Central Planning Research Articles

Coordinated Regional Economic Development: A Study of the Relationship Between Regional Policies and Business Performance

Abstract In the context of the global spread of the Corona Virus Disease 2019, improving enterprise performance, promoting regional economic development, and solving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate regional development are important considerations for regional policy formulation. To understand the relationship between regional policies and corporate performance, this study starts with theories related to regional policies and corporate performance, and proposes two hypotheses. The Western Development, Northeast Revitalization of the Old Industrial Base, and Central Rise Plan are selected as typical representatives of regional policies, and the hypotheses are verified through a double difference model. The results showed that regional policies could improve corporate performance, especially for state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The correlation between the revitalization of the old industrial base in Northeast China and the performance of SOEs was strong, with a correlation coefficient of 0.832. When conducting robustness tests by changing time periods, the correlation values between the performance of SOEs and policies in the three policy implementation areas of revitalizing Northeast China, western development, and central rise were 0.887, 0.764, and 0.652, respectively. Compared to non-SOEs, SOEs had a more significant effect on regional policy improvement. This conclusion was consistent with the empirical results of hypotheses 1 and 2. Based on this foundation, recommendations are offered for the suitability of regional policies to furnish theoretical frameworks for enhancing the regional policy structure and augmenting the precision and inclusivity of regional policy development. The research model is utilized to reveal the important role of regional policies in promoting enterprise performance improvement and promoting regional economic development. It can provide strong evidence support for policy makers. The study offers a scientific theoretical basis and empirical support that assist policymakers in comprehending policy objectives and implementation strategies with greater precision. Therefore, the coordinated advancement of regional economic development is facilitated.

WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND MARKET DISTORTION: AN EMPIRICAL ACCOUNT OF MODERN INTERVENTIONISM’S UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

Wasteful government spending can be seen in the Misesian tradition as a type of interventionism with unintended consequences, such as market distortion and the creation of privilege. An underlying problem that helps the distortion become a tradition is that of ‘wasteful spending cultures’. The latter reflects a hardly identifiable problem in practice, i.e. the creation of welfare losses through public administration practices that are influenced by bureaucratic inertia. The growing acceptance of the compatibility of the Austrian tradition and public policy studies allows for a better understanding of imperfect policies, their consequences, and ways to improve both the process and its result. Using data from government-driven procurement of armored cars in Colombia, this paper illustrates how the distortion of the market mechanism is affected by narrative-driven practices and how special interest groups derive rents at the expense of citizens. Using a cost-effectiveness analysis, the study identifies how a tradition is built around procuring high-end vehicles, portraying a failed central planner in the modern public administration context of a developing country.

Exploring China's food security evolution from a local perspective

Local food self-sufficiency is a feasible path to make up for supply chain dependence caused by food system globalization. However, despite policies advocating food localization, China's current trends, such as the imbalance between food supply and nutritional demand and the mismatch between production space and consumption space, gradually restrict the sustainability of food security. This study analyzes China's local food security from 2000 to 2020 around the multi-dimensionality of supply, acquisition, and demand. Results show that regional differentiation of China's staple food self-sufficiency has become more significant. As a result, food supply capacity in rapidly urbanizing areas has weakened, and mountainous and underdeveloped areas are difficult to be self-sufficient. Fortunately, staple foods in China are highly accessible, and urban with a population of less than 50,000 have the best food transportation security. Overall, aging and scale management greatly affect China's food system, which currently can resist sudden natural disasters. In the future, decision-makers should focus on urban resources integration and rural land consolidation and realize sustainable food system transition by optimizing the local supply-demand structure through central planning based on popular science and healthy diet structure.

An agent-based approach to the limits of economic planning

AbstractMises’ and Hayek’s arguments against central economic planning have long been taken as definitive proof that a centrally planned economy managed by the government would be impossible. Today, however, the exponential rise in the capacities of AI has opened up the possibility that supercomputers could have what it takes to plan the national economy. The ‘economic calculation debate’ has thus reignited. Arguably, this is because neither Mises nor Hayek have given a clear and conclusive argument why central planning of the economy is impossible in principle. The paper frames the problem of economic planning as an agent–environment interaction, offering a taxonomy of the different sets of agents at play a) in a market economy and b) in a centrally planned economy equipped with the most sophisticated AI technology. The argument is that public institutions as planning bodies cannot replace the market order, no matter the AI technology behind them, for the elimination of the market entails the elimination of crucial kinds of agents that cannot be recreated or emulated through AI or careful social planning: the proactive action of entrepreneurs driving market allocation.

Unraveling the hidden relationships between seismic multiattributes, well-dynamic data, and Brazilian pre-salt carbonate reservoirs productivity: A shallow versus deep machine-learning approach

During the initial phases of an E&P project, the most reliable data on the reservoir’s deliverability are acquired via drill stem tests (DST), which provide the productivity per flow unit whenever production logging tool data are available. However, DSTs are restricted to a few kilometers, whereas seismic data cover large areas. The integration of these data has been challenging, particularly due to the difference in scale between them. So, a new workflow to determine the relationship between poststack seismic attributes and reservoir productivity using classic supervised (shallow) and deep-learning regression algorithms was developed. The DST parameters were predicted over the entire seismic cube, which can be extremely valuable for the decision-making process. The data set is from the Brazilian deep-water presalt carbonate reservoirs of the Mero Field, which is a well-explored area with a plethora of test and production data. It is adjacent to an underexplored Central Libra appraisal plan area, which is covered by the same seismic survey. Thus, any relationships between seismic attributes and well productivity data observed at the Mero Field are extrapolated to the adjacent underexplored area. Ten seismic attributes and DST data from 10 wells of the Mero Field were used to train shallow and deep-learning supervised regression algorithms for the prediction of flow capacity and productivity index seismic cubes. Twenty development wells (blind tests) were used for the assessment of our predictive models. The highest percentage of correct predictions at the blind test wells (85%) was obtained with random forest regression using six attributes derived from a spectrally balanced full-stack volume, and neither amplitude-variation-with-offset nor inversion data were needed. Deep learning provided lower performance (75%) at a higher computational cost. It demonstrated a new reservoir derisking tool that can be used for project optimization in areas covered by the same seismic survey.

Unleashing the Central Bank Digital Currency Revolution and its Impact on Exchange Rate: A Monetary Approach Synthesis

Research Originality: The introduction of CBDC by the Central Bank of Indonesia has increased the intensity of news about CBDC. Besides aiming to introduce the future direction of the payment system, the news potentially causes uncertainty and speculation in the market, which may impact the rupiah exchange rate.Research Objectives: This research analyzes the impact of CBDC news on the rupiah exchange rate, synthesizing a sticky price version of the monetary approach to the exchange rate. Research Methods: A CBDC News Index is constructed based on a compilation of news data from major online media between 2018 and 2023. The structural VAR (SVAR) method is thenemployed to investigate the impact of CBDC news on the exchange rate dynamic.Empirical Results: The results suggest a trend consistent with the hypothesis, indicating that news about CBDC may lead to pressure on the domestic currency, resulting in depreciation. However, the impact is not statistically convincing as the coefficient is not statistically different from zero. The monetary approach synthesis findings suggest that raising the policy rate is likely efficacious in counteracting the pressure of domestic currency depreciation. Meanwhile, other monetary approach variables exhibit anomalies related to exchange rate dynamics.Implications: As the central bank plans to implement a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), it must carefully control the dissemination of information about what the CBDC will entail and how it will be rolled out. CBDC blueprint and official disclosure help reduce uncertainty and speculation about implementing CBDC.JEL Classification: D80, E58, F31How to Cite:Kurnia, A. S. & Assidiq, M. A. (2024). Unleashing the Central Bank Digital Currency Revolution and Its Impact on Exchange Rate: A Monetary Approach Synthesis. Etikonomi, 23(2), 271-286. https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v23i2.37788

Sensory profile of beverages produced from fermented coffee under different time and temperature conditions

Coffee, one of the most globally consumed beverages, exhibits varied economic values influenced by bean quality, prompting ongoing research for enhancement. This study aimed to assess the impact of coffee fermentation on sensory properties. Arabica beans (Catuaí Amarelo variety) were inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast at diverse times and temperatures, following a Central Composite Rotational Planning. Additionally, two roasting methods were examined. Sensory evaluation, conducted by a panel of 8 trained and certified tasters, focused on flavor, aroma, aftertaste, acidity, body, uniformity, balance, cleanliness, sweetness, and overall impression. While fermentation conditions and roasting methods did not significantly alter attributes like aroma, uniformity, cleanliness, and sweetness, improvements were noted in flavor, acidity, body, aftertaste, balance, and overall impression for coffees fermented at 22.5 °C for 30 h. However, increasing roasting intensity adversely affected sensory quality. Findings suggest that the studied fermentation parameters and roasting methods yielded marginal enhancements in sensory quality.

The Gypsy condition in Kiskunhalas: work, consumption, and indebtedness after socialism

ABSTRACT The article outlines the recent history of the Gypsy minority in the town of Kiskunhalas, Bács-Kiskun county, with an emphasis on its changing economic situation. Gypsy households benefited from secure employment until the late 1980s. Some of them were able to profit from the embourgeoisement opportunities available to all citizens in the socialist mixed economy. Under postsocialist conditions, however, most Gypsies face uncertainty and hardship in everyday life. Theoretically, the article engages with the work of Michael Stewart, who has argued that the demise of socialism and the replacement of central planning and compulsory wage-labour by the freedoms of market society brought opportunities for Gypsies to prosper economically, as well as to reassert a cultural identity which had been stymied for decades. I argue that this libertarian perspective overlooks the very real disadvantages that most members of the minority experienced after 1990, and which they have continued to experience in different forms under Fidesz-led governments since 2010. Like the poorest segments of the ethnic Hungarian population, Gypsies are exposed to neoliberal capitalism in its distinctive postsocialist populist form. The article concludes with an exploration of everyday financialization: indebtedness entrenches class differences and has negative consequences for persons, households and communities.

A Novel Dataset Replenishment Strategy Integrating Time-Series InSAR for Refined Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in Karst Regions

The accuracy of landslide susceptibility mapping is influenced by the quality of sample data, factor systems, and assessment methods. This study aims to enhance the representativeness and overall quality of the sample dataset through an effective sample expansion strategy, achieving greater precision and reliability in the landslide susceptibility model. An integrated interpretative framework for landslide susceptibility assessment is developed using the XGBoost-SHAP-PDP algorithm to deeply investigate the key contributing factors of landslides in karst areas. Firstly, 17 conditioning factors (e.g., surface deformation rate, land surface temperature, slope, lithology, and NDVI) were introduced based on field surveys, satellite imagery, and literature reviews, to construct a landslide susceptibility conditioning factor system in line with karst geomorphology characteristics. Secondly, a sample expansion strategy combining the frequency ratio (FR) with SBAS-InSAR interpretation results was proposed to optimize the landslide susceptibility assessment dataset. The XGBoost algorithm was then utilized to build the assessment model. Finally, the SHAP and PDP algorithms were applied to interpret the model, examining the primary contributing factors and their influence on landslides in karst areas from both global and single-factor perspectives. Results showed a significant improvement in model accuracy after sample expansion, with AUC values of 0.9579 and 0.9790 for the training and testing sets, respectively. The top three important factors were distance from mining sites, lithology, and NDVI, while land surface temperature, soil erosion modulus, and surface deformation rate also significantly contributed to landslide susceptibility. In summary, this paper provides an in-depth discussion of the effectiveness of LSM in predicting landslide occurrence in complex terrain environments. The reliability and accuracy of the landslide susceptibility assessment model were significantly improved by optimizing the sample dataset within the karst landscape region. In addition, the research results not only provide an essential reference for landslide prevention and control in the karst region of Southwest China and regional central engineering construction planning but also provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of geologic hazards globally, showing a wide range of application prospects and practical significance.

A Wasserstein distributionally robust model for transmission expansion planning with renewable‐based microgrid penetration

AbstractThis article introduces a Wasserstein distance‐based distributionally robust optimization model to address the transmission expansion planning considering renewable‐based microgrids (MGs) under the impact of uncertainties. The primary objective of the presented methodology is to devise a robust expansion strategy that accounts for both long‐term uncertainty and short‐term variability over the planning horizon from the perspective of a central planner. In this framework, the central planner fosters the construction of appropriate transmission lines and the deployment of optimal MG‐based generating units among profit‐driven private investors. The Wasserstein distance uncertainty set is used to characterize the long‐term uncertainty associated with future load demand. Short‐term uncertainties, stemming from variations in load demands and production levels of stochastic units, are modeled through operating conditions. To ensure the tractability of the proposed planning model, the authors introduce a decomposition framework embedded with a modified application of Bender's method. To validate the efficiency and highlight the potential benefits of the proposed expansion planning methodology, two case studies based on simplified IEEE 6‐bus and IEEE 118‐bus systems are included. These case studies assess the effectiveness of the presented approach, its ability to navigate uncertainties, and its capacity to effectively optimize expansion decisions.

Gender Aspect of Media Discourse in Socialist Yugoslavia – Representation of Gender in the Women's Magazine "Bazar"

The paper revises the gender aspect of media discourse in socialist Yugoslavia on the example of one of the oldest and most popular Yugoslav women's magazine "Bazar." An analysis of the textual and visual content of the 1973 edition (issues 208–233) reaffirmed the assumption that the mass media – including The Women's Press – actively participate in the construction and reproduction of both "femininity" and "masculinity", and in the depiction of desirable/expected gender relations in a certain socio-historical moment (Yugoslav socialism). In addition to the main female character – a beautiful, young, modern and well-groomed woman who is successful in all fields (at work, at home, as a wife, mother, sister, friend, worker...) – there is also an equally caring and dedicated husband and father, a modern man, successful in his field of expertise. In other words, of all the roles that Yugoslav society has assigned to women/men, the following seem to be dominant: She is primarily 1) a wife, mother and housewife, 2) a hard worker, and 3) a woman who is clearly positioned in the new consumer society, while He is 1) Pater Familias, 2) a successful businessman, and 3) a modern man who keeps up with the times. The research has shown that these (and such) "Bazar" images of a woman / man are highly harmonized with the official representation of gender in the socialist Yugoslav society – She is the embodiment of the socialist "super-woman", while He is depicted as part of the hegemonic model of masculinity. The female-male relationship is presented in the experimental media discourse in two ways. The first (socialist) model of gender polarity – the one that is in the central media plan / easily observable / clearly legible – is placed in the official narrative framework of socialism as an ideology that follows the principle of equality as the dominant matrix in social/gender/economic/family relations. In the second narrative plan, there is a traditional model of gender polarity, which is based on binary oppositions – weak-strong, gentle-rough, subordinate-dominant, dependent-independent, right-wrong – performed by the female-male couple. By analyzing the media discourse of the experimental socialist periodical, it has also been established that the narrative of one of the most popular Yugoslav women's magazines contains all three key terms (for gender reading or in the media text) – these are power, gender (in)equality and representation of meaning. Interpreting textual and visual content as a system of representation (and not presentation) of reality, it becomes obvious that despite the change in social paradigm in the years after World War II, the policy of gender representation in the context of power relations (man over woman) continued, which Yugoslav socialism – as a doctrine of equality – clearly could not (or did not want to) eradicate in practice.

Influence of plasma synthesis parameters on the magnetic, structural and photocatalytic properties of copper ferrite

CuFe2O4 cubic copper ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by a new plasma method, the advantage of which is the short duration of processing and cost-effectiveness. To select optimal synthesis conditions, central compositional rotatable experimental planning was used. Using the methods of X-ray phase analysis, vibration magnetometry, electron microscopy, and UV spectroscopy, the sizes of crystallites, the intensity of peaks in X-ray diffraction patterns, dislocation density, saturation magnetization, coercive force, and the degree of degradation of 4-nitrophenol were determined. To study the effect of pH on the composition of the resulting copper ferrites, cyclic voltammetry was used. The kinetics of the ferritization process under the influence of a plasma discharge has also been studied. A mechanism for ferritization in the Cu2+-Fe2+-SO42--OH- system has been proposed.It was found that single-phase nanodispersed powders of cubic copper ferrites with a saturation magnetization Ms 78–93 Emu/g can be obtained by plasma treatment at 300 s and pH 12. Copper ferrite with an admixture of Cu2O is formed at pH = 8.The maximum values of the coercive force correspond to regimes in which the minimum dislocation density is observed. The saturation magnetization depends on the crystallite size. The crystallite size of the resulting powders is in the range of 225–500 A. The results showed that the processing time is the parameter that has the greatest impact on the structural and magnetic characteristics of copper ferrite; the pH of the reaction medium affects them to a lesser extent.

Geospatial Demand for Approved Cleft Care in the United States.

Geographic information systems are powerful tools for characterizing the geospatial factors influencing access to care. As patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) require long-term care, with numerous operations and therapies, access to timely, quality care is extremely important. This study uses population level analysis and geographic information systems to identify United States counties with limited access to American Cleft Palate Association-approved cleft teams. Natality data were queried from the National Vital Statistics System. Population and geographic data were obtained from the US Census Bureau. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was utilized to account for social inequality. Total births with CL/P, population estimates, SVI, distance to the nearest center, and total centers within 50 km were used to generate the cleft care demand index (CCDI). Ninety-two counties had CCDIs between 66.7 and 100. The highest scoring county, Hidalgo County, Texas, had 62 births with CL/P, population estimate of 888,367 persons, distance to the nearest cleft center of 368.4 km, and SVI of 0.99. This study demonstrates the power of geographic information systems for identifying areas with limited access to approved cleft teams. The CCDI measures cleft burden, socioeconomic disadvantage, and geographic barriers to quantify the demand for approved cleft care in each county. Utilizing these scores can help direct future interventions, outreach efforts, and cleft care center planning.

Analyzing the use of non-pharmaceutical personal protective measures through self-interest and social optimum for the control of an emerging disease

Non-pharmaceutical personal protective (NPP) measures such as face masks use, and hand and respiratory hygiene can be effective measures for mitigating the spread of aerosol/airborne diseases, such as COVID-19, in the absence of vaccination or treatment. However, the usage of such measures is constrained by their inherent perceived cost and effectiveness for reducing transmission risk. To understand the complex interaction of disease dynamics and individuals decision whether to adopt NPP or not, we incorporate evolutionary game theory into an epidemic model such as COVID-19. To compare how self-interested NPP use differs from social optimum, we also investigated optional control from a central planner’s perspective. We use Pontryagin’s maximum principle to identify the population-level NPP uptake that minimizes disease incidence by incurring the minimum costs. The evolutionary behavior model shows that NPP uptake increases at lower perceived costs of NPP, higher transmission risk, shorter duration of NPP use, higher effectiveness of NPP, and shorter duration of disease-induced immunity. Though social optimum NPP usage is generally more effective in reducing disease incidence than self-interested usage, our analysis identifies conditions under which both strategies get closer. Our model provides new insights for public health in mitigating a disease outbreak through NPP.

An in-depth study of the oxidative liquefaction process for polymeric waste reduction and chemical production from wind turbine blades and personal protective equipment used in the medical field

An in-depth study of the oxidative liquefaction process has been provided to degrade the polymeric waste from personal protective equipment (PPEs) and wind turbine blades (WTBs). Thermogravimetric investigations demonstrate that WTBs have three prominent peaks throughout the degradation, whereas PPEs display solitary peak features. Experiments are carried out employing specific experimental design approaches, namely the Central Composite Face-Centered Plan (CCF) for WTBs and the Central Composition Design with Fractional Factorial Design for PPEs in a batch-type reactor at temperature ranges of 250–350 °C, pressures of 20–40 bar, residence times of 30–90 min, H2O2 concentrations of 15–45 %, and waste/liquid ratios of 5–25 % for WTBs. These values were 200–300 °C, 30 bar, 45 min, 30–60 % and 5–7 % for PPE. A detailed comparison has been provided in the context of total polymer degradation (TPD) for PPE and WTBs. Liquid products from both types of wastes after the oxidative liquefaction process are subjected to gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) to identify the existence of oxygenated chemical compounds (OCCs). For WTBs, TPD was 20–49 % and this value was 55–96 % for PPE while the OCC yield for WTBs (36.31 g/kg - 210.59 g/kg) and PPEs (39.93 g/kg - 212.66 g/kg) was also calculated. Detailed optimization of experimental plans was carried out by performing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and optimization goals were maximum TPD and OCCs yields against the minimum energy consumption, though a considerable amount of complex polymer waste can be reduced and high concentrations of OCC can be achieved, which could be applied for commercial and environmental benefits.

Studying the effect of the ratio of water to binder and sand to aggregate on the hardness of concrete mixtures and compressive strength of roller-compacted concrete by experimental method

In roller-compacted concrete technology, withthe use of low water and cement content, the concrete mixture after kneading has high hardness and compaction equipment must be used to compact and shape the product.Therefore, the content of mixing water, binder, and aggregate are considered decisive factors, greatly affecting the properties of roller compacted concrete in both the fresh state and the hardened state.The paper uses the mathematical method of two-factor rotatable central compositional planning to simulate the effect of volumetric ratios of water-binder (VN/VCKD) and sand-aggregate (VC/VCL) on the objective functions of the test. The selected objective functions are the hardness of the concrete mixture and the compressive strength of the roller-compacted concrete at the age of 28 days.From the obtained objective functions, it is shown that both control variables VN/VCKDand VC/VCLhave a significant influence on the valuesof the experimental model. When the VN/VCKDratio increases, the water content contributes to increasing the plasticityand reducing the hardness of the concrete mixture. At the same time, excess water exists in the concrete mass in the form of air bubbles,pores,and magnetism. That reduces the compressive strength of the product. Furthermore, the VC/VCLratio of the aggregate that is too small or too large tends to cause the compressive strength of the concrete to decrease.

Radiographic evaluation of robot-assisted versus manual total hip arthroplasty: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe effectiveness of robot-assisted surgery remains contentious due to the lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to elevate the level of evidence. We aimed to evaluate the postoperative radiographic outcomes of robot-assisted (RAS-THA) versus manual (M-THA) total hip arthroplasty.MethodsThis multicenter RCT was performed from March 1, 2021 to December 1, 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to routine M-THA or to RAS-THA that used the TRex-RS orthopedic joint surgical navigation system. The primary outcome was to compare the acetabular component orientation, femoral stem alignment, femoral canal fill ratio, and leg length discrepancy between RAS-THA and M-THA using postoperative radiography. Subgroup analyses of the two groups stratified by surgical approach, gender, and BMI were also conducted.ResultsSeventy-three participants were randomly allocated to the RAS-THA group, while seventy-two participants were assigned to the M-THA group. Compared to the M-THA group, the RAS-THA group exhibited less variability in the preoperative planning of the vertical center of rotation (VCOR; P < 0.001), demonstrated a significant advantage in femoral stem alignment (P = 0.004), and showed pronounced decreases in inequality and in the variability in leg length discrepancy (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the Lewinnek safe-zone ratio (P = 0.081) and the femoral canal fill ratio (P > 0.05) between the two groups. Further subgroup analysis also showed that the RAS-THA group had fewer horizontal center of rotation (HCOR) and leg length differences when stratified by surgical approach, gender, and overweight status.ConclusionThis RCT found that, regardless of the surgical approach, gender, or body mass index, RAS-THA can effectively improve the postoperative VCOR and significantly reduce the variability of leg length difference. RAS-THA should be considered an effective method to enhance surgical precision by achieving less variability in challenging patients with leg length discrepancies.Trial registration: ChiCTR2100044124.

Research on the Evaluation System of Community Daycare Center Planning and Implementation from the Perspective of Subject-Object Relationships

Through literature review, we found that evaluations of urban planning implementation often focus narrowly on either the subject (stakeholders) or the object (projects), while micro-level aspects such as site selection and construction are primarily considered within the context of planning implementation. There is insufficient research on the evaluation of implementation. Community daycare centers play a crucial role in the community home care model, yet there is relatively little research on their usage efficiency, satisfaction levels, and spatial evaluation of planning implementation. Based on the theoretical understanding of the human environment, including the subject, object, and their interactions, an evaluation system for the planning and implementation of community day care centers was constructed, incorporating subjective evaluation, objective evaluation, and comparative analysis.

Adsorption of cobalt isotope from liquid radioactive waste by carbon nanostructured materials of thermochemical activation of sludge-lignin

One of the urgent problems of modern industry is the accumulation of waste. Waste from the nuclear industry is liquid radioactive waste, pulp and paper industry is sludgelignin. To solve the problem of waste accumulation in these industries, a method of selective purification of liquid radioactive waste by waste products of the pulp and paper industry is proposed. Pyrolysis is an effective way of processing sludge-lignin, as a result of the activation of the pyrolysis product by alkaline reagents, activated carbons were obtained in laboratory conditions, which presumably can selectively extract isotopes of radionuclides from liquid radioactive waste. In the conducted study, the ability of carbon nanostructured materials of thermochemical activation of sludge-lignin to extract the isotope Со27 59 in the form of an ammonia complex was studied. The influence of the pyrolysis conditions: temperature (T), time (T) and dosage of the activator (D) on the response functions: monolayer capacity, heat of adsorption, the value of the maximum adsorption and the characteristic adsorption energy, which can be used to judge the porous structure of activated carbon. The method of the planned experiment is applied — rotatable central composite plan. For clarity, response surfaces are constructed based on experimental data. The analysis made it possible to develop practical recommendations for conducting the pyrolysis process in order to obtain a marketable product — activated carbons from sludge–lignin.

Investigating a new approach for magnetic ionic liquids: Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled to pyrolysis gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine flame retardants in sewage sludge samples

This study addresses the analysis of emerging contaminants, often using chromatographic techniques coupled to mass spectrometry. However, sample preparation is often required prior to instrumental analysis, and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) is a viable strategy in this context. DLLME stands out for its ability to reduce sample and solvent volumes. Notably, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction using magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) has gained relevance due to the incorporation of paramagnetic components in the chemical structure, thereby eliminating the centrifugation step. A pyrolizer was selected in this work to introduce sample onto the GC column, since the MIL is extremely viscous and incompatible with direct introduction through an autosampler. This study is the first to report the use of a DLLME/MIL technique for sample introduction through a pyrolizer in gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This approach enables the MIL to be compatible with gas chromatography systems, resulting in optimized analytical and instrument performance. The analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) was focused on the PBDE congeners 28, 47, 99, 100, and 153 in sewage sludge samples. The [P6,6,6,14+]2[MnCl42−] MIL was thoroughly characterized using UV–Vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy, as well as thermal analysis. In the chromatographic method, a pyrolyzer was used in the sample introduction step (Py-GC–MS), and critical injection settings were optimized using multivariate approaches. Optimized conditions were achieved with a temperature of 220 °C, a pyrolysis time of 0.60 min, and an injection volume of 9.00 μL. DLLME optimization was performed through central compound planning (CCD), and optimized training conditions were achieved with 10.0 mg of MIL, 3.00 μL of acetonitrile (ACN) as dispersive solvent, extraction time of 60 s, and volume of a sample of 8.50 mL. Precision was observed to range from 0.11 % to 12.5 %, with limits of detection (LOD) of 44.4 μg L−1 for PBDE 28, 16.9 μg L−1 for PBDE 47 and PBDE 99, 33.0 μg L−1 for PBDE 100 and 375 μg L−1 for PBDE 153. PBDE 28 was identified and analyzed in the sludge sample at a concentration of 800 μg L−1. The use of MIL in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry enables identification and quantification of PBDEs in sewage sludge samples at concentrations down to the µg L−1 level.