Household Air Pollution Interventions to Improve Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement.

Background: An estimated 3 billion people, largely in low- and middle-income countries, rely on unclean fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting to meet household energy needs. The resulting exposure to household air pollution (HAP) is a leading cause of pneumonia, chronic lung disease, and other adverse health effects. In the last decade, randomized controlled trials of clean cooking interventions to reduce HAP have been conducted. We aim to provide guidance on how to interpret the findings of these trials and how they should inform policy makers and practitioners.Methods: We assembled a multidisciplinary working group of international researchers, public health practitioners, and policymakers with expertise in household air pollution from within academia, the American Thoracic Society, funders, nongovernmental organizations, and global organizations, including the World Bank and the World Health Organization. We performed a literature search, convened four sessions via web conference, and developed consensus conclusions and recommendations via the Delphi method.Results: The committee reached consensus on 14 conclusions and recommendations. Although some trials using cleaner-burning biomass stoves or cleaner-cooking fuels have reduced HAP exposure, the committee was divided (with 55% saying no and 45% saying yes) on whether the studied interventions improved measured health outcomes.Conclusions: HAP is associated with adverse health effects in observational studies. However, it remains unclear which household energy interventions reduce exposure, improve health, can be scaled, and are sustainable. Researchers should engage with policy makers and practitioners working to scale cleaner energy solutions to understand and address their information needs.

Improved chickpea growth, physiology, nutrient assimilation and rhizoremediation of hydrocarbons by bacterial consortia.

BACKGROUND: Soil pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) reduces yield by changing the physico-chemical properties of soil and plants due to PHCs' biotoxicity and persistence. Thus, removing PHCs from the soil is crucial for ecological sustainability. Microbes-assisted phytoremediation is an economical and eco-friendly solution. The current work aimed to develop and use bacterial consortia (BC) for PHCs degradation and plant growth enhancement in hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Initially, the enriched microbial cultures (that were prepared from PHCs-contaminated soils from five distinct regions) were obtained via screening through microcosm experiments. Afterward, two best microbial cultures were tested for PHCs degradation under various temperature and pH ranges. After culture optimization, isolation and characterization of bacterial strains were done to construct two BC. These constructed BC were tested in a pot experiment for hydrocarbons degradation and chickpea growth in PHCs contaminated soil. RESULTS: Findings revealed that PHCs exerted significant phytotoxic effects on chickpea growth and physiology when cultivated in PHCs contaminated soil, reducing agronomic and physiological traits by 13-29% and 12-43%, respectively. However, in the presence of BC, the phytotoxic impacts of PHCs on chickpea plants were reduced, resulting in up to 24 - 35% improvement in agronomic and physiological characteristics as compared to un-inoculated contaminated controls. Furthermore, the bacterial consortia boosted chickpea's nutritional absorption and antioxidant mechanism. Most importantly, chickpea plants phytoremediated 52% of the initial PHCs concentration; however, adding BC1 and BC2 with chickpea plants further increased this removal and remediated 74% and 80% of the initial PHCs concentration, respectively. CONCLUSION: In general, BC2 outperformed BC1 (with few exceptions) in promoting plant growth and PHCs elimination. Therefore, using multi-trait BC for PHCs degradation and plant growth improvement under PHCs stress may be an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy to deal with PHCs pollution and toxicity.

Sustainable Processing of Ultralow-Cost Petroleum Cokes Into Ultrastable Self-Doped Fe3C@CNT Catalysts for High-Efficiency HER.

Petroleum cokes are largely used as low-cost anodes in aluminum industries and general fuels in cement industries, where large amounts of CO2 are generated. To reduce CO2 release, it is challenging to develop green strategies for processing abundant petroleum cokes into high-value products, because there are abundant hetero-atoms in petroleum cokes. To overcome such issues, a sustainable electrochemical approach is proposed to convert ultralow-cost high sulfur petroleum coke and iron powders into high-efficiency catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). During molten-salt electrolysis, raw petroleum cokes are converted into CNTs via heteroatom removal and the catalytic effect of Fe, forming Fe3C nanoparticles on the sulfur and nitrogen co-dopped carbon nanotubes (Fe3C@S, N-CNTs). The electrochemical reaction analysis using the continuum model suggested that the rate-determining step referred to the slow transport of mobile ions inside the porous cathode. Because the self-doped S and N atoms massively alleviated the energy barrier for H* absorption and H2 desorption (i.e., promoting HER kinetics), the as-prepared Fe3C@S, N-CNTs exhibited low overpotentials at 10 mA cm-2 in acidic (96 mV) and alkaline (106 mV) solutions with ultralong-term duration (200 h). This study offers a sustainable approach to convert ultralow-cost petroleum cokes into ultrastable catalysts for high-efficiency HER.

Household cooking fuel and gallbladder cancer risk: a multi-centre case-control study in India.

PURPOSE: Gallbladder cancers (GBC), unique to certain geographical regions, are lethal digestive tract cancers, disproportionately affecting women, with limited information on risk factors. METHODS: We evaluated the association between household cooking fuel and GBC risk in a hospital-based case-control study conducted in the North-East and East Indian states of Assam and Bihar. We explored the potential mediation by diet, fire-vents, 'daily exposure duration' and parity (among women). We recruited biopsy-confirmed GBC (n = 214) men and women aged 30-69 years between 2019 and 2021, and controls frequency-matched by age, sex and region (n = 166). Information about cooking fuel, lifestyle, personal and family history, female reproductive factors, socio-demographics, and anthropometrics was collected. We tested associations using multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: All participants (73.4% women) were categorised based on predominant cooking fuel use. Group-1: LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) users in the previous 20 years and above without concurrent biomass use (26.15%); Group-2: LPG users in the previous 20 years and above with concurrent secondary biomass use (15.9%); Group-3: Biomass users for ≥ 20 years (57.95%). Compared to group-1, accounting for confounders, GBC risk was higher in group-2 [OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.00-4.07] and group-3 [OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.08-3.73] (p-trend:0.020). These associations strengthened among women that attenuated with high daily consumption of fruits-vegetables but not with fire-vents, 'daily exposure duration' or parity. CONCLUSION: Biomass burning was associated with a high-risk for GBC and should be considered as a modifiable risk factor for GBC. Clean cooking fuel can potentially mitigate, and a healthy diet can partially reduce the risk among women.

Bioremediation of petroleum refinery wastewater using Bacillus subtilis IH-1 and assessment of its toxicity.

Environmental contamination from petroleum refinery operations has increased due to the rapid population growth and modernization of society, necessitating urgent repair. Microbial remediation of petroleum wastewater by prominent bacterial cultures holds promise in circumventing the issue of petroleum-related pollution. Herein, the bacterial culture was isolated from petroleum-contaminated sludge samples for the valorization of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and biodegradation of petroleum wastewater samples. The bacterial strain was screened and identified as Bacillus subtilis IH-1. After six days of incubation, the bacteria had degraded 25.9% of phenanthrene and 20.3% of naphthalene. The treatment of wastewater samples was assessed using physico-chemical and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, which revealed that the level of pollutants was elevated and above the allowed limits. Following bacterial degradation, the reduction in pollution parameters viz. EC (82.7%), BOD (87.0%), COD (80.0%), total phenols (96.3%), oil and grease (79.7%), TKN (68.8%), TOC (96.3%) and TPH (52.4%) were observed. The reduction in pH and heavy metals were also observed after bacterial treatment. V. mungo was used in the phytotoxicity test, which revealed at 50% wastewater concentration the reduction in biomass (30.3%), root length (87.7%), shoot length (93.9%), and seed germination (30.0%) was observed in comparison to control. When A. cepa root tips immersed in varying concentrations of wastewater samples, the mitotic index significantly decreased, suggesting the induction of cytotoxicity. However, following the bacterial treatment, there was a noticeable decrease in phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity. The bacterial culture produces lignin peroxidase enzyme and has the potential to degrade the toxic pollutants of petroleum wastewater. Therefore the bacterium may be immobilised or directly used at reactor scale or pilot scale study to benefit the industry and environmental safety.

Prospect of Controlled Autoxidation to Produce High-Value Products from the Low-Value Petroleum Fractions.

Substantial amounts of low-value light petroleum fractions and low-value heavy petroleum fractions, such as light naphtha, HVGO, and vacuum residue, are generated during the upgrading and refining of conventional and unconventional petroleum resources. The oil industry emphasizes economic diversification, aiming to produce high-value products from these low petroleum fractions through cost-effective and sustainable methods. Controlled autoxidation (oxidation with air) has the potential to produce industrially important oxygenates, including alcohols, and ketones, from the low-value light petroleum fractions. The produced alcohols can also be converted to olefin through catalytic dehydration. Following controlled autoxidation, the low-value heavy petroleum fractions can be utilized to produce value-added products, including carbon fiber precursors. It would reduce the production cost of a highly demandable product, carbon fiber. This review highlights the prospect of developing an alternative, sustainable, and economic method to produce value-added products from the low-value petroleum fractions following a controlled autoxidation approach.

Genomic analysis and biodesulfurization potential of a new carbon-sulfur bond cleaving Tsukamurella sp. 3OW.

Direct combustion of sulfur-enriched liquid fuel oil causes sulfur oxide emission, which is one of the main contributors to air pollution. Biodesulfurization is a promising and eco-friendly method to desulfurize a wide range of thiophenic compounds present in fuel oil. Previously, numerous bacterial strains from genera such as Rhodococcus, Corynebacterium, Gordonia, Nocardia, Mycobacterium, Mycolicibacterium, Paenibacillus, Shewanella, Sphingomonas, Halothiobacillus, and Bacillus have been reported to be capable of desulfurizing model thiophenic compounds or fossil fuels. In the present study, we report a new desulfurizing bacterium, Tsukamurella sp. 3OW, capable of desulfurization of dibenzothiophene through the carbon-sulfur bond cleavage 4S pathway. The bacterium showed a high affinity for the hydrocarbon phase and broad substrate specificity towards various thiophenic compounds. The overall genome-related index analysis revealed that the bacterium is closely related to Tsukamurella paurometabola species. The genomic pool of strain 3OW contains 57 genes related to sulfur metabolism, including the key dszABC genes responsible for dibenzothiophene desulfurization. The DBT-adapted cells of the strain 3OW displayed significant resilience and viability in elevated concentrations of crude oil. The bacterium showed a 19 and 37% reduction in the total sulfur present in crude and diesel oil, respectively. Furthermore, FTIR analysis indicates that the oil's overall chemistry remained unaltered following biodesulfurization. This study implies that Tsukamurella paurometabola species, previously undocumented in the context of biodesulfurization, has good potential for application in the biodesulfurization of petroleum oils.

Factors Determining Black Carbon Exposures among Pregnant Women Enrolled in the HAPIN Trial.

Residential biomass burning is an important source of black carbon (BC) exposure among rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. We collected 7165 personal BC samples and individual/household level information from 3103 pregnant women enrolled in the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network trial. Women in the intervention arm received free liquefied petroleum gas stoves and fuel throughout pregnancy; women in the control arm continued the use of biomass stoves. Median (IQR) postintervention BC exposures were 9.6 µg/m3 (5.2-14.0) for controls and 2.8 µg/m3 (1.6-4.8) for the intervention group. Using mixed models, we characterized predictors of BC exposure and assessed how exposure contrasts differed between arms by select predictors. Primary stove type was the strongest predictor (R2 = 0.42); the models including kerosene use, kitchen location, education, occupation, or stove use hours also provided additional explanatory power from the base model adjusted only for the study site. Our full, trial-wide, model explained 48% of the variation in BC exposures. We found evidence that the BC exposure contrast between arms differed by study site, adherence to the assigned study stove, and whether the participant cooked. Our findings highlight factors that may be addressed before and during studies to implement more impactful cookstove intervention trials.

Forecasting Photo-Dissolution for Future Oil Spills at Sea: Effects of Oil Properties and Composition.

Photo-dissolution, the photochemical production of water-soluble species from oil, can transfer oil-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from floating surface slicks to the underlying seawater. Photo-dissolution was likely a quantitatively relevant fate process for the Macondo crude oil spilled during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, but the importance of photo-dissolution for other oils is poorly constrained. This study evaluated the photo-dissolution reactivities (apparent quantum yields) and modeled rates for oils with diverse physical properties and chemical compositions, including an ultra low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO). Photo-dissolution from UV (310 nm) light was strongly positively correlated with the fraction of small, gas-oil range compounds (

Petroleum jelly: A comprehensive review of its history, uses, and safety.

Petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly, is a widely used topical agent, with a variety of uses in dermatology. Despite its popularity, many myths surround this ubiquitous dermatologic staple. This review details the history of petrolatum and how it is manufactured as well as how its biologic properties make it a great moisturizer. Additionally, data on its potential for flammability, allergenicity, and comedogenicity are detailed, dispelling misconceptions about petrolatum use around oxygen and as a cause of acne. The uses and benefits of petrolatum in dermatology are wide-ranging-a patch test instrument, a vehicle for medicated ointments, and a wound care essential. Given its ubiquitous presence, it is important for dermatologists to understand the history, safety profile, and myths surrounding this humble skincare staple.

Co-application of phytoremediation with iron-loaded biochar in petroleum and zinc co-contaminated soil.

Phytoremediation, a proven technique widely used in soil remediation, encounters challenges in addressing the synergistic effect of petroleum and heavy metals in co-contaminated soils. Enhancing phytoremediation with modified biochar could improve its effectiveness, but the remediation mechanism of pollutants and the structure of microbial communities in soil aggregates have rarely been studied. Ferrate-modified biochar (FeBC) was used in this study to promote the phytoremediation of petroleum and zinc co-contaminated soils. Results showed that ferrate significantly enhanced the microstructure, elemental composition, and surface crystal composition of pristine biochar. The co-remediation by FeBC and ryegrass significantly improved the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil, especially in meso-aggregates. Simultaneously, the bioavailability of zinc in the soil was reduced by FeBC, contributing to the less accumulation of zinc in ryegrass. The interactions among FeBC, soil aggregates and ryegrass indicated that FeBC enhanced the plant resistance by the formation of iron membranes on the surface of ryegrass roots, and enriched dissolved organic matters in meso- and micro-aggregates. The addition of FeBC resulted in the increase of urease and alkaline phosphatase activities in the rhizosphere soil of ryegrass. Furthermore, the application of FeBC led to a notable increase in the content of phospholipid fatty acids in the ryegrass rhizosphere soil, particularly in bacterial populations within the soil meso- and micro-aggregates fractions. The bacterial communities with more cooperative relationship and greater stability were reshaped in different soil aggregate structures by the FeBC addition. This study delves into the potential mechanism of co-remediation by exploring the interactions among ferrate-modified biochar, rhizosphere microbial community and soil aggregates, providing innovative insights into the phytoremediation of soil contaminated by petroleum and zinc.

Survival strategies and assembly mechanisms of microbial communities in petroleum-contaminated soils.

This study analyzed petroleum-contaminated soils from south and north locations in China to explore the structure, diversity, functional genes and assembly processes of microbial communities' . Compared with soils from south locations, soils from northern regions exhibited elevated pH, total nitrogen (TN), and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) levels. Among these, TN and TPH were the most influential on the microbial community. The dominant phyla for bacteria, archaea, and fungi were Proteobacteria, Thaumarchaeota, and Ascomycota, respectively. Among them, Proteobacteria was strongly correlated with various functional genes including alkB and many aromatics degradation and denitrification genes (r > 0.9, p < 0.01), suggesting that Proteobacteria play an important role in petroleum-contaminated soils. Metabolism in northern regions was more active than that in southern regions. The northern regions showed a pronounced tendency for denitrification, while the southern regions were characterized by acetoclastic methanogenesis. The assembly of microbial communities exhibited regional patterns, the deterministic assembly was more prominent in the northern soils, while the stochastic assembly was evident in the southern soils. Overall, these findings provide a new conceptual framework to understand the biosphere in petroleum-contaminated soil, potentially guiding improved management practices in the environmental remediation.

Metagenomic analysis revealed highly diverse carbon fixation microorganisms in a petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer.

As one of the ultimate products of hydrocarbon biodegradation, inorganic carbon always be used to evaluate hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated (PHC) aquifers. The evaluation method was challenged because of the existence of carbon fixation microorganisms, which may uptake inorganic carbons and consequently cause the biodegradation rates to be underestimated. We wonder if there are carbon fixation microorganisms in PHC aquifers. Although an extremely limited number of carbon fixation microorganisms in PHC sites have been studied in previous studies, the vast majority of microorganisms that participate in carbon fixation have not been systematically identified. To systematically reveal carbon fixation microorganisms and their survival environmental conditions, high-throughput metagenomic sequencing technologies, which are characterized by culture-independent, unbiased, and comprehensive methods for the detection and taxonomic characterization of microorganisms, were introduced to analyze the groundwater samples collected from a PHC aquifer. Results showed that 1041 genera were annotated as carbon fixation microorganisms, which accounted for 49% of the total number of genera in the PHC aquifer. Carbon fixation genes involved in Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB), 3-hydroxy propionate (3HP), reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA), and Wood-Ljungdahl (WL) cycles accounted for 2%, 41%, 34%, and 23% of the total carbon fixation genes, respectively, and 3HP, rTCA, and WL can be deemed as the dominant carbon fixation pathways. Most of the identified carbon fixation microorganisms are potential hydrocarbon biodegraders, and the most abundant carbon fixation microorganisms, such as Microbacterium, Novosphingobium, and Reyranella, were just the most abundant microorganisms in the aquifer system. It's deduced that most of the microorganisms in the aquifer were facultative autotrophic, and undertaking the dual responsibilities of degrading hydrocarbons to inorganic carbon and uptaking inorganic carbon to biomass.

Oil spill in an amazon blackwater environment: Biochemical and physiological responses of local fish species.

The accidental spill of petroleum asphalt cement (PAC) in São Raimundo (SR Harbor, located on the Rio Negro (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) was monitored through the analysis of polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and a set of biomarkers in fishes (exposure biomarkes: PAHs-type metabolites concentrations in bile; the activities of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver. Effect biomarkers: lipid peroxidation concentration (LPO) in liver, acetylcholinesterase activity in brain, and genotoxic DNA damage in erythrocytes). Two fish species, Acarichthys heckelii and Satanoperca jurupari, were collected 10, 45, and 90 days after the PAC spill in São Raimundo. At the same time, fish were collected from the Tupé Sustainable Development Reserve (Tupé) which served as a reference area. The sampling periods were related to the rising waters of the natural flood pulse of the Rio Negro. Higher concentrations of PAHs in water were observed at 10 and 45 days and returned to the values of TP 90 days after the PAC spill, a period in which harbor waters rose about 0.2 m. Unlike the PAHs in water, biomarker responses in both fish species significantly increased following the PAC spill in SR. Hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), PAH-like metabolites in bile, and erythrocyte DNA damage increases, together with inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain were the most evident responses for both fish species. The calculated pyrolytic index showed mixed sources of PAHs (petrogenic and pyrolytic). The applied PCA-FA indicated important relationships between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and PAHs concentrations in water, where DOC and PAHs concentrations contributed to biomarkers responses for both fish species in all collection periods.

Synergistic removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons and antibiotic resistance genes in Yellow River Delta wetlands contaminated soil composting regulated by biogas slurry addition.

The interactive effects between the emerging contaminant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the traditional pollutant total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in contaminated soils remain unclear. The synergistic removal of TPHs and ARGs from composted contaminated soil, along with the microbial mechanisms driven by the addition of biogas slurry, have not yet been investigated. This study explored the impact of biogas slurry on the synergistic degradation mechanisms and bacterial community dynamics of ARGs and TPHs in compost derived from contaminated soil. The addition of biogas slurry resulted in a reduction of targeted ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) by 9.96%-95.70% and 13.32%-97.66%, respectively. Biogas slurry changed the succession of bacterial communities during composting, thereby reducing the transmission risk of ARGs. Pseudomonas, Cellvibrio, and Devosia were identified as core microorganisms in the synergistic degradation of ARGs and TPHs. According to the partial least squares path model, temperature and NO3- indirectly influenced the removal of ARGs and TPHs by directly regulating the abundance and composition of host microbes and MGEs. In summary, the results of this study contribute to the high-value utilization of biogas slurry and provide methodological support for the low-cost remediation of contaminated soils.

Organic matter sources and distribution along land-use gradient in a Himalayan foothills River: Insights from molecular markers.

The analysis of hydrocarbon biomarkers in surface sediments along the Markanda River in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas was conducted to gain insights into the distribution and composition of organic matter (OM) within the sediments. This investigation is essential for comprehending how anthropogenic changes are influencing the OM dynamics in river systems. The study involved identification and quantification of various compound groups such as n-alkanes, hopanes, steranes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), linear alkyl benzenes (LABs) and phthalate esters along with their respective parametric ratios. The variation in distribution of n-alkanes and associated indices (odd-even carbon number predominance (OEP), average chain length (ACL), terrigenous to aquatic ratio (TAR), carbon preference index (CPI), and natural n-alkanes ratio (NAR)) were used to distinguish the natural source of organic content from those influenced by anthropogenic contamination. The detection of petroleum contamination was indicated by the presence of prominent unresolved complex mixtures (UCM) as well as specific petroleum biomarkers such as hopanes, diasteranes, and steranes. The study revealed varying concentrations of the analyzed organic pollutants, with the average of PAHs at 24.6 ng/g dw, LABs at 18.1 ng/g dw, and phthalates at 8.3 µg/g dw. The variability in concentration of the investigated compound groups across different locations indicated spatial heterogeneity, and the land use patterns appears to modulate the sources of OM in surface sediments. The source contribution of PAHs and phthalates determined by positive matrix factorization (PMF) shows the predominant sources of the anthropogenic hydrocarbons were linked primarily to petroleum/petroleum-derived products emissions, industrial discharges, cultural practices and common household waste/sewage disposal. This analysis provides insights for developing mitigation strategies and informing relevant policy changes globally, thereby contributing to the broader understanding of anthropogenic impacts on water ecosystems.

An improved process for removal and recovery of heavy petroleum from solids using a ferrate-based hybrid oxidant.

Persulfate oxidants are widely used in soil remediation and wastewater treatment but perform poorly in degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially heavy fractions in solids. Herein, we propose the utilization of a green peroxymonosulfate-ferrate-FeS (PFI) oxidant as a promising process aid for remediating soils contaminated with heavy petroleum components, including asphaltenes and resins. The PFI oxidant could degrade heavy petroleum fractions because of dual activation of the peroxymonosulfate and ferrate by FeS at ambient conditions. Nevertheless, when dealing with soil with high oil content (>10%), the degradation efficiency remains limited (<30%) regardless of the quantity of oxidants employed. Surface elemental analysis shows that a coating of secondary products (Fe(OH)3, Fe2O3) on the surface and in pores of the soil-pollutant matrix explains the failure of oxidation and inefficient use of oxidant. To address this issue, a strategy of pre-solvent extraction-oxidation hybrid process with sequent acidic washing is proposed, where dichloromethane serves as the solvent, and PFI acts as the oxidant. In this system over 90% of the oil could be recovered with an oxidation efficiency of 80% by alleviating the problem of iron oxide coating the matrix surface. The oxidant consumption is also reduced to 70 wt% of the sludge. The PFI oxidant is found to exhibit excellent universality in treating oily sludge with low petroleum content (<2%), reducing the petroleum content in the residue to less than 0.3 wt% (meeting the national standards). The degradation of low oil content sludge by the PFI oxidant followed pseudo first-order kinetics. These findings not only elucidate the failure of PFI oxidation for high oil content oily sludge and identify its potential engineering application range, but also offer a practical strategy for processing petroleum-contaminated soil with varying oil contents through wet oxidation.

Insights into the low-temperature rapid catalytic pyrolysis and remediation mechanism of weathered petroleum-contaminated saline-alkali soil using Beta zeolite.

Pyrolysis technique is considered to have great potential in the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil, but it still has difficulties such as high energy consumption for the degradation of complex petroleum hydrocarbons and the deterioration of soil quality after treatment. In this study, the low-temperature rapid catalytic pyrolysis was realized using Beta zeolite to assist in remediating weathered petroleum-contaminated saline-alkali soil. Under the action of Beta zeolite, the removal efficiency of petroleum hydrocarbons reached 81% after pyrolysis treatment for 10 min at 250 °C, which was reduced to regulatory standard. The pyrolysis behavior and mechanism revealed that the addition of Beta zeolite effectively reduced the activation energy of C-C and C-O bonds cleavage in petroleum hydrocarbon macromolecules due to the strong acidity of Beta, meanwhile the quality of recovered oil from pyrolysis was improved. Additionally, the analyses of soil physicochemical property indicated that the harmless graphitic C generated from the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons increased the organic matter in the soil, and the addition of Beta zeolite enhanced soil water retention capacity and reduced the soil alkalinity, thus improving the ecological function of saline-alkali soil. This study provides a new strategy for the removal of organic pollutants under special soil media conditions.

Environmental remediation and sustainable design of iron oxide nanoparticles for removal of petroleum-derived pollutants from water: A critical review.

The global problem of major oil spills not only generates crude oil pollution, but produces many derivatives that pose ecological and human health challenges. While extensive research has focused on understanding the types of these contaminants, their transport modes, detection techniques, and ecotoxicological impacts, there are still significant research gaps in mechanisms for removal of petroleum-derived pollutants by iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). This work summarizes systematically the types and green synthesis of IONPs for the environmental remediation of various petroleum contaminants. We also provide comprehensive coverage of the excellent removal capacity and latest environmental remediation of IONPs-based materials (e.g., pristine, modified, or porous-supported IONPs materials) for the removal of petroleum-derived pollutants, potential interaction mechanisms (e.g., adsorption, photocatalytic oxidation, and synergistic biodegradation). A sustainable framework was highlighted in depth based on a careful assessment of the environmental impacts, associated hazards, and economic viability. Finally, the review provides an possible improvements of IONPs for petroleum-derived pollutants remediation and sustainable design on future prospect. In the current global environment of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, this information is very important for researchers to synthesize and screen suitable IONPs for the control and eradication of future petroleum-based pollutants with low environmental impact.

Evaluating the in vitro developmental toxicity potency of a series of petroleum substance extracts using new approach methodologies (NAMs).

The present study evaluates the in vitro developmental toxicity and the possible underlying mode of action of DMSO extracts of a series of highly complex petroleum substances in the mouse embryonic stem cell test (mEST), the zebrafish embryotoxicity test (ZET) and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor reporter gene assay (AhR CALUX assay). Results show that two out of sixteen samples tested, both being poorly refined products that may contain a substantial amount of 3- to 7-ring polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), induced sustained AhR activation in the AhR CALUX assay, and concentration-dependent developmental toxicity in both mEST and ZET. The other samples tested, representing highly refined petroleum substances and petroleum-derived waxes (containing typically a very low amount or no PACs at all), were negative in all assays applied, pointing to their inability to induce developmental toxicity in vitro. The refining processes applied during the production of highly refined petroleum products, such as solvent extraction and hydrotreatment which focus on the removal of undesired constituents, including 3- to 7-ring PACs, abolish the in vitro developmental toxicity. In conclusion, the obtained results support the hypothesis that 3- to 7-ring PACs are the primary inducers of the developmental toxicity induced by some (i.e., poorly refined) petroleum substances and that the observed effect is partially AhR-mediated.