Production Costs Research Articles

Black Shadow: Effect of Energy Poverty on the Informal Economy in Developing Countries

Energy poverty is a major problem in developing countries, with informal businesses often forced to use inefficient generators or equipment to produce electricity, which can lead to high production costs and lower productivity. As a result, these businesses may be less competitive on the market, which may lead them to operate informally to avoid the high costs associated with regulation and taxes. The aim of this paper is to assess the effect of fuel poverty on the informal sector in developing countries. We start from a sample of 95 developing countries, over the period 1993-2017, specify and estimate a static and dynamic model by Robust Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (Robust POLS) and System Generalized Method of Moments (sGMM). The results suggest that energy poverty increases informality in developing countries. The analysis remains robust to the consideration of disaggregated indices of fuel poverty, and alternative measures. The mediation analysis suggests that the effect passes through several mediators. Our policy recommendation is to improve access to clean energy and electricity for developing countries, which has an impact on informal entrepreneurship.

Mass balance of nickel manganese cobalt cathode battery recycle process

Batteries made from lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt are widely used, especially in the electrical industry, because they have high specific capacity, high safety, and low production costs. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the consumption of batteries used for electric vehicles will increase from 8 million in 2019 to 50 million in 2025 and to 140 million in 2030. As a result, the waste produced is also increasing. This type of lithium ion battery (LIB) which contains heavy metal elements such as nickel, manganese and cobalt can be recycled. This research aims to calculate the mass balance of the recycling process for nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery cathodes. The processing process begins with mixing, leaching, filtration, drying the results of the filtration process, molarity adjustment, Flame Assisted Spray Pyrolysis, and calcination. Based on the results of mass balance calculations for the NMC recycle battery cathode, the amount obtained was 43.427 kg/batch from 100 kg of cathode waste raw material. Apart from that, data was obtained on the metals that were successfully recycled, namely NiO, MnO, CoO, Fe2O3, MgO, Al2O3, Cr2O3, and Li2O. The research results provide information that NMC battery waste can be an opportunity for the NMC metal supply chain and can reduce environmental pollution.

Improving the performance of polylactic acid/polypropylene/cotton stalk fiber composites with epoxidized soybean oil as a high efficiency plasticizer.

Polylactic acid (PLA) can serve as a biodegradable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, but its poor impact resistance and high production costs limit its applications. In this study, different contents of epoxidized epoxy soybean oil (ESO) were added as plasticizer to melt blend with polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP) and cotton stalk fiber (CSF), examining its impact on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, microstructure, and crystallization behavior of the blends. The results indicated that ESO reacted with PLA and CSF to form branched polymers and microgels. With increasing ESO content, the blends exhibited increased initial thermal decomposition temperature, impact strength, and elongation at break, while stiffness, maximum decomposition rate, and crystallinity decreased. When the mass ratio of CSF to ESO was 2:1, the notch impact strength and elongation at break of PLA/PP/CSF/ESO blends were 1.63 times and 1.98 times higher than those of PLA/PP/CSF blends, respectively. Moreover, a reduction in surface grooves of CSF and formation of a gel layer were observed. Importantly, this study opens an effective new pathway for the utilization of waste natural fibers and the widespread application of biodegradable composite materials, contributing to environmental protection, resource conservation, and cost reduction.

Carbon negative methanol production for CO2 utilization: Process design and 4E analysis

To produce alternative fuel and reduce CO2 emissions, the CO2-to-methanol (CTM) process is currently considered to be an effective technical pathway. However, the base CTM process suffers from high energy consumption and low carbon efficiency. Therefore, this work proposed an optimized CTM process integrating double-effect distillation, waste heat recovery, and H2 stripping technologies. Compared to the base CTM process, the optimized CTM process significantly enhances the techno-economic-environmental performances. Meanwhile, it realizes zero external heat requirements and negative carbon emissions. In order to quantitatively evaluate the improvements in the process performances, we conducted detailed technical-economic-environmental analyses. From the technical perspective, the energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of the optimized CTM process are 10.28% and 4.84% higher than that of the base CTM process, respectively. From the economic perspective, the methanol production cost in the optimized CTM process is lower by 18.40 $/tonne MeOH compared to the base CTM process. As for the environmental perspective, the GWP of the optimized CTM process is reduced by 336.42 kg CO2-eq/tonne MeOH compared with the base CTM process. In summary, the optimized CTM process offers an energy-efficient, cost-saving, and environment-friendly solution for CO2 conversion.

Design, fabrication, and testing of a new soft-pouch robot with 6 degrees of freedom to expand the reach of open and endonasal skull base approaches

OBJECTIVE Most robots currently used in neurosurgery aid surgeons in placing spinal hardware and guiding electrodes and biopsy probes toward brain targets. These robots are inflexible, cannot turn corners, and exert excessive force when dissecting and retracting brain tissue, limiting their applicability in cranial base surgery. In this study, the authors present a novel soft-pouch robot prototype driven by compressed air and capable of gentle tissue manipulation. The robot is manufactured with technology developed by the authors, with multiple bidirectional bending points and a miniature camera running through the robot’s central channel. METHODS A soft, pneumatically driven pouch manipulator was created using a novel rapid and scalable system (integrated multilayer pouch robots with inkjet-patterned thin films). Made from 4 layers of thin, low-density polyethylene films, the manipulator has a thin deflated profile (152 µm) and contains 5 independent bidirectional joints with 50° range in each direction, as well as a wrapping end-effector. The robot carries a camera through its central channel. Four cadaveric models were used to demonstrate the robotic prototype being maneuvered inside different anatomical structures during simulated endonasal and posterior fossa approaches, with a manually positioned robot base and manually controlled air pressures. RESULTS The robot is a pneumatically driven, soft-continuum manipulator with 12 control inputs and 6 independently controllable degrees of freedom. This design enables in-plane obstacle avoidance and orientation control. The robot is trapezoidal-shaped, with a total weight of 0.4 g, a 10-mm-wide distal end, and a length of 138 mm. The variable production cost (materials cost) of the manipulator is approximately $1. The manipulator is maneuvered to enter the maxillary sinus and through the endonasal corridor, demonstrating its potential use for anterior skull base approaches. It is also successfully maneuvered around the pons in a simulated retrosigmoid approach. CONCLUSIONS This robot offers a promising solution for safely maneuvering through narrow surgical windows encountered during skull base approaches. The multiple bending points of the robot, combined with its passive deformation capacity, allow it to turn around immovable structures, expanding the reach of surgical openings. The cost-effectiveness, rapid production, and scalability of the robot represent additional advantages.

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss; Meliaceae) as the source for plant-based pesticides as an effective and sustainable biocontrol alternative

The neem tree has strengths such as effective and environmentally friendly active compounds, as well as the ability to improve the quality and productivity of plants organically. However, the use of botanical pesticides has several challenges, such as potentially lower effectiveness compared to chemical insecticides, high production costs, and requiring specific knowledge in formulation and application. Botanical pesticides are readily available tools for insect pest management and are eco-friendly. The research results show that a neem formula at a concentration of 20 ml.l-1 water can cause mortality of brown planthopper is 48.75 - 70%, while mortality in the synthetic insecticide (positive control) at a concentration of 2 ml.l-1 water (as recommended) resulted in 45% mortality. It is obvious that there is a need to develop biological control as alternatives for eco-friendly and sustainable for pests’ control in insect’s pest management strategies. This research study has both qualitative and quantitative approach, data collection strategies were desk review of information and will be based on empirical data and literature. For the desk study, relevant internet web pages were browsed to have an overview of the key concepts of the research issue, problem of pests and diseases control and benefit of neem tree as botanical pesticides. Nevertheless, the use of botanical pesticides can provide long-term benefits to the environment and human health and support more sustainable agriculture. There is a great opportunity for the development of more effective and affordable technology for botanical pesticide production for farmers, but there are also threats such as strong competition from synthetic pesticides. The objective this study aims to determine the potential of neem (Azadirachta indica A.Juss) as a plant producing botanical pesticides as an effective and sustainable biological control alternative.

Enhanced carbon dioxide bio-fixation and protein production of Chlorella pyrenoidosa through a highly efficient sequential heterotrophic and photoautotrophic culture strategy

Chlorella pyrenoidosa is one of the most promising microalgae for protein production with carbon dioxide (CO2) bio-fixation. However, the high production cost and low production capability under traditional photoautotrophic culture mode had severely limited its application. Here, a highly efficient sequential heterotrophic and photoautotrophic cultivation strategy was established. Firstly, the heterotrophic seeds culture conditions were optimized with glucose as the carbon source and 1 g L−1 of yeast extract was selected as a useful stimulus to boost cell growth. Then, the heterotrophic cells were transferred to photoautotrophic conditions directly and cultured under varied concentrations of CO2. Moreover, 8 % (v/v) of CO2, high light and high initial cell density were found to be beneficial for cell growth and CO2 sequestration. Finally, different initial nitrogen concentrations and nitrogen feeding strategies were evaluated to increase the protein content to 62.69 % of dry biomass. These results provide feasible strategies for efficient CO2 sequestration and protein production jointly in C. pyrenoidosa.

Long-term environmental evaluation of horizontal type of GSHP system in the tropical climate: A case study of Saraburi, Thailand

High cooling demand in tropical regions like Thailand highlights the need for efficient air conditioning systems to mitigate environmental impacts. This study explores ground source heat pump (GSHP) technology as a potential solution to reduce global warming potential. Limited research exists on the long-term performance of GSHPs in tropical climates, particularly regarding thermal imbalances from continuous cooling loads. This research addresses this gap by evaluating the environmental effects of horizontal GSHP systems in Saraburi, Thailand, through energy consumption analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA). The study compares a GSHP pilot with various horizontal heat exchanger lengths to a conventional air conditioner (AC). Two GSHP systems were tested: a standard GSHP (GSHP 1) and a modified system (GSHP 2) that replaces the AC fan unit with a plate heat exchanger. Results show that both GSHP systems achieved higher efficiency than the normal AC, with significant power savings. Over five years, fluid temperature fluctuations aligned with atmospheric conditions, without operational temperature rise. GSHP 2 demonstrated comparable performance to GSHP 1, despite lower production costs. LCA results indicated that GSHPs significantly reduce overall environmental impacts. This study provides insights into the long-term environmental benefits of GSHP systems in tropical settings, with findings applicable to similar regions.

Precipitated-crosslinked multi-enzyme hybrid nanoflowers for efficient synthesis of α-ketoglutaric acid

Cascade catalysis of glutamate oxidase (GLOX) and catalase (CAT) to perform one-pot synthetic route for α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) production offers several advantages including simplicity of operation and the generation of few reaction by-products. Nevertheless, the instability of free GLOX and CAT, the high production cost and the difficulty of recycling severely limits its industrial utilisation. Here, catalase-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers were first prepared, and cross-linked with GLOX precipitates by a macromolecular cross-linking agent dextran polyaldehyde to form a novel dual enzyme precipitation-cross-linking hybrid nanoflower (GLOX@CAT-HNFs). The resultant GLOX@CAT-HNFs exhibited higher catalytic activity than conventional combined cross-linked enzyme aggregates (combi-CLEAs) and hybrid nanoflowers (GLOX&CAT-HNFs). The GLOX@CAT-HNFs exhibited 92 % activity recovery whereas combi-CLEAs and GLOX&CAT-HNFs was 87 % and 72 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the GLOX@CAT-HNFs showed better thermal stability, pH and storage stability than free enzymes. After incubation at 60 °C for 100 min, GLOX@CAT-HNFs maintained 70 % of its initial activity while free enzyme was only 18.52 %. Furthermore, after 7 cycles of use, GLOX@CAT-HNFs maintained 68.79 % of its initial activity, indicating excellent reusability. Benefiting from the excellent stability and reusability of GLOX@CAT-HNFs, a nearly 100 % (99.64 %) conversion of L-glutamate to α-KG was achieved, over 1.79 times higher than that of the free GLOX system (55.53 %). This work provides a feasibility for constructing a high-performance cascade catalyst of multiple enzymes.

A synergistic fermentation system of probiotics with low-cost and high butyric acid production: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Clostridium tyrobutyricum

Butyric acid plays a significant role in maintaining body health, and thus the research on cost-effective and efficient biological conversion strategies for butyric acid production holds great importance. This study utilized the mutual interactions between prebiotics and multiple probiotic strains to target increasing the butyric acid yield in a co-fermentation system. Briefly, xylan, an inexpensive biomass material, was used as a prebiotic to screen lactic acid bacteria that capable of being promoted for proliferation and metabolism in its presence. Subsequently, the interaction between the screened lactic acid bacteria and a butyric acid-producing strain (Clostridium tyrobutyricum) was utilized to enhance butyric acid production. The results showed that xylan significantly improved the proliferation and lactic acid metabolizing ability of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum C0502. Whole-genome analysis revealed that L. plantarum carries at least four distinct enzyme genes related to the hydrolysis and utilization of xylan. Co-cultivation of L. plantarum with C. tyrobutyricum demonstrated that the C. tyrobutyricum was able to effectively convert lactic and acetic acids into butyric acid. Furthermore, the addition of xylan into this co-culture system yielded a remarkable butyric acid production of up to 5.01 ± 0.04 g/L, which is 4.58 times higher than the yield obtained from the monoculture of C. tyrobutyricum in reinforced Clostridium medium. The results of this study suggested that the co-culture system of xylan, L. plantarum, and C. tyrobutyricum has the potential to significantly enhance butyric acid production while markedly reduce the production cost. This has immense prospects for practical applications.

Optimizing Palm Oil Production Scheduling In Nigeria Using Balanced Transportation Problem

This paper deal with optimizing palm oil production of a production firm in Nigeria using balanced Transportation problem in other to reduce or increase/ minimize the production cost and increase or maximize production, profit and efficiency. Here the scheduling challemnge is developed and modeled as a balanced of transportation problem as requires in creation of an optimum production schedule. This resulted in allocating optimal and maximum production level such that the given demand were meet at a minimum cost .

Semi-rational engineering of leucine dehydrogenase for enhanced L-tert-leucine production.

Leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH) is a promising enzyme for the industrial production of L-tert-leucine (L-Tle), but its catalytic activity toward trimethylpyruvate (TMP) requires enhancement. In this study, we employed a semi-rational design approach involving homology modeling of LeuDH from Exiguobacterium sibiricum (EsiLeuDH) and molecular docking with TMP to predict potential mutation sites. These sites were tested using an alanine scanning strategy to assess their impact on enzymatic activity, followed by site-saturation mutagenesis and iterative saturation mutagenesis. The resulting mutant, EsiLeuDH-M3, exhibited a remarkable 306 % increase in specific enzymatic activity (104.69 U·mg-1), compared to the wild-type EsiLeuDH (WT). Molecular docking indicated that EsiLeuDH-M3 had an increased number of hydrogen bonds, improved stability, and an enlarged substrate-binding pocket. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulations suggested that EsiLeuDH-M3 possessed a more stable conformation but a more flexible pocket, allowing TMP to access the catalytic center more easily. Experiments examining the effects of different substrate concentrations on TMP bioconversion catalyzed by WT and EsiLeuDH-M3 indicated that EsiLeuDH-M3 tolerated higher TMP concentrations than the WT enzyme. Finally, L-Tle was produced using EsiLeuDH-M3 coupled with an NADH regeneration system, achieving a high conversion rate (91 %) of TMP at a substrate concentration of 0.7 M, which is expected to reduce production costs in the industrial application of L-Tle.

Non-sterile fermentation for enhanced lipid production by Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum using bifunctional benzamide as selective antibacterial agent and unique nitrogen source

The commercial success of micro-biodiesel is currently impeded by the high lipid production cost. Here, a novel non-sterile lipid fermentation strategy was successfully developed by using bifunctional benzamide as selective antibacterial agent and unique nitrogen source. DCW, lipid concentration, and lipid content reached 24.45 g/L, 15.85 g/L, and 64.80 % when Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum was cultured on 60 g/L glucose supplementing 1.5 g/L benzamide as sole nitrogen source under non-sterile condition in a 3-L bioreactor. Interestingly, the non-sterile fermentation containing high-loading of bacteria resulted in comparable lipid production with sterile fermentation. This non-sterile strategy could be expanded to inexpensive substrates including crude glycerol and cassava starch hydrolysate. The fatty acid compositions indicated lipids prepared by the non-sterile fermentation were suitable for biodiesel production. By avoiding the sterilization process, this strategy could effectively reduce energy consumption and simplify the production process, which was promising for improving the techno-economics of the lipid production technology.

Predictive calculation of blasting quality as a tool for estimation of production cost and investment attractiveness of a mineral deposit development

Predictive calculation of blasting quality as a tool for estimation of production cost and investment attractiveness of a mineral deposit development

Empowering industry through energy auditing: a case study of savings and sustainability

Conducting energy audits is pivotal in assessing industrial plant efficiency and formulating effective energy management plans. It identifies opportunities for efficient energy use, reducing costs and environmental impact. This study employs a techno-economic approach to analyze electricity cost reduction in an industrial facility. Through energy auditing, it explores economic benefits and improved energy quality, yielding favorable outcomes. Focused on a plastic derivative manufacturing plant, the study reveals critical audit findings. The main aim is to identify avenues for electric energy savings, cutting production costs, and enhancing product competitiveness. The audit involves a detailed analysis of consumption patterns, signal quality, and potential energy management strategies, culminating in a cost-cutting plan. The results of an economic assessment of the suggested energy-saving strategies, provide a comprehensive evaluation of their financial implications. It reveals significant cost reduction opportunities, estimating annual energy savings of $45,824.56, which represents a 23.68% decrease in expenses. These initiatives not only boost the plant's financial performance but also strengthen its competitive edge.

Analisis Proses Produksi dan Perhitungan Harga Pokok Produksi pada UKM Batagor ESQ

The owner of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Batagor ESQ is located in Bogor, in the implementation of financial records still needs help. One of the impacts of SMEs that have financial records is that they can know and control the expected level of business profits. In accordance with the name of the business, this SME carries out activities to produce and sell battery products. The purpose of this study is to analyze the production process and calculate the cost of production of Batagor ESQ SMEs. The research was carried out through interviews with the owners to get clear information. In addition, this research was also carried out by surveying the Batagor ESQ SMEs. The results of the research on the calculation of the Cost of Production (HPP) were obtained with a unit price of IDR 5.000. The results obtained from the application of the financial literacy concept turned out to be enough to increase their business, so that finances became more structured and clear. With a total revenue of IDR 70,000,000 and production costs of IDR 18,731,000 for a period of one month. The profit margin obtained by Batagor ESQ SMEs is 73.24%.

Introduction and Consultation on the Indonesia's Oil and Gas Sharing Contract at CNG Co.

Indonesia's oil and gas sector has traditionally employed Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) to regulate the sharing of revenues between the government and contractors. Two key PSC models are used: PSC Cost Recovery and PSC Gross Split. The PSC Cost Recovery model allows contractors to recover their exploration and production costs before profits are shared, providing financial protection but reducing long-term profitability. Conversely, the PSC Gross Split model, introduced in 2017, offers a simpler revenue-sharing mechanism, eliminating cost recovery and directly splitting gross revenue between the government and contractors. This study analyzes the financial implications of both models using economic simulations, focusing on key indicators like net cash flow, net present value (NPV), pay-out time, and discounted cash flow (DCF) rate of return. Results show that the Gross Split model generates significantly higher gross revenue ($420.908 million) than Cost Recovery ($46.362 million), but at the cost of greater financial risks for contractors due to higher upfront investments and operating costs. The Gross Split model also provides higher long-term returns, with a net cash flow of $67.138 million compared to $8.252 million in Cost Recovery. However, the pay-out time is longer, and the DCF rate of return is slightly lower (29.95% vs. 31.8%). Ultimately, PSC Gross Split is more suited for contractors with higher risk tolerance and capital resources, while PSC Cost Recovery may be preferable for smaller contractors seeking to minimize financial risks. Both models offer distinct advantages depending on the contractor’s financial capacity and risk appetite.

Advanced green chemistry, HPLC method development and validation: Integrating stability indicating, quality by design (QbD), in ferulic acid and its application in NLCs-based nanoformulation

The biopharmaceutical class IV classification of ferulic acid (FA) restricts its use. FA-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were developed to overcome these issues. It is difficult to quantify the lowest concentration of the drug by another method. The proposed method can determine the lowest concentration in nanoformulation and biological fluids including urine, plasma, blood, and tissues. The proposed method utilizes a novel QbD-based approach, which reduces trial-and-error production costs and market recalls and maintains a risk-benefit ratio, due to the use of optimized inputs and outputs. The use of a green chemistry approach (Acetonitrile: water) can detect even small degradants. The degradant found under stress conditions ensures the safety, efficacy, quality, and stability of the formulations. The optimized method showed linearity with r2 0.9988 in a range of 10-60 µg/ml at a retention time of 3.690±0.01 at a run time of 8 minutes. The recovery rate of FA was found in a range of 95.28±0.54% to 97.98±0.48%. The obtained %RSD precision was (0.01-0.21%) for intra-day, whereas inter-day precision was (0.09-0.51%). The lowest concentrations to be detected and quantified were 2.4 and 7.3µg/ml. The AQbD approach built an optimized method providing significant output. The found stress degradation recovery was (6.2±0.98% to 33.46±0.22%), thus from the recovered degradant concentrations, further work for safety, efficacy, quality, and stability can proceed. Thus RP-HPLC adheres to ICH guidelines and is found to be straightforward, precise, and sensitive for routine quality control analysis of FA in bulk and nanoformulations, plasma, tissues, and other biological fluids.

Determination of trade-offs between 2G bioethanol production yields and pretreatment costs for industrially steam exploded woody biomass

Lignocellulosic biomass, including wood, can be transformed into bioethanol using steam explosion as pretreatment to improve saccharification and fermentation steps. Pretreatment is however the most expensive part of the process in terms of CAPEX and OPEX and requires to be optimized. In order to evaluate the link between pretreatment efficiency and cost, three contrasted wood species (oak, poplar and spruce) were pretreated with continuous steam explosion at pilot-scale following full factorial designs. Response surfaces obtained were combined with an economic assessment to determine trade-offs aiming at maximizing both fermentable sugars released during the enzymatic hydrolysis step and bioethanol yield during the fermentation step as well as minimizing costs of pretreatment in an industrial context. Results showed that bioethanol yields were highly dependent on wood species and that high severities of pretreatment were not the most relevant to apply. Optimal conditions of pretreatment corresponding to 70 % and 48 % of bioethanol producible from oak and poplar, respectively, were defined. The desirability function that has been modelled thus helps designing adapted pretreatment conditions regarding bioethanol production and process cost.

Programming Model for Enterprise Multi-Process Decision Optimization

This paper addresses critical decision-making challenges faced by enterprises during the production process, particularly focusing on efficient quality inspection, inspection and disassembly decisions, defective rate control, and cost minimization. In the current dynamic market environment, existing algorithms demonstrate insufficient adaptability, hindering their effectiveness in addressing complex production scenarios. To overcome these limitations, we propose a novel genetic algorithm that incorporates dynamic change adjustment through a 0-1 programming model. This approach enhances the algorithm's flexibility, enabling enterprises to develop scientifically sound and rational production decision schemes tailored to varying market conditions. Our empirical analysis reveals that the average production cost for enterprises utilizing this method is 32.7, indicating significant potential for cost reduction while maintaining product quality. The findings contribute to the existing literature by providing a robust theoretical framework that underscores the importance of adaptive algorithms in improving production efficiency and decision-making processes in an ever-evolving market landscape.