Advances in ultrasonic treatment of oily sludge: mechanisms, industrial applications, and integration with combined treatment technologies.

In the petroleum sector, the generation of oily sludge is an unavoidable byproduct, necessitating the development of efficient treatment strategies for both economic gain and the mitigation of negative environmental impacts. The intricate composition of oily sludge poses a formidable challenge, as existing treatment methodologies frequently fall short of achieving baseline disposal criteria. The processes of demulsification and dehydration are integral to diminishing the oil content and reclaiming valuable crude oil, thereby playing a critical role in the management of oily sludge. Among the myriad of treatment solutions, ultrasonic technology has emerged as a particularly effective physical method, celebrated for its diverse applications and lack of resultant secondary pollution. This comprehensive review delves into the underlying mechanisms and recent progress in the ultrasonic treatment of oily sludge, with a specific focus on its industrial implementations within China. Both isolated ultrasonic treatment and its combination with other technological approaches have proven successful in addressing oily sludge challenges. The adoption of industrial-scale systems that amalgamate ultrasound with multi-technological processes has shown marked enhancements in treatment efficacy. The fusion of ultrasonic technology with other cutting-edge methods holds considerable potential across a spectrum of applications. To fulfill the goals of resource recovery, reduction, and neutralization in oily sludge management, the industrial adoption and adept application of a variety of treatment technologies are imperative.

Supplementation of Bacillus sp. DU-106 reduces hypercholesterolemia and ameliorates gut dysbiosis in high-fat diet rats.

Gut microbiota modulation by a probiotic is a novel therapy for hypercholesterolemia mitigation. This study initially investigated the potential hypocholesterolemic effect of Bacillus sp. DU-106 in hypercholesterolemic rats and explored its potential relation with gut microbiota. Sprague-Dawley rats received a high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet supplemented with 7.5 × 109 and 1.5 × 1010 CFU/kg bw/day Bacillus sp. DU-106 (low-dose and high-dose groups). At the end of 9 weeks, Bacillus sp. DU-106 treatment significantly decreased the body weight, liver index, and total cholesterol. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that Bacillus sp. DU-106 intervention significantly increased bacterial richness and particularly increased the genus abundance of Turicibacter, Acinetobacter, Brevundimonas, and Bacillus and significantly decreased the abundance of Ralstonia. Metabolomic data further indicated that the supplementation of Bacillus sp. DU-106 remarkably changed the gut metabolic profiles of hypercholesterolemic rats and, in particular, elevated the metabolites of indole-3-acetate, methylsuccinic acid, creatine, glutamic acid, threonine, lysine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxamine. Spearman's correlation analysis showed the close relation between the different genera and metabolites. In conclusion, Bacillus sp. DU-106 supplement ameliorated high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and showed potential probiotic benefits for the intestine. KEY POINTS: • A novel potential probiotic Bacillus sp. DU-106 ameliorated hypercholesterolemia in rats. • Bacillus sp. DU-106 supplement regulated gut microbiome structure and richness. • Bacillus sp. DU-106 supplement changed metabolic profiles in high-fat diet rats. • Significant correlations were observed between differential genera and metabolites.