Effects of Tea Seed Oil Extracted by Different Refining Temperatures on the Intestinal Microbiota of High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Obesity has become one of the most serious chronic diseases threatening human health. Its onset and progression are closely related to the intestinal microbiota, as disruption of the intestinal flora promotes the production of endotoxins and induces an inflammatory response. This study aimed to investigate the variations in the physicochemical properties of various refined tea seed oils and their impact on intestinal microbiota disorders induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) through dietary intervention. In the present study, C57BL/6J mice on a HFD were randomly divided into three groups: HFD, T-TSO, and N-TSO. T-TSO and N-TSO mice were given traditionally refined and optimized tea seed oil for 12 weeks. The data revealed that tea seed oil obtained through degumming at 70 °C, deacidification at 50 °C, decolorization at 90 °C, and deodorization at 180 °C (at 0.06 MPa for 1 h) effectively removed impurities while minimizing the loss of active ingredients. Additionally, the optimized tea seed oil mitigated fat accumulation and inflammatory responses resulting from HFD, and reduced liver tissue damage in comparison to traditional refining methods. More importantly, N-TSO can serve as a dietary supplement to enhance the diversity and abundance of intestinal microbiota, increasing the presence of beneficial bacteria (norank_f__Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides) while reducing pathogenic bacteria (Alistipes and Mucispirillum). Therefore, in HFD-induced obese C57BL/6J mice, N-TSO can better ameliorate obesity compared with a T-TSO diet, which is promising in alleviating HFD-induced intestinal microbiota disorders.

Effect of refining and pressing temperature on chemical attributes of canola oil produced in Chile

The consumption of vegetable oils is common in our daily diet. Rapeseed oil (canola oil) is the third most consumed edible oil in the world, followed by palm and soybean oils in terms of production. Rapeseed oil has a low proportion of saturated fatty acids, while it is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, as well as in healthy compounds such as phenols, tocopherols, phytosterols, carotenoids, and fat-soluble vitamins. However, processing technologies affect the content and functional activities of bioactive compounds in the oil. Aim: To assess any potential effect of hot or cold pressing and a refining process on the nutritional value and the profile of several bioactive compounds in canola oils produced in Chile. Methods: Canola oils were characterized regarding their fatty acid profile, phytosterol and tocopherol composition, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity, according to the mode of extraction (cold or hot pressed) and before and after bWeing subjected to a refining process. Results: Fatty acid profiles were not significantly different in any of the analyzed canola oils. Refining but not temperature extraction led to a sharp decrease of phytosterols and tocopherols. Hot pressing significantly increased the amount of total phenols (3.1 times) and the antioxidant activity measured by ORAC (3.1 times) and DPPH (8.3 times) compared to the cold extraction. However, phenolic concentration and antioxidant capacity decreased after refining. Conclusions: Refining processes should be adjusted to reduce the loss of bioactive compounds in the oil.

El consumo de aceites vegetales es habitual en nuestra dieta diaria. El aceite de colza (aceite de canola) es el tercer aceite comestible más consumido en el mundo, seguido por los aceites de palma y soja en términos de producción. El aceite de colza tiene una baja proporción de ácidos grasos saturados, mientras que es rico en ácidos grasos insaturados, así como en compuestos liposolubles saludables como fenoles, tocoferoles, fitoesteroles, carotenoides y vitaminas. Sin embargo, las tecnologías de procesamiento afectan el contenido y las actividades funcionales de los compuestos bioactivos en el aceite. Objetivo: Evaluar cualquier efecto potencial del prensado en caliente o en frío y un proceso de refinación sobre el valor nutricional y el perfil de varios compuestos bioactivos en los aceites de canola producidos en Chile. Métodos: Los aceites de canola se caracterizaron en cuanto a su perfil de ácidos grasos, composición de fitoesteroles y tocoferoles, contenido de fenoles totales y actividad antioxidante, según el modo de extracción (prensado en frío o en caliente) y antes y después de ser sometidos a un proceso de refinación. Resultados: Los perfiles de ácidos grasos no fueron significativamente diferentes en ninguno de los aceites de canola analizados. La refinación, pero no la extracción en caliente, condujo a una fuerte disminución de los fitoesteroles y tocoferoles. El prensado en caliente aumentó significativamente la cantidad de fenoles totales (3,1 veces) y la actividad antioxidante medida por ORAC (3,1 veces) y DPPH (8,3 veces) en comparación con la extracción en frío. Sin embargo, la concentración de fenoles y la capacidad antioxidante disminuyeron después del refinado. Conclusión: Los procesos de refinación deben ajustarse para reducir la pérdida de compuestos bioactivos en el aceite.

Composition analysis and health risk assessment of the hazardous compounds in cooking fumes emitted from heated soybean oils with different refining levels.

The cooking fumes generated from thermal cooking oils contains various of hazardous components and shows deleterious health effects. The edible oil refining is designed to improve the oil quality and safety. While, there remains unknown about the connections between the characteristics and health risks of the cooking fumes and oils with different refining levels. In this study, the hazardous compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and particulate matter (PM) in the fumes emitted from heated soybean oils with different refining levels were characterized, and their health risks were assessed. Results demonstrated that the concentration range of aldehydes and ketones (from 328.06 ± 24.64 to 796.52 ± 29.67 µg/m3), PAHs (from 4.39 ± 0.19 to 7.86 ± 0.51 µg/m3), and PM (from 0.36 ± 0.14 to 5.08 ± 0.15 mg/m3) varied among soybean oil with different refining levels, respectively. The neutralized oil showed the highest concentration of aldehydes and ketones, whereas the refined oil showed the lowest. The highest concentration levels of PAHs and PM were observed in fumes emitted from crude oil. A highly significant (p < 0.001) positive correlation between the acid value of cooking oil and the concentrations of PM was found, suggesting that removing free fatty acids is critical for mitigating PM concentration in cooking fumes. Additionally, the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values of PAHs and aldehydes were 5.60 × 10-4 to 8.66 × 10-5 and 5.60 × 10-4 to 8.66 × 10-5, respectively, which were substantially higher than the acceptable levels (1.0 × 10-6) established by US EPA. The present study quantifies the impact of edible oil refining on hazardous compound emissions and provides a theoretical basis for controlling the health risks of cooking fumes via precise edible oil processing.

Virgin Camellia Seed Oil Improves Glycolipid Metabolism in the Kidney of High Fat-Fed Rats through AMPK-SREBP Pathway.

Camellia seed oil (CO) is used as edible oil in southern China because of its excellent fatty acid composition and abundant bioactive compounds. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common chronic degenerative diseases in China, and active compounds in vegetable oil, like virgin olive oil, have been demonstrated to be efficacious in the management of CKD. In this study, virgin CO was refined using a standard process. The refining had minimal impact on the fatty acid composition, but significantly reduced the presence of bioactive compounds like polyphenols in CO. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed with high fat diet (Group G) were treated with either virgin (Group Z) or refined CO (Group R). The oral administration of CO alleviated lipid accumulation and decreased body and kidney weight gain. Furthermore, treatment with virgin CO increased the renal ATP content. The renal expression levels of AMPK and key enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation (CPT-1 and ACOX1) and glycolysis (HK, PFK, PK and GAPDH) were up-regulated in Group Z, thereby enhancing the ATP production. Virgin CO treatment downregulated the expression level of SREBP2 and its downstream target genes, such as ACC, FAS, and HMGCR, which reduced lipid synthesis. These findings indicate that virgin CO improves glycolipid metabolism and restores energy homeostasis in the kidneys of rats fed with a high-fat diet by modulating the AMPK-SREBP-signaling pathway, suggesting the potential of active compounds in virgin CO for managing the renal failure associated with glycolipid dysmetabolism.

Water quality index, ecotoxicology and human health risk modelling of surface and groundwater along illegal crude oil refining sites in a developing economy.

Water quality index, ecotoxicology and human health risk models were applied to surface and groundwater samples along illegal crude oil refining sites in Rivers State, Nigeria. Eight (8) surface water and four (4) groundwater sampling points were identified along illegal refining sites. Thirty-six (36) samples in triplicates were collected monthly from each of the twelve (12) sampling points over a three (3) month period. Water samples were collected and analyzed using standard methods as prescribed by the American Public Health Association. The mean pH for surface and groundwater ranged from 5.61 ± 0.15 to 7.34 ± 0.10 and 5.80 ± 0.10 to 6.39 ± 0.13, respectively. Turbidity, TDS, and BOD data for surface water samples exceeded the WHO guideline values. The ionic dominance pattern of anions for both surface and groundwater water samples were the same and in the order Cl- > SO42- > NO3- > PO42-. Mean heavy metal concentration was in the order Pb > Ni > Fe > Cd > Mn > Cu for surface water and Pb > Cd > Fe > Mn > Ni > Cu for groundwater. Cd and Pb concentrations in both sources were generally high, with Cd exceeding the WHO guideline value (GV). The CCME water quality index model ranked 62.5% of surface water as marginal, 12.5% as good, 12.5% as poor, and 12.5% as fair. The impact of heavy metals on public health was in the order Pb > Cd > Ni > Fe > Mn, with 83% of samples seriously affected by Pb pollution. The potential ecological risk index ranged from 1.61 × 103 to 2.64 × 103 for surface water and 8.10 × 102 to 2.21 × 103 for groundwater. Heavy metal contamination was very high, and the ecological risk effect was extremely high. The health risk through oral ingestion was in the order of adults > infants > children. Two principal components, PC1 and PC2, explained 50.51% and 16.00% of the variations in surface water quality, respectively. For groundwater quality data, three principal components explained the observed variations in water quality data, of which 51.39% is attributed to PC1, 26.29% to PC2, and 16.58% to PC3.

Self-powered biosensor using photoactive ternary nanocomposite: Testing the phospholipid content in rhodotorula glutinis oil.

In the field of oil refining, the presence of excessive residual phosphorus in crude oil can significantly impact its quality, thereby emphasizing the necessity for compact and convenient testing equipment. This study primarily focuses on developing of self-powered biosensor (SPB) using immobilizing Choline Oxidase with a photoactive ternary nanocomposite complex (CHOx-BiOI-rGO-Fe3O4 NPs-ITO) as the anode and utilizing a Pt electrode as the cathode. The successful preparation of the ternary composite photoelectrode for the anode was confirmed through a range of characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 absorption/desorption, Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectrometer (UV-vis DRS). The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties were assessed using an electrochemical workstation, revealing a significant enhancement photoelectrical responsiveness attributed to the formation of heterojunction structures. The SPB exhibited a remarkable linear relationship between the instantaneous photocurrent and phosphatidylcholine (PC) concentration, with a regression equation of I (µA) = 39.62071C (mM) + 3.47271. The linear range covered a concentration range of 0.01-10 mM, and the detection limit (S/N = 3) was determined to be 0.008 mM. It demonstrated excellent reproducibility and storage stability, positioning it a promising alternative to High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for accurate quantification of PC content in rhodotorula glutinis oil. The standard recovery PC content ranged from 98.48% to 103.53%, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 1.4% to 2.4%. This research presents a convenient and precise detection device that has the potential to address the issue of lagging detection in the oil refining process.

Electrostatic field as an emergent technology in refining crude oils: a review.

Vegetable oils and fatty acid esters (FAEs) are commonly used in various industrial and commercial applications. However, the presence of contaminants in these oils can severely affect their functionality and suitability. Conventional refining techniques for vegetable oils typically involve degumming, neutralization, bleaching and deodorization. Meanwhile, refining of FAEs often utilize wet or dry washing processes. These are often resource-intensive, producing substantial waste products, causing neutral oil loss, and can also result in the loss of micronutrients. To address these challenges, researchers have explored the use of nano-adsorbents and electrostatic field (E-field) technologies as alternatives in purifying industrial dielectric oils by removing polar particles and contaminants. Nano-adsorbents demonstrated increased efficiency in removing polar contamination while minimizing neutral oil loss. However, removal of these spent adsorbents can be challenging due to their nano-size, and physicochemical properties. The use of these materials combined with E-field technologies offers a novel and sustainable solution for removing spent nano-adsorbents and contaminants. This review provides an overview of current traditional and novel refining technologies for vegetable oils and FAEs, including their associated limitations. Compared to conventional methods, E-field treatment offers several advantages, making it an attractive alternative to conventional approaches in food processing and oil refining.

Effect of Feeding Olive Pomace Acid Oil on Dark Chicken Meat Lipid Composition, Oxidative Stability, Color, and Sensory Acceptance.

This study evaluated the effect of using olive pomace acid oil (OPAO) instead of crude palm oil (PO) or refined olive pomace oil (ROPO) on lipid composition, lipid oxidation, and quality of chicken meat. Broiler chickens were fed diets with 6% of PO, ROPO, or OPAO, and deboned legs with skin were sampled. Fresh and refrigerated (commercial conditions; 7 days) chicken meat samples were assessed for fatty acid (FA) composition, tocopherol (T) and tocotrienol (T3) content, lipid oxidative stability, 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values, volatile compounds, color, and sensory acceptance. Using ROPO and OPAO led to meat richer in monounsaturated FAs and OPAO to lower α-T levels compared to PO. Oxidative stability, TBA values, volatile compounds, and overall acceptance of meat were not affected by diet. Refrigeration increased TBA values and some volatile compounds' concentrations, but it did not decrease redness or consumers' overall acceptance. Therefore, the OPAO used was an adequate fat source for chicken diets at 6%, as it produced dark meat lower in saturated FAs than PO without affecting lipid oxidation or overall acceptance. According to this, upcycling OPAO as an energy source in chicken diets would be possible, which can contribute to the sustainability of the food chain.

Reuse of Oil Refining Sludge Residue Ash via Alkaline Activation in Matrices of Chamotte or Rice Husk Ash.

The aim of this work is to investigate the possibility of reusing ashes obtained by the calcination of industrial sludge from the oil refining industry (ORSA) as a secondary raw material in the manufacture of alkaline activated cements or geopolymers. The incorporation behavior of 5-20 wt.% of residue in binary mixtures with rice husk ash (RHA) or chamotte (CHM) was evaluated. The cements were activated with a sustainable alternative activating solution obtained from NaOH (10 M) and diatomaceous earth. The specimens were cured at room temperature. Physical and mechanical properties were determined, and the reaction products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The results indicate that the addition of ORSA (5-20 wt.%) to RHA and CHM improves the mechanical strength of alkaline activated cements with maximum compressive strengths of 30.6 MPa and 15.7 MPa, respectively, after 28 days of curing, with the incorporation of 20 wt.% waste. In these mixtures, the sludge acts as a source of aluminum, promoting the formation of a higher amount of geopolymer gel N-A-S-H in materials using RHA as a precursor and also (N)-(C)-A-S-H gel in cements using CHM.

High-value utilisation of PGM-containing residual oil: Recovery of inorganic acids, potassium, and PGMs using a zero-waste approach.

Residual oil containing platinum group metals (PGMs), which is under-researched, can easily pose resource waste and environmental risks. PGMs feature as scarce strategic metals, and inorganic acids and potassium salts are also considered valuable. An integrated process for the harmless treatment and recovery of useful resources from residual oil is proposed herein. This work developed a zero-waste process based on the study of the main components and characteristics of the PGM-containing residual oil. The process consists of three modules: pre-treatment for phase separation, liquid-phase resource utilisation, and solid-phase resource utilisation. Separating the residual oil into liquid and solid phases allows for the maximum recovery of valuable components. However, concerns about the accurate determination of valued components emerged. Findings revealed that Fe and Ni are highly susceptible to spectral interference in the PGMs test when using the inductively coupled plasma method. After studying 26 PGM emission lines, Ir 212.681 nm, Pd 342.124 nm, Pt 299.797 nm, and Rh 343.489 nm were reliably identified. Finally, formic acid (81.5 g/t), acetic acid (117.2 kg/t), propionic acid (291.9 kg/t), butyric acid (3.6 kg/t), potassium salt (553.3 kg/t), Ir (27.8 g/t), Pd (10960.0 g/t), Pt (193.1 g/t), and Rh (109.8 g/t) were successfully obtained from the PGM-containing residual oil. This study provides a helpful reference for the determination of PGM concentrations and high-value utilisation of PGM-containing residual oil.

Bioremoval of some heavy metals from aqueous solutions by two different indigenous fungi Aspergillus sp. AHM69 and Penicillium sp. AHM96 isolated from petroleum refining wastewater.

Myco-remediation of heavy metals using indigenous fungi of different petroleum refining areas in Egypt was applied. Among the physicochemical parameters determined in these refineries effluents, the highest levels of heavy metals were recorded for the most toxic heavy metals Fe3+ and Co2+. The fungal isolates under the isolation codes AHM69 and AHM96 isolated from the mycobiome of Mostorod and Tanta refineries, respectively showed the best bioremoval efficiency toward heavy metals from the real wastewater mixture and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions. Based on phenotypic and genotypic analysis they were identified as Aspergillus sp. AHM69 and Penicillium sp. AHM96. The optimum conditions for the best bioremoval of Fe3+ and Co2+ from aqueous solutions by Aspergillus sp. AHM69 were live biomass, temperature 45-55 °C, pH 4.5-5.0, contact time 180 min, metal concentration equal to 1000 and 400 mg/L of Fe3+ and Co2+ with live fungal biomass dose of 0.5% and 0.4% with Fe3+ and Co2+, respectively. Concerning to the biomass of Penicillium sp. AHM96, the optimum operation conditions for the best removal of Fe3+ and Co2+ were 45 °C, pH 5.0 and 400 mg/L of Fe3+ with 1.0% biosorbent dosage or 1000 mg/L of Co2+ with 0.5% biosorbent dosage for 180 min as process time. Furthermore, FTIR analysis showed masking, shifting, creating and absenting of different functional groups in the fungal biomass surface of AHM96 and AHM69 strains in the presence of Fe3+ and Co2+ compared to unloaded biomasses. Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) indicated that the removal of Fe3+ and Co2+ by fungi AHM69 and AHM96 was via biosorption and bioaccumulation on the biomass surface. Our results suggested that in the near future, fungal treatment is likely to outperform and replace other chemical and biological treatments in industrial wastewater treatment for oil refining.

Sustainable Valorization of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. Residue as the New Lauric Oil Source Using Alternative Green Extraction and Refining Methods.

Litsea cubeba is an ethnic woody oil plant, in which essential oil rather than oil has been the main foreign trade product through the decades. Concerning large amounts of residue generated from L. cubeba essential oil processing, a sustainable valorization pathway of these biowastes is proposed in this study. First, such biowastes have been systematically investigated for the first time regarding their oils extracted by three extraction methods, where ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) could significantly improve the extraction rate of traditional pressing and solvent extraction without any changes in oil quality. Moreover, the composition of acylglycerols and fatty acids in L. cubeba fruit, kernel, and peel oils were also first identified, which further proved that peels with abundant free fatty acids could lead to high acid value of L. cubeba fruit oils. Compared to virgin coconut oils, L. cubeba kernel oils have a more balanced fatty acid composition with a high lauric acid level, which could be applied as a promising lauric oil resource. Considering the high acid value in L. cubeba kernel oils, both decoloration using activated clay and alkali deacidification were attempted, where the combination of alkali deacidification and 10% of activated clay performed the best considering both quality and cost.

Impact of Ergonomic Posture on the Chemical Exposure of Workers in the Petroleum and Chemical Industry.

OBJECTIVES: Despite a rise in automation, workers in the petroleum refining and petrochemical manufacturing industry are potentially exposed to various chemicals through inhalation while performing routine job duties. Many factors contribute to the degree of exposure experienced in this setting. The study objective was to characterize the impact of workplace conditions, anthropometric variability, and task orientation on exposure for a simulated routine operations task. METHODS: A chemical exposure laboratory simulation study was designed to evaluate the dependent variable of chemical exposure level in the breathing zone for methane and sulfur hexafluoride. The independent variables were (i) posture of the worker, (ii) worker anthropometry, (iii) process configuration, and (iv) gas density. RESULTS: Pipe height was a significant predictor of gas concentration measured in the breathing zone when located in a position that encouraged the gas to enter the breathing zone of the worker. Worker anthropometry had a major impact; tall worker's (male) chemical concentrations exceeded those of the short worker (female) for methane simulations but the opposite resulted for sulfur hexafluoride. Also, worker posture had a significant impact on gas exposure where nonneutral postures were found to have higher levels of chemical concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings indicate that the breathing zone location is altered by posture and worker height, which changes the exposures relative to the emission source depending on the gas density of the chemicals that are present. As a result, qualitative risk assessment cannot be performed accurately without accounting for these factors. Practically, controls may need to account for worker size differences and posture adaptations.

Enhancement of cottonseed oil refining wastewater treatment by zero valent iron under sunlight irradiation and O2 bubbling.

This study is the first to apply a zero-valent iron (ZVI) system in the treatment of cottonseed oil (CTO) refining wastewater. The results indicated that the ZVI system can effectively degrade and mineralize CTO in the wastewater, whereas sunlight irradiation and O2 bubbling can considerably enhance CTO degradation, removing 93.5% of CTO and 69.0% of chemical oxygen demand within 180 min. In addition, a low concentration (0.1 mM) of SO42- and Cl- in the wastewater improved CTO degradation, whereas a high concentration (>1 mM) of these anions considerably inhibited the degradation process. However, NO3- at all concentrations hindered CTO degradation. Furthermore, OH and O2- were the main active species for CTO degradation in the ZVI system under dark conditions. However, in addition to these two species, photogenerated hole (h+) played a key role in CTO degradation under sunlight irradiation. This observation might be derived from the photocatalytic effect due to photoexcitation of the iron corrosion product, γ-FeOOH. Our findings show that the ZVI system assisted by sunlight irradiation and O2 bubbling is feasible for CTO-refining wastewater treatment and can guide the real wastewater treatment project.

A complex network perspective on embodiment of air pollutants from global oil refining industry.

The air pollutants emitted from oil refining industry could be transferred across borders through the increasingly complex global trade network. However, the specific structural features of the network remain unclear. Based on the Multi-regional Input-output method and complex network theory, we make a first attempt to trace six oil refining air pollutants embodied in the international trade. The results show that the overall character of the global oil refining air pollutants flow network exhibits small-world behavior, and each node of the network is strongly connected. Therefore, the refining emissions mitigation measures of one node could efficiently radiate to the other nodes connected to it, which provides essential opportunities for collaborative emissions reduction among countries. Besides, the individual characteristics of each node are distinguished, several key nodes dominate the embodied emissions throughout the global oil refining air-pollutants flow network. For specific countries, the United States, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom are the hub economics in importing embodied pollutants in the network, while Russia and Canada are the key exporters. Similarly, the critical paths with large flow still come from the trade between these key nodes. Our estimated results have great policy implications for reducing air pollutants emitted from oil refining industry and also have profound implications for environmental regulation and protection in the world.

Influence of the Degumming Process Parameters on the Formation of Glyceryl Esters and 3-MCPDE in Refined Palm Oil: Optimization and Palm Oil Quality Analyses.

The presence of glyceryl esters (GE) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE) in refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) palm oil is severely concerning to the palm oil consumer. In the present study, the influence of the phosphoric acid degumming process on the formation of GE and 3-MCDE and in the RBD palm oil was determined with varying the acid dose (0.03-0.06 wt%), temperature (70-100 °C), and reaction time (15-45 min). The experimental conditions of the acid degumming process were designed following the central composite design of experiments, and they were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on the minimal formation of GE and 3-MCDE in the RBD palm oil. The optimal experimental conditions of the acid degumming process were a reaction time of 30 min, phosphoric acid concentration of 0.06 wt%, and temperature of 90 °C. Under these experimental conditions, the minimal GE and 3-MCDE formation in RBD palm oil were determined to be 0.61 mg/kg and 0.59 mg/kg; respectively. Several analytical methods were employed to determine RBD palm oil quality, including color, phosphorus, free fatty acids (FFAs), peroxide values, and fatty acid properties. It was found that the phosphoric acid degumming of CPO effectively removed the phosphorus and hydroperoxide content without conceding the quality of palm oil.

Bacterial diversity and competitors for degradation of hazardous oil refining waste under selective pressures of temperature and oxygen.

Oil refining waste (ORW) contains complex, hazardous, and refractory components, causing more severe long-term environmental pollution than petroleum. Here, ORW was used to simulate the accelerated domestication of bacteria from oily sludges and polymer-flooding wastewater, and the effects of key factors, oxygen and temperature, on the ORW degradation were evaluated. Bacterial communities acclimated respectively in 30/60 °C, aerobic/anaerobic conditions showed differentiated degradation rates of ORW, ranging from 5% to 34%. High-throughput amplicon sequencing and ORW component analysis revealed significant correlation between bacterial diversity/biomass and degradation efficiency/substrate preference. Under mesophilic and oxygen-rich condition, the high biomass and abundant biodiversity with diverse genes and pathways for petroleum hydrocarbons degradation, effectively promoted the rapid and multi-component degradation of ORW. While under harsh conditions, a few dominant genera still contributed to ORW degradation, although the biodiversity was severely restricted. The typical dominant facultative anaerobes Bacillus (up to 99.8% abundance anaerobically) and Geobacillus (up to 99.9% abundance aerobically and anaerobically) showed oxygen-independent sustainable degradation ability and broad-spectrum of temperature adaptability, making them promising and competitive bioremediation candidates for future application. Our findings provide important strategies for practical bioremediation of varied environments polluted by hazardous ORW.

Cement and oil refining industries as the predominant sources of trace metal pollution in the Red Sea: A systematic study of element concentrations in the Red Sea zooplankton.

The Red Sea is exposed to metals from a large variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. In this study, we analyzed 19 common element concentrations in 14 Red Sea zooplankton samples using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The average metal or metalloid concentrations of the Red Sea zooplankton were: Ca > Sr > Fe > Al > Zn > As > Cu > Mn > Cr > Mo > Ni > Pb > Cd. The As, Ca, and Cu concentrations significantly increased with increasing latitude, while Cd concentrations decreased (p < 0.01). Our study indicated that anthropogenic activities (i.e., cement factories and oil refining industries) might be the predominant sources of significantly high Cr (1718 mg/kg), Fe (11,274 mg/kg), Mn (57.3 mg/kg), Mo (286 mg/kg), Ni (226 mg/kg), Pb (332 mg/kg), and Zn (17,046 mg/kg) concentrations that recorded in the Central to North Red Sea zooplankton.

Occurrence of thermally induced glycidyl esters and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters in refined oils and pressed oils manufactured by different processes and associated with human health risks in Taiwan.

Glycidyl esters (GEs) and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDEs) are heat-induced contaminants mainly formed during oil refining. Information on the occurrence of these contaminants in pressed oils is still limited. In this study, 16 oilseeds pressed with a screw press and a hydraulic press had extremely low concentrations of GEs and 3-MCPDEs. Seed-roasting at high temperatures was the principal factor that significantly increased contents of GEs and 3-MCPDEs in pressed oils, in which higher precursor levels were observed. Occurrence data of GE and 3-MCPDE concentrations in refined oils (n = 25) and pressed oils (n = 26) marketed in Taiwan showed that hot-pressed oils had higher concentrations than their cold-pressed counterparts, and average concentrations of refined oils were > 10-fold higher than those of pressed oils. Risk assessment using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach indicated the presence of GEs in edible oils was of concern for food safety, especially for people who frequently use refined oils.

Association of temporary Environmental Protection Agency regulation suspension with industrial economic viability and local air quality in California, United States.

BACKGROUND: This study seeks to answer two questions about the impacts of the 2020 Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement regulation rollbacks: is this suspension bolstering the economic viability of industries as oil and manufacturing executives claim they will and are these regulations upholding the agency's mission of protecting the environment? RESULTS: To answer the former question, we utilized 6 months of state employment level data from California, United States, as a method of gauging the economic health of agency-regulated industries. We implemented a machine learning model to predict weekly employment data and a t-test to indicate any significant changes in employment. We found that, following California's state-issued stay-at-home order and the agency's regulation suspension, oil and certain manufacturing industries had statistically significant lower employment values.To answer the latter question, we used 10 years of PM2.5 levels in California, United States, as a metric for local air quality and treatment-control county pairs to isolate the impact of regulation rollbacks from the impacts of the state lockdown. Using the agency's data, we performed a t-test to determine whether treatment-control county pairs experienced a significant change in PM2.5 levels. Even with the statewide lockdown-a measure we hypothesized would correlate with decreased mobility and pollution levels-in place, counties with oil refineries experienced the same air pollution levels when compared to historical data averaged from the years 2009 to 2019. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the expectation that the suspension would improve the financial health of the oil and manufacturing industry, we can conclude that these industries are not witnessing economic growth with the suspension and state shutdown in place. Additionally, counties with oil refineries could be taking advantage of these rollbacks to continue emitting the same amount of PM2.5, in spite of state lockdowns. For these reasons, we ask international policymakers to reconsider the suspension of enforcement regulations as these actions do not fulfill their initial expectations. We recommend the creation and maintenance of pollution control and prevention programs that develop emission baselines, mandate the construction of pollution databases, and update records of pollution emissions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12302-021-00489-9.