Toward petroleum-free with plant-based chemistry

Modeling the chemistry of complex petroleum mixtures.

Determining the complete molecular composition of petroleum and its refined products is not feasible with current analytical techniques because of the astronomical number of molecular components. Modeling the composition and behavior of such complex mixtures in refinery processes has accordingly evolved along a simplifying concept called lumping. Lumping reduces the complexity of the problem to...

Petroleum-derived spray oils: chemistry, history, refining and formulation

Modern use of petroleum-derived oils as agricultural crop protectants dates back to the 1800s, but it was not until the latter half of the 20th century that advances in petroleum chemistry allowed substantial modification and diversification in their commercial applicability. In the 1880s, a kerosene–soap emulsion was used with some success against scales and aphids in citrus trees. The search ...

Aging: a theory based on free radical and radiation chemistry.

The phenomenon of growth, decline and death—aging—has been the source of considerable speculation (1, 8, 10). This cycle seems to be a more or less direct function of the metabolic rate and this in turn depends on the species (animal or plant) on which are superimposed the factors of heredity and the effects of the stresses and strains of life—which alter the metabolic activity. The universalit...

Toward cold chemistry with magnetically decelerated supersonic beams.

Understanding Plant-Microbe Interactions for Phytoremediation of Petroleum-Polluted Soil

Plant-microbe interactions are considered to be important processes determining the efficiency of phytoremediation of petroleum pollution, however relatively little is known about how these interactions are influenced by petroleum pollution. In this experimental study using a microcosm approach, we examined how plant ecophysiological traits, soil nutrients and microbial activities were influenc...