Recent Innovations in Chemical Engineering (Formerly Recent Patents on Chemical Engineering) - Volume 13, Issue 4, 2020

In the design of novel fluorescent chemosensors, investigation of new sensing mechanisms between recognition and signal reporting units is of increasing interest. In recent years, a smart chemosensor probe containing a 1,8-naphthalimide moiety could be developed as a fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for toxic anions, metal ions, biomolecules, nitroaromatics, and acids and be further applied to monitor the relevant biological applications. In this field, several problems and challenges still exist. This critical review is mainly focused on various sensing mechanisms that have emerged in the past few years, such as Photo-Induced Electron Transfer (PET), Intramolecular Charge Transfer (ICT), Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT), hydrogen bonding and displacement approach. The review concludes with some current and future perspectives, including the use of the naphthalimides for sensing anions, metal ions, biomolecules, nitroaromatics and acids and their potential uses in various fields.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), is a technique that has been used to recover the remaining oil from the reservoirs after primary and secondary recovery methods. Some reservoirs are very complex and require advanced EOR techniques that containing new materials and additives in order to produce maximum oil in economic and environmentally friendly manners. Because of EOR techniques, in this work previous and current challenges have been discussed, and suggested some future opportunities. This work comprises the key factors, such as; transport of Preformed Particle Gels (PPGs), Surface wettability and conformance control that affect the efficiency of PPGs. The conduits, fractures, fracture-like features and high permeability streaks are the big challenges for EOR, as they may cause early water breakthrough and undesirable water channeling. Hence, the use of PPGs is one of the exclusive commercial gel inventions, which not only increases the oil production but also decreases the water cut during the oil production. Moreover, different studies regarding PPG, surfactants, and Silica nanoparticle applications, such as the effect of salinity, particle size, swelling ratio, gel strength, wettability, and adsorption were also discussed. Future work is required in order to overcome the conformance problems and increase the oil recovery.

Synthetic gas - a combination of (H2) and (CO) - is an important chemical intermediate for the production of liquid hydrocarbon, olefin, gasoline, and other valuable chemicals. Several reforming methods that use steam, carbon dioxide, and oxygen in the presence of various catalytic systems have been extensively investigated, and this paper reviews the recent research on the state-of-the-art of reforming technologies and the effect of parameters on the catalytic activity of mesoporous silica/alumina supported nickel catalysts for syngas production by methane dry reforming. First, we provide an overview of reforming technologies, including methane dry reforming, steam methane reforming, partial oxidation of CH4, and auto thermal reforming of CH4. Then, we review the literature on dry reforming catalysts. Next, we describe recent findings on the effect of parameters on the catalytic activity of mesoporous silica/alumina supported nickel catalysts for syngas production. Finally, we make proposals for future research. This study can help achieve a better understanding of the reforming technologies and the effects of parameters on catalytic performance for syngas production, thus contributing to the development of green technologies.

The crude oils exploited in oilfields are mainly high-wax crude oils. Paraffins precipitate, crystallize, and form a three-dimensional network structure, when the temperature falls below the Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT), which decreases crude oil fluidity. This poses huge challenges to oil exploitation and transportation, as well as cost control. To date, the addition of chemical pour point depressants has been a convenient and economical method to improve low-temperature fluidity in crude oils. This article reviews the types of pour point depressants of crude oil and their performance mechanisms, and introduces the main research methods and progress made in the study of the performance mechanisms of pour point depressants in waxy crude oils. Finally, the development direction of pour point depressants is prospected.

Background: Herein, we have synthesized nitrogen doped zinc oxide (N-ZnO) by using imidazole derivative as an organic precursor. Methods: The metal oxide nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques. The surface area and pore size distribution were also measured by the BET surface area analyzer. The enhanced surface area reveals that the synthesized materials have better active sites for the amputation of organic dyes. Results and Conclusion: The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was chosen to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of N-ZnO nanoparticles, with results indicating that the material exhibited higher activity towards the degradation of methylene blue.