Addition of egbe and ethanol to enhance mes performance as chemical flooding material

Methyl ester sulfonate (MES) performance as chemical flooding material for EOR was investigated by adding emulsifier ethyl glycol mono butyl ether (EGBE) and ethanol. MES had interfacial tension (IFT) value as low as 10-3 dyne/cm, but its disadvantage was low solubility in brine water. Repairing this nature, MES was modified by adding nonyl phenol ethoxylate (Tergitol, as secondary surfactant), EGBE and ethanol. The mixed surfactant was tested for IFT value, solubility, and thermal influence to IFT value in various concentrations. The result indicated a significant effect of emulsifier concentration to IFT value. The longer carbon chains, the easier micelle interaction was formed. The positive effects to solubility were caused by the polarity of long chain EGBE and the increase of micro emulsion stability by ethanol. The best formulas were 1% concentration surfactant in brine water consist of MES 40%, Tergitol 20%, ethanol 40% and 0.3% of MES 40%, Tergitol 20%, EGBE 40%. These formulas also had better solubility than MES alone, since they only form one phase. Heat treatment at 62.5 oC for 1 day caused lower IFT because of increasing interaction between emulsifier and micelle. Further heating resulted in a higher IFT as the emulsifier structure collapsed, which made interactions difficult to achieve. Keywords: EOR, interfacial tension, methyl ester sulfonate, non-ionic, surfactantAbstrakKinerja metil ester sulfonat (MES) sebagai bahan chemical flooding untuk EOR telah dilakukan dengan menambahkan pengemulsi etil glikol mono butil eter (EGBE) dan etanol. MES memiliki nilai tegangan permukaan (IFT) sebesar 10-3 dyne/cm, tetapi memiliki kelarutan yang rendah dalam air formasi. Untuk memperbaiki sifat ini, MES ditambahkan dengannonyl phenol ethoxylate (Tergitol) sebagai surfaktan kedua, EGBE dan etanol. Hasil formulasi surfaktan diuji nilai IFT, kelarutan dan pengaruh termal terhadap nilai IFT dalam berbagai tingkat konsentrasi. Hasil pengujian mengindikasikan adanya pengaruh konsentrasi pengemulsi yang besar terhadap nilai IFT. Rantai karbon yang lebih panjang berakibat semakin mudah interaksi micelle terjadi. Kelarutan yang semakin tinggi disebabkan polaritas dari rantai panjang EGBE dan meningkatnya stabilitas mikroemulsi oleh alkohol. Hasil formulasi terbaik didapatkan pada konsentrasi surfaktan 1% dengan MES 40%, Tergitol 20%, Alkohol 40% dan konsentrasi surfaktan 0,3% dengan MES 40%, Tergitol 20%, EGBE 40%. Formula ini memiliki kelarutan yang lebih baik daripada MES karena hanya membentuk 1 fase. Pengaruh pemanasan 62,5 oC selama 1 hari menyebabkan IFT semakin rendah karena meningkatnya interaksi antara pengemulsi dan micelle. Pemanasan yang berlebihan menyebabkan IFT naik karena rusaknya struktur pengemulsi sehingga interaksi sulit terjadi.Kata kunci: EOR, metil ester sulfonat, non-ionik, surfaktan, tegangan permukaan

MAIZE STOVER DEGRADATION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HALOXYFOP-METHYL UNDERDOSES

ABSTRACT One of the major constraints to sustainable tillage is the rapid decomposition of the dry matter. The mechanism known to facilitate this process is the interference in the metabolic pathways of lignin polymers from spraying herbicide underdoses. This study has aimed to verify the effect of underdoses of haloxyfop-methyl in the synthesis of lignin and correlate the interference of this phenolic compound in the decomposition of maize stover. Two preliminary experiments were carried out in a greenhouse to set up the best underdoses to be applied in the yield area experiment. The treatments in the first experiment consisted of: 0; 2.5; 5 and 10 g a.i. ha-1 of haloxyfop-methyl herbicide. And in the second experiment: 0; 0.625; 1.25 and 2.5 g a.i. ha-1 of haloxyfop-methyl herbicide. In all treatments were added 0.5% (v:v) of the surfactant ethoxylated nonyl phenol + dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (Aterbane). For the yield area experiment, the underdoses used were 0, 0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 g a.i. ha-1 of haloxyfop-methyl plus 0.5% (v:v) of the surfactant Aterbane. There was an increase in lignin content in the greenhouse experiments with the underdose 0.625 g a.i. ha-1. In this underdose, change in maize plants growth was not observed. In the field, the concentration of 0.625 g a.i. ha-1 of haloxyfop-methyl increased in 13% the lignin content without interfering in height and biomass of the plants, contributing to delay the decomposition rate in 4% in the residual stover.

Impact of activated sludge process configuration on removal of micropollutants and estrogenicity

The efficacy of three different wastewater treatment configurations, conventional activated sludge (CAS), nitrifying activated sludge (NAS) and biological nutrient removal (BNR) for removal of selected micropollutants from authentic wastewater was investigated. The processes were also characterized based on their proficiency to reduce the estrogenic activity of the influent wastewater using the in vitro recombinant yeast assay. The removal efficiency of trimethoprim improved with the complexity of the three treatment process configurations. Ibuprofen, androstendione, sulfamethoxazole, nonyl-phenol, estrone and bisphenol-A had moderate to high removals (>65%) while carbamazepine and meprobamate remained recalcitrant in the three treatment process configurations. The removal of gemfibrozil was better in the NAS than in BNR and CAS treatment configurations. The yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay analyses showed an improvement in estrogenicity removal in the BNR and NAS treatment configurations as compared to the CAS treatment configuration. Comparing the estrogenic responses from the three treatment configurations, the removal efficiencies followed the order of BNR = NAS > CAS and all were greater than 81%.

215 SNAIL AND SLUG, MARKERS OF EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION, APPEARED TO BE ALTERED BY ALKYL-PHENOLS, BISPHENOL A AND NONYL-PHENOL, IN OVARIAN CANCER CELLS EXPRESSING ESTROGEN RECEPTORS

The ovary is the important organ to produce oocytes. Any disorder will affect embryo production. Ovarian cancer is one of gynecologic cancers in women which can affect ovarian functions. Oestradiol (E2) may be involved in ovarian cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) for diverse functions. EMT is an important process in embryo development and tumour migration or progression. Bis-phenol A (BPA) and nonyl-phenol (NP) have an estrogenic property, which can be suspected as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC). In this study, it has been examined whether BPA and NP can cause EMT process and migration in BG-1 ovarian cancer cells. To confirm the effect of these EDCs, BG-1 ovarian cancer cells were cultured and treated with DMSO (0.1%), E2 (10–7 M), BPA (10–6 M) and NP (10–6 M) for 0, 6, and 24 h. The mRNAs were extracted to perform reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR and the changes in the mRNA expressions were analysed by ANOVA test. Following treatments with BPA and NP, alterations of EMT markers; that is, vimentin and E-cadherin, were examined at mRNA levels by RT-PCR. The levels of vimentin were up-regulated by E2, BPA, or NP in a time-dependent manner. In addition, transcriptional factors of EMT response, i.e. snail and slug, were enhanced by these treatments more than 2 times. BG-1 cells were exposed to these EDCs for 0, 24, and 48 h. Vimentin and snail proteins were induced by E2, BPA, or NP, while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased by them. To reveal that this EMT response is affected by oestrogen receptor (ER), the cells were treated with these EDCs in the presence of an ER antagonist, ICI 182 780 (10–6 M). Treatment with ICI 182 780 reversed EDC-induced alteration of these EMT markers, E-cadherin, vimentin, and snail. Since EMT response can cause metastasis, a scratch assay was performed to show migration caused by BPA or NP. BPA or E2 enhanced migratory capability of these BG-1 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that BPA and NP, potential EDC, may have an ability to influence ovarian cancer metastasis via regulating snail and slug genes in ER-positive ovarian cancers. In a future study, their effects in inducing EMT and migration will be tested in a xenograft mouse model.This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (no. PJ009599), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.