Feasibility Of Application Research Articles

Engineering region flexibility of cellobiohydrolase Ⅰ for efficient hydrolysis of cellulose based on molecular dynamics simulation

Cellobiohydrolase, a workhorse enzyme for cellulose degradation, has the potential for application in biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, etc. However, highly efficient cellobiohydrolase is desirable to improve the economic feasibility of industrial applications. In this work, two variants TrCel7AT97A and TrCel7AK166A were designed to increase the flexibility of the entrance of the catalytic tunnel. We performed the molecular dynamics simulations using NAMD for 100 ns at 300 K in the NPT (isothermal–isobaric) ensemble and then we found that the region flexibility at the catalytic tunnel entrances of TrCel7AT97A and TrCel7AK166A was improved, compared to that of TrCel7A, based on the calculation of the average root mean square fluctuation. The specific activities of TrCel7AT97A and TrCel7AK166A were increased by 37 % and 68 %, respectively, compared with that of TrCel7A at 45 °C for 12 h. An effective approach named revive amino acid flexibility for enzyme activity based on amino acid flexibility was proposed for protein engineering of cellobiohydrolase TrCel7A.

Efficient Solid-Phase Extraction of Neonicotinoid Insecticides from Environmental Water and Drink Samples Using a Postmodified Metal-Organic Framework.

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) are extensively utilized globally because of their efficient and broad-spectrum properties. However, their residues are also extensively distributed in the environment. Herein, MIL-101-SO3Na with abundant -NH- and sulfonate groups was synthesized via chloromethylation and nucleophilic substitution postmodification strategies and used to extract NNIs via solid-phase extraction. MIL-101-SO3Na was enhanced by introducing C-H···N hydrogen bonds to strengthen interaction forces and -SO3Na groups to adjust surface charge and enhance electrostatic attraction. This modification and the substantial specific surface area (998 m2·g-1) of the metal-organic framework markedly enhanced the enrichment efficiency of MIL-101. The proposed method based on MIL-101-SO3Na exhibited a minimal detection threshold (0.04-0.87 ng·L-1), an extensive linear spectrum (1-2000 ng·L-1), and notable accuracy (a variation of 3.02-11.8%) in water and drink samples. NNI concentrations between 0.25 and 24.2 ng·L-1 in fruit juice and tea samples were accurately identified using the proposed method, demonstrating its feasibility in practical applications. The postmodification of MIL-101-SO3Na is an exceptional and promising approach for the sensitive detection of ultratrace NNI levels in complex matrices.

Проблеми правової природи забезпечувальної уступки права грошової вимоги за договором факторингу

The article is devoted to the analysis of the relations of the parties under the factoring contract and the ensuring of the client’s obligation fulfillment to the factor by the assignment of monetary receivables. The client’s obligation to the factor on assignment of the monetary receivables under the factoring contract is analyzed in the article. Based on the exploration of the factoring contract construction, the content of the client’s core obligation to the factor under the conditions of the contract is determined. The assignment of monetary receivables. The assignment of monetary receivables in order to fulfill the core obligation and the accessory one of the client to the factor are analyzed. Their ratios are found out. The approaches of scientists to the justification of ensuring the fulfillment obligations under the factoring contract by assigning the right to a monetary claim, its meaning and feasibility of application in factoring relations are given. The peculiarities and characteristics of the monetary receivables, as a type of the client’s obligations to the factor fulfillment ensuring, are clarified. The thesis about the expediency of distinguishing the assignment of monetary receivables in order to fulfill the core obligation and the accessory one is proposed. The expediency of ensuring the fulfillment of the client’s obligations to the factor is substantiated by a real, individually determined monetary receivable, which has fallen due, because in this case, guarantees to protect the factor’s interests in case the client violates his obligations are created. The correspondence of the criteria for the by the legislator’s formalization of the monetary receivable assignment to the features of the accessory obligation is studied. The nature of the obligations that arise between the factor and the client during the security assignment of a monetary receivables is committed and its implementation by the factor are being researched. Upon the aforementioned the conclusions about the nature of relations between the factor and the client during the accessory monetary receivable assignment implementation which has an inherent intermediary character and the imperfection of the ensuring accomplishment of the obligation mechanism under the contract by the assignment of monetary receivable are made.

Innovative Design to Control Spartina Alterniflora

In order to effectively curb the rapid growth trend in Spartina alterniflora in coastal cities of China, this study proposes an innovative mechanical equipment design scheme for eradicating Spartina alterniflora. Based on literature analysis and field research, the AHP (analytic hierarchy process) model is constructed to quantify and prioritize the diverse needs of users for control equipment. Subsequently, the House of Quality (HOQ) in QFD (Quality Function Deployment) is used to analyze the key components and structure of the equipment to ensure its performance and feasibility in practical applications. Finally, combined with the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), the potential problems encountered in the structural design of the equipment are analyzed, and the corresponding creative principles are applied to solve the contradictions and complete the optimal scheme design. This study, via the acquisition of user needs and further analysis of the machinery’s structure, proposes a scheme that can address many problems related to Spartina alterniflora in China and provide new technical ideas for the field of wetland environmental protection.

Estimating Breakfast Characteristics Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Machine Learning in Adults With or at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems allow detailed assessment of postprandial glucose responses (PPGR), offering new insights into food choices’ impact on dysglycemia. However, current approaches to analyze PPGR using a CGM require manual meal logging, limiting the scalability of CGM-driven applications like personalized nutrition and at-home diabetes risk assessment. Objective: We propose a machine learning (ML) framework to automatically identify and characterize breakfast-related PPGRs from CGM profiles in adults at risk of or living with noninsulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: Our PPGR estimation framework uses a random forest ML algorithm trained on 15 adults without diabetes who wore a CGM for up to four weeks. The algorithm performance was evaluated on a held-out subset of the participants’ CGM data as well as on an external validation data set of 36 individuals at risk for or with noninsulin-treated T2D. Results: Our algorithm’s estimations of breakfast PPGRs displayed no statistically significant differences to annotated PPGRs, in terms of incremental area under the curve and glucose rise ( P > .05 for both data sets), while a small difference in prebreakfast glucose was found in the nondiabetes data set ( P = .005) but not in the validation T2D data set ( P = .18). Conclusions: We designed an ML framework to automatically estimate the timing of meal events from CGM data in individuals without diabetes and in individuals at risk or with T2D. This could provide a more scalable approach for analyzing postprandial glycemia, increasing the feasibility of CGM-based precision nutrition and diabetes risk assessment applications.

Thick-wire GMAW for fusion welding of high-strength steels

The paper describes a high-current Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process using wire electrodes with diameters up to 4.0 mm for single-pass full penetration butt joint welding of 20 mm thick steel plates. Fundamental research aims to develop thick-wire GMAW into a high-efficiency method by identifying the limits of welding performance and achievable deposition rates. Current gaps in understanding include equipment requirements, process properties, application fields, and weld quality. The research project addresses these gaps through systematic investigations of basic technological analyses, application sample welding, and quality evaluations. The objective was to create a robust, cost-efficient gas-shielded high-performance welding technology with deposition rates comparable to Submerged Arc Welding. The fully mechanized, automatic welding setup included two parallel-connected welding power sources, one wire feeder and one high-power welding torch. Welding parameters and conditions were evaluated with the aim of achieving a high-quality weld. Optimal parameters were identified for one-sided single-pass welding on 20 mm thick plates. Validation of thick-wire GMAW for 20 mm thick high-strength steels was conducted via two-sided single-pass welding on S690Q grade plates. Testing of the weld joint included static tensile strength test (3x tensile specimen), a Charpy impact test at −40 °C (6x Charpy V-notch specimens respectively with notch position in weld metal, base material and heat-affected zone (HAZ)), microstructure examination and a hardness test. The lowest recorded impact energy was observed to be 50 J within the weld metal, in combination with hardness peaks in the HAZ reaching 415 HV1, and all tensile specimens failing outside the HAZ within the base material. The process achieved reliable, reproducible, and economical joint welding, meeting necessary mechanical-technological quality standards. The paper enhances the understanding of selected welding techniques tor thick plate joining and offers valuable industrial insights, demonstrating the technique's applicability and feasibility for high-strength applications.

Ca co-doped CsI(Tl) crystal scintillator for γ- and X-ray detecting applications

The vertical Bridgman method is used for the growth of single-doped CsI(Tl) and CsI(Tl:Ca) crystals, which has been evaluated for feasible applications in X-ray imaging and radiation detection. The powder XRD technique study reveals a single-crystalline phase of the grown crystal. The emission spectra show a broad emission band with a maximum of 540 nm under X-ray excitation, along with the characteristic emissions that arose from the Tl+ intra-center transition. The scintillation qualities of the grown crystal were studied via the pulse height spectra, scintillation light yield, energy resolution, and scintillation decay time. Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) was investigated under γ-rays and α-particles excitation sources. Moreover, the X-ray imaging application was investigated by an X-ray synchrotron at the Synchrotron Light Research Institute to study the performance of the grown crystal. These preliminary investigations suggest that the grown CsI(Tl:Ca) crystal can be one of the promising crystals for γ- and X-ray detecting applications.

Fabrication and building energy-saving performance evaluation of polyethylene glycol/polymethyl methacrylate/expanded graphite thermal enhanced shape-stable phase change material

Integrating Phase Change Material (PCM) with building envelope is a promising way to reduce building energy consumption. However, leakage and insufficient PCM loading rate for existing encapsulation strategies limit its further application. In this work, a safer and easier way to fabricate Shape-Stable Phase Change Material (SSPCM) is proposed, whose products combine the outstanding leakage-proof property and high PCM loading rate. With the method of in-situ polymerization, not only the Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is packaged by Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), but the Expanded Graphite (EG) also has a chance to be added as the property regulator. The prepared SSPCMs are proved to be shape-stable over melting temperature with a leakage rate under 1 %. The characterization test reveals that with EG mass fraction increase from 0 to 2.5 %, the thermal conductivity augments from 0.23 to 1.73 W/(m·K) while the phase change latent enthalpy changes from 85.11 kJ/kg to 116.10 kJ/kg. Notably, the EG is more than a thermal conductivity enhancer, it also plays an important role in the modification of comprehensive properties. To optimize the building energy-saving performance of SSPCMs, the factors affecting building cooling electricity consumption like deployment position and thermal properties are evaluated in detail. The simulation results show that the optimum strategy is employing SSPCM with 2.0 wt% EG in the middle of the envelope, the cooling electricity consumption can be reduced by 8.64 % compared with the benchmark. The physical mechanism of energy-saving is also discussed from multiple angles. From a statistical view, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of the simulation results is completed, to identify the influence of input parameters and validate the reliability of the simulation results. Finally, an economic analysis is carried out, proving the economic feasibility for further application. This research provides valuable insights for SSPCM’s application and design of energy-efficient buildings.

Voltage-confined flow-through anodic oxidation enables efficient pollutant removal and no chlorinated byproducts formation

The formation of chlorinated by-products in the treatment of chloride-laden water/wastewater by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has become a severe challenge to their environmentally benign application. Herein, we propose an efficient and safe alternative, i.e., flow-through anodic oxidation (FTAO) system based on the nonradical direct electron transfer (DET) process at low voltage. By controlling the anode potential below the threshold for chlorine evolution at the anode, this system achieved zero formation of inorganic and organic chlorinated byproducts whilst significantly eliminated the biotoxicity of the parent micropollutant. Meanwhile, due to the nonradical direct oxidation mechanism, the voltage-confined FTAO system attained high efficiency and selectivity for the micropollutant removal from a complex matrix containing naturally co-existing anions and organic matter. The feasibility of FTAO applications was further evaluated by removing various pollutants (including antibiotics and phenols) from actual municipal effluent and surface water. More than 96% percentage removal was achieved at extremely low energy consumption (0.003–0.017 kWh m−3). In summary, our results provide insight into the development of novel electrochemical technologies free from secondary pollution towards environmental remediation applications and beyond.

A Comparative Analysis of Static and Dynamic Wireless Charging Systems for Electric Vehicles

The movement to electric vehicles (EVs) is central to sustainable transportation and necessitates improvements in effective and easy charging devices. This article compares static and dynamic wireless charging systems for electric vehicles, focusing on their operation, feasibility, and practical applications. Static charging involves inductive power transfer when the vehicle is parked, while dynamic charging allows power transfer while the vehicle is in motion. The paper explores efficiency, infrastructure needs, cost implications, and user convenience, highlighting potential benefits and challenges. The findings aim to inform stakeholders in the automotive and energy sectors about optimal wireless charging strategies for enhancing electric vehicle adoption.

MoS2 sponge co-catalytic Fenton reaction for efficient degradation of antibiotics: Performance, mechanism and reactor operation

Levofloxacin (LEV) residue is one of the key issues with livestock wastewater, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Herein, MoS2 sponge (MS) co-catalyst was synthesized using a simple impregnation method to construct a MS/Fenton system. Under suitable conditions, MS/Fenton could achieve 95.8 % LEV degradation in 30 min, with a reaction rate constant 9.75 times higher than that of Fenton. The results of the reactive oxygen species identification and material characterization indicated that the massive decomposition of H2O2 generated ROS (•OH and 1O2) and accelerated Fe2+ regeneration were the main factors for pollutant removal. MS/Fenton performed well in various aqueous matrices, reflecting excellent adaptability and anti-interference performance. MS was structurally stable with minimal Mo leaching after the reaction. Furthermore, an external circulation packed-bed reactor was designed for application feasibility verification of the system. The system demonstrated excellent removal efficiency during 20 days of continued operation (without MS regeneration). In addition, MS/Fenton demonstrated a remarkable purification effect on real livestock wastewater. This study offered new insights for the large-scale preparation of recyclable co-catalysts, and the constructed long-acting and stable MS/Fenton system and reactor provide a reference for the green and efficient treatment of practical wastewater.

Performance enhancement on the three-port gas pressure dividing device by flow channel optimization of wave rotor

Wave-rotor-based gas pressure dividing (GPD) is a potential technology that can synchronously conduct gas compression and expansion. This study, proposes a novel curving flow channel of wave rotor (C-FCWR) for the three-port GPD device, aiming to settle the technical problem of traditional width-constant straight flow channels (WS-FCWR). A series of comparative hydrodynamics and thermodynamic analyses are conducted. For the optimized C-FCWR with a forward-curving angle of +10°, the flow vortex generation in the medium-pressure (MP) and low-pressure (LP) ports is rather limited, the shaft power is as low as -0.45 kW, the shock wave efficiency is beyond 99.8 %, and the expansion depth remains above 26.4 K, proving a great technical advantage. For the application feasibility of the optimized C-FCWR to working conditions, a compression ratio below 1.2 and an expansion ratio of 1.8 are conducive to the overall performance of the GPD device.

Study on Microscopic Oil Displacement Mechanism of Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Ternary Flooding.

Alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding is one of the most effective and promising ways to enhance oil recovery (EOR). The synergistic effect between alkali, surfactant, and polymer can respectively promote emulsification performance, reduce interfacial tension, and improve bulk phase viscosity, thus effectively improving flooding efficiency. However, the displacement mechanism of ASP flooding and the contribution of different components to the oil displacement effect still need further discussion. In this study, five groups of chemical slugs were injected into the fracture model after water flooding to characterize the displacement effect of weak alkali, surfactant, polymer, and their binary/ternary combinations on residual oil. Additionally, the dominant mechanism of the ASP flooding system to improve the recovery was studied. The results showed that EOR can be improved through interfacial reaction, low oil/water interfacial tension (IFT), and increased viscosity. In particular, the synergistic effect of ASP includes sweep and oil washing. As for sweep, the swept volume is expanded by the interfacial reaction between the alkali and the acidic components in Daqing crude oil, and the polymer increases the viscosity of the system. As for oil washing, the surfactant generated by the alkali cooperates with surfactants to reduce the IFT to an ultra-low level, which promotes the formation and migration of oil-in-water emulsions and increases the efficiency of oil washing. Overall, ASP can not only activate discontinuous oil ganglia in the pores within the water flooding range, but also emulsify, decompose, and migrate the continuous residual oil in the expanded range outside the water flooding. The EOR of ASP is 38.0% higher than that of water flooding. Therefore, the ASP system is a new ternary composite flooding technology with low cost, technical feasibility, and broad application prospects.

An optimized surrogate model and algorithm with rapid multi-parameter processing capability for antenna design

A methodology based on an optimized surrogate model and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III(NSGA-III) algorithm is proposed to address the long design cycle issues that conventional antennas encounter, with fast multiple parameters processing capability. A Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN) network model with high fitting efficiency and a simple structure is first developed as a surrogate model for antenna performance prediction, taking antenna dimensional parameters as input and outputting the reflection coefficient (S11) and gain of the antenna. Then, an adaptive NSGA-III algorithm with enhanced search efficiency is presented. By combing it with the prior TCN surrogate model, the parameter optimization for a 5G millimeter-wave antenna design is realized. Results show that the proposed method achieves a remarkable reduction in Mean Squared Error (MSE) by 12.489 % and 3.277 % respectively, while also presents a decreased running time by 2.670 % and 70.419 % respectively, as compared to the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) network models. The proposed method can rapidly and accurately perform the optimization task of multiple antenna parameters, demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness for antenna applications requiring wide bandwidth, low loss and high gain.

Impact of thermal hydrolysis on VFA-based carbon source production from fermentation of sludge and digestate for denitrification: experimentation and upscaling implications

Stricter nutrient discharge limits at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are increasing the demand for external carbon sources for denitrification, especially at cold temperatures. Production of carbon sources at WWTP by fermentation of sewage sludge often results in low yields of soluble carbon and volatile fatty acids (VFA) and high biogas losses, limiting its feasibility for full-scale application. This study investigated the overall impact of thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment (THP) on the production of VFA for denitrification through the fermentation of municipal sludge and digestate. Fermentation products and yields, denitrification efficiency and potential impacts on methane yield in the downstream process after carbon source separation were evaluated. Fermentation of THP substrates resulted in 37–70 % higher soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) concentrations than fermentation of untreated substrates but did not significantly affect VFA yield after fermentation. Nevertheless, THP had a positive impact on the denitrification rates and on the methane yields of the residual solid fraction in all experiments. Among the different carbon sources tested, the one produced from the fermentation of THP-digestate showed an overall better potential as a carbon source than other substrates (e.g. sludge). It obtained a relatively high carbon solubilisation degree (39 %) and higher concentrations of sCOD (19 g sCOD/L) and VFA (9.8 g VFACOD/L), which resulted in a higher denitrification rate (8.77 mg NOx-N/g VSS∙h). After the separation of the carbon source, the solid phase from this sample produced a methane yield of 101 mL CH4/g VS. Furthermore, fermentation of a 50:50 mixture of THP-substrate and raw sludge produced also resulted in a high VFA yield (283 g VFACOD/kg VSin) and denitrification rate of 8.74 mg NOx-N/g VSS∙h, indicating a potential for reduced treatment volumes. Calculations based on a full-scale WWTP (Käppala, Stockholm) demonstrated that the carbon sources produced could replace fossil-based methanol and meet the nitrogen effluent limit (6 mg/L) despite their ammonium content. Fermentation of 50–63 % of the available sludge at Käppala WWTP in 2028 could produce enough carbon source to replace methanol, with only an 8–20 % reduction in methane production, depending on the production process. Additionally, digestate production would be sufficient to generate 81 % of the required carbon source while also increasing methane production by 5 % if a portion of the solid residues were recirculated to the digester.

Information fusion-based three-dimensional two-stage optimal cooperative predictive guidance law

A three-dimensional (3D) two-stage optimal cooperative predictive guidance law based on information fusion theory is proposed to intercept a highly maneuverable target. This guidance law integrates an Adaptive Predictive Horizon Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (ANMPC) method and a Distributed Anti-Saturation Extended State Observer (DASESO) algorithm. The combined approach aims to minimize the three-dimensional nonlinear zero-effort-miss. By considering zero-effort-miss, the guidance process can be divided into two stages: rapid convergence to maintain state and fine-tuning. The two-stage method allows missile fuel and computational resources to be allocated more targetedly. In the guidance process, a two-stage switching distance is established based on the initial conditions of the missiles and the target. The DASESO algorithm cooperatively processes information from each missile to accurately estimate the target's maneuvering acceleration. Subsequently, an ANMPC method is employed to generate the optimal guidance command. Additionally, the convexity of the optimization problem has been analyzed to ensure its feasibility in practical applications. Through numerical simulation and comparative analysis, it has been proven that this method can effectively intercept and optimize fuel use, even when dealing with highly maneuverable targets with maneuverability similar to that of the missiles.

Preparation and characterization of mussel-inspired chitosan/polydopamine films and their feasibility for oral mucosa application

Oral mucosal lesions (OML), which represent a major public health issue worldwide, include any pathological changes in the oral mucosa, such as ulcers, pigmentation, and swelling. Due to its humid and dynamic complex environment, designing oral mucosal preparations poses significant challenges. Drawing inspiration from mussels, this study employed an eco-friendly one-pot strategy for the preparation of chitosan/polydopamine (CS/PDA) films. We demonstrated that CS-induced polymerization of dopamine monomers under acidic conditions, which might be attributed to the large number of hydrogen bonding sites of CS chains. PDA markedly enhances properties of the CS film and exhibits concentration dependence. At the concentration of 1 wt% PDA, the lap-shear strength and tensile strength of CS/PDA films reached 5.01 ± 0.24 kpa and 4.20 ± 0.78 kpa, respectively, indicating that the mucosal adhesion ability was significantly improved. In comparison with the single CS film, the swelling rate of CS/PDA film decreased by about 30 %. Rheological results also showed that the storage modulus returned to 93 % after cyclic large strain, while the single CS film only recovered to 73 %. Moreover, these films demonstrated good biocompatibility and enhanced oral ulcer healing in rats, providing a new and practical option for the local treatment of OML.

An Experimental Study on Sulphur Concrete

Sulfur concrete, a composite material derived from elemental sulfur, aggregates, and additives, presents a promising avenue for sustainable construction practices. This project report investigates the properties, feasibility, and potential applications of sulfur concrete as a viable alternative to traditional cement-based concrete. Through a comprehensive literature review and experimental analysis, this study elucidates the unique mechanical, chemical, and environmental characteristics of sulfur concrete. The implications of adopting sulfur concrete extend beyond construction efficiency to environmental sustainability, resource conservation, and cost-effectiveness. Challenges such as odor emissions during production and limited availability of sulfur are also addressed, along with potential solutions. Overall, this report advocates for further research and widespread adoption of sulfur concrete as a viable solution to meet the demands of modern construction while mitigating environmental impact.

The use of intraoperative CT-neuronavigation in Wiltse approach. A technical note.

The paraspinal approach was first introduced in 1968 and later refined by Leon Wiltse to gain access to the lateral interevertebral foraminal region. However, challenges can arise due to unfamiliarity with this approach, unique patient anatomy, or in case of revision surgery, potentially elevating the risk of complications and/or poor outcome. Here we report on two cases in which the intraoperative Oarm CT neuronavigation was used during a Wiltse approach. Under general anesthesia, the spinous process near the surgical level is exposed through a midline incision. The patient's reference anchor is then attached to the exposed spinous process. Intraoperative CT is acquired and transferred to the Stealth Station S8 Surgical Navigation System (Medtronic). The Wiltse approach is now performed through a paramedian incision under neuronavigation guidance and perfectly tailored to the patient's unique anatomy. The first case was a patient harboring a left lumbar intraextraforaminal schwannoma and the second one was a patient with an extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation at the adjacent level of a previous lumbar instrumentation. We were able to easily identify and remove both the lesions minimizing the surgical approach with no complication and optimal clinical outcome. Our cases demonstrate the feasibility of application of intraoperative O-arm CT-neuronavigation to the Wiltse approach. In our opinion, this technique helps in minimizing the surgical approach and rapidly identifying the lesion of interest. Further studies are needed to address the effective utility and advantages of intraoperative CT-neuronavigation in this specific surgical scenario.

The comparative techno-economic and life cycle assessment for multi-product biorefinery based on microwave and conventional hydrothermal biomass pretreatment

Microwave as an efficient and clean energy, is easy integrated with DES pretreatment and biorefinery process to achieve process intensification for cleaner production and sustainable development. However, there are worries about its economic and environmental feasibility for application in biorefinery plant. This work conducted the techno-economic (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the entire biorefinery process based on DES pretreatment by microwave heating (MH) for producing glucose, furfural and lignin from lignocellulose, of which the results were compared with conventional heating (CH). For pretreating equivalent biomass, the total yield of products obtained from MH-assisted process was 8.53% higher than that of CH-assisted process due to microwave intensification effect. From the perspective of cradle-to-gate LCA, the MH-assisted process saved energy demand of 5.82%, reducing the environmental impacts global warming (GW) and fossil resource scarcity (FRS) by 4.85% and 5.69%, respectively, relative to CH-assisted process. The main environmental hotspots of both two processes concentrated on the raw material extraction (RME), followed by product separation and solvent recovery (PSSR) stages. Based on economic evaluation, the specific values of TAC regarding one-ton product for MH- and CH-assisted processes were 3194.35 and 3400.37 $/(y⋅t), respectively. Therefore, the MH-assisted pretreatment possessed certain environmental and economic advantages due to product increasement, energy consumption reduction in the DES pretreatment, and burden reduction for subsequent enzyme hydrolysis. Compared to the single-product biorefinery, the multi-product biorefinery strategy was more sustainable and could maximize the advantages of microwave intensification. However, some issues about the design of microwave reactors and temperature monitoring must be considered to pursue scale-up biorefinery plant.