A comprehensive study on applications of nanomaterials in petroleum upstream and downstream industry.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a revolutionary technology that has been applied in the oil and gas industry for over a decade, spanning the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Nanotechnology has made significant contributions to the exploration of crude oil and natural gas, both in underground and deep-water environments. It has also played a crucial role in improving the drilling process, enabling the extraction of oil and gas resources from beneath the Earth's surface. Nanoparticles, with their unique physical and chemical properties, such as high specific surface area, high pore volume, and small size, have demonstrated considerable potential in the oil industry. Extensive research has been conducted to explore various types of nanoparticles for advanced applications, including oil exploration, drilling, production, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Moreover, nanomaterials have found applications in downstream and intermediate sectors, such as crude oil refining, natural gas processing, and transportation and storage of petroleum products. Ongoing advancements in nanomaterial synthesis methods, the exploration of new nanomaterial uses, and understanding the remarkable properties of nanomaterials will continue to make them increasingly valuable in the oil and gas sector. The oil and gas industry recognises the potential of nanotechnology and nanoparticles and is investing significantly in research and development in this area. This comprehensive review aims to summarise successful applications of nanotechnology while addressing associated challenges. It serves as a valuable resource for future research and application endeavours in the field, highlighting the potential of nanotechnology in the oil and gas industry.

Fuelling the sustainable future: a comparative analysis between battery electrical vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electrical vehicles (FCEV).

With the advancement of technology in recent decades and the implementation of international norms to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, automakers have focused on new technologies connected to electric/hybrid vehicles and electric fuel cell vehicles. Alternative fuel sources like hydrogen and electricity have been introduced as a sustainable, lower-emission alternative to burning fossil fuel. BEVs or battery electric vehicles are typical electric cars with a battery and electric motor that have to be charged. FCEVs, or fuel cell electric vehicles, have a fuel cell that converts pure hydrogen into electricity via reverse electrolysis to charge a battery connected to an electric motor. The lifecycle costs of the BEV and FCHEV are comparable; however, depending on driving patterns, one may be more advantageous than the other. This study compares the most recent proposed fuel-cell electric car topologies. This paper aims to find out which fuel alternative is more sustainable, looking forward to the future. An analysis was conducted by comparing different fuel cells' and batteries' efficiencies, performance, advantages, and disadvantages.

A comprehensive and systematic study on the techniques used for augmenting the performance of a solar still distillate yield.

One of the biggest problems the globe is currently experiencing is the availability of safe freshwater for drinking, especially in rural and dry regions. Drinking fresh water is among the basic requirements for surviving all life on Earth, along with food and energy. Rapid economic growth and poverty increase the demand for clean water. There are numerous approaches to getting clean water, and a current popular method is the solar distillation of brine water. Solar distillation converts brine water into fresh, usable water using solar radiation. It is a cheap, non-polluting, and greenhouse method. Various methods are used to enhance the distillate output, for instance, using nanoparticles, adding external devices, changing the design, and coupling the solar still. This paper reviews various research work and articles on different approaches used to enrich the distillate yield of solar still, increasing its efficiency and thermal energy, and decreasing the cost of desalination of brine water. Lastly, it contains challenges and the future scope.

A review on geothermal energy resources in India: past and the present.

By 2040, India hopes to have completed its energy supply to fulfill the country's rising energy demands. Renewable and conventional sources must be used in an environmentally acceptable manner to achieve sustainable growth. India must enhance its use of renewable and clean energy sources, including geothermal, wind, and solar, to satisfy its growing demand. While solar and wind energy output has increased significantly, geothermal energy has yet to be fully harnessed. Among the many forms of geothermal energy found on the surface are volcanoes, fumaroles, erupting geysers, steaming fields, and hot springs. A total of about 340 geothermal springs may be found in India, spread throughout both orogenic (in the Himalayas) and non-orogenic (in the Peninsula). There were 31 places extensively evaluated, and deep drilling was performed in sixteen of them. Average temperatures range from 35.0°C to the boiling point of water in these springs. Medium (100.0-200.0°C) and low (100°C) enthalpy geothermal energy resources/systems are found in India, with the latter being the most abundant. The essential component of a geothermal system is understanding the heat source and harnessing it. Studies so far have indicated that some geothermal areas have sufficient geothermal potential for direct heat usage and power generation. If the Puga (J&K) field is explored to a depth of at least 500 m, reservoir simulation studies have shown that it might produce more than 3 MW of power. India's diverse geothermal sites and the current status of exploration for future research are discussed in the paper.

Antifungal effects of tulsi, garlic, cinnamon and lemongrass in powder and oil form on Candida albicans: An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of plants for treating diseases is as old as the human species. Medicinal plants have been a major source of therapeutic agents for alleviation and cure of diseases. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the antifungal activity of garlic, cinnamon, lemongrass and tulsi in powder and oil form at different concentrations on Candida albicans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Powder and oil of garlic, cinnamon, lemongrass and Tulsi dissolved in inert solvent dimethyl formamide to obtain different concentration. Stock solution of different concentration was inoculated on Petri plates containing C. albicans and incubated at 30°C for 48 h. The inhibition zones were measured in millimeters using Vernier caliper. The collected data were analyzed using statistical test like mean value and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Maximum zone of inhibition for the C. albicans was 42 mm at concentrations of 50% for the oil of lemongrass; followed by cinnamon 40 mm, garlic 24 mm and tulsi 20 mm. The P value obtained 0.050, 0.040, 0.036 and 0.031 were found to be statically significant for C. albicans at 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% concentrations of the various oil preparations, respectively. The P value obtained 0.043, 0.033, 0.032 and 0.027 were found to be statically significant for C. albicans at 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% concentrations of various plant powder, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lemongrass and cinnamon oil shows best antifungal effect against C. albicans as compared to garlic and tulsi. Compared to powder preparations, the oil preparations are better to inhibit the growth and higher the concentrations, greater the zone of inhibition seen in all the plant extracts and in oil.