circular economy. Herein, we investigated the pyrolysis of processed wool textile waste in CO₂ and N₂ atmospheres to recover valuable products and reduce the environmental impact. Key factors such as the temperature, carrier gas type, feed size, condensation set-up, and reactor configuration were evaluated for their influence on product distribution and quality. Pyrolysis at 900 °C in the presence of CO₂ led to greater gas formation (79 wt%), enhanced the stability and BET surface area of the char (10–12 wt%), and increased byproducts including phenol and indole in the bio-oil (13 wt%) product. CO made up over 65% of the gas at 900 °C due to the prevalence of the reverse (endothermic) Boudouard reaction, with the remnant gas made of CO₂ (21%) and small amounts of NH₃ (2%), HCN (0.8%) and SO₂ (0.3%). This CO-rich gas could have industrial applications such as Fischer–Tropsch after conditioning and N/S removal. Moreover, the higher carbon content (82.5% at 900 °C) increased the stability of char produced with CO₂ (compared to N₂), making it suitable for soil enhancement (~10% N at 900 °C) or pollutant removal and allowing it to be categorised and marketed as biochar. Despite low-temperature pyrolysis (350 °C) not being efficient in decomposing the whole wool waste, a staged pyrolysis with an initial low-temperature stage was shown to be effective in separately removing bromine-rich compounds. In summary, this study provides insights into the thermal decomposition behaviour of wool and the influence of the reaction conditions and reactor type on product distribution. Full article

Conventional powdered catalysts for biomass valorization face critical operational limitations regarding recovery and reusability at an industrial scale. To address these challenges, this study developed innovative structured catalysts based on cordierite monoliths coated with carbon derived from oil palm waste, an abundant agricultural byproduct whose improper disposal poses environmental concerns. The carbonaceous layer was functionalized with sulfonic groups and tin (Sn) species to provide synergistic Brønsted and Lewis acid sites. In addition, colloidal silica was incorporated as a binder, significantly improving coating adhesion and homogeneity. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of sulfonic groups and SnO_x species into the carbonaceous material, leading to dual Brønsted/Lewis acidity, with the B/L ratio increasing from 0.05 in AC to 0.07 in AC20p10Sn. Catalytic evaluation showed that the functionalized monoliths exhibited near 100% of glucose conversion with moderate selectivity towards 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). Notably, despite the surface deposition of solid byproducts, the monolithic architecture successfully eliminated complex downstream separation processes. Furthermore, the structured catalyst exhibited excellent stability, maintaining its catalytic performance over five consecutive cycles. This approach provides a sustainable pathway for structured carbon-coated monoliths derived from biomass waste while overcoming the handling bottlenecks of traditional powder systems by improving catalyst recovery, reusability, and scalability. Full article

Conventional milling separates the wheat germ and bran from the endosperm to obtain white semolina; although these fractions retain recognized nutritional value, a substantial share is still diverted to feed and other comparatively low-value uses rather than into food for direct human consumption. In this Perspective we ask whether recovering a larger share of these fractions—through a controlled industrial sequence of selection, de-oiling and physical fractionation—can be turned into a functional ingredient, commercialized as “altograno”, that improves the health profile of an ordinary pasta without compromising palatability or shelf stability. To address this objective we proceed in a fixed analytical sequence: what the product is and what a habitual portion actually delivers; a nutrient-by-nutrient appraisal graded by level of evidence; the biological mechanisms from the intestinal lumen to the hepatocyte; and only then the clinical endpoint. The evidence base integrates two complementary studies of one product line from the Casillo Next Gen Food chain: a full nutritional, microbiological and gastrointestinal characterization in healthy volunteers, and a double-blind randomized controlled trial with in vitro hepatocyte evidence in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), with and without major psychiatric disorders (MPDs). Because the clinically tested product (67% semolina, 27% de-oiled wheat germ, 6% microencapsulated wheat-germ oil) shares the same nominal formulation as the germ-plus-oil pasta (EP3) of the characterization study—although the measured nutritional values reported in the two papers differ, so the two products cannot be regarded as analytically identical—the two datasets can be read together, with due caution, across kernel processing, composition, hepatocellular mechanism and gut-microbiota switching to a clinical endpoint: a ~13.5% fall in non-HDL cholesterol, roughly 2.5-fold greater than with conventional pasta, with no statistically significant interaction with the polygenic risk score detected, and paralleled by normalized hepatocyte lipid loading in vitro. We argue that de-oiling is best understood as a deliberate technological optimization—trading a portion of labile lipids for stability and standardization while recovering the bioactive oil for protected re-addition—and that this evidence, while still preliminary on several fronts, supports dedicated, mechanistically instrumented clinical development of upcycled-kernel staples rather than establishing these products as proven therapeutic tools. Full article

Turbidite sandstones of the Chang 6 member and delta-front sandstones of the Chang 8 member in the Yuele Block, southwestern Yishan Slope, Ordos Basin, serve as the primary tight oil reservoirs. In this study, a total of 243 continuous core samples from multiple wells were collected for integrated analyses, including cast thin-section observation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) of clay minerals, routine core physical property measurements and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), to systematically compare sedimentary–diagenetic disparities between semi-deep lacustrine turbidites (Chang 6) and delta-front sandstones (Chang 8). Measured data indicate that the two intervals have similar average porosities of 9.27% and 9.88%, while their respective geometric mean permeabilities differ markedly, with values of only 0.142 × 10⁻³ μm² for Chang 6 and 0.260 × 10⁻³ μm² for Chang 8. Micro-pore-throat size and connectivity dominate reservoir fluid flow capacity, and total porosity alone cannot objectively evaluate reservoir quality. Delta-front sandstones of the Chang 8 member are supplied by a proximal magmatic-rich provenance from the southwest, and widespread grain-coating chlorite forms during early diagenesis, effectively mitigating compaction damage and inhibiting quartz overgrowth, leading to well-preserved primary pores. As mixed-provenance deposits lacking protective chlorite rims, Chang 6 turbidites experience more intensive compaction, and abundant fibrous illite and carbonate cements precipitate in the subsequent diagenetic stage to fill and separate pore throats, forming an isolated micropore network. Quantitative comparison with baseline parameters of the Longdong region reveals that the Yuele Block is located closer to the southwestern sediment source, resulting in higher contents of magmatic lithics and chlorite in Chang 8 as well as elevated illite concentrations in Chang 6 relative to regional averages, which verifies that source-to-sink transport distance regulates reservoir quality by driving the differentiation of clay mineral assemblages. A complete quantitative coupling sequence of “provenance supply–authigenic clay mineral-pore evolution” is defined herein, and two distinct sedimentary–diagenetic evolutionary routes are classified: high-quality delta-front reservoirs protected by grain-coating chlorite, and low-quality turbidite reservoirs blocked by illite–carbonate cements. This research refines the diagenetic differentiation rules for continental tight sandstones with diverse sedimentary origins in the Ordos Basin and provides quantitative mineralogical criteria for identifying tight oil sweet spots in proximal provenance blocks. Full article

Background: Previous studies have examined bioactive constituents of Prunus dulcis oil, Pinus sylvestris essential oil, and related phytochemical matrices separately; however, their combined chemical profile, comparator-context molecular-docking landscape, and comparative cellular response in melanoma and non-malignant fibroblast models remain insufficiently characterized. Methods: The analyzed study samples were profiled by GC/MS and GC/FID-based fatty-acid methyl ester analysis. An archived molecular-docking dataset was used to summarize structurally plausible interactions of six formulation-associated markers with eight melanoma-relevant or melanoma-adjacent targets and to present representative three-dimensional complexes. Because complete protocol metadata and co-crystallized-ligand redocking records were unavailable, the computational findings were interpreted descriptively. Neutral-red uptake assays assessed the 24 h viability of B16F10 melanoma cells and MRC-5 fibroblasts after exposure to each oil, the dual-oil formulation, or cisplatin. Four-parameter logistic models provided estimated IC₅₀ values, and exact two-sided permutation tests were used for Spearman rank analyses. Results: The dual-oil formulation yielded estimated IC₅₀ values of 1.42% v/v in B16F10 cells and 4.85% v/v in MRC-5 cells, corresponding to an apparent selectivity index of 3.41. The complete eight-concentration series was non-monotonic and showed no significant rank association (B16F10: ρs = −0.4286, exact p = 0.2992; MRC-5: ρs = −0.3810, exact p = 0.3599). In a post hoc analysis of the descending branch (≥0.37% v/v), the association was perfect in B16F10 cells (ρs = −1.0000, exact p = 0.0167) but did not reach significance in MRC-5 cells (ρs = −0.9000, exact p = 0.0833). The docking matrix identified target-dependent numerical prioritization patterns; however, small score differences were not interpreted as evidence of stronger binding or cellular target engagement. Conclusions: The findings define an exploratory chemical–computational–cellular framework and a preliminary formulation-level viability phenotype. They do not establish synergy, apoptosis, pathway modulation, therapeutic efficacy, or clinical safety. Independent multi-batch chemical confirmation, a fully documented and redocking-validated computational protocol, expanded melanoma and normal-skin cell panels, orthogonal functional assays, longer exposure periods, mechanistic validation, and subsequent in vivo studies are required. Full article

Oleogels, in which liquid oils are structured into semi-solid matrices by oleogelators, have been widely investigated as animal fat replacers in meat products, where they lower saturated fatty acid content while helping preserve texture, structure, and emulsion stability. The reported gains are substantial: structuring PUFA-rich oils to replace pork backfat has raised the PUFA/SFA ratio around 3.6-fold and cut the n-6/n-3 ratio up to 23-fold in burgers, while cellulose- and wax-structured systems have reduced saturated fat from roughly 42% to 15% of total fat in patties. In parallel, oleogels and structurally related gels act as carriers for lipophilic bioactives such as carotenoids, curcumin, phytosterols, and omega-3 fatty acids, improving oxidative stability and modulating digestive release, with encapsulation efficiencies exceeding 90% in some systems. Whether one structured-lipid system can perform both roles inside a meat matrix remains largely untested: direct evidence for classical oleogels is confined to a few cases, most clearly curcumin-loaded beeswax oleogels in pork burgers, which retained antioxidant protection through chilled storage and cooking. This review integrates the fat-replacement and bioactive-delivery studies, separates classical oleogels from gelled emulsions, Pickering emulsions, and bigels, and stratifies studies by level of evidence. Because most current support comes from related systems, it is framed as a perspective that maps this evidence gradient and defines the experiments required to validate dual-function oleogels under realistic meat processing and storage conditions. Full article

In this review, I synthesize recent evidence showing how climate acceleration, biosphere disruption, food and freshwater insecurity, pollution, disease, and inequality are increasingly converging into a single, interconnected sustainability challenge. I show that the Anthropocene crisis extends far beyond climate warming and its impacts alone: current national commitments remain consistent with warming of approximately 2.3–2.5 °C under full implementation, while current policies could produce up to 2.8 °C; however, the remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 °C may be exhausted within only a few years, and the oil and gas industry has committed to a 14% increase in upstream production over the period 2024–2030. At the same time, pollution remains responsible for approximately nine million deaths annually; agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals; and groundwater depletion, continental drying, marine heatwaves, weakening carbon sinks, and intensifying precipitation extremes are destabilizing the ecological and hydrological systems that sustain human health and food security. This review’s incremental contribution is the integration of these trends within a justice-centered sustainability framework that links Earth-system feedback, public health burdens, water insecurity, and institutional failure rather than treating them as separate environmental problems. I argue that because vulnerability is produced not by exposure alone but by unequal access to infrastructure, wealth, governance capacity, and political power, a viable response therefore requires more than decarbonization: it demands ecological restoration, food and water-centered governance, pollution and disease mitigation, and justice-based institutional reform capable of sustaining human dignity, equity, and resilience within planetary boundaries. I encourage resilience and sustainability programs around the world to fold in these additional challenges to their missions and goals. Full article

The global demand for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) continues to increase, and photocatalytic H₂O₂ production is regarded as a promising alternative technology due to its mild, safe, and environmentally friendly characteristics. ZnIn₂S₄ has demonstrated promising application potential in photocatalytic H₂O₂ production owing to its unique two-dimensional layered structure and broad spectral response. However, its performance is severely limited by rapid charge recombination and sluggish charge migration. To address this challenge, a ZnIn₂S₄/C₃N₄ S-scheme heterojunction was successfully constructed via a simple oil-bath method by assembling ZnIn₂S₄ nanoflowers on C₃N₄ nanosheets. Systematic structural characterizations and performance evaluations demonstrate that the construction of the S-scheme heterojunction effectively promotes the spatial separation and surface migration of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby significantly enhancing photocatalytic activity. Under optimal conditions, the ZIS/CN-10 sample (C₃N₄ to ZnIn₂S₄ mass ratio of 10%) achieves the highest photocatalytic H₂O₂ production rate of 825.8 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. This work provides new insights and theoretical guidance for the rational design of efficient and stable ZnIn₂S₄-based photocatalysts. Full article

Streptococcus mutans is the primary etiological agent of dental caries due to its ability to form acidogenic biofilms on tooth surfaces. Natural monoterpenes have attracted considerable interest as potential antibiofilm agents for oral healthcare. The present study investigated the antibiofilm activity and possible mechanism of action of (+)-endo-borneol isolated from the essential oil of Achillea millefolium against S. mutans. The chemical composition of the essential oil was characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and (+)-endo-borneol was isolated by chromatographic separation. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated using the crystal violet biofilm assay, while antimicrobial activity was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. The influence of subinhibitory concentrations of (+)-endo-borneol on the expression of the biofilm-associated genes gtfB and yycF was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Molecular docking was performed to investigate ligand–protein interactions, using a ligand geometry pre-optimized by density functional theory (DFT, B3LYP/6-31G**). The essential oil inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation by up to 98%, whereas isolated (+)-endo-borneol reduced biofilm biomass by 97–98% at concentrations of 2–10 mg/mL. The MIC and MBC values of (+)-endo-borneol were 2.5 and 5.0 mg/mL, respectively. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that subinhibitory concentrations of (+)-endo-borneol modulated the transcription of gtfB and yycF, indicating activation of bacterial regulatory responses. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding of (+)-endo-borneol to biofilm-related protein targets. These findings demonstrate that (+)-endo-borneol is a promising natural antibiofilm compound with potential application in the development of novel preventive and therapeutic oral healthcare products targeting S. mutans biofilms. Full article

Ultra-deep Ordovician carbonates in the Tarim Basin are a major target for oil and gas exploration in China. Localized overpressure, however, creates substantial well-control risks and impairs drilling safety and exploration performance. This study investigates the Fudong Block of the Fuman Oilfield using drilling, seismic, and well-test data. We develop a high-resolution, layer-specific formation-pressure prediction workflow that integrates well and seismic data through a stress–fracture-pressure framework. The workflow combines geomechanical modeling, prediction of the in situ stress field and fracture distribution, stress-fracture matching, Biot-theory-based pressure prediction, and iterative calibration against drilling observations. The results show that: (1) overpressure is concentrated near secondary faults, branch faults, and NW-trending faults. It is jointly controlled by tectonic compression, pressure retention within fracture–vug bodies, and fluid charging. Multiple vertically separated pressure systems are common, and their marked heterogeneity is closely related to secondary-fault development and fracture–vug connectivity; (2) drilling disturbance can generate apparent overpressure and lead to erroneous pressure interpretation. Overpressured wells commonly exhibit a kick followed by lost circulation or simultaneous kick and loss. Drilling-fluid invasion into confined fracture–vug bodies causes pressure buildup; and (3) formation pressure is a key parameter in integrated geological and engineering sweet-spot evaluation and is closely linked to wellbore stability. Field applications confirm the accuracy of the proposed workflow. The method strengthens integrated geology-engineering evaluation and provides a practical basis for the safe and efficient development of ultra-deep carbonate reservoirs. Full article

Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) oil is one of the most important vegetable oils with food, therapeutic and medicinal uses; however, it has high acid and peroxide values even in fresh oil extracted by cold pressing. One of the main factors that can cause high peroxide value (PV) and acid value (AV) in the extracted black cumin oil (BO) is the presence of essential oils (EO), which are highly sensitive to oxidation. In this study, separation by steam was used to strip EO from BO, and the obtained oil quality was evaluated during storage in room conditions for 90 days. The AV and PV in BO without EO were lower and showed a lower increase compared to BO with EO during storage. Chlorophyll, carotenoid, thymoquinone, phytosterols and tocopherols were lower in samples without EO than those with EO. Fatty acid composition was similar in both types of oils, but linoleic acid (18:2) was decreased at a higher rate in the oil with EO during storage. Therefore, the obtained results show that steam stripping of EO from BO can be suggested to obtain oil with lower PV and AV and with a relatively longer shelf life. Full article