Final Product Research Articles

A critical multi-parameter analysis of the densification process on the dimensional stability and bending performance of densified timber

Timber densification is a process wherein various parameters can affect the physical and mechanical properties of the final product. Therefore, it is vital to understand the effects of these parameters to fully exploit the benefits of densification such as improved density, stiffness, and strength. The purpose of this study is to improve on the mechanical properties of Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) and to determine the influence of the process parameters. The densification process and the bending properties of the densified timber were investigated using a fractional factorial experimental design to determine the influence of various parameters (compression ratio, moisture content, compression temperature, heating time, setting temperature, and setting time) on the final product. Among the six process parameters, the compression ratio was the most significant factor with respect to bending properties of the densified timber, while the effect of the other parameters does not show a specific trend with respect to the load–displacement behaviour of the test specimens. A predictive model has been proposed herein to determine the properties of densified timber based on a reduced number of process parameters, with examples based on different design applications.

Nitrification Mechanisms for the P460 Enzymes.

The oxidation of hydroxylamine was studied by quantum chemical modeling. Hydroxylamine is the product of ammonia oxidation in ammonia monooxygenase. That mechanism has been studied recently by quantum chemical modeling as here. Only two enzymes can oxidize hydroxylamine, hydroxylamine oxidase and cytochrome-P460. Both employ the unusual P460-heme cofactor. In hydroxylamine oxidase, there is a covalently linked tyrosine, while in cytochrome-P460, there is a covalently linked lysine. The calculations give explanations for the experimental findings that NO is the final product in hydroxylamine oxidase, while N2O is the final product in cytochrome-P460. The effect of the covalent attachments has been investigated, and reasons for their presence have been given. The methodology used, which was proven to give very good agreement with experiments for several redox enzymes, again leads to excellent agreement with experimental findings.

Production of Starch-Based Flexible Food Packaging in Developing Countries: Analysis of the Processes, Challenges, and Requirements

Biodegradable packaging offers an affordable and sustainable solution to global pollution, particularly in developing countries with limited recycling infrastructure. Starch is well suited to develop biodegradable packages for foods due to its wide availability and simple, low-tech production process. Although the development of starch-based packaging is well documented, most studies focus on the laboratory stages of formulation and plasticization, leaving gaps in understanding key phases such as raw material conditioning, industrial-scale molding, post-production processes, and storage. This work evaluates the value chain of starch-based packaging in developing countries. It addresses the challenges, equipment, and process conditions at each stage, highlighting the critical role of moisture resistance in the final product’s functionality. A particular focus is placed on replacing single-use plastic packaging, which dominates food industries in regions with agricultural economies and rich biodiversity. A comprehensive analysis of starch-based packaging production, with a detailed understanding of each stage and the overall process, should contribute to the development of more sustainable and scalable solutions, particularly for the replacement of single-use packages, helping to protect vulnerable biodiverse regions from the growing impact of plastic waste.

Production of high purity 47Sc from proton irradiation of natural vanadium targets

BackgroundScandium-47 is the therapeutic counterpart to the diagnostic radionuclides, 43Sc and 44Sc. Together, these form elementally matched theranostic nuclide pairs, but their incorporation into radiopharmaceuticals requires developing production techniques leading to radioscandium isotopes with high chemical and radionuclidic purity. Previous 47Sc production methods involved expensive, enriched titanium targets that require additional procedures for target recovery. This work investigates the irradiation of natural vanadium targets and the development of purification methods for high-purity 47Sc. Natural vanadium foils were used in cyclotron target configurations. Targets were irradiated with 24 MeV protons at currents of up to 80 µA. A purification method was developed by determining the Kd values of Sc, Cr, and V using MP-50 resin. The final purification method used MP-50 and CM resin columns to isolate the 47Sc from natV and co-produced 51Cr. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), gamma-ray spectroscopy, and a DOTA titration were used to characterize the 47Sc product. ResultsTwo cyclotron targets were designed, a small-scale target for developing a purification procedure and a high-power target for scaled-up production. The high-power target maximum current was 80 µA of 24 MeV protons. The yield for an 8 h irradiation at 80 µA of 24 MeV protons, was 128.02 ± 11.1 MBq of 47Sc at End of Bombardment. The radionuclidic purity of 47Sc was 99.5 ± 0.2%. The purification using MP-50 and CM columns resulted in the removal of natV target and 51Cr contaminate in the final 47Sc product, with an average recovery of 72 ± 2.1% and a DOTA apparent molar activity of 7733 ± 155 MBq/µmol. ICP-MS results showed that all top-row transition metals were below the limit of detection (< 1 ppb) with the exception of Zn, which was 64.6 ± 10.3 ppb.ConclusionsA high-power cyclotron target capable of withstanding a proton current of 80 µA was developed. A novel separation method was developed for isolating the 47Sc from the vanadium target and the co-produced 51Cr contaminate. The final product characterization resulted in a chemically and radionuclidically pure 47Sc product with high recovery yields.

Optimization of Zn Leaching Recovery from Tire Rubber and High-Purity ZnO Production

AbstractWaste tire rubber is regarded as a potential source for Zn recovery and recycling. In this study, the occurrence of modes of Zn was first characterized by an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), and the result indicated both ZnO and ZnS were present in the tire rubber. The Zn leaching recovery was optimized by response surface methodology, and temperature was identified as the most significant variable. The highest recovery of over 98% was obtained at 90 °C for 400 min when using 2.0 mol/L HNO3 as the lixiviant. After that, the Zn-containing leach liquor was subjected to solvent extraction for further separation and purification using bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) and 2-ethylhexylphosphonic mono-2-ethylhexyl (PC88A) as extractants. Various parameters, such as equilibrium pH, extractant concentration, and organic-to-aqueous (O/A) ratio, were investigated to maximize the Zn extraction while minimizing the contamination of impurities. The result indicated that 0.1 mol/L Cyanex 272 exhibited a higher separation factor for Zn over major impurities compared to PC88A under the same conditions. To produce the high-purity ZnO, the Zn-loaded organic phase was subjected to stripping tests, and over 92% of Zn was stripped out with trace amounts of impurities. Finally, the pH value of the stripped solution was increased to precipitate Zn, and a final ZnO product with a purity of over 99% was obtained. This study provided a reference for waste tire rubber management and utilization. Graphical Abstract

Pyrophosphate-free glycolysis in Clostridium thermocellum increases both thermodynamic driving force and ethanol titers

BackgroundClostridium thermocellum is a promising candidate for production of cellulosic biofuels, however, its final product titer is too low for commercial application, and this may be due to thermodynamic limitations in glycolysis. Previous studies in this organism have revealed a metabolic bottleneck at the phosphofructokinase (PFK) reaction in glycolysis. In the wild-type organism, this reaction uses pyrophosphate (PPi) as an energy cofactor, which is thermodynamically less favorable compared to reactions that use ATP as a cofactor. Previously we showed that replacing the PPi-linked PFK reaction with an ATP-linked reaction increased the thermodynamic driving force of glycolysis, but only had a local effect on intracellular metabolite concentrations, and did not affect final ethanol titer.ResultsIn this study, we substituted PPi-pfk with ATP-pfk, deleted the other PPi-requiring glycolytic gene pyruvate:phosphate dikinase (ppdk), and expressed a soluble pyrophosphatase (PPase) and pyruvate kinase (pyk) genes to engineer PPi-free glycolysis in C. thermocellum. We demonstrated a decrease in the reversibility of the PFK reaction, higher levels of lower glycolysis metabolites, and an increase in ethanol titer by an average of 38% (from 15.1 to 21.0 g/L) by using PPi-free glycolysis.ConclusionsBy engineering PPi-free glycolysis in C. thermocellum, we achieved an increase in ethanol production. These results demonstrate that optimizing the thermodynamic landscape through metabolic engineering can enhance product titers. While further increases in ethanol titers are necessary for commercial application, this work represents a significant step toward engineering glycolysis in C. thermocellum to increase ethanol titers.

Investigation of Vapor Pressure and Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis of Phosphoric Acid Extract Evaporation after Desulfation with SrCO₃

Ammophos-Maxam JSC is renowned for the production highly concentrated phosphorus fertilizers such as ammophos, ammonium sulfate phosphate, and suprephos, using thermally concentrated phosphorites sourced from the Central Kyzylkums. The production process heavily relies on wet-process phosphoric acid (WPA), which typically contains 16–18 % phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5). However, converting low P2O5 WPA into these high-phosphorus fertilizers during the stages of evaporation, drying, and granulation stages significantly increases the heat and energy consumption per unit of the final product. To address these challenges, extensive initiatives are currently underway in the republic. These efforts are aimed at improving the production of various phosphorus fertilizers, including ammophos, suprephos-NS, ammonium sulfate phosphate, PS-Agro, enriched superphosphate, and feed ammonium phosphates. These products are derived from the processing of washed burnt phosphoconcentrate (WBP-26) obtained from Kyzylkum phosphorites. This paper describes the results of recent studies on the evaporation process of WPA at Ammophos-Maxam JSC. The research focuses on examining the boiling point of WPA solutions, vapor pressure, and the composition of the resulting precipitates. Additionally, infrared (IR) spectroscopy was conducted to provide deeper insights into the material properties. These investigations are crucial for optimizing production processes and reduce energy costs.

The Geographic Factors-Based Optimization of National Flight Hub Airport Locations for Enhances Aviation Safety Standard

Indonesia's strategic geographical location and conditions are a result of its archipelagic status. Indeed, this significantly impacts the livelihoods of Indonesians, particularly in the area of transportation. In order to facilitate the mobility of individuals between islands, the government constructed transportation infrastructure and facilities. This will serve as a reference for government regulations that aim to reduce inequality, specifically in the development and distribution of products and services outside Java, particularly in Papua. The primary objective of this research is to conduct a connectivity analysis as an initial step towards optimizing the transportation network and determining the level of connectivity between Indonesian provinces through air transportation. Next, the researchers will study the existing air transportation network's structure to understand its characteristics clearly. It will be helpful material for formulating optimization and network management scenarios. The structuring pattern in question is the application of the hub-and-spoke network concept. The hub-and-spoke network pattern focuses on optimization problems from the perspective of economies of scale. The researchers optimized the provincial capital airport's location to establish a hub airport and subsequently refined the analysis results to enhance the efficiency of the new flight service network. The above steps will compare air travel performance before and after the network arrangement scenario. Indicators for the network connectivity level will also be present, indicating that the final product optimization is now ready for verification. The target of this research is to produce a concept or optimize the location of airport hubs through a comprehensive study taking into account geographic factors and conducting an analysis of the location of National Aviation Hub airports, which is the novelty of this research.

Non-affinity platform for processing knob-into-hole bispecific antibody

Bispecific antibodies hold significant potential as next-generation biotherapeutics owing to their ability to simultaneously bind to two targets. However, the development of bispecific antibodies as biotherapeutics has been hindered by the high levels of byproducts produced, including both high molecular weight and low molecular weight variants. In addition, the inevitable expression of homodimers in host cells presents further obstacles to the commercial development of bispecific antibodies as therapeutics. These byproducts, which share similar physicochemical properties with the target, pose several challenges for downstream purification processes. In this study, we present a non-protein A purification platform that employ a one-step polishing chromatography to purify bispecific antibodies. Mixed-mode Capto adhere resin was used to capture the target protein at pH 7.90 ± 0.10, followed by anion exchange chromatography as a polishing step. Overall, the results of this two-step chromatography purification method demonstrated at final product purity of 98% as assessed by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SEC-HPLC) and 98% by reversed-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), with residual host cell proteins controlled at 10 ppm and an excellent recovery rate of approximately 60%. This study presents a non-protein A capture platform, offering a simplified, streamlined, and competitive alternative to conventional affinity chromatography.Graphical

DEVELOPING ENGLISH MATERIALS WITH ISLAMIC CONTENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL, PEDAGOGICAL AND CONTENT KNOWLEDGE APPROACH

The integration of technology in English teaching materials is essential to meet the growing demands of modern learners including those who learn in Islamic educational contexts. This study aimed to (1) identify the English learning needs related to Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK); (2) develop an English language textbook based on the TPACK approach; and (3) evaluate its suitability for use in Islamic higher education. Employing the Research and Development (R&amp;D) framework by Gall et al. (2003), the study was conducted in seventh phases: research and data collection, planning, preliminary product development, preliminary field testing, product revision, main field testing, and final product revision. The participants were 77 students from three Islamic higher education institutions in Lampung, Consist of 20 students from IAI Agus Salim, 30 students from IAIN Metro, and 27 students from IAI Ma’arif Metro.The subject in this research are expert jugment and user. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. The data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Expert and user evaluations of the developed textbook, Basic English, demonstrated its good quality and effectiveness for use in Islamic higher education, with minor revisions recommended for optimization. The findings imply that the integration of the TPACK framework into textbook development can enhance the quality of English language learning in Islamic higher education. It is concluded that the textbook is suitable for use as an English Material in the learning process.

Изменение органолептических и физических характеристик кожи судака при ее обработке в натуральных соках

Studies have been conducted on the effect of natural vegetable and fruit juices (pumpkin, tomato, apple) and their mixtures containing weak organic acids and used as a liquid medium for hydration of pre-treated walleye fish skin (Sander lucioperca) on the degree of its softening, which occurs as a result of hydration of collagen molecules of fish raw materials in the mixture with natural juices, accompanied by an increase in its mass and thickness). It was determined that the initial fish skin with a thickness of 0.18-1.00 mm at the end of the hydrolysis process had a thickness of 2.6-6.3 mm (apple juice), 2.12-4.01 mm (dried) and 0.69-2.08 mm (tomato), and the skin weight increased by 400, 257.5 and 230%, respectively. It was noted that, despite significant swelling (increase in volume), the skin retained its shape during the entire hydrolysis process (up to 30 days in tomato juice), which indicates a weak degree of hydrolysis of raw materials and preservation of the natural shape of the fish collagen molecule. It is shown that the hydrolyzed mixture is easily homogenized to obtain a homogeneous mass, which is a juice-containing hydrate of fish collagen (food additive). The dynamics of pH changes in various juices and their mixtures is presented depending on the duration of the hydrolysis process with fish skin, which depends on the type of juice used and has a general tendency to deoxidation of the resulting final product compared with the juice used. The values of peak loads for needle puncture and rupture of fish skin were determined, which showed a significant decrease in their hydrolysis process, compared with raw skin.

A Comprehensive Review and Future Perspectives of Simulation Approaches in Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM)

Abstract Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has emerged as a promising technique for producing large-scale metal components, favoured by high deposition rates, flexibility and low cost. Despite its potential, the complexity of WAAM processes, which involves intricate thermal dynamics, phase transitions, and metallurgical, mechanical, and chemical interactions, presents considerable challenges in final product qualities. Simulation technologies in WAAM have proven invaluable, providing accurate predictions in key areas such as material properties, defect identification, deposit morphology, and residual stress. These predictions play a critical role in optimizing manufacturing strategies for the final product. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the simulation techniques applied in WAAM, tracing developments from 2013 to 2023. Initially, it analyzes the current challenges faced by simulation methods in three main areas. Subsequently, the review explores the current modelling approaches and the applications of these simulations. Following this, the paper discusses the present state of WAAM simulation, identifying specific issues inherent to WAAM simulation itself. Finally, through a thorough review of existing literature and related analysis, the paper offers future perspectives on potential advancements in WAAM simulation strategies.

An Enhanced Bioactive Glass Composition with Improved Thermal Stability and Sinterability

The development of new bioactive glasses (BGs) with enhanced bioactivity and improved resistance to crystallization is crucial for overcoming the main challenges faced by commercial BGs. Most shaping processes require thermal treatments, which can induce partial crystallization, negatively impacting the biological and mechanical properties of the final product. In this study, we present a novel bioactive glass composition, S53P4_MSK, produced by a melt–quench route. This novel composition includes magnesium and strontium, known for their therapeutic effects, and potassium, recognized for improving the thermal properties of bioactive glasses. The thermal properties were investigated through differential thermal analysis, heating microscopy and sintering tests from 600 °C to 900 °C. These characterizations, combined with X-ray diffraction analysis, demonstrated the high sinterability without crystallization of S53P4_MSK, effectively mitigating related issues. The mechanical properties—elastic modulus, hardness and fracture toughness—were evaluated on the sintered sample by micro-indentation, showing high elastic modulus and hardness. The bioactivity of the novel BG was assessed following Kokubo’s protocol and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The novel bioactive glass composition has shown high sinterability without crystallization at 700 °C, along with good mechanical properties and bioactivity.

Comparative Analysis of Bread Quality Using Yeast Strains from Alcoholic Beverage Production

The impact of yeast strain selection on bread quality was evaluated using a range of commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, typically employed in various alcoholic beverage productions, to determine their effectiveness in bread making. The final products made from these strains were compared to bread produced using the commercial baker’s strain S. cerevisiae ACY298. Key parameters, including specific volume, hardness, pH, residual sugars, and organic acids, were thoroughly assessed. Among the strains tested, S. cerevisiae ACY158 produced bread with a specific volume of 5.0 cm3/g and a Euclidean distance of 0.895, closely resembling ACY298. In contrast, S. cerevisiae ACY9, with a specific volume of 1.1 cm3/g and the highest Euclidean distance of 6.878, exhibited the greatest deviation from ACY298, suggesting it may be less suitable for traditional bread production. Furthermore, ACY158 displayed a balanced organic acid profile and minimal residual sugars, aligning well with consumer expectations for bread flavor and texture. These results underscore that certain alternative S. cerevisiae strains have the potential to match or exceed the performance of commercial baker’s yeast, offering opportunities to optimize bread quality and diversify industrial baking practices.

Green Recycling for Polypropylene Components by Material Extrusion

High volumetric shrinkage and rheological behavior of polypropylene (PP) are the main problems that make material extrusion (MEX) uncommon for this material. The complexity is raised when recycled materials are used. This research covered different aspects of the MEX process of virgin and recycled PP, from the analysis of rough materials to the mechanical evaluation of the final products. Two types of virgin PP (one in pellet and the other in filament form) and one recycled PP were analyzed. Thermal characterization and rheological analysis of these materials were initially employed to understand the peculiar properties of all investigated PP and set filament extrusion. The 3D parts were then printed using processed filaments to check fabrication quality through visual analysis and mechanical tests. A well-structured approach was proposed to encompass the limitations of PP 3D printing by accurately evaluating the influence of the material properties on the final part performance. The results revealed that the dimensional and mechanical performances of the recycled PP were comparable with the virgin filament commonly employed in MEX, making it particularly suitable for this application.

Fibreglass Reinforcement Influence on the Mechanical Behaviour of an ABS – PMMA – Fibreglass Composite Material

This study’s aim is to provide detailed information on how to control the mechanical behaviour of a short fibre unoriented composite material and adapt it for various applications. This study focusses on the challenging problem of recycling fibreglass waste mixed with thermoplastic polymers. The used method was thermoforming; preliminary studies have indicated this method as the most suitable for closing the loop in a manufacturing process – under the principles of a circular economy. Although this method is sustainable for this type of mixed waste, the research process is at an early stage and further studies and characterisations are required. From the data collected so far, this recycling method is the most efficient, both energetically and considering the added value of the final product. The results are encouraging and indicate a predictable behaviour of the studied reinforced composite material.

Profile Characterization of Cowpea Variety Suitable for Good Kossai: A Cowpea Pancake

Cowpea is a legume rich in nutrients that are very important from human nutrition and socio-economic point of view. The transformation of cowpea into Kossai involves several actors for its optimal valorization. This study aims to identify and synthesize the main traits sought by the actors of the links in the Kossai value chain. The methodology consisted of collecting data using a questionnaire administered to populations of 140 cowpea grain producers, 147 Kossai processors/resellers and 146 Kossai consumers selected in 14 sites and 28 focus groups discussions. The results showed that 88% of producers are men, 94% of consumers are men and 100% of processors are women. Actors in the sample have an average age of 46 years and a basic level of education, mainly traditional Coranic school and primary school. Cowpea local varieties are still predominantly used in the production and manufacture of Kossai. The processing of Kossai is done in six stages from winnowing to frying. Kneading and frying are the most delicate stage which requires more attention to obtain good Kossai. Main traits of cowpea variety expected by actors of Kossai value chain are large-caliber clean, white or reddish seed coat and consistency, high yield, precocity, etc. In addition, the grains must be suitable for Kossai manufacturing process, particularly mixing and frying with golden color of the final product. Breeding program of new cowpea varieties suitable for making Kossai should consider a large number of these traits in order to increase diversity, improve and sustain nutritional quality.

Enhancing the sustainability of rubber materials: Dual benefits of wet mixing technology and recycled rubber's honeycomb reinforcement structure.

The world's three leading tire manufacturers have proposed specific timelines for using recycled materials. For instance, Michelin targets an increase in the proportion of sustainable materials in tires to 40% by 2030 and aims to produce 100% of its tires from bio-based, renewable, or recyclable materials as of 2050. In such a context, this study introduced wet mixing technology to apply recycled rubber (RR) in highly wear-resistant tire tread compounds. This technique leverages the rubber's inherent crosslink density to enhance the mechanical performance of final products. The results indicated that wet mixing effectively addressed the high viscosity issue of RR. In the traditional dry mixing method, physical blending typically results in large particle sizes and suboptimal performance. In contrast, wet mixing reduced the rubber's hysteresis loss by 75% and improved its rebound performance by 35.6% at 23°C, 60°C, and 100°C compared to traditional dry mixing. DIN volume abrasion was also reduced by 23.3%. Remarkably, Akron abrasion nearly doubled its effect. Additionally, wet mixing regulated aggregate structure and formed a densely packed honeycomb-like structure within RR. Incorporating RR using wet mixing demonstrates noticeable advantages in carbon black/natural rubber/RR composite materials. This approach also presents a viable path to sustainable development in the rubber manufacturing industry.

A deep learning-based model for defect reorganisation in welding/wire arc additive manufacturing

Welding and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) are crucial processes in various industries, but defects can significantly impact the quality and integrity of the final product. The study proposes a deep learning-based model for automated defect recognition in WAAM. The primary objective is to develop a robust and accurate system that can identify welding defects using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), a deep learning model. The research methodology involves inputting weld bead images into the model, which is then trained to recognise different defects. During the training phase, images depicting various defects were used to train the DL model, enabling it to learn the distinctive features and patterns associated with each type of defect. The trained model was later tested, and it demonstrated an accuracy rate of 88% in classifying welding defects, showcasing its potential for real-time monitoring and quality control in welding/WAAM applications. The findings of this study contribute to the advancement of intelligent manufacturing systems and highlight the effectiveness of deep learning techniques in enhancing the reliability and efficiency of welding processes.

Effect of Alumina Proportion on the Microstructure and Technical and Mechanical Characteristics of Zirconia-Based Porous Ceramics

The current study investigates the process of preparing and analysing porous-structured ceramics made from zirconium, aluminium, and magnesium ceramic oxides. The starch consolidation casting (SCC) technique, with different types of starches (potato and tapioca), was used for this purpose. Our objective was to methodically examine the impact of different processing factors, such as the temperature at which pre-sintering and sintering occur, and the proportions of ceramic powders, on the microstructure, mechanical characteristics, and porosity of the resultant composites. Pre-sintering effectively reduced the rate of shrinkage during the final sintering stage; this resulted in more controlled and predictable shrinkage, leading to better dimensional stability and reduced risk of defects in the final product. A higher alumina content was associated with an increase in apparent porosity and a reduction in volume shrinkage and apparent densities. The mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) findings concluded that the prepared porous ceramics have a multi-modal pore structure. The highest calculated compressive strength was 76.89 MPa for a sample with a porous structure, which was manufactured using 20 wt.% tapioca starch and 30 wt.% alumina content. The main advantage of alumina is its ability to improve compressive strength by refining the grain structure and serving as a barrier against fracture development.