Fiber Industry Research Articles

Illuminating Cannabis sativa L.: The Power of Light in Enhancing C. sativa Growth and Secondary Metabolite Production.

Light is crucial for higher plants, driving photosynthesis and serving as a powerful sensory signal that profoundly modulates growth, development, physiological functions, hormone activation, and biochemical pathways. Various light parameters-quality, intensity, composition, and photoperiod-exert a tremendous influence on plant growth and development, particularly in industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). C. sativa, a crop of historical significance and unparalleled versatility, holds immense value in the food, fiber, and medicinal industries. The cultivation of medicinal cannabis is burgeoning in controlled environments due to evolving healthcare regulations. Optimal light conditions significantly enhance both yield and harvest quality, notably increasing the density of apical inflorescences and the ratio of inflorescence to total aboveground biomass. C. sativa metabolites, especially phenolic and terpene compounds and Phytocannabinoids like CBD (cannabidiol), THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBG (cannabigerol), possess immense medicinal value. Secondary metabolites in C. sativa predominantly accumulate in the trichomes of female flowers and surrounding sugar leaves, underscoring the critical need to boost inflorescence weight and metabolite concentrations while ensuring product consistency. Different light parameters distinctly impact C. sativa's metabolic profile, providing a robust foundation for understanding the optimal conditions for synthesizing specific secondary metabolites. While the effects of light measurement on various crops are well-established, scientific evidence specifically relating to light quality effects on C. sativa morphology and secondary metabolite accumulation remains scarce. In this review, we critically summarized how different light properties can alter cannabis growth (vegetative and reproductive), physiology and metabolism. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which specific wavelengths influence growth, development, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in C. sativa are not fully elucidated, which could be a prospective task for future researchers. Our review paves the way for a profound understanding of light's influence on C. sativa growth and advancements in greenhouse settings to maximize metabolite production for commercial use.

Novel Recycling, Defibrillation, and Delignification Methods for Isolating α-Cellulose from Different Lignocellulosic Precursors for the Eco-Friendly Fiber Industry.

Alpha-cellulose, a unique, natural, and essential polymer for the fiber industry, was isolated in an ecofriendly manner using eleven novel systems comprising recycling, defibrillation, and delignification of prosenchyma cells (vessels and fibers) of ten lignocellulosic resources. Seven hardwood species were selected, namely Conocorpus erectus, Leucaena leucocephala, Simmondsia chinensis, Azadirachta indica, Moringa perigrina, Calotropis procera, and Ceiba pentandra. Moreover, three recycled cellulosic wastes were chosen due to their high levels of accumulation annually in the fibrous wastes of Saudi Arabia, namely recycled writing papers (RWPs), recycled newspapers (RNPs), and recycled cardboard (RC). Each of the parent samples and the resultant alpha-cellulose was characterized physically, chemically, and anatomically. The properties examined differed significantly among the ten resources studied, and their mean values lies within the cited ranges. Among the seven tree species, L. leucocephala was the best cellulosic precursor due to its higher fiber yield (55.46%) and holocellulose content (70.82%) with the lowest content of Klasson lignin (18.86%). Moreover, RWP was the best α-cellulose precursor, exhibiting the highest holocellulose (87%) and the lowest lignin (2%) content. Despite the high content of ash and other additives accompanied with the three lignocellulosic wastes that were added upon fabrication to enhance their quality (10%, 11%, and 14.52% for RWP, RNP, and RC, respectively), they can be considered as an inexhaustible treasure source for cellulose production due to the ease and efficiency of discarding their ash minerals using the novel CaCO3-elimination process along with the other innovative techniques. Besides its main role for adjusting the pH of the delignification process, citric acid serves as an effective and environmentally friendly additive enhancing lignin breakdown while preserving cellulose integrity. Comparing the thermal behavior of the ten cellulosic resources, C. procera and C. pentandra exhibited the highest moisture content and void volume as well as having the lowest specific gravity, crystallinity index, and holocellulose content and were found to yield the highest mass loss during their thermal degradation based on thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis in an inert atmosphere. However, the other resources used were found to yield lower mass losses. The obtained results indicate that using the innovative procedures of recycling, defibrillation, and delignification did not alter or distort either the yield or structure of the isolated α-cellulose. This is a clear indicator of their high efficiency for isolating cellulose from lignocellulosic precursors.

Managing harvesting residues: a systematic review of management treatments around the world

Abstract Dead woody materials are naturally part of the forest ecosystem introduced through the process of tree mortality or intentionally through stand management practices which result in harvesting residues. The management of harvesting residues includes a range of solutions that vary from site to site, from context to context. The purpose of this review is to determine the current state-of-the-art of harvesting residue management treatments at a global scale. Our review indicates that there are few studies that compare residue management and treatment options, considering the variety of impacts and effects that can be generated. This is surprising as residue management affects residue quantity and distribution and is relevant for numerous ecological processes. The retention of fine and coarse residues can generate positive effects and impacts on various aspects of forest ecosystems including (i) biodiversity, by promoting stand regeneration and providing habitats for fauna at different levels; (ii) soil properties, by decreasing the risk of erosion and soil compaction while retaining moisture at ground level; and (iii) soil nutrients, by replenishing C, N, and micronutrient stocks. On the contrary, harvesting residues can provide material for bioenergy production and potentially other fiber industries. The removal of residues can also reduce wildfire risks and dampen insect outbreak dynamics. In this work, we provide a general outline of the role of residues as well as a summary of current management options adopted around the world. The intention of the work is to provide an information base for stakeholders including forest managers and policymakers in identifying and assessing potential alternatives for their current local practices.

Pioneering the carbon fiber frontier: A half-century of industry leadership and the road ahead

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers have been in full-scale industrialization for more than 50 years, during which time it has grown at an annual rate of 10–20 % for half a century, a trend that is expected to continue. Throughout this period, the carbon fiber industry has supported the composites industry through a stable global supply and improved fiber quality. Here, we show PAN-based carbon fibers' history and future for this 50-year milestone. The industrialization of carbon fiber began in 1959, when Shindo discovered how to stabilize PAN. The later discovery of comonomers based on the Morita-Baylis-Hilman reaction by Morita in 1966 further enabled industrialization. In addition to the innovativeness of this breakthrough, progress was made in converging technologies which intensified competition and encouraged incremental innovation. In recent years, microstructure control has become increasingly precise: down to the molecular level through incremental innovations, with tensile strength reaching 8.0 GPa and named T1200. Evaluating the carbon fibers’ intrinsic strength by the loop method, where evaluation size is reduced to the order of tens of micrometers, shows that the maximum value of T1200 is very high at 18 GPa. This is almost consistent with the value of 19 GPa predicted using molecular dynamics. Even higher strength can be expected by reducing defects. These performance improvements have already contributed toward carbon neutrality in aircraft and wind power generation. PAN-based carbon fibers will continue to be an important material in the future as further performance improvements and increased mass production are realized.

Business Opportunities for Food and Beverages from Natural Fibre Plant Materials

"Plants are rich source of agrochemicals and are being used for production of food and non-food materials. They play a pivotal role in food and beverage industry offering a sustainable alternative and prioritized before the animal originated ones. These materials offer distinct characteristics that are increasingly valued in the food industry. The components of fibre yielding plants viz. vegetables, grains, and seeds, are renowned for their nutritional value, including high fibre content, vitamins, and minerals, which can contribute to improved digestive health and overall well-being can also be used for production of foods and beverages. With increasing awareness of the health benefits associated with dietary fibre consumption, consumers are actively seeking out food and beverage options enriched with natural fibres from plant sources. To capitalize on this trend, companies are employing a variety of techniques, including formulation optimization, flavor masking, and texture enhancement, to seamlessly integrate natural fibres into a diverse range of products. Advances in supply chain technology, such as blockchain and traceability systems, enable companies to track and monitor the entire supply chain, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and ethical sourcing practices. Venturing the business opportunities of different natural fibres thus open a new vista for food and fibre industry in the years to come."

Multicomponent steady-state modeling, performance optimization and prediction of cleaning frequency for treatment of cellulosic manmade fibre industry stream using polysodium 4- styrenesulfonate (PSS) incorporated nanofiltration membrane

Effect of polysodium 4-styrenesulfonate (PSS) in the skin layer on performance of nanofiltration (NF) membrane was analyzed for treatment of saline stream from manmade fiber industry. The NF membrane with 0.05 % (w/w) PSS concentration in aqueous phase had better hydrophilicity (contact angle: 330) and water flux of 27 L.m−2.h−1 along with significant salt rejection (Na2SO4: 90 %, CaSO4: 85 % and NaCl: 80 %) at transmembrane pressure 8.3 bar and crossflow rate 100 L.h−1. A long-term study with the wastewater showed that the intermittent cleaning of the membrane every 6 h led to 16 L.m−2.h−1 average permeate flux and sulfate rejection above 95 %.A two-component, steady-state model was used to quantify the performance of the selected membrane. Based on the fouling study, a semi-empirical theory was proposed to identify the cleaning frequency. The theory developed is useful for the operation, maintenance and recovery of the divalent salts from reject stream of such industry.

Genetic Diversity of Ramie (Boehmeria Nivea L. Gaudich.) Originating from Wonosobo and Malang Based on Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Molecular Markers

Ramie has been widely used as a fiber crop for over 4000 years. The fibers are durable, white in color, and smooth in texture. Information on genetic diversity is important for selecting good breeding materials to produce superior offspring. This study aimed at determining the genetic diversity of Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich. from Wonosobo and Malang using SSR as molecular markers. Nineteen accessions of ramie were analyzed for genetic diversity using 9 SSRs located adjacent to the gene associated with fiber yield traits. This study included the DNA extraction, amplification, and visualization of amplification. Data analysis included the allele number, frequency, PIC value, heterozygosity, Shannon information index, and AMOVA analysis. The results showed 229 alleles, with an average polymorphic percentage of 68.67%, the average allele frequency ranging from 0.07 to 0.11, an average PIC value of 0.84, and Jaccard's similarity score of 0-0.18. The He and Ho values in both populations were 0.719 and 0.278, respectively. AMOVA analysis revealed that 88% of the observed molecular variance was due to genetic differences within the population, whereas 12% of genetic variation was partitioned between populations. The present study showed high genetic diversity between Wonosobo and Malang ramie. This finding might support further programs for the fiber and biomaterial industry.

Molecular characterization of the ligninolytic Sundarban mangrove isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia GD1 and its promising applications in the dye and fiber industry

Lignocellulolytic biocatalysts, including laccase, cellulase, and pectinase, have high potential for degrading lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). Jute and banana are fiber-producing LCBs that hold significant economic value. Nevertheless, certain parts of these plants are utilized as waste material due to their low-quality fiber, which causes losses for the industry. These waste portions can be processed and biologically converted into high-value fiber. A bacterial strain called Stenotrophomonas maltophilia GD1, which can produce several proteins, was isolated from the Sundarban mangrove ecosystem in West Bengal, India, and genetically analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. The strain exhibited the ability to produce all three necessary lignocellulolytic enzymes, with the highest levels of laccase and minimal cellulase and pectinase activity. The strain modified the fibers extensively, as determined by Young’s modulus, and removed the color from the toxic industrial dyes. This demonstrates the broad potential of this strain for waste valorization and environmental remediation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the enhanced fiber quality. Microbial phylogenetic relationships were established using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 11 (MEGA 11).

Enhanced Process Monitoring for the Maxwell Process via the CUSUM Control Chart and Its Application to the Carbon Fiber Industry

Enhanced Process Monitoring for the Maxwell Process via the CUSUM Control Chart and Its Application to the Carbon Fiber Industry

An Overview of the Current Situation of European Poplar Cultures with a Main Focus on Hungary

Among fast-growing wood species, poplars (Populus spp.) can be grown well. Thanks to their valuable wood, they also play an important role in the world. In Europe, regarding poplar forest areas, Hungary is ranked second, where the territorial proportion of poplars has not changed in the past ten years, and currently, two-thirds of them are constituted by two species. The proportion of grey poplar (P. × canescens) is 42%, while the proportion of ’Pannonia’ hybrid (P. × euramericana cv. Pannonia) is 22%. With regard to gross wood production, they are second after black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and their standing tree volume is significant for up to 30 years of age. The average age of hybrid poplars is 21 years, while that of the natives is 26 years. Its wood is used by the packaging industry (pallets and boxes) and the furniture industry (700,000 m3), the plywood industry (200,000 m3), and the fiber industry (300,000 m3), but it is also an important source for energetic purposes (150,000 m3).

Review on wastewater treatment for man-made cellulosic fibre industries: recent advancement and future prospects

Review on wastewater treatment for man-made cellulosic fibre industries: recent advancement and future prospects

Application of combined hydrodynamic cavitation and Fenton reagent for COD reduction of cellulosic fiber industry effluents

The present work demonstrates the implementation of combined approach of hydrodynamic cavitation reactor and Fenton oxidation process for the treatment of three cellulosic fiber (CF) industry effluent streams using pilot scale reactor with operation at 500 L developed at an industrial site. In order to assess the techno-economic viability of the combined hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) and Fenton oxidation process, various sets of experimental runs were carried out. Effect of type of treatment approach, one step and stepwise addition of oxidants, number of cavitation passes, and finally the type of effluent varying in terms of initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) on the efficacy of treatment were studied. Based on the results, HC + Fenton oxidation scheme was demonstrated to be a viable option for the treatment of CF industry effluent streams. HC + Fenton treatment rapidly reduced COD, achieving almost 90 % reduction in just 10 min, highlighting its efficiency in industrial wastewater treatment. The treatment achieved substantial reduction in residual COD levels with actual value as up to 1000 mg/L COD in effluent-I, up to 150 mg/L COD in effluent-II, and up to 100 mg/L COD in effluent-III. The study also explored the operating cost expenditure (Opex) of the proposed system required to demonstrate it at a commercial level, including the cost of chemicals and electricity. The COD reduction cost evaluated were INR 140–230/kg COD depending on the effluent. The main highlight of the article is the practical demonstration at the manufacturing unit including the operating cost calculations.

Towards a Cleaner Textile Industry: Using ASEC to Decrease the Water Footprint to Zero Liquid Discharge

Textile manufacturing is the second most polluting industry. It involves a series of processes that require large amounts of water and generates highly polluting wastewater. Four liquid wastes collected at different steps from two different textile factories (synthetic and natural fibers) were treated using a new disruptive technology (Adiabatic Sonic Evaporation and Crystallization—ASEC). After the treatment of the contaminated fluids, the byproducts obtained (freshwater and crystallized solids <1% humidity) were characterized to determine depuration efficiency and their potential commercial reuse. The physicochemical parameters were analyzed in the liquid and solid phases. The results evidence a completely efficient separation of the contaminants and solutes from the liquids analyzed, resulting in 100% pure water with the characteristics of distilled water (an electrical conductivity below 20 µS/cm) suitable for other industrial processes or water reuses, including human consumption. This implies an estimated annual reduction in the water consumption of these factories of between 16 and 103 Olympic pools. It would also avoid the disposal of 181 and 966 ton/y dried residue by the current synthetic and natural fiber textile processing factories, respectively. More than 75% of the resulting solid residue was S from the synthetic fiber industry, and light elements from the natural fiber residues. The installation of ASEC technology in different phases or at the end of industrial textile processing lines could change the paradigm of water consumption to a minimum, thus reducing consumption and resulting in the complete recycling of water. Using renewable energy and residual heat transforms the system into a zero-pollution technology; it makes it possible to attain almost 0% CO2 emissions, fulfilling the European Green Deal objectives such as a circular economy, the decarbonization of the textile industry, the protection of the biodiversity of river basins, and zero pollution.

A SIMULATION OF EVAPORATION DISSOLUTION PROCESS FOR A LYOCELL SOLUTION IN A VERTICAL WIPED FILM EVAPORATOR (1: SIMULATION OF FLOW PROCESS FOR SOLUTION)

Vertical wiped film evaporators (VWFE) have found wide application in chemical, food and especially, fiber industries. In this paper, a mathematical simulation is represented for the vacuum evaporation dissolution process of Lyocell solution (reed cellulose, N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) solvent, water) in VWFE. The Turbulent Flow model in geometries with rotating parts and the frozen rotor approach in COMSOL Multi-physics 5.4 were used for simulation of the solution flow in VWFE. Comparing the obtained simulation results with experimental details, we show the effect of our simulation method.

A machine-learning assisted multi-cluster assessment for decarbonization in the chemical fiber industry toward net-zero: A case study in a Chinese province

China has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, requiring deep decarbonization in its manufacturing sector, aligning with sustainable development goals such as climate action and responsible production. Notably, China's chemical fiber industry contributes over 70% of global production, facing challenges in net-zero transition due to differences in enterprise scale and energy efficiency. This study proposed an assessment framework for the decarbonization pathway for this type of manufacturing industries, use the chemical fiber industry as a case study. A hybrid model based on machine learning was introduced to predict the industry's energy consumption, while multiple-cluster standards were established to assess energy efficiency improvement potential. Monte Carlo simulation was employed to analyze the carbon trading impact on industry decarbonization. Using a Chinese province's chemical fiber industry as a case, results suggest its carbon emissions could reach 1.58 × 107 tCO2 by 2030, and energy efficiency enhancements could reduce emissions by approximately 22.6%. Achieving carbon neutrality would cause the industry to reduce profits by approximately 10%∼15% on higher-priced emissions trading system (ETS), unless additional carbon reduction techniques are adopted. This assessment framework can be applied to study decarbonization transitions in other manufacturing industries.

"DISCRIMINATION OF TEMPERATURE AND STRAIN INTERFERENCE IN FBG SENSORS USING TAPERED OPTICAL FIBER SENSOR "

"The optical fiber industry has progressed a lot in recent years. Earlier, they were used as a bed to carry light and image for medical applications, especially in endoscopy. In the mid-1960s, calls were widely used to transmit information. So far, optical fiber technology has been a worthy subject for research. Low loss rate, high bandwidth, electromagnetic reliability, small size, light weight, safety, relatively cheap price, low need for reconstruction and maintenance are the reasons for the attractiveness of optical fibers. In recent years, optical sensors, including FBG, are widely used in the field. Different methods have been used. Among these applications, we can refer to imaging in the fields of civil engineering, aerospace, marine sciences, oil and gas, composites and smart structures. Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors have found more usages in the industry to diagnose the safety of mechanical structures due to their high sensitivity, non-exposure to the electromagnetic field, linearity, and lightness. A limitation of the application of FBG sensors is the Inability to distinguish the effects of temperature and strain in the simultaneous measurement. For this purpose, we must somehow discriminate the effect of temperature from the strain. In this Article, by designing a tapered fiber-FBG composite sensor we have provided a solution for this problem. Studies performed on the designed composite sensor show that no sensitivity interference will occur in the sensor. In the composite sensor, a tapered fiber optic sensor with a temperature sensitivity of and a FBG sensor with the temperature and strain sensitivity of and, respectively, are used. Keywords: Tapered fiber, Temperature sensor, FBG sensor, Strain health monitor, Structural health monitor, Interferences. "

Physicochemical and Nutritional Characterization of Palmyrah (<em>Borassus flabellifer</em> L.) Pith Waste: A Study to Explore Potential Agricultural and Industrial Applications

Purpose: The palmyrah fibre industry generates a large number of wastages during the production process, and the wastages have not been utilized in a proper way. The combustion of those wastages may result in environmental issues. This study aims to analyze the physicochemical properties of palmyrah pith developed from palmyrah fibre production line waste to be utilized in the future for agricultural and industrial applications.Research method: The palmyrah wastages from the fibre production line from all the regional centres in the Jaffna peninsula were collected and washed. The dried waste was ground using a laboratory motor mill and sieved using a laboratory sieve shaker, and the palmyrah fibre pith was packed in a stainless steel container for further analysis.Findings: Palmyra pith exhibited total ash of 15.6 g/100g, total carbon of 48.96 g/100g, and total organic matter of 84.4 g/100g. The nutritional content of the pith was nitrogen 1.90 mg/g, phosphorous 0.015 mg/g, sodium 0.621 mg/g, potasium 0.311 mg/g, calcium 3.196 mg/g, magnesium 1.918 mg/g and iron 0.014 mg/g. Physiochemical properties of the palmyrah pith were determined as pH 5.64, EC 0.586 dS/m, bulk density 0.241 g/cm3, particle density 0.60 g/cm3, total porosity 59.9%, water retention capacity 15%, C: N ratio of 259:1, and moisture content of 12%Originality/Value: This research paves the way for the utilization of palmyrah wastages in agricultural and industrial applications.

Molecular identification of Bambusa changningensis is the natural bamboo hybrid of B. rigida × Dendrocalamus farinosus.

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants commonly used in food, fibre, paper, biofuel, ornamental and medicinal industries. Natural hybridization in bamboo is rare due to its long vegetative period followed by gregarious flowering and death of the entire population. In the current study, a new bamboo species, Bambusa changningensis, shows intermediate characteristics of Dendrocalamus farinosus and B. rigida morphologically, but it is unknown whether B. changningensis is a natural hybrid. Moreover, B. changningensis has been identified as a superior variety of Sichuan Province with high pulping yield, fibre length and width. Therefore, we analyzed the morphological characteristics, DNA markers, DNA barcoding and chloroplast genomes to identify the hybrid origin of B. changningensis and possible maternal parent. We have developed the transcriptomic data for B. changningensis and mined the SSR loci. The putative parental lines and hybrid were screened for 64 SSR makers and identified that SSR14, SSR28, SSR31 and SSR34 markers showed both alleles of the parental species in B. changningensis, proving heterozygosity. Sequencing nuclear gene GBSSI partial regions and phylogenetic analysis also confirm the hybrid nature of B. changningensis. Further, we have generated the complete chloroplast genome sequence (139505 bp) of B. changningensis. By analyzing the cp genomes of both parents and B. changningensis, we identified that B. rigida might be the female parent. In conclusion, our study identified that B. changningensis is a natural hybrid, providing evidence for bamboo's natural hybridization. This is the first report on confirming a natural bamboo hybrid and its parents through SSR and chloroplast genome sequence.

Preparing epoxidized vegetable oil from waste generated by the kapok fiber industry and assessing its thermal stabilization effect as a co-stabilizer for polyvinyl chloride

This paper describes the epoxidation of vegetable oil derived from waste kapok seeds using performic acid, which was generated in situ with sulfuric acid acting as a catalyst. The mole ratio of formic acid to double bonds varied between 0.25 and 1.00. The completion of the reaction has been verified by analyzing FTIR and NMR spectra. The resulting epoxidized kapok seed oil (EKSO) has a maximum oxirane oxygen content of 2.7%, achieved at a formic acid to double bond mole ratio of 0.5. The study has also examined the potential use of EKSO as a co-stabilizer in the presence of Ca/Zn stearate for stabilizing polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Both static and dynamic tests demonstrated that incorporating EKSO into the Ca/Zn stearate system leads to a significant increase in the thermal stability of PVC. Moreover, the effectiveness of EKSO as a co-stabilizer was found to be comparable to that of epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO). However, the use of EKSO did result in a decrease in the strength of PVC due to an increase in plasticity, although this effect was minimal at low dosages and was also observed with ESBO. On the other hand, when utilizing small doses (<2 phr), there is a tendency for flowability to decrease, but the reduction is not significant either. Overall, these findings suggest that EKSO could be a valuable co-stabilizer for PVC in industrial applications, as it enhances PVC's thermal stability without significantly compromising its mechanical and flow properties.

Effect of carbon information disclosure with consistent evaluation standards: An empirical study about carbon efficiency label in Huzhou China

Company carbon information disclosure (CID) has attracted increased attention in the context of global climate change and CO2 emissions reduction. Existing CID projects have seldom included consistent carbon information evaluation standards for assessing companies’ carbon performance, causing uncertainty in their effects on CO2 emissions reduction. A sharp regression discontinuity design is developed in this study, and the effects and mechanism of the carbon efficiency label (CEL) are investigated as the first CID project with consistent evaluation standards in China. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with managers of 19 companies to interpret the empirical results. We find that the CEL substantially reduced CO2 emissions from high-carbon-intensity companies of heavily regulated industries, such as the cement and chemical fiber industries. This result suggests that the CEL may address the problem of “whipping the fast and hardworking” in industrial-level environmental regulations. The reason is that the consistent evaluation standards of the CEL enable the accurate assessment of companies’ carbon information, preventing asymmetric information between government and companies. Additionally, the CEL’s deterrent effect is an important mechanism for CO2 emissions reduction. An essential factor affecting the CEL’s deterrent effect is the desire of companies to maintain dispositional legitimacy for administrative approval of energy and environmental assessments.