Environmental Challenges Associated with Processing of Heavy Crude Oils

The petroleum industry is one of the largest industries in the world and plays a pivotal part in driving a nation’s economy. However, the exploration and exploitation of heavy crude oil have raised series of environmental challenges and caused increased concern for the communities where the oil refineries are cited. Activities such as gas flaring and oil spillage have led to the release of toxic organic and inorganic pollutants, which has resulted in acid rain, climate change, and contamination of soil, water, and air. These environmental hazards have caused adverse effects directly or indirectly to the ecosystem. This chapter offers a general overview of the processes involved in the processing and some of the potential environmental challenges associated with heavy crude oil processing

Microporous metal-organic frameworks based on deep eutectic solvents for adsorption of toxic gases and volatile organic compounds: A review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) belonging to porous 2- or 3-dimensional materials have shown promising potential with wide use in different multidisciplinary fields because they possess remarkable structural properties which confer on them tunable functionalities coupled with excellent morphologies and topologies. Different syntheses approaches have been designed and developed for the preparation of various MOF derivatives. However, unique solvents such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been extensively studied recently because they can serve as essential precursors for preparing many novels and sophisticated composite materials where environmental benign processes are required. These green solvents are gaining serious attention as a templating agent for the facile, direct mixing, and/or ionothermal synthesis of MOFs because they synthesize easily, production is less expensive, and possess effective control of particle morphologies, pore sizes, and shapes, which have been reported to have significant influence in their adsorptive functions. Thus, this review highlights the progress in the development of DES-based MOFs bearing tunable functionalities and their applications for the adsorption of toxic gaseous pollutants

Production and Functionalities of Specialized Metabolites from Different Organic Sources

Medicinal plants are rich sources of specialized metabolites that are of great importance to plants, animals, and humans. The usefulness of active biological compounds cuts across different fields, such as agriculture, forestry, food processing and packaging, biofuels, biocatalysts, and environmental remediation. In recent years, research has shifted toward the use of microbes, especially endophytes (bacteria, fungi, and viruses), and the combination of these organisms with other alternatives to optimize the production and regulation of these compounds. This review reinforces the production of specialized metabolites, especially by plants and microorganisms, and the effectiveness of microorganisms in increasing the production/concentration of these compounds in plants. The study also highlights the functions of these compounds in plants and their applications in various fields. New research areas that should be explored to produce and regulate these compounds, especially in plants and microbes, have been identified. Methods involving molecular studies are yet to be fully explored, and next-generation sequencing possesses an interesting and reliable approach.Forestry, Faculty ofAlumniNon UBCForest and Conservation Sciences, Department ofReviewedFacultyResearche

4D printing: historical evolution, computational insights and emerging applications

Four-dimensional printing (4DP) has gained tremendous interest in the field of materials and manufacturing due to its shape changing properties. Unlike three-dimensional printing (3DP) fabricated with a stationary objects, 4DP allows a 3D printed objects to transform itself to another configuration in response to external energy inputs such as thermal, magnetic, solvent, light or other environmental factors. Utilizing the aforementioned capabilities of 4DP, scientists from various disciplines have investigated a wide range of 4DP with proofs-of-concept. Despite numerous initiatives, 4DP still requires additional developments to meet the industrial applications. This review exercise is therefore aimed to highlight the historical evolution, computational insights and emerging application of 4DP. The review begins by presenting historical evolution and basic fundamental elements of 4DP. The review also presents computational overview on 4DP. Furthermore, different emerging applications of 4DP are highlighted to enlighten the readers. The current challenges of 4DP and future perspectives are critically discussed. Finally, the findings of this review tends to structure research efforts in the next one decade toward the creation of sophisticated 4DP products that will meet the needs of consumers and industry

Chitosan-thymolsulfonephthalein-cobalt nanocomposites for colorimetric detection of sulfide anions in aqueous solution

Background: Water pollution by sulfide ions, arising from the exploration and exploitation of sulfide mineral ore, can cause many chronic and acute health challenges. However, owing to the cost of sophisticated equipment and technical expertise required to detect anionic sulfides in water has inspired the preparation of easy-to-use naked-eye colorimetric devices. Methods: In this study, the functionalization of chitosan solution with thymolsulfonephthalein solution (CFTS) at moderate conditions was utilized for the chemical synthesis of cobalt nanocomposites (CFTS-CoNCs) based chemosensors. Results: The prepared material's scanning electron micrograph shows the high Co dispersion on the surface of CFTS with a thorn-shaped morphology in uniform spheres. In contrast, the transmission electron micrograph shows good dispersibility of the tiny rod-like particles distributed on a dendrite-like surface. The interaction of the orange-colored CFTS-CoNCs chemosensor solution with the colorless S2− ions was accompanied by an instant and stable black color change. Furthermore, the selective and sensitive chemosensor could detect ≥ 15 ppm aqueous S2− ions solution at lower pH. The mechanism of detection could be due to a nucleophilic attack of S2− on the cobalt-induced hydroxylmethylpropyl benzoxathiole amine cation giving rise to the strong UV–Vis absorption at 592 nm. Conclusion: The highly selective and sensitive CFTS-CoNCs chemosensor can be applied for real-time and quick on-site analysis. In addition, the colorimetric device will serve as a lifesaver in terms of reducing both time and cost, user-friendly, and hands-on tools for the rapid/accurate detection of sulfide ions in water

Nanomaterials as catalysts for CO2 transformation into value-added products: A review

International audienceCarbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important greenhouse gas (GHG), accounting for 76% of all GHG emissions. The atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased from 280 ppm in the pre-industrial era to about 418 ppm, and is projected to reach 570 ppm by the end of the 21st century. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions from anthropogenic activities, strategies to adequately address climate change must include CO2 capture. To promote circular economy, captured CO2 should be converted to value-added materials such as fuels and other chemical feedstock. Due to their tunable chemistry (which allows them to be selective) and high surface area (which allows them to be efficient), engineered nanomaterials are promising for CO2 capturing and/or transformation. This work critically reviewed the application of nanomaterials for the transformation of CO2 into various fuels, like formic acid, carbon monoxide, methanol, and ethanol. We discussed the literature on the use of metal-based nanomaterials, inorganic/organic nanocomposites, as well as other routes suitable for CO2 conversion such as the electrochemical, non-thermal plasma, and hydrogenation routes. The characteristics, steps, mechanisms, and challenges associated with the different transformation technologies were also discussed. Finally, we presented a section on the outlook of the field, which includes recommendations for how to continue to advance the use of nanotechnology for conversion of CO2 to fuels

Chitosan and chitosan‑based composites as beneficial compounds for animal health: Impact on gastrointestinal functions and biocarrier application

Chitosan and chitosan-based composites are increasingly gaining attention as feed additives in animal production. However, few studies have summarized their multifunctional roles and applications in animals. This review presents an extensive overview of chitosan and chitosan-based composites in animal nutrition, with emphasis on their roles in gastrointestinal function and substance delivery. It is surmised that the supplementation of chitosan and its derivatives to animals improves the growth performance, productivity, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity, gut health, immunity, and health status of animals. Additionally, the encapsulation of chitosan-based composites as bioactive agents for nutrient, drug, and vaccine delivery enhances the nutritional qualities of animal feeds and boosts animal health. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the potentials of chitosan and chitosan-based composites as feed additives, their actions on gastrointestinal health and bio-delivery, and the challenges underlying their applications would promote their effective and efficient utilization for animal production and foster research progress in this field

Influence of nanocomposites in extrusion-based 3D printing: A review

3D printing is a process used in a variety of industries. This has the potential to replace traditional method of fabrication in the coming years. However, 3D printed parts with a single type of raw material frequently lack robustness, resulting in failed prints. Therefore, enhancing the properties of the materials is critical for applications in a variety of fields. The synergistic combination of nanoparticles (NPs) and 3D printing technologies particularly extrusion based 3D printing may enable the creation of architecture and devices with unprecedented levels of functional integration. This review reports recent developments in the use of nanocomposites (NCs) with 3D printing technology. The outlooks and several important issues in this area are also discussed with the anticipation that this will provide additional insights to the research community

Recent advances in heterogeneous catalysis for green biodiesel production by transesterification

Heterogeneous catalysis has provided a viable alternative to homogeneous catalysis for the production of lowcost biodiesel fuel, overcoming the constraints of homogeneous catalysis. In recent years, there have been numerous breakthroughs in the development of high-efficiency and cost-effective heterogeneous-based catalysts for catalytic transesterification of triglycerides (oil or fat) to biodiesel. Because of its simplicity and low cost, the heterogeneously catalyzed transesterification reaction has long been considered the most feasible biodiesel synthesis method. The intrinsic features of nine types of heterogeneous catalysts, including heteropolyacid, zeolite, hydrotalcite, carbon and waste materials, metal, metal oxide, enzyme, and ion exchange resins, which are commonly used in today's biodiesel research, have been studied in detail. Emphasis is placed on versatile catalysts with high-activity and low production cost as they make biodiesel production more practical, efficient and sustainable. Key parameters that influence the activity of heterogeneous catalysts as well as challenges and opportunities that could motivate future exploration are also highlighted