Search Results (1,040)

The integration of biochar into asphalt binders represents a significant advancement toward global sustainability in pavement engineering. Produced through biomass pyrolysis, biochar enables the valorization of agricultural and industrial waste while reducing dependence on petroleum-derived binder constituents. This review critically synthesizes current research regarding the impact of biochar on the physical, rheological, and aging performance of bitumen. The evidence consistently shows that biochar improves binder stiffness, raises softening points, and strengthens rutting resistance at elevated temperatures, largely due to its porous microstructure and high carbon content. Biochar-modified binders also exhibit enhanced aging resistance through the adsorption of volatile light fractions. These improvements are primarily ascribed to the carbonaceous composition and high porosity of the biochar particles. However, systemic challenges, including phase stability at high concentrations, long-term oxidative aging, and a lack of standardized characterization protocols, hinder widespread implementation. By identifying consistent findings, contradictions, and critical research gaps across the literature, this review provides a consolidated foundation to guide the transition of biochar-modified bitumen from laboratory investigation to large-scale pavement infrastructure applications. Full article

Point-cloud analysis of sedimentary outcrops using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) oblique photogrammetry is a crucial approach to sedimentary system characterization, stratigraphic correlation, and petroleum exploration analog studies. In large-scale field settings, however, outcrops are often scattered and fragmented, vegetation and soil cover is extensive, and class imbalance is pronounced. Manual interpretation is labor-intensive, while existing clustering algorithms, conventional machine learning methods, and general-purpose point-cloud segmentation networks struggle to simultaneously ensure geometric fidelity, rare-class recognition, and multi-scale feature integration. To address these challenges, we propose a method for extracting sedimentary outcrop point clouds from field surface point clouds using a UAV oblique photogrammetry acquisition strategy. The core segmentation module of the method, sedimentary cross-scale self-attention network (SedCSA-Net), is an enhanced version of PointNet++ that integrates collaborative improvements across four dimensions: data augmentation, sampling strategy, feature encoding, and loss optimization. Taking the Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in the Louzhuangzi area of the southern Junggar Basin as a case study, our experimental results indicate that SedCSA-Net overcomes the natural variability of UAV oblique photogrammetry point clouds—such as shadows, voids, and uneven density—achieving a mean Intersection over Union(mIoU) of 89.51% and an Overall Accuracy(OA) of 96.08%, with an outcrop-class Intersection over Union(IoU) of 86.90%. Attitude measurements derived from segmentation results deviate by less than 3° from manually annotated references, demonstrating that the proposed framework provides an end-to-end, generalizable approach for intelligent segmentation, geometric reconstruction, and attitude extraction of large-scale sedimentary outcrop point clouds. Full article

To tackle the environmental challenges associated with industrial oily wastewater discharges and recurrent marine oil spill incidents, developing high-efficiency oil–water separation technologies represents a pressing environmental challenge. This research presents a novel design approach comprising the deposition of a stable SiO₂ anchoring layer followed by the fabrication of a PDA/CS crosslinked coating, thereby achieving successful construction of a superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic (SH/UWSO) coating on stainless steel meshes (SSM). In the first step, SiO₂ microspheres were deposited via vapor deposition to create a micro-rough surface architecture. Subsequently, a dopamine/chitosan (DA/CS) reaction solution was introduced to form a Polydopamine/chitosan (PDA/CS) coating, yielding a SiO₂@PDA/CS-SSM separation membrane. The resulting membrane exhibited separation efficiencies surpassing 99% for various oil–water mixtures, achieving a flux of 1.24 × 10⁵ L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ in petroleum ether systems. Notably, the membrane maintained high efficiency and structural stability even after 25 separation cycles, immersion in strong acid and base solutions for 72 h, and 100 abrasion tests. The rational design of the anchoring and crosslinking layers endows SiO₂@PDA/CS-SSM with high efficiency and stability, making it an effective oil–water separation material. Full article

Aiming at the non-isothermal seepage phenomena in fractured rock mass, this paper conducts nonlinear dynamic research on the coupled seepage problem. Based on solid–fluid heat conduction energy equations and the mutual coupling of temperature and seepage fields, the non-isothermal seepage constitutive relation of fractured rock is derived, and a one-dimensional nonlinear dynamic governing model is established. Theoretical analysis indicates the equilibrium solution of non-isothermal seepage is more complex than that under the isothermal condition. Numerical calculations reveal that temperature variation shifts equilibrium positions and alters the occurrence conditions of hysteresis bifurcation, verifying temperature as a core regulatory factor for seepage dynamic responses. Successive sub-relaxation iteration stability analysis demonstrates obvious differentiated convergence speeds: the seepage field converges markedly faster than the temperature field when the coupled system reaches steady state. Compared with the isothermal seepage, the temperature effect changes the location of abrupt transition points and critical threshold of control parameters, rendering fractured rock seepage systems easier to trigger abrupt structural mutation even at low rock fragmentation degrees. This study clarifies the internal nonlinear dynamic mechanism of thermal–fluid coupled seepage, identifies potential mutation risks in petroleum exploitation and geothermal development, and supplies essential theoretical support for related engineering applications. Full article

Wet friction components are critical to power transmission in petroleum drilling machinery, where their reliability directly affects system stability. Surface defects, such as scratches and plowing grooves, can significantly degrade transmission performance, highlighting the importance of interface morphology prediction for intelligent wear diagnosis. In this study, interface morphology data under different conditions are acquired using a UMT-Tribolab test platform and a white light interferometer. The Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) algorithm is employed to achieve precise localization of microscopic regions before and after testing. Based on this, an NRBO-VMD-Transformer model is developed to predict the interface morphology of wet friction components under varying conditions. The results demonstrate that SIFT enables accurate localization of microscopic regions, while the proposed model achieves high-precision prediction of interface morphology evolution. These findings provide a reliable basis for interface morphology prediction and wear evolution analysis of wet friction components. Full article

Microbially induced corrosion is a common problem in the petroleum industry. In this study, weight loss and surface analysis of grade 20 carbon steel corrosion witness samples were used to evaluate biocorrosion in produced fluids from different wells (Romashkino oilfield, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia). The structure of the resulting microbial communities in the systems with high corrosion indicators was elucidated. The addition of acetate/lactate, yeast extract, and sulfate was found to promote the growth of individual microorganisms in the designed systems and to increase the corrosion rate in several samples (to an average of 0.12 mm year⁻¹). The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that water from different wells from the Romashkino oilfield had distinct microbial compositions. The main genera in the analyzed waters were Oleidesulfovibrio, Halanaerobium, Proteiniphilum, Acetobacterium, Fusibacter, and Methanocrinis, but their relative abundances depended on the water itself and the type of stimulation. Acetogenic bacteria of the genera Fusibacter, Proteiniphilum, Acetobacterium, and acetoclastic methanogenic archaea Methanocrinis became dominant in the microbial community structure in the acetate-enriched systems in water from one of the studied wells. Electron donors, generated by various bacteria and artificially introduced ones, facilitated active dissimilatory sulfate reduction by Oleidesulfovibrio, Desulfotignum, Desulfocurvus, and Pseudodesulfovibrio in water from another production well. The obtained results are important for identifying the causes of premature failures of oilfield equipment, particularly in areas where microbial enhanced oil recovery is used. Full article

Petroleum hydrocarbons contamination in soil is difficult to remediate due to strong adsorption and limited bioavailability. This study investigated the coupled remediation of diesel contamination in an alkaline kaolin-based model substrate using a silica gel-loaded, iron-catalyzed sodium percarbonate composite (SPC^SF) and Bacillus subtilis. The alkaline model substrate was used as a simplified representation of difficult-to-reclaim hydrocarbon- and reagent-impacted matrices that may occur at oil drilling or production sites. In this study, a combined remediation strategy integrating a silica gel-loaded, iron-catalyzed sodium percarbonate composite (SPC^SF) with Bacillus subtilis ATCC 11774 was developed for diesel-contaminated soil. The remediation performance of chemical oxidation, microbial remediation, and their combined application was systematically evaluated. The simultaneous SPC^SF–microbial treatment achieved the highest removal efficiency, reaching 65.1% after 31 d, which was markedly higher than that of chemical oxidation (22.5%) or microbial remediation alone (31.1%). Within the mineral model substrate used in this study, SPC^SF effectively regulated pH and oxidation–reduction potential, creating conditions more favorable for microbial activity. Spectroscopic analyses (three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) indicated that SPC^SF promoted the transformation of diesel hydrocarbons into bioavailable intermediates, which were further converted by microorganisms into carboxyl-rich organic matter. Bacillus subtilis was associated with a higher Fe(II) proportion in the coupled system, which may have favored maintenance of Fe redox activity and sustained Fenton-like reactivity. However, direct measurements of reactive oxygen species and Fe(II)/Fe(III) dynamics were not performed; therefore, this interpretation should be regarded as a plausible hypothesis based on indirect evidence. The specific microbial contribution to Fe redox transformation was inferred from indirect evidence and may also have been influenced by medium-derived components or microbial metabolites. This study presents a coupled supported sodium percarbonate and microbial remediation strategy providing mechanistic evidence for the compatibility of supported chemical oxidation and microbial degradation in diesel-contaminated soil. Full article

Due to the environmental concerns associated with petroleum-based plastics, industry and academia have directed increasing attention toward marine-derived biodegradable biopolymers, particularly those obtained from seaweed. In line with global efforts to enhance resource efficiency and sustainability by introducing non-fossil raw materials into the circular economy, seaweed valorization has emerged as a promising pathway. Seaweeds are attractive feedstocks due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity, antioxidant activity, and excellent film-forming capacity. This review provides a critical and application-oriented overview of seaweed biomass for food packaging applications by comparatively discussing the relationship between seaweed composition, extraction technologies, material functionality, packaging performance, and regulatory considerations. Emphasis is placed on the role of structural biopolymers and bioactive compounds in the development of passive, active, and intelligent packaging systems. Recent advances in extraction technologies, polymer modification strategies, and incorporation of functional additives are critically discussed in relation to their influence on the physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of seaweed-based composites. Furthermore, the review highlights key challenges limiting industrial implementation, including high hydrophilicity, high variability between the batches, energy-intensive drying processes, regulatory compliance, migration safety, and long-term material stability. Overall, seaweed-derived materials demonstrate strong potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional packaging systems, particularly in food applications. However, further optimization of processing technologies, material standardization, techno-economic feasibility, and end-of-life management are still required before large-scale commercialization can be achieved. Full article

The recent motivation for sustainable lubrication has driven the development and advances of bio-based and potentially environmentally favorable alternatives to petroleum-based greases. Yet, their industrial adoption is largely hindered by the thickener weak network or inconsistency leading to grease unacceptable degradation under applied loads and operating temperatures in rotating machinery. This study investigates a novel grease formulated from 80% palm oil and a 20% complex thickener system from carnauba wax (CW) and glycerol monostearate (GMS). The effect of thickener composition on grease performance was investigated by testing their X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, penetration level, oil separation percentage, viscosity, thermal properties, and tribological behavior. GMS-rich blends achieved up to 70% lower friction than lithium grease. However, they showed high wear rates and excessive oil separation ranging from 0.07% at room temperature for the 20% GMS blend to above 9% at 40 °C for softer formulations. The blend of 15% CW + 5% GMS showed only 0.113% and 3.145% oil bleed at room temperature and at 40 °C, respectively, with suitable consistency (NLGI 3) and acceptable dynamic viscosity rates. Regarding thermal behavior, CW-based samples revealed an enhanced melting point compared to GMS. For validation, investigations were conducted on rolling element bearings on a customized test setup operating at 1400 rpm under selected radial loads. The results demonstrate that CW/GMS bio-thickeners achieved lower vibration levels compared to the GMS thickener, approaching the performance of lithium grease. Full article

Environmental concerns with petroleum-based polymers have accelerated the development of biodegradable alternatives, making poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) a promising candidate for sustainable packaging. However, its functional performance necessitates modification through blending. In this study, blends containing 65–85 wt.% polylactide (PLA) were investigated to establish structure–property relationships relevant to compostable packaging. The results reveal partial miscibility of the blends and pronouncedcomposition-dependent changes in morphology and thermal behavior, characterized by an increase in glass transition temperature and a decrease in PLA melting temperature. Increasing PLA content (≥80 wt.%) enhanced thermal stability, increasing the degradation temperature to 288.0 °C. In contrast, higher PHBV content (≥25 wt.%) significantly improved barrier properties of PLA, reducing oxygen and water vapor transmission rates to 74.47 cm³ m⁻² day⁻¹ and 29.11 g m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. Biodegradation behavior revealed complete degradation of PHBV after 56 days, whereas PLA showed only 1.29% mass loss under identical conditions. In the blends, biodegradation proceeded preferentially through the PHBV phase, resulting in composition-dependent mass loss. Among the investigated compositions, PLA65/PHBV provided the most balanced combination of barrier performance, mechanical behavior, and biodegradation response. Overall, these findings demonstrate that tailoring composition enables the design of polymer systems for sustainable packaging applications. Full article

Traditional petroleum-based packaging suffers from pollution and functional limits, making it unsuitable for next-generation food systems. In contrast, bio-based smart packaging—combining renewable substrates with responsive components—transforms packaging from a passive shell into an active quality monitor and supply chain information node through three interconnected pillars: renewability, real-time responsiveness to freshness markers, and digital traceability. Market figures confirm this shift, with the smart food packaging sector projected to reach USD 48.97 billion by 2028 (CAGR 4.49% from 2023). This review covers recent progress in natural polymers (cellulose, chitosan, alginate, gelatin) and bio-based polyesters (PLA, PHA). Their multiscale structures enable tunable mechanical and barrier properties while serving as hosts for intelligent functions. Two functional directions stand out: active preservation (antimicrobial, antioxidant, gas-regulating, stimulus-controlled release) and intelligent sensing (colorimetric indicators, bio-based sensors, nano-amplified signals for real-time freshness monitoring). Beyond material functions, digital tools such as IoT and blockchain turn packaging into interactive data nodes, linking material intelligence with full traceability to enhance food safety and supply chain efficiency. Key challenges remain with long-term operational stability, production costs, scalable manufacturing, and life cycle assessments. Nevertheless, bio-based smart packaging is expected to evolve through biomimetic design, process innovation, and system-level integration toward adaptability, multifunctionality, and intelligence, ultimately supporting safer, more transparent, efficient, and sustainable food systems. Full article

Contamination of water bodies by emulsified gasoline hydrocarbons, particularly BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes), represents a critical environmental challenge due to their toxicity and resistance to conventional treatment methods. In this study, carbonized biosorbents derived from rice husk (CRH) and walnut shell (CWS) were developed for efficient removal of emulsified gasoline from water. The materials were prepared via carbonization under CO₂ atmosphere (300–800 °C), enabling simultaneous carbonization and activation. Structural and surface properties were characterized using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The results demonstrated a strong dependence of adsorption performance on carbonization temperature, with maximum removal efficiencies of 90.2% (CRH-600) and 96.5% (CWS-700). The superior performance of CWS-700 was associated with its highly developed hierarchical pore structure (up to 670 m² g⁻¹), increased carbon content, and enhanced hydrophobicity. Kinetic studies revealed pseudo-second-order behavior, with equilibrium achieved within 25–30 min at near-neutral pH. Gas chromatographic analysis confirmed the complete removal of BTEX and light hydrocarbons (C1–C9) using CWS-700, highlighting its high selectivity toward aromatic compounds. The adsorption mechanism was attributed to the synergistic effect of micropore filling, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π interactions with aromatic hydrocarbons. The obtained results demonstrate that biomass-derived carbon materials, particularly walnut shell-based sorbents, are promising low-cost candidates for the treatment of complex water systems contaminated with emulsified petroleum hydrocarbons. Full article

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination of soils remains a persistent environmental problem in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, where oil extraction, pipeline transportation, fuel storage, industrial legacy sites, and diesel-dependent infrastructure coexist with fragile cold-climate ecosystems. Remediation in these regions is constrained by low temperatures, short thaw seasons, permafrost, waterlogged active layers, slow vegetation recovery, limited infrastructure, and high mobilization costs, which limit the direct transferability of conventional temperate-zone technologies. This study presents a structured narrative review of international and Russian evidence on petroleum-contaminated soil management in cold regions, focusing on monitoring as a basis for remediation decision-making. Peer-reviewed studies, technical guidance documents, regulatory frameworks, and regional case studies were analyzed across key domains, including environmental constraints, hydrocarbon behavior, monitoring methodologies, and remediation technologies. Particular attention is given to chemical analysis, hydrocarbon fractionation, bioavailability-oriented methods, ecotoxicological bioassays, and microbial indicators as tools linking contamination assessment with remediation strategy selection. Reliance on total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration as a primary endpoint is shown to be insufficient, especially in cold-region soils where strong sorption and limited mass transfer decouple concentration from biological exposure. Multi-endpoint monitoring systems provide a more reliable basis for assessing contaminant risk, treatment effectiveness, and soil recovery. For the Russian Arctic, the integration of national recultivation frameworks with risk-based assessment and ecotoxicological monitoring is identified as a key pathway for improving remediation outcomes. A decision-oriented framework is proposed that links environmental conditions, contaminant properties, and monitoring data to support the selection and optimization of remediation strategies. This study supports a transition from concentration-based cleanup toward risk-informed and ecosystem-oriented management of petroleum-contaminated soils in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments. Full article

Sediments play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem by serving as both a sink for pollutants from human activities and a medium of exchange with aquatic environments and organisms. Chemical contaminants such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons pose significant risks due to their potential for bioaccumulation. As a result, treating marine sediments is often necessary. The present study reports the results of the experimental activities aimed at evaluating the removal performance achievable with a Low-Temperature Desorption Treatment (LTDT) on contaminated marine sediments. An LTDT was simulated by means of a lab-scale plant, with the aim of optimizing recalcitrant organic pollutant removal, evaluated by the analysis of the residual concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the sediments by varying the treatment temperature (200, 350, and 500 °C) and contact time (10, 15, and 20 min). The evolved vapors were recovered by means of an off-gas condenser system that allowed mass balances to be performed and the volatile organic compound recovery efficiency to be evaluated. Two different biochars were tested as innovative adsorbent materials, achieving a contaminant removal between 97 and 99%. Full article

In battery electric vehicles (BEVs), range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) are gaining prominence due to range limitations, long charging times, and limited charging infrastructure. Range losses are particularly evident under extreme climate conditions, necessitating the development of efficient range-extender (RE) systems. In this study, a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fueled, recuperator-equipped Micro Gas Turbine (MGT) was modeled as a standalone range-extending power unit using the Simcenter simulation environment, and its thermodynamic performance was examined under extreme climate conditions. While existing MGT studies in the literature generally focus on diesel-fueled systems, this study fills a significant gap in the literature by modeling the effects of using low-carbon, high-energy-density LPG. The performance of the MGT system was analyzed in extreme cold (−10 °C), standard (20 °C), and hot (45 °C) climates; at three different turbine inlet temperatures (1000, 1100, and 1250 K); and at three recuperator effectiveness settings (0.75, 0.85, and 0.95). The developed MGT system achieved a maximum thermal efficiency of 41.1% and a specific fuel consumption (SFC) of 188.67 g/kWh under cold climate conditions of −10 °C (263.15 K), a turbine inlet temperature (TIT) of 1250 K, and a recuperator effectiveness of 0.95. Consequently, specific CO₂ emissions were reduced to 566.01 g/kWh. The study’s most significant contribution to the literature is that the developed system offers high thermal efficiency, low fuel consumption, and low emissions under extremely cold climate conditions (−10 °C), where electric vehicle batteries typically experience performance and range loss. The LPG-fueled micro gas turbine with a recuperator demonstrates the potential to serve as an efficient, low-emission and competitive auxiliary power unit (APU) for range-extender applications, particularly under extreme climatic conditions. Full article