Feasibility Of Production Research Articles

Enhanced thermophilic hydrogen production from co-substrate of pretreated waste activated sludge and food waste: Analysis from microbial growth and metabolism

Response surface methodology was employed to establish a thermophilic hydrogen production process from co-substrate of food waste (FW) and waste activated sludge (WAS), resulting in a maximum hydrogen production of 2602.68 ± 54.88 mL/L, which was 5.4 and 21.9 times of FW and WAS, respectively. The co-substrate facilitated the butyrate pathway of hydrogen production and decreased lactate accumulation, and significantly increased the activity of butyric kinase and hydrogenase (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, it could promote microbial growth by creating a more suitable redox environment. Microbial community analysis showed that Thermoanaerobacterium (hydrogen production genus) was specifically enriched and dominant in co-substrate (82.3%). Further functional prediction analysis showed that the co-substrate effectively promoted carbohydrate metabolism. Furthermore, pretreatment improved sludge biodegradability. This study establishes a feasible hydrogen production process, profoundly revealed the mechanism of enhanced anaerobic fermentation from the perspective of microbial growth and metabolism, which lays solid foundation on the hydrogen production from waste biomass.

Optimized Scheduling Model Considering the Demand Response and Sequential Requirements of Polysilicon Production

The polysilicon production process has significant potential to be made adjustable, and actively changing its production schedule to participate in grid dispatch can effectively alleviate the pressure on the power supply and balance demand while promoting renewable energy consumption. Considering the complex inter-coupling relationship between the sequential requirements and adjustable potential of polysilicon production, this paper analyzes the electricity consumption characteristics of various stages of a polysilicon production process that uses the improved Siemens method as its primary approach to production. The interaction between the polysilicon production process, equipment, and materials is modeled through the state–task network method, and the production timing requirements are transformed into constraint expressions. An optimized scheduling model that includes the production’s sequential requirements within a time-of-use electricity pricing context is established. Our analysis shows that the proposed model can formulate a feasible production plan with the lowest power purchase cost for polysilicon plants while meeting the production’s sequential requirements and product order demands.

Enhancement of copper nanoparticle yield in magnetron sputter inert gas condensation by applying substrate bias voltage and its influence on thin film morphology

Large-scale synthesis of high-purity nanoparticles is an intense topic of scientific research, with magnetron sputter inert gas condensation recognized as a promising, environmentally friendly technique avoiding wet chemical processes. This study explores the deposition of size-selected nanoparticles under varied substrate bias voltages and reports on a consequent increase in deposition rates up to 32 %. These alterations in substrate bias voltage induce a progressive change in the morphology of the resulting nanoparticle thin films, attributable to the increased kinetic energy of the nanoparticles. Comprehensive characterization via quadrupole mass spectroscopy of the nanoparticle flux, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy of the deposited nanoparticles corroborates the enhanced nanoparticle yield associated with increased substrate bias voltage. These findings signify a methodological advancement, enhancing the efficiency of magnetron sputter inert gas condensation and moving the technology a step further towards feasible industrial production.

Digital data demand and renewable energy limits: Forecasting the impacts on global electricity supply and sustainability

This study critically evaluates whether the current and projected generation of renewable energy can meet the escalating global demand for electricity from digital data growth. Our modelling forecasts reveal a concerning trend: despite the expansion in renewable energy capacities, they are likely insufficient to satisfy the burgeoning electricity needs of the digital data sector. More alarmingly, there is a real risk that the demand for digital data could soon exceed feasible electricity production capabilities. This paper underscores the urgent necessity for a data-centric sustainability approach across all supply chains, sectors, industries, and nations. Such measures are crucial to increase efficiency, cut energy usage, and transition towards a decarbonized digital ecosystem, thereby supporting the global pursuit of a sustainable, net-zero future. This research highlights a critical junction in energy policy and digital infrastructure planning, urging immediate action to reconcile digital advancement with ecological sustainability.

Facile Synthesis of CuxS Electrocatalysts for CO2 Conversion into Formate and Study of Relations Between Cu and S with the Selectivity

AbstractThe conversion of CO2 into formate (HCOO−), a techno‐economically feasible product, can be achieved using earth‐abundant CuxS electrocatalysts, but questions remain regarding how catalyst structure, composition, and reaction environment influence product selectivity. A novel synthesis method based on electrodeposition of Cu foam and its subsequent sulfidation via immersion in sulfur saturated toluene solution resulted in CuxS foams. Catalytic activity studies found that HCOO− selectivity is dependent on electrochemical activation at higher overpotentials. To understand the effects of activation, determine the active forms of the catalysts, and identify the role of sulfur, the electrodes are carefully characterized as well as gaseous and sulfur dissolved in electrolyte. This included study of the effects of intentional addition of solution sulfur species, identification of the sulfur loss, determination of the electrode composition and relating sulfur speciation to observed product selectivity. It is found that residual sulfur stabilizes Cu+ during electrolysis at potentials favoring HCOO− production, in contrast to pristine Cu that undergoes complete reduction and shows poor HCOO− selectivity. Sulfur in both the catalyst and dissolved in electrolyte are of dynamic nature, and surface residues of SO42− species are identified in all activated catalysts which correspond with enhanced HCOO− production.

Developing Interactive Learning Media Using Powtoon to Improve Students' Interest and Learning Outcomes in Global Warming Material

The purpose of this study was to explain how well Powtoon Instructional Materials can help teachers carry out learning activities that can improve students' interest and learning outcomes on the topic of global warming. To explain how well Powtoon Instructional Materials can improve students' interest and learning outcomes. This study uses a type of development research commonly called Research and Development (R&amp;D) with the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development or Production, Implementation or Distribution, and Evaluation). 3 validators conducted validation to produce a feasible product, and the result was 87.6%, which indicates a very feasible category for use. According to the results of the distributed learning interest questionnaire, the initial results of the questionnaire were 55.2% for the low category and the final results were 73.4% for the moderate category. The pretest-posttest and N-Gain results were calculated to determine student learning outcomes. The calculation results show that the N-Gain score of 0.69 is in the moderate category and the N-Gain percentage of 69.5% is in the fairly effective category.

Cross-Linked Polyolefins: Opportunities for Fostering Circularity Throughout the Materials Lifecycle.

Cross-linked polyolefins (XLPOs) constitute a significant portion of the plastics commercial market, with a market size of a similar order of magnitude to those of polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate. However, few aspects of XLPO materials circularity have been examined relative to thermoplastic polyolefins. The cross-linking of polyolefins imparts superior performance properties, such as impact strength, chemical and electrical resistance, and thermal stability vs thermoplastic analogues, but it also makes the reprocessing of XLPOs to valuable products more challenging, as XLPOs cannot be molten. Thus, most XLPOs are incinerated or landfilled at the end of the first lifecycle, even though XLPO products are commonly collected as a relatively clean waste stream-providing a unique opportunity for valorization. In this review, we discuss approaches to improve XLPO circularity throughout the entire materials lifecycle by examining biobased feedstocks as alternative olefinic monomer sources and by assessing both traditional mechanical and advanced XLPO recycling methods based on industrial feasibility and potential product value. We also consider how advancing materials longevity can reduce environmental impacts and lifecycle costs and how recyclable-by-design strategies can enable better end-of-life opportunities for future generations of XLPO materials. Throughout this review, we highlight XLPO circularity routes that have the potential to balance the performance, circularity, and scalability necessary to impart economic and environmental viability at an industrial scale.

Response surface optimization of a single-step castor oil-based biodiesel production process using a stator-rotor hydrodynamic cavitation reactor.

In order to combat environmental pollution and the depletion of non-renewable fuels, feasible, eco-friendly, and sustainable biodiesel production from non-edible oil crops must be augmented. This study is the first to intensify biodiesel production from castor oil using a self-manufactured cylindrical stator-rotor hydrodynamic cavitation reactor. In order to model and optimize the biodiesel yield, a response surface methodology based on a 1/2 fraction-three-level face center composite design of three levels and five experimental factors was used. The predicted ideal operating parameters were found to be 52.51°C, 1164.8rpm rotor speed, 27.43min, 8.4:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, and 0.89% KOH concentration. That yielded 95.51% biodiesel with a 99% fatty acid methyl ester content. It recorded a relatively low energy consumption and high cavitation yield of 6.09 × 105J and 12 × 10-3g/J, respectively. The generated biodiesel and bio-/petro-diesel blends had good fuel qualities that were on par with global norms and commercially available Egyptian petro-diesel. The preliminary cost analysis assured the feasibility of the applied process.

Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Komik Digital pada Materi Wujud Zat dan Perubahannya Kelas IV Sekolah Dasar

This research primarily aims to develop digital comic learning media for fourth-grade elementary school students, focusing on the topic of substances and their changes. The method employed in this research is development research (R&amp;D) using the ADDIE development model. The research involved 26 fourth-grade students from State Elementary School 05 South Pontianak and two expert validators, one specializing in media and the other in material. Data collection techniques included interviews and questionnaires. The findings indicated that the development of the digital comic learning media followed four research steps: analysis, design, development, and implementation. The product's feasibility was evaluated and achieved a "very valid" category, with the media aspect scoring 96.31% and the material aspect scoring 98.95%, making it suitable for testing based on both aspects. Additionally, the students rated the digital comic learning media with a score of 91.25%, fulfilling the "very valid" category, and confirming its appropriateness for use in the learning process.

The Effectiveness of the Dilemma-STEAM Learning Model Based on Motion Graphic Videos in the Subject of Parabolic Motion

Abstract This study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the Dilemma-STEAM learning model using motion graphic videos in teaching Parabolic Motion. The developed motion graphic videos incorporate five Dilemma-STEAM learning syntaxes: Reflection, Exploration, Elaboration, Integration, and Transformation, which address the topic of Parabolic Motion. The development model utilized in this Research and Development (R&amp;D) method follows the 4D model (Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate) with the following stages: 1. Needs analysis, 2. Product design, 3. Product development, 4. Feasibility testing and product trials. Based on needs analysis conducted through field observations, it was found that students require learning media in the form of motion graphics for the subject of Parabolic Motion using the Dilemma-STEAM learning model. Feasibility tests by subject matter experts, media experts, and learning experts were conducted using feasibility questionnaires, yielding an average feasibility percentage of 92% for subject matter experts, 89% for media experts, and 78% for learning experts. Additionally, readability tests and trials of the Dilemma-STEAM learning model were conducted with eleventh-grade students, with average effectiveness percentages of 78% and 75%, respectively. Based on the obtained average percentages, it is concluded that the Dilemma-STEAM learning model based on motion graphic videos is feasible and effective as a learning medium for eleventh-grade Physics.

Drone E-Job Sheet Development: Geospatial Engineering Remote Sensing Subject

This research aims to produce an E-Job Sheet Drone Product for the Class XI Geospatial Engineering Remote Sensing Subject by carrying out feasibility tests, practicality tests, and product effectiveness tests. The research and development methodology uses the 4D development model (four-D models), namely definition, design, development, and dissemination, so that the development design is developed. This research was carried out at SMK Negeri 1 Percut Sei Tuan in class XI Geomatics Engineering in the Remote Sensing (Inderaja) subject. The research results show: (1) E-Jobsheet Drone, suitable for use in remote sensing learning for class XI at SMK Negeri 1 Percut Sei Tuan; (2) Drone E-Jobsheets have proven effective in improving student learning outcomes for class XI at SMK Negeri 1 Percut Sei Tuan compared to conventional learning methods. The application of learning media in the form of E-Jobsheet Drones requires students who are ready to learn independently so that they can achieve optimal learning outcomes by utilizing this media effectively

Innovative high-performance and energy-positive Co-treatment of organic kitchen waste and domestic wastewater using a fluidized bed ceramic membrane bioreactor

The aim of the study was to efficiently treat organic kitchen waste (FW) and domestic wastewater (DWW) together in an anaerobic fluidized bed bioreactor equipped with a ceramic membrane (AnFCMBR) through a sustainable approach considering energy recovery. The system operated continuously for 519 days at room temperature, and different filtration fluxes (1.7 and 5 L/m2/h), hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (22 h and 7 h), and organic loading rate (OLRs) (0.46, 1.52, 3.42, 6.08 kg/m3.d) were tested. The amount of organic matter in DWW may be insufficient for feasible gas production, but this challenge can be resolved through the addition of food waste. Influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 500 ± 143 mg/L gradually increased to 2000 ± 196 mg/L by increasing the portion of FW. The COD removal ranged from 92 to 98% throughout the study, with the membrane and the cake layer contributing 5–8% to the performance. Average supernatant SMP and EPS concentrations increased from 5 ± 1 to 45 ± 5 mg COD/L and from 54 ± 7 to 254 ± 26 mg COD/g VSS, respectively, when the highest amount of FW was added to the synthetic wastewater. This significant increase in SMP and EPS concentrations due to the addition of FW negatively impacted the filtration performance. SRF and CST values also increased with rising OLR, especially with the supplementation of synthetic wastewater with FW.After FW started to be mixed with DWW, the methane production increased approximately 5.5 times. With the use of AnFCMBR for the co-treatment of FW and DWW, it is possible to achieve energy-positive treatment with high-quality effluent that can be reused for various applications, such as irrigation. The methane produced provided 12 times more energy than was needed to operate the bioreactor.This is the first study evaluating the co-treatment of FW and DWW in AnFCMBR under varying operational parameters.

Developing and Testing a Rural Business Incubator: A Best Practice Framework

Compared to an urban context, starting a business in a rural context has its distinctive challenges such as the lack of entrepreneurial support infrastructures typical in an urban context. Business incubators are types of entrepreneurial support organizations that support the creation and growth of new companies with tangible and intangible resources. They help incubatees transform their ideas and concepts into feasible products and services with tangible and intangible resources such as facilities, shared equipment, administrative services, knowledge, and access to networks. In the rural context, business incubators can help to address rural entrepreneurship challenges such as population and infrastructure deficiencies, and rural entrepreneurship opportunities such as strong social bonds and embeddedness to a rural environment. In this manner, they can help to mitigate entrepreneurial challenges and foster the use of entrepreneurial opportunities through direct and indirect effects to the local, regional, and national economy. However, rural incubators tend to perform worse than their urban counterparts. The reasons for this aren’t well understood, as there is a lack of incubator research on how locational attributes affect rural business incubators. There is a need for further knowledge about how rural context influences business incubators to improve the development, tracking, and impact of rural business incubators. This study addresses this research gap by creating a rural business incubator best practice framework that addresses general incubator best practices and rural entrepreneurship-specific challenges and opportunities that should be addressed in rural business incubators. The proposed framework is tested in rural VAU!HAUTOMO business incubator and the results are analysed to review the framework´s capabilities and suggest future use cases and research avenues. The framework provides a novel approach to plan, measure, and manage rural business incubators which both researchers and incubator actors can use to develop rural business incubators that better take into account rural entrepreneurship challenges and opportunities.

Deliberate Amorphization of Co-MOF for Constructing Crystalline-Amorphous Heterostructures Toward High-Performance Water Electrolysis.

The endowment of metal organic frameworks (MOF) with superior electrocatalytic performance without compromising their structural/compositional superiorities is of great significance for the development of renewable energy devices, yet remains a grand challenge. Herein, a deliberate partial amorphization strategy is developed to construct a heterostructured electrocatalyst consisting of crystalline Co-MOF and amorphous Co-S nanoflake arrays aligned on the carbon cloth (CC) substrate (abbreviated as Co-MOF/Co-S@CC hereafter) through a rapid sulfuration method. The simultaneous implement of crystalline-amorphous (c-a) heterostructure and nanoflake arrayed architecture on CC substrate renders the Co-MOF/Co-S@CC with abundant and tight active sites, accelerated charge transfer rate, regulated electronic structures, and reinforced structural stability. As such, the obtained Co-MOF/Co-S@CC electrode demonstrates outstanding electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performances with the overpotentials of 64 and 217mV at 10mA cm-2, respectively. Moreover, a two-electrode electrolyzer assembled by Co-MOF/Co-S@CC electrodes exhibits the lower cell voltages and larger current densities than those of Pt/C and RuO2 counterparts, excellent reversibility and prominent long-term stability, representing a great prospect for feasible H2 production. This adopted concept of c-a heterostructure for electronic regulation may bring about insightful inspiration for designing high-performance electrocatalysts for sustainable energy systems.

Highly efficient bio-production of putrescine from L-arginine with arginase and L-ornithine decarboxylase in engineered Escherichia coli

To achieve industrial-scale putrescine production, a high efficient bio-synthesis of putrescine involving arginase (ARG, EC 3.5.3.1) and L-ornithine decarboxylase was evaluated here. Among the four arginases tested, ARGBT from Bos Taurus showed the highest activity (1966 U/mg). Compared to the L-arginine decarboxylase (ADC) pathway, the strain expressing ARGBT and L-ornithine decarboxylase (SpeC) produced 28.7 g/L putrescine, a 38.6 % increase. Two pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) salvage pathways were evaluated, and the strain BL-PTac-PdxK co-expressed pyridoxal kinase (PdxK) performed better. D-Glucose was used as the co-substrate to improve the putrescine titer further. Under optimal conditions, 43.6 g/L putrescine was produced from 87.1 g/L L-arginine, and 76 g/L putrescine was synthesized on a 0.5 L scale. Using L-arginine fermentation broth (60 g/L) as the substrate, a titer of 30 g/L putrescine was achieved. This efficient biotransformation process presented here enables feasible industrial-scale putrescine production.

Engineering the xylose metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for ethanol and single cell protein bioconversion

Xylose isomerase (XI) pathway has been widely employed to enable Saccharomyces cerevisiae to convert xylose and glucose into commercially feasible lignocellulosic ethanol products. Nevertheless, studies about the effect of different promoters to the expression of xylA are lacking. Therefore, five strains with ADH1, GAPDH, PDC1, PGK, TEF1 promoters were constructed. Among them, S. cerevisiae INVSc1/pHM368-PADH1-xylA generated with xylA driven by ADH1 promoter displayed the highest xylose utilization rate (approximately 19.98 %) using xylose as the only carbon source. With 4 g/L glucose and 10 g/L xylose as the carbon sources, the xylose utilization rate was 60.04 %. Moreover, the utilization rate increased to 64.04 % with fermentation temperature elevated from 28 °C to 30 °C and reached 83.09 % with peptone and yeast extract as the nitrogen sources. The ethanol titer reached 1.74 g/L with a yield of 0.38 g/g sugar under this condition. In Comparison with direct fermentation, the single cell protein (SCP) was 1.27-fold higher during aerobic fed-batch fermentation. Furthermore, INVSc1/pHM368-PADH1-xylA attains high ethanol productivities and yields by converting glucose and xylose from non-detoxified bagasse hydrolysates as carbon sources. The results extend our understanding of the xylose metabolism of S. cerevisiae and provide a platform for biomass conversion to ethanol and SCP, hence paving the way for the development of a more economical and sustainable approach to co-fermentation performance and capabilities for future engineering.

Low-emission hydrogen production from gasification of Australian coals – Process simulation and technoeconomic assessment

Although renewable energy-based technologies such as water electrolysis and biomass gasification for hydrogen production are cleaner than fossil energy-based routes, there are still prevailing challenges associated with the high cost and operational challenges in the scale-up of those technologies in the short term. Considering the abundance of coal as a current primary source of energy in Australia, the use of coal to produce hydrogen is not only in line with Australia's resource endowment but is also expected to become a supplement to the other hydrogen production pathways during the global energy transition period. This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of low-emission hydrogen production from Australian coal gasification integrated with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The study explores four cases of hydrogen production, comparing Australian brown coal (Victorian brown coal) and black coal (Queensland black coal) gasification. Variations in gasifiers, gasification agents, and associated operating conditions contribute to differences in energy efficiency, costs, and CO2 emissions among the cases. The findings reveal a levelized cost of hydrogen from coal gasification ranging between A$4.12–4.90 per kg of hydrogen. Notably, entrained flow gasification of Victorian brown coal in a mixture of oxygen and steam environment demonstrates advantages under the current market conditions. However, less mature technologies like dual fluidized bed gasifiers could emerge as viable alternatives if deployed on a commercial scale. The study also addresses direct carbon emissions from the process, indicating a CO2 emission intensity range of 16.3–20.9 kg CO2/kg H2 without CCS and 0.1–1.1 kg CO2/kg H2 with CCS for the four cases. These insights contribute valuable information for decision-making in the pursuit of sustainable and economically feasible hydrogen production methods during the ongoing energy transition.

The rental‐function effect: How does product acquisition mode affect consumer preference relating to product attributes?

AbstractPurchasing and renting are two basic modes for consumers to acquire a product. While prior research has investigated which factors affect consumers' choice of renting versus purchasing a product, very limited research studies the outcome of renting versus purchasing a product. Extending this line of research, this paper links product acquisition mode to product attribute preference. Specifically, through a series of eight multimethod studies, including secondary data study, field experiment, and lab experiments, we show that renting a product, as compared to purchasing a product, increases consumers' focus on the product's feasibility aspect rather than its desirability aspect, which in turn drives consumers to prefer the product option with superior function over the one with superior appearance. Furthermore, we show that this rental‐function effect amplifies (attenuates) when the product's brand image is positioned as a mass brand (a luxury brand). This paper uncovers a novel finding of renting products. It also provides practical guidelines for rental companies and marketing managers on how to effectively position their products and optimize advertising strategies.

Bacterial nanocellulose by static, static intermittent fed-batch and rotary disc bioreactor-based fermentation routes using economical black tea broth medium: A comparative account

Bacterial nanocellulose was produced here using static, static intermittent-fed batch (SIFB) and rotary disc bioreactor (RDB) mode. Economical black tea broth media with symbiotic consortia of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) was used towards feasible BNC production (instead of commercial NCIM 2526 strain and conventional HS media). The physicochemical characterization of BNC produced in all three modes via FE-SEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD and TGA results showed a highly porous morphology, mostly Iα form, good crystallinity and thermal stability, respectively. BNC crystallinity lies in the range of 68 % (RDB) to 79.4 % (static and SIFB). Water retention value (86 to 93 %) and moisture content (85 to 93 %) are high for BNC produced in all three modes. Commendable difference in the BNC yield, sugar consumption, conversion yield and residual sugar was observed using different methods. Highest BNC yield 29.4 ± 0.66 gL−1 was obtained under SIFB method as compared to static mode (13.6 ± 0.32 g L−1). Under RDB, a negligible amount of BNC i.e., 1.0 ± 0.2 g L−1 was produced. SCOBY with BTB medium was found unsuitable for BNC production under RDB and needs further investigation. Thus, this comparative study offers a way to produce a commendable amount of low-priced BNC for various techno-industrial usage.

Feasible production of highly homogeneous nano-scaled WC powders: An industrial practice via raw material pretreatment and direct reduction-carbonization

A method for industrial production of nano-scaled WC powders has been proposed. In this work, WO2.9 is subject to pre-reduction, followed by jet-milling treatment. The precursor is then mixed with carbon black by ball milling, and directly reduced-carbonized to nano-scaled WC powders. The WC powders prepared at different carbonization temperatures were made into alloys and micro drills, revealing the influence of powder properties on the microstructure and properties of the alloys through comparative analysis. The results indicate that when WO2.9 powder is reduced at 700 °C for 1h and then jet-milled at a rotational speed of the grading wheel of 3500 rpm, the aggregates in the powder can be effectively broken, and the precursor powders with fine particle size and near-single phase can be obtained. In this way, the equipment exhibits relatively high productivity. By comparing the microstructure and properties of the alloy prepared from raw materials at different carbonization temperatures, it can be seen that if the carbonization temperature is too high, the average particle size of the powder increases and agglomeration appears in the microstructure. An increase in the average particle size of the powder will lead to an increase in the average grain size of the prepared alloys, thereby reducing the hardness and the wear resistance during service. In addition, the agglomerated particles in the powders can easily lead to abnormal WC grain growth in the microstructure of the prepared alloys, which reduces the bending strength.