Removing Ilmenite-Based Filter Cakes Using Hydrochloric Acid and Chelating Agent – Experimental Study

Ilmenite is often used as a weighting agent in drilling fluids to increase the fluid density, but the formation of a filter cake on the borehole wall can impact cementing operations and reduce well productivity. To remove the filter cake, various techniques can be employed such as chemical treatments, mechanical methods, or a combination of both. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical removal of ilmenite-based filter cake using 7.5 wt.% hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine triacetic acid (HEDTA) – chelating agent. The filter cakes were generated using API filter press under harsh conditions of 300 psi pressure and 250°F temperature. Sandstone cores (2.5-in. diameter and 1-in. thickness) were utilized to replicate the formation during filtration experiments. The filtrate fluid was collected and the sandstone cores with filter cakes were scanned using computerized tomography (CT) technology. Immediately after that, the cores and filter cakes were soaked with HCl–HEDTA solution for 6 hours, followed by CT-scanning the cores and remaining filter cakes again. After acidizing, the effluent solution was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was used to analyze the dried filter cakes and remaining residue. The results showed that, the use of 7.5 wt.% HCl was effective in partially removing the ilmenite-based filter cake. Additionally, the use of HEDTA showed limited effect on the efficiency of filter cake removal, but it effectively prevented corrosion problems during the treatment. This study presents useful findings on removing ilmenite-based filter cake with a low acid concentration and reducing the risk of corrosion issues

The effects of cross-linking agent and surfactant on the tear strength of novel vinyl polysiloxane impression materials

This PhD was partially funded by National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, and therefore we thank the authorities at NUST

The role of Teratak Fitrah in promoting dialogue of life in Sabah

This paper discusses the role of Teratak Fitrah Centre as a religious as well as social body and education centre to correlate the relationship and strengthening the brotherhood and Muslim community either those who are Muislims through conversion process or those who are originally Muslim by birth

Emotional intelligence and demographic differences among students in public universities

Emotional intelligence is the grassroots of all intelligence dimensions. It provides individuals with the ability to understand one’s own emotions, managing it and hopefully be able to understand other people emotions as well.The purpose of this research is to determine the emotional intelligence level of Malaysian university students from demographic aspects (gender, academic background, place of residence, academic courses and cumulative grade point average (CGPA). The importance of studying emotional intelligence in students is imperative since it indicates other competencies such as communication and interpersonal relations. A total of 3101 final year students from 10 public universities were randomly chosen as samples. The Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Short (EQ-i:S) by Bar-On (1997) has been utilized for the purpose of measuring emotional intelligence. Scores were categorized into high and low emotional intelligence level. Results were analyzed based on demographic factors such as gender, academic background, place of residence, academic courses and cumulative grade point average (CGPA).It was found that in general, majority of students were quite low in terms of emotional intelligence.Other demographic factors showed varying results.This study implicates that more should be done in higher learning institutions to alleviate and enhance students’ emotional intelligence

Supporting forest conservation through community-based land use planning and participatory GIS – lessons from Crocker Range Park, Malaysian Borneo

In tropical regions, expanding human activities have become increasingly threatening to the ecological integrity of protected areas. Shifting cultivation and other agricultural activities around the protected areas by rural communities often lead to increased carbon emissions, wildlife habitat destruction and increasing hunting pressure. Land use planning, with the participation of local communities in the buffer zones, is being considered to strengthen the implementation of the Man and the Biosphere Program at Crocker Range Park, Sabah, Malaysia. As part of the European Union’s ‘Tackling Climate Change Through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development’ program, we emphasized the participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) approach to support village-scale land use planning that considers the needs of multiple stakeholders in the community. The PGIS was applied within a multi-criteria framework to determine the location of a potential community conservation area (CCA) and to plan future land use activities in the village. Key informant interviews were followed by a participatory mapping workshop, attended by various stakeholders and experts, which was convened to discuss and elicit local knowledge to generate the environmental and resource indicators for determining potential land use activities within the village (e.g., agriculture, tourism and recreation, and forest restoration). Based on the discussions and spatial analyses, a land use zoning map with a potential CCA was presented at a follow-up land use decision making workshop. The villagers and external stakeholders reached a consensus on the land use zoning; leading to the designation process of the CCA. The PGIS-based land use planning has effectively supported the community forest conservation and is potentially applicable to other Southeast Asia regions with similar environmental and socio-economic settings

Anti-bacterial activity of inorganic nanomaterials and their antimicrobial peptide conjugates against resistant and non-resistant pathogens

This review details the antimicrobial applications of inorganic nanomaterials of mostly metallic form, and the augmentation of activity by surface conjugation of peptide ligands. The review is subdivided into three main sections, of which the first describes the antimicrobial activity of inorganic nanomaterials against gram-positive, gram-negative and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. The second section highlights the range of antimicrobial peptides and the drug resistance strategies employed by bacterial species to counter lethality. The final part discusses the role of antimicrobial peptide-decorated inorganic nanomaterials in the fight against bacterial strains that show resistance. General strategies for the preparation of antimicrobial peptides and their conjugation to nanomaterials are discussed, emphasizing the use of elemental and metallic oxide nanomaterials. Importantly, the permeation of antimicrobial peptides through the bacterial membrane is shown to aid the delivery of nanomaterials into bacterial cells. By judicious use of targeting ligands, the nanomaterial becomes able to differentiate between bacterial and mammalian cells and, thus, reduce side effects. Moreover, peptide conjugation to the surface of a nanomaterial will alter surface chemistry in ways that lead to reduction in toxicity and improvements in biocompatibility

The Current State of Proteomics in GI Oncology

Proteomics refers to the study of the entire set of proteins in a given cell or tissue. With the extensive development of protein separation, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics technologies, clinical proteomics has shown its potential as a powerful approach for biomarker discovery, particularly in the area of oncology. More than 130 exploratory studies have defined candidate markers in serum, gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, or cancer tissue. In this article, we introduce the commonly adopted proteomic technologies and describe results of a comprehensive review of studies that have applied these technologies to GI oncology, with a particular emphasis on developments in the last 3 years. We discuss reasons why the more than 130 studies to date have had little discernible clinical impact, and we outline steps that may allow proteomics to realize its promise for early detection of disease, monitoring of disease recurrence, and identification of targets for individualized therapy