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This study uses physical and geochemical characteristics of crude oil samples representing the Cretaceous and Palaeogene reservoir sequence of the Melut Basin, southern Sudan to gain information about source rock properties, including organic matter characters, depositional environment and thermal maturity. The overall results show that the Melut Basin's oils have API values between 14.6° and 33.3° and indicate that most of oils are not biodegraded; except one heavy oil sample with low API gravity of 14.6°, which is likely biodegraded. The studied oils were generated from clay‐rich source rocks, containing a blend of organic matter derived primarily from a mixed organic matter of aquatic and terrestrial origin and deposited in a lacustrine setting under suboxic to relatively oxic conditions as demonstrated by their biomarker and carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C). The biomarker maturity indicators show that most of the Melut Basin's oils were generated in the main stage of oil generation, exhibiting a range of peak‐mature to late‐mature. The biomarker environmental indicators reveal that the shale source rocks of the Al‐Gayger and Galhak formations contributed to these oil samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the Paleocene coal in the Tirah area, District Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, utilizing onsite Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) experiments combined with geochemical analyses of obtained coal-rock samples. ERT and GPR profiles, along with geochemical data, were collected and meticulously analyzed to assess the potential and quality of coal seams based on coal ranking, aiming to delineate their spatial distribution and future exploitation prospects. The study reveals a wide range of resistivity values, spanning from 8.93 Ωm to 2472 Ωm. The uppermost layer, comprising silt and clay with water saturation, exhibits resistivity values ranging from 8.93 Ωm to 50 Ωm. The subsequent stratum, characterized by wet sandstone with minor shale and clay, has resistivity values between 50 Ωm and 95.3 Ωm. Significantly, the zone with resistivity values between 95.3 Ωm and 800 Ωm is identified as the probable host of the coal seams. Based on the results, the coal seams are estimated to exist at depths ranging from 14 to 23 m, with resistivity values between 95.3 Ωm and 800 Ωm. GPR results further corroborate these findings, revealing coal-bearing strata at various depths, thus confirming the ERT results. Additionally, proximate and ultimate analysis provided insights into the quality of the coal, with average concentration values of moisture content (6.95%), ash content (22.12%), volatile matter (28.55%), fixed carbon (42.40%), carbon content (55.35%), hydrogen (4.7%), nitrogen (0.95%), sulfur (4.82%), and oxygen (10.06%). Comparative analyses of the obtained results with local coals from the Salt Range in Punjab, Pakistan, and coal from Ogboyaga, Nigeria, confirm that the studied coal ranks as sub-bituminous. This comprehensive assessment offers valuable insights into the potential and quality of Paleocene coal in the studied region and is applicable to other areas with similar geological settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Health personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, safety foot shoes and protective suits has expanded dramatically due to COVID-19 pandemic leading to a widespread distribution of the PPE, particularly the face masks, in the environments including streets, dump sites, seashores and other risky locations. The environmental degradation of polypropylene, the essential plastic component in single-use face masks (SUM), takes between 20 and 30 years and thus it is essential to develop experimental approaches to recycle the polypropylene or to reuse it in different ways. This paper explores the integration of SUM into concrete structures to improve its mechanical properties. We first to cut the inner nose wire and ear loops, then distribute the PPE material among five different mixed styles. The PPE were applied by volume at 0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%, with tests focusing on UCS, STS, FS, and PV to determine the concrete's overall consistency and assess the improvement in its mechanical properties. The results showed that adding PPE improves the strength properties and general performance of the concrete specimens. The pattern of rising intensity started to fade after 2%. The findings demonstrated that adding PPE fibers enhanced the UCS by 9.4% at the optimum 2% PPE. The PPE fibers, on the other side, are crucial in calculating the STS and FS of the reinforcement concrete., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)