To Study the Effect of Nanoparticle Loadings and Effect of Alternative Base FluidsTowards Improvements in Drilling Fluid Properties

Nanotechnology is increasing capturing the attention of material researches as this technology pushes the limits and boundaries of the pure material itself. Various material enhancement can be done through nanotechnology and drilling fluid for oil and gas explorations are no exceptions as well. Through this paper, it is desired to study the effect of alternative base fluids for the current conventional base fluid but with the addition of nanoparticles. Besides that, it is desired to study the effect of multiple nanoparticles loadings into base fluid to determine the value of enhancements to the base fluid. Researchers had conducted various experiments of nanoparticles dispersion into individual fluids which are unrelated to drilling mud and also into water-based drilling mud. However, no studies had been conducted as said for comparison of different base fluids at different nanoparticle loadings. This spurs the intention of this paper to investigate the effects of the said scenario

Bio-Based Oil Drilling Fluid Improvements through Carbon- Based Nanoparticle Additives

Performance issues of vegetable oil or bio-based oil drilling fluids are generally inferior as compared to synthetic based drilling fluids. This chapter focuses largely on thermal conductivity and rheological properties of bio-based oil drilling fluid as its core issues. Unstable drilling fluids do not only incur in downtime for maintenance, but it indirectly affects production capacity as well. To overcome these issues, nanoparticles acts as additives to improve the thermo-physical traits of bio-based oil drilling fluid. The scope of this chapter focuses on dispersion of graphene oxide at very low concentration, namely 25, 50 and 100 ppm, to improve the thermal conductivity and rheological properties of bio-based oil drilling fluid. The data obtained from thermal conductivity and rheological experimental works were validated with various thermal conductivity and rheological models

Selection of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in Ganoderma-infected oil palm (Elaies guineensis) seedlings

African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is an important oil bearing tree commercially cultivated in Malaysia. Palm oil is an important product for local consumption, provides enormous socio-economic benefits of trade and employment opportunities, and fulfilling the growing global demand for vegetable oils. The monoculture system has fostered the outbreak of basal stem rot (BSR) disease caused by the fungus Ganoderma boninense. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a widely used molecular technique to examine the infection effect on gene expression in oil palm. The selection of appropriate reference genes is vital for accurate data normalization. In this study, the expression stability of six housekeeping genes- β-actin, cyclophilin, GAPDH, MSD, NAD and ubiquitin were validated in oil palm root tissue after fungal infection. NormFinder and BestKeeper algorithms were used to cross-validate the expression stability of the candidate reference genes. MSD, NAD and ubiquitin were shown to exhibit the highest expression stability. These genes were recommended as reference genes for gene expression studies of oil palm root tissue at early fungal infection stage

Cloning of nitric oxide associated 1 (NOA1) transcript from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and its expression during Ganoderma infection

Nitric oxide associated 1 (NOA1) protein is implicated in plant disease resistance and nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis. A full-length cDNA encoding of NOA1 protein from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) was isolated and designated as EgNOA1. Sequence analysis suggested that EgNOA1 was a circular permutated GTPase with high similarity to the bacterial YqeH protein of the YawG/YlqF family. The gene expression of EgNOA1 and NO production in oil palm root tissues treated with Ganoderma boninense, the causal agent of basal stem rot (BSR) disease were profiled to investigate the involvement of EgNOA1 during fungal infection and association with NO biosynthesis. Real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that the transcript abundance of EgNOA1 in root tissues was increased by G. boninense treatment. NO burst in Ganoderma-treated root tissue was detected using Griess reagent, in advance of the up-regulation of the EgNOA1 transcript. This indicates that NO production was independent of EgNOA1. However, the induced expression of EgNOA1 in Ganoderma-treated root tissues implies that it might be involved in plant defense responses against pathogen infection

High frequency plant regeneration from mature seed of elite, recalcitrant Malaysian indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) CV. MR 219

An efficient in vitro plant regeneration system was established for elite, recalcitrant Malaysian indica rice, Oryza sativa L. CV. MR 219 using mature seeds as explant on Murashige and Skoog and Chu N6 media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and kinetin either alone or in different combinations. L-proline, casein hydrolysate and L-glutamine were added to callus induction media for enhancement of embryogenic callus induction. The highest frequency of friable callus induction (84%) was observed in N6 medium containing 2.5 mg l -1 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 0.2 mg l -1 kinetin, 2.5 mg l -1 L-proline, 300 mg l -1 casein hydrolysate, 20 mg l -1 L-glutamine and 30 g l -1 sucrose under culture in continuous lighting conditions. The maximum regeneration frequency (71%) was observed, when 30-day-old N6 friable calli were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg l -1 6-benzyl aminopurine, 1 mg l -1 naphthalene acetic acid, 2.5 mg l -1 L-proline, 300 mg l -1 casein hydrolysate and 3% maltose. Developed shoots were rooted in half strength MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose and were successfully transplanted to soil with 95% survival. This protocol may be used for other recalcitrant indica rice genotypes and to transfer desirable genes in to Malaysian indica rice cultivar MR219 for crop improvement

High frequency plant regeneration from mature seed of elite, recalcitrant Malaysian indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) CV. MR 219

An efficient in vitro plant regeneration system was established for elite, recalcitrant Malaysian indica rice, Oryza sativa L. CV. MR 219 using mature seeds as explant on Murashige and Skoog and Chu N6 media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and kinetin either alone or in different combinations. L-proline, casein hydrolysate and L-glutamine were added to callus induction media for enhancement of embryogenic callus induction. The highest frequency of friable callus induction (84%) was observed in N6 medium containing 2.5 mg l -1 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 0.2 mg l -1 kinetin, 2.5 mg l -1 L-proline, 300 mg l -1 casein hydrolysate, 20 mg l -1 L-glutamine and 30 g l -1 sucrose under culture in continuous lighting conditions. The maximum regeneration frequency (71%) was observed, when 30-day-old N6 friable calli were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg l -1 6-benzyl aminopurine, 1 mg l -1 naphthalene acetic acid, 2.5 mg l -1 L-proline, 300 mg l -1 casein hydrolysate and 3% maltose. Developed shoots were rooted in half strength MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose and were successfully transplanted to soil with 95% survival. This protocol may be used for other recalcitrant indica rice genotypes and to transfer desirable genes in to Malaysian indica rice cultivar MR219 for crop improvement

Transcriptional response of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) inoculated simultaneously with both Ganoderma boninense and Trichoderma harzianum

Application of beneficial microbes offers an environmentally friendly alternative for mitigation of basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm. However, the biocontrol mechanisms of Trichoderma against the pathogenic Ganoderma spp. which cause BSR are largely unknown at the molecular level. To identify the transcripts involved during induced systemic resistance (ISR), we analyzed the root transcriptomes of oil palm seedlings inoculated simultaneously with both G. boninense and T. harzianum, and un-inoculated oil palm seedlings, as well as those that were inoculated with either pathogenic or beneficial fungi. Our analyses revealed that the biocontrol mechanisms of T. harzianum against G. boninense involve modulation of genes related to biosynthesis of phytohormones (ethylene, MeJA and MeSA), antioxidant (l-ascorbate and myo-inositol) and unique secondary metabolites such as momilactone, cell wall metabolisms, and detoxification of phytotoxic compounds; in addition to its role as a biofertilizer which improves nutritional status of host plant. The outcomes of this study have fueled our understanding on the biocontrol mechanisms involving T. harizianum against G. boninense infection in oil palm roots

Isolation of salinity tolerant genes from the mangrove plant, Bruguiera cylindrica by using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and bacterial functional screening

In this study, we have identified and isolated 126 salinity tolerant cDNAs from the root of a mangrove plant, Bruguiera cylindrica (L.) Blume by using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and bacterial functional screening. Sequencing of 51 subtracted cDNA clones that were differentially expressed in the root of B. cylindrica exposed to 20 parts per thousand (ppt) NaCl water revealed 10 tentative unique genes (TUGs) with putative functions in protein synthesis, storage and destination, metabolism, intracellular trafficking and other functions; and 9 unknown proteins. Meanwhile, the 75 cDNA sequences of B. cylindrica that conferred salinity tolerance to Escherichia coli consisted of 29 TUGs with putative functions in transportation, metabolism and other functions; and 33 with unknown functions. Both approaches yielded 42 unique sequencess that have not been reported else where to be stress related and might provide further understanding of adaptations of this plant to salinity stress

Syngas-Enriched hydrogen production via catalytic gasification of water hyacinth using renewable palm kernel shell hydrochar

Syngas produced from biomass gasification has emerged as a highly promising substitute for conventional fossil fuel, catering to various industrial applications while ensuring minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Water hyacinth (WH) has been a major concern due to its invasive nature and uncontrollable growth which impedes aquatic growth and urban management. Fortunately, WH is a potential biomass feedstock due to the comparable cellulose and hemicellulose contents alongside high carbon content and high calorific value which reflects good biofuel properties. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the conversion of WH biomass via catalytic air gasification for syngas-enriched hydrogen production using palm kernel shell hydrochar (PKSH). A parametric study was conducted in a lab-scale fixed-bed downdraft gasifier based on the response surface methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD). The combined interaction effects of the influencing parameters investigated are temperature (600–800 °C), biomass particle size (2–6 mm), catalyst loading (0–10 wt%), and air flow rate (1–3 L/min). Temperature was revealed to be the primary factor with significant influence on the H2 and CO output. Maximum syngas (30.09 vol%) compositions of 11.14 vol% H2 and 18.95 vol% CO were obtained at 800 °C with a particle size of 6 mm and air flow rate of 2 L/min alongside 5 wt% PKSH catalyst loading