Material Prices Research Articles

Analysis of Micro Business Marketing Strategy in Facing Competition

This study is motivated by the challenges faced in the development of micro-enterprises at Bukit Sion Market, largely due to the high level of competition. Many businesses struggle to determine appropriate financing models and product offerings, as the market is saturated with similar products offered by competitors. The objective of this research is to analyze the marketing strategies employed by micro-enterprises and identify the obstacles they face in dealing with competition at Bukit Sion Market, Lahomi District. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method. The findings reveal that all food stalls adopt marketing strategies that include market selection, product planning, pricing, distribution systems, and marketing communication. Effective marketing strategies, such as offering discounts, special promotions, or hosting promotional events, have been shown to significantly boost sales. However, the food stalls encounter several challenges, including intensified competition due to the emergence of similar businesses offering comparable products, a lack of product innovation and promotion, fluctuations in raw material prices, as well as issues with product quality consistency, customer service, and overall customer experience.

Developing a robust indicator to evaluate circular economy through reuse strategy: A case study of using water treatment sludge as a coagulant for dewatering of iron ore tailings slurry

Due to the lack of tools, which are simple enough to assess the reuse strategy in the concept of circular economy (CE), in the present paper, reuse efficiency index (REI) was introduced as a new indicator, inspired by previously developed indexes, namely circular economy index (CEI) and value-based resource efficiency (VRE). The REI, as a measure of economic efficiency of reuse strategy, is the ratio of the net value obtained from the reuse of end of life (EOL) product instead of using a new product over the value of materials and energy inputs required to reproduce the EOL product. To calculate REI for any specific EOL product, information regarding mass, physicochemical properties and operational data on the consumption of energy, which are mainly available in the financial archives of companies, is crucial and the market price of EOL product must also be predicted. In another part of the study, the reuse of ferric chloride-based water treatment sludge (FCS) as a coagulant, instead of using high cost polymeric coagulant, for iron ore tailings slurry dewatering was evaluated through REI. The results showed that depending on the market prices of energy and materials as well as the iron (FeCl3) content in the FCS, the REI could vary between 0.51 and 1.04, corresponding to 51–104% added value. Overall, REI is based on accessible information and its simplicity and comprehensibility makes it applicable for managers and policymakers to invest and create technologies for reaching closed-loop cycles in the concept of CE through reuse action.

Toward a Circular Lithium Economy with Electrodialysis: Upcycling Spent Battery Leachates with Selective and Bipolar Ion-Exchange Membranes.

Recycling spent lithium-ion batteries offers a sustainable solution to reduce ecological degradation from mining and mitigate raw material shortages and price volatility. This study investigates using electrodialysis with selective and bipolar ion-exchange membranes to establish a circular economy for lithium-ion batteries. An experimental data set of over 1700 ion concentration measurements across five current densities, two solution compositions, and three pH levels supports the techno-economic analysis. Selective electrodialysis (SED) isolates lithium ions from battery leachates, yielding a 99% Li-pure retentate with 68.8% lithium retention, achieving relative ionic fluxes up to 2.41 for Li+ over transition metal cations and a selectivity of 5.64 over monovalent cations. Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) converts LiCl into high-purity LiOH and HCl, essential for battery remanufacturing and reducing acid consumption via acid recycling. High current densities reduce ion leakage, achieving lithium leakage as low as 0.03%, though hydronium and hydroxide leakage in BMED remains high at 11-20%. Our analysis projects LiOH production costs between USD 1.1 and 3.6 per kilogram, significantly lower than current prices. Optimal SED and BMED conditions are identified, emphasizing the need to control proton transport in BMED and improve cobalt-lithium separation in SED to enhance cost efficiency.

Optimal Design of High Specific Power Electric Machines for Fully Electric Regional Aircraft: A Case Study of 1MW S-PMSM

The aviation industry is undergoing electrification due to the increased global focus on reducing emissions in air traffic. Regarding the volatility of raw material prices, one main objective is the increase in the specific power of the motor. This matches the ambitious targets of the CoE project (Center of Excellence) in Finland on high-speed electric motors. The targeted specific power is 20 kW/kg. In this work, motors are designed and optimized for a fully electric regional aircraft. motors with different slot/pole configurations and rotational speed values are studied to determine the advantage of increasing speed in terms of weight reduction. As increasing speed requires the use of a gearbox, the overall weight of the motor and the gearbox is evaluated in post-processing, which allows for determining the impact of high speed on the overall weight. An optimization tool coupled with an electromagnetic and mechanical analysis is used to optimize 1 MW surface mounted permanent magnet synchronous motors (S-PMSMs) for given specifications of regional electric aircraft. Optimization results indicate that there is considerable gain in terms of overall weight only when increasing the speed to the range of 10,000–15,000 rpm.

A Survey of Data-Driven Construction Materials Price Forecasting

The construction industry is heavily influenced by the volatility of material prices, which can significantly impact project costs and budgeting accuracy. Traditional econometric methods have been challenged by their inability to capture the frequent fluctuations in construction material prices. This paper reviews the application of data-driven techniques, particularly machine learning, in forecasting construction material prices. The models are categorized into causal modeling and time-series analysis, and characteristics, adaptability, and insights derived from large datasets are discussed. Causal models, such as multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural networks (ANN), and the least square support vector machine (LSSVM), generally utilize economic indicators to predict prices. The commonly used economic indicators include but are not limited to the consumer price index (CPI), producer price index (PPI), and gross domestic product (GDP). On the other hand, time-series models rely on historical price data to identify patterns for future forecasting, and their main advantage is demanding minimal data inputs for model calibration. Other techniques are also explored, such as Monte Carlo simulation, for both price forecasting and uncertainty quantification. The paper recommends hybrid models, which combine various forecasting techniques and deep learning-advanced time-series analysis and have the potential to offer more accurate and reliable price predictions with appropriate modeling processes, enabling better decision-making and cost management in construction projects.

The Medicines Center and pharmaceutical care during the civil-military dictatorship (1970-1974).

The present article analyzes the formation of the first pharmaceutical care policies implemented by the Brazilian Federal Government between 1968 and 1974, during the civil-military dictatorship. It examines a set of measures adopted by the Costa e Silva and Médici governments to contain a continuous rise in the prices of raw materials and pharmaceutical specialties, with this context being essential to the creation of the Medicines Center (CEME) in 1971. The core argument of the article is that CEME represented, at the federal level, the consolidation of a policy carried out at the National Institute of Social Security (Instituto Nacional da Previdência Social - INPS) between 1968 and 1970, based on the production of inputs and medicines in public laboratories. Ended in 1970, this policy was resumed the following year with broad participation of military personnel and laboratories of the Armed Forces. The originality of this article lies in its explanation of how such support influenced the establishment of CEME in its early years. Until 1974, military members were the majority in the Board of Directors of CEME, with some of the agency's early missions being the supplier for Civil-Social Actions of the Armed Forces.

Analisis Perancangan dan Kelayakan Pembukaan Apotek di Kabupaten Cirebon

Fajar Farma Pharmacy is a business operating in the health sector. Fajar Farma sells various health needs, such as medicines and health equipment. Currently, Fajar Farma Pharmacy already has one offline shop to sell its products. Because the income obtained in the last few years is quite satisfactory. To develop the pharmacy business, there are several solutions that can be used to solve problems. Depicted in the fishbone diagram there are 4 problem branches, namely man, facility, market, and method. Based on the problem branch, the solution that will be implemented is opening a new branch due to the existence of a market in Gunung Jati District. Therefore, the owner plans to open a branch shop of Fajar Farma Pharmacy which is located on Jalan Ki Gede Mayung, Gunung Jati District, Buyut Village, Cirebon Regency. In this research, a feasibility analysis was carried out covering 3 aspects, namely market aspects, technical aspects and financial aspects. After carrying out feasibility analysis calculations, the NPV value was IDR 63,638,483, the IRR was 40.61%, the payback period was 3.71 years or 44.55 months. So opening a new pharmacy branch can be said to be feasible. Based on sensitivity calculations, the increase in raw material prices is sensitive at 9.87%, the increase in labor costs is sensitive at 38.42%, while the decrease in demand is sensitive at 7.02%. The results of calculating the feasibility of opening a new branch of Fajar Farma Pharmacy with a MARR of 16.49% show that the NPV is still more than zero, the payback period is still within the investment period, namely 5 years, and the IRR is greater than MARR.

Proses Negosiasi Antara UMKM A.M Tahu Dan Pemasok Bahan Baku Produksi

SME’s are an industry that play an important role in the Indonesia’s economic development. A.M Tahu as one of SME’s have problems in fulfilling raw materials. The existence of special orders and moral hazard from suppliers were often obstacles in the production process so that A.M. Tahu is needed to make a negotiation process to get affordable prices, good quality, and flexibility in the quantity of raw materials with a limited choice of suppliers. The negotiation process certainly does not immediately reach the desired agreement, but efforts need to be made to convince both parties. The research aims to determine the negotiation process that occurs between A.M Tahu and raw material suppliers in reaching agreements. The types of data used in this study are primary and secondary data using AHP (Analysis Hierarchy Process) analysis methods and qualitative descriptive. The results showed that the negotiation process for A.M Tahu has several stages in reaching an agreement between the two parties, including starting from preparation, meetings, offers, and finally agreements. A.M Tahu gets a more convenient raw material price of Rp3,000 per kilo than the price should be, soybean quantity flexibility, and good quality assurance of soybean grain raw materials. A.M Tahu is also prioritized to choose suppliers who are outside the sub-district, and make raw material variables the main thing to consider in supplier selection.

The specifics of academic publishing (The case study of publishing departments of Ekaterinburg universities)

The authors examine the specific publishing activities of universities and formulate the main challenges for academic publishing divisions. Within the study, eight publishing departments of Ekaterinburg universities demonstrated the following problems: decreasing circulation against the increase in the number of students; partial reversal from proprietary publishing facilities, loading of publications and e-publications into the electronic library systems, degradation of publications, unfair paper reviewing practice, decreasing funding and number of commercial projects, old age of employees of publishing departments, displacement of correctors, overloading of editors, low salaries, pandemic and sanctions consequences (increasing prices for paper and expendable materials, disruption of supplies, hardware challenges, etc.). Based on the analysis of publishers’ structure and management principles, the authors conclude on the stagnation in university publishing. However, the authors insist on some potential for preserving and improving publishing activities, and suggest optional solutions for several publishing problems.

FORMATION OF A NEW PARADIGM OF GLOBAL POLITICAL AND MIGRATION PROCESSES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MILITARY OPERATIONS IN UKRAINE

The events of February 2022, related to the military aggression of the Russian Federation and a full-scale attack on Ukraine, became the greatest catastrophe of the twenty-first century and the most brutal war on European soil since the Second World War, and is gradually being defined as World War III in terms of its impact on global political and economic relations and the use of military weapons. Although no final assessment has been made (the war is ongoing), the undeniable consequence of Russian aggression has been the violation of the world order built after World War II and the risk of global chaos. One of the most powerful consequences of the war was an unprecedented wave of Ukrainian migration, the lion's share of which was to Europe. And while European countries, faced with an unprecedented influx of refugees, are withstanding the socio-economic burden with dignity, Ukraine has found itself in a demographic catastrophe. The wave of forced migration coincided with long-term demographic problems: a decline in the birth rate, an increase in the number of middle-aged people, and the outflow of population during the war. All these processes will have a steady impact on global migration and political processes. New instruments of state and global regulation of these processes will be required. They will also require the formation of a new paradigm of global economic development. The authors aim to deepen the study of the issue of identifying and assessing the preconditions and consequences of migration processes in the world under the influence of military operations in Ukraine. The paper examines the impact of migration processes on globalisation and economic processes in Europe and the world; the dynamics of the share of labour migrants in the total labour force by income level of destination countries in 2013, 2017, 2020; features of the migration wave of Ukrainians evacuated due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation in 2022; generalised statistical information on the migration processes of Ukrainians during the period of 01.02.2023 – 21.06.2023; detailed statistical data on the number of Ukrainian citizens abroad (as of 01.02.2023), broken down by migrant countries; political and socio-cultural context of the formation of a new paradigm of migration processes. The full implications for Ukrainian migration will be summarised after the war is over, but the following interim conclusions are relevant today. The analysis of migration processes in the world and Europe in the current context suggests that migration is actively taking place and contributes to the development of international integration, as it reduces the number of barriers and increases opportunities. The war in Ukraine will have a significant impact on the economy in terms of the following effects: disruption of global supply chains, increased inflationary pressures, higher energy and raw material prices; food prices will also increase as supplies of wheat and cereals from the Russian Federation and Ukraine are disrupted. and Ukraine have been disrupted; higher energy and commodity prices will cause further inflation, deteriorating economic prospects, reduced confidence and increased financial market risk associated with greater geopolitical tensions; worsening food security in some developing countries in the Middle East and Africa. On the other hand, migration is currently seen as a tool for long-term growth in the EU. The analysis shows that migration provides significant economic benefits, primarily to host countries. Today, the EU is facing a growing shortage of skilled labour due to unfavourable demographic trends in Europe. Given the massive emigration of Ukrainian citizens to the EU, migrants are solving the problem of staff shortages. This is especially true given that Ukrainian emigration provides for adequate social protection and legal support, which guarantees the right to settlement, work and education. The right to employment is readily exercised by Ukrainian migrants, as they are largely people of working age, primarily women. In general, it can be argued that the prospects for regional migration are currently linked to many factors and very uncertain prospects for a return to the pre-2022 or pre-pandemic models of the Eastern Partnership. The war in Ukraine is already escalating into a protracted conflict that will threaten both the economic situation of millions of people and the hopes of temporarily displaced Ukrainians to return home for a long time. As a result, displaced Ukrainians, their host EU countries, and the Ukrainian government will have to deal with the new circumstances, adapting temporary modalities to longer-term solutions.

A review of the engineered treatment of red mud: Construction materials, metal recovery, and soilization revegetation

Red mud, known as bauxite residue, is an alkaline solid waste generated during alumina production. Globally, the stockpile of red mud is about 3 billion tons and is increasing at a rate of 150 million tons per year. The global production of red mud is mainly distributed in China (28.2 %), Oceania region (22.4 %), South America (14.6 %), Europe (12.9 %), and North America (8.8 %). The increasing stockpile of red mud has posed a huge challenge to safe disposal while restricting the development of the alumina industry. The comprehensive utilization of red mud still needs green, efficient, and massive consumption methods. This work gives a review of the engineered treatment of red mud, including the characteristics and threats, as well as the engineered application through construction materials, metal recovery, and soilization revegetation. For red mud with a high content of metals, resource recovery of valuable metals and rare earth elements is a preferred choice, meeting the circular economy concept. Recovery of valuable metals from red mud can be achieved by magnetic separation, hydrometallurgy, and bioleaching. Hydrometallurgy is promising for recovering valuable metals such as Fe, Al, V, Ti, and rare earth elements, and the recovery is up to 99 %. Construction materials such as cement, geopolymers, and ceramics is an efficient alternative for the massive consumption of red mud, and the high-performance concrete with the compressive strength (129.5 MPa) can be obtained. This strategy is limited by the low price of construction materials, the lowered quality by alkaline components, and potential threats of toxic elements in red mud. Soilization of red mud with ecological restoration is promising for the sustainable management of red mud dam. To accelerate the process of red mud soilization, amendments such as gypsum, organic matter, and microorganisms can be added to neutralize red mud (lowering pH from 10 to 12 to near 7), promote the formation of agglomerates, and provide nutrients, promote the conversion of red mud into soil-like substrate. The phytoremediation of red mud can be realized after effective regulation, finally realizing vegetation establishment of red mud. This work provides technological and practical guidance for the engineered disposal of red mud.

Evaluating environmental and economic benefits of using biochar in concrete: A life cycle assessment and multi-criteria decision-making framework

While several studies have assessed the applicability of using biochar in cement mortar and concrete preparation based on the best mechanical properties, this evaluation method should be improved to consider the techno-economic feasibility and the environmental impacts. To address this research gap, this study attempts to compare between the conventional concrete with 100 % cement as a control mixture (CM) and dumping of sludge into open sites (scenario_1), and biochar concrete using alum sludge biochar (ASB) as a partial cement replacement (scenario_2), regarding the project life cycle assessment (LCA) and economic feasibility. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework was used to assign scores to the environmental LCA criteria, material functional performance tests, and cost considerations. The two scenarios were arranged in SimaPro LCA software, and then the different criteria were analyzed using the TOPSIS technique to choose the best alternative. The study demonstrated that the functional properties of the cement mixture containing 5 % of ASB were almost comparable to those of CM, owing to the presence of significant amounts of quartz (SiO2) that bonded strongly with cement molecules. This ASB mixture also enjoyed the least environmental impacts, reducing the global warming potential (GWP) by 32.2 % compared with the CM scenario. The scores of the “Cost” criterion, considering the price of raw materials, energy, production, and maintenance, for the two alternatives were almost comparable, depicting that scenario_2 achieved the highest closeness coefficient of 0.95 in the MCDM overall scoring. This study concluded that biochar could be incorporated into cementitious mixtures due to its lower impact on global warming to maintain a sustainable and economic concrete industrial strategy. Future studies should focus on studying the long-term durability of the biochar-based concrete mixtures and integrating into the MCDM strategy; in addition, determining the correlation between sustainable construction implementation and sustainable development goals achieved.

Development of a Prediction Model for Construction Project Cost in India: an Analytical Approach A Review

The fundamental problem in the construction industry is that building projects are completed attaken a tolls significantly higher than estimated venture taken a tolls consequently, it is fundamental todevelop a taken a toll forecast show that detain all components influencing the extend taken a toll bymeans of relapse examination. Development costs are continuously inclined to vacillations, with a longtermdesign of expanding, making the estimating prepare a difficult errand. Vacillations within the fetchedof building materials have a noteworthy affect on foreseeing the esteem of a venture and, as a result, onthe project's great conclusion It is well known that civil engineering projects are prone to cost overrunsand schedule delays. Lack of project scope and frequent changes leads to a negotiation process interms of cost and time between the first partyowner and the second partycontractors. In the project lifecycle, cost forecast is a precursor to budget prices and resource allocation, thus it is critical for anyorganization. The following objectives are framed based on the literature study identify the constructioncost predictability of various tools, identify the various influencing factors to predict the material price ofcement and steel, model the Construction Cost Index (CCI), predict the construction duration (Especiallyfor highway projects, as compared to other kind of projects. They are having more obstacles to completethe task), predict the land value, Regarding this issue this paper find the best methodology for thePrediction Model for Construction Project Cost by analysising the different researchers papersresearch.

H2 and CO purification by CO2 removal from syngas coupling membrane module and water-absorption unit: An economic analysis

Hydrogen represents today a necessary alternative to fossil fuels to limit the greenhouse gas effect due to the CO2 emissions. In this work, a plant configuration able to get pure H2 and concentrated CO (about 94%) from a syngas mixture is proposed and simulated by coupling a selective membrane unit and a water absorption column. In addition, an economic assessment on the simulated plant is carried out to estimate the feasibility of this process in terms of economic potential, studying its dependence on several parameters, such as raw material price, membrane cost, membrane feed pressure, column temperature and feed flow rate.Separation performance is improved by the higher feed membrane pressure (greater H2 recovery and CO purity), whereas the increment of the column temperature especially affects the CO recovery. Hence, the economic potential presents a maximum with pressure and temperature (e.g., about 246ꞏ103 $/y at 40 bar of feed membrane pressure and about 282ꞏ103 $/y at 50 °C of column temperature), due to the balance between the higher compression/solvent cost and the increment of H2 or CO recovery. In addition, the simulated plant shows a positive economic potential in a wide range of syngas price (e.g., from 0.126 to 0.25 $/Nm3), being also not affected significantly by the cost of the palladium-based membrane module. A bigger plant size (i.e., feed flow rate from 10 to 100 kmol/h) can lead to a twelve times greater economic potential (from about 242ꞏ103 to about 2954ꞏ103 $/y at 30 bar), reducing the H2 purification cost and making the net present value positive.

Analysis of the Cost of Footplate Foundation Work in the Construction of the Exit Gate and Cafeteria of Delta Surya Hospital, Sidoarjo District, Sidoarjo Regency

Cost is the main factor in a stage of a construction project that concerns the provision of funds that must be prepared by the project owner. Cost budgets have a crucial role in project implementation so they need to be taken into account to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in project implementation. In the cost analysis, a calculation of the unit price of wages, labor, materials and technical details of the work in detail has been determined for the planning of the total cost. The implementation of the construction of the Exit Gate and Cafeteria of Delta Surya Hospital is divided into several works, starting from preparatory work to finishing. Among these types of work, one of them is footplate foundation work which is further divided into sub-work or job description, namely excavation work, formwork work, ironing work, and casting work. Every work in a project requires cost planning or a Cost Budget Plan (RAB) with high precision to determine the amount of funds that must be provided in the work of a project to avoid losses for the parties involved. The discussion of this article will focus on cost analysis in the preparation of RAB which contains details of the cost of materials or materials, labor, equipment and overhead costs and a recapitulation of all costs for footplate foundation work by PT. Muliif Teknika Utama as a contractor from the description of the activity from the beginning to the end.

A Comprehensive Review of the Factors and Strategies to Mitigate Construction Projects Delays in Saudi Arabia

Background The construction industry in Saudi Arabia faces numerous challenges that hinder its progress due to frequent and prolonged project delays. Objective The specific objectives of this study are (1) (1) To analyze the factors contributing to construction project delays in Saudi Arabia, (2) To identify the risk of factors contributing to construction project delays, and (3) To propose strategies to mitigate construction project delays in Saudi Arabia. Methods The study reviewed 16 articles to identify and suggest solutions for construction project delays in Saudi Arabia. Results There are 140 factors of delay found and seven pose unacceptable risks including delays due to material delivery, delays in approval of submittals, design drawings, shop drawings, and sample materials (making decisions), delays related to subcontractors work, inflation and escalation of material prices (changes in price), lack of coordination with contractors, shortage of construction materials (non-availability of material), and equipment shortages. The risk assessment can be conducted using the Bowtie diagram, scenario analysis, MRM, and MCS separately or collectively to get a new and improved model. Conclusion This review will contribute to the development of strategies to enhance the performance of ongoing and future construction projects in the region. Additionally, decision-makers can utilize the outcomes to strategically allocate resources and improve construction project success.

Resources, energy consumption and economic analysis for flame synthesis of ternary cathode materials

Cathode materials account for around one third of the manufacturing cost of lithium-ion battery, which are the major factor preventing the wider applications of power battery packs. Flame synthesis (FS) is a new manufacturing technology of nanostructured materials with few equipment and high efficiency, which potentially can substantially bring down the manufacturing cost of cathode materials. The primary objective of the present study was to quantitatively evaluate the resources, energy consumption and economic feasibility of large-scale production of cathode materials though FS. In the analysis process, the mass flow of reactants and resultants as well as the minimum cathode material selling price (MCSP) of ternary cathode material LiNixCoyMn(1-x-y)O2 (x + y + z = 1) produced by FS were calculated, and compared with that of the conventional hydroxide co-precipitation method. Results show that the production of ternary cathode material through FS can reduce CO2 emissions by ∼60% and water consumption by ∼30%. MCSP of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523), LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622), and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) produced by FS are 224.8 k¥/t, 235.1 k¥/t, 240.0 k¥/t, which respectively are about 2%, 10% and 14% lower than the average selling prices in Chinese market, indicating that FS is economically feasible for producing ternary cathode materials. Particularly, for the production of high-nickel cathode materials, FS has notable potential in simplifying the production process and manufacturing costs. Sensitivity analysis of NCM811 produced by FS shows that when raw material price, fuel and power costs are reduced by 25%, MCSP can be as low as 186.4 k¥/t. When the metal cation concentration of the solution increases to 3.2 mol/L, it enables FS to meet the most rigorous energy consumption limitation standards in China. When the lithium excess is reduced from 10% to 5%, MCSP of NCM811 can be further reduced by 5.6 k¥/t, indicating that lithium loss due to high temperatures in FS is a moderate factor for reducing the manufacturing cost. Finally, this work presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of NCM materials produced by FS in China. Comparison to the global warming potential (GWP) of the co-precipitation method in the literature indicated that GWP of FS is lower.

Building Materials Price Changes and the Inflation Rate in Ekpoma

This study investigated the relationship between the shifts in the inflation rate and the price of building materials in Ekpoma to aid in mitigating the adverse effects of the inflation rate on the construction industry. It examined the annual changes in building material prices due to the inflation rate, the nature of the influence of the inflation rate on the prices of building materials and determined the relationship between the inflation rate and the prices of building materials within Ekpoma. Data on the inflation rate was collated from the Central Bank of Nigeria, while prices of the building materials were obtained from a market survey. Findings revealed that the inflation rate has the highest value in 2023, while the prices of the building materials had an upward trend from 2018 to 2023. From the annual change in the variables, a 1% increase in the inflation rate will lead to the highest growth in the prices of Cement by 4.63%. Correlation analysis revealed that some building materials had no relationship with the inflation rate, while the other materials had a relationship of varying degrees with the inflation rate. Regression analysis indicated that the price of 30 tonnes of Granite would experience the highest increase of ₦15961 for every unit increase in the inflation rate. It was recommended that the government exercise its political will to address the impact of the inflation rate on building material prices. This action will promote the provision of sustainable and affordable housing solutions.

The Inflation Rate and the Prices of Building Materials in Benin City

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the inflation rate and the price of building materials in Benin City to aid in mitigating the adverse effects of the inflation rate on the construction industry. The trend in the variables from 2017 to 2023 was investigated, and their relationship was assessed and determined using Spearman’s correlation and Regression analysis. Data on the inflation rate was collated from the Central Bank of Nigeria, while prices of the selected building materials were obtained from market surveys. Findings revealed that the inflation rate had the highest value in 2023, and the prices of the chosen building materials had an upward trend from 2017 to 2023. The yearly change in the variables revealed that a percentage increase in the inflation rate produced the highest increase of 3.34% in the price of 1.5mm single-coil cable and the lowest increase of 0.93% in the price of Granite. Correlation analysis indicated that the prices of the building materials had a direct relationship and an inverse relationship with the inflation rate. Regression analysis showed that for every unit increase in the inflation rate, the price of Granite would experience the highest increase by ₦5693. In contrast, the price of Sandcrete block would experience the lowest increase by ₦10. It was recommended that the Government provide an enabling environment that will promote the local production of building materials to reduce dependency on imports and the effect of inflation rate fluctuations.

Valorization of Prosopis Juliflora biochar for supercapacitor application: Techno-economic and lifecycle analysis

Prosopis juliflora (PJ) poses a significant concern to environmental engineers because of its adverse effects on the local communities and environment. The pyrolysis method was employed to recover value-added products from PJ biomass, producing biochar, bio-oil, and pyrogas. A 1:4 biochar-to-KOH ratio produced activated carbon (PJBAC-K4) with a specific surface area of 1140 m2/g and 80% mesopores. The electrode demonstrates a specific capacitance of 288 F/g at 1 A/g. Additionally, the results demonstrate a prolonged lifespan (at least 10,000 charge-discharge cycles), with a retention rate of 91.3% of the initial capacitance. Techno-economic analysis revealed that the net unit production cost of PJBAC-K4 is $18.41 per kg, which comes to around 0.006 cents/F, and the expected payback time is 5.16 years. Sensitivity analysis revealed that process economics is highly vulnerable to utility and raw material prices. The completed life cycle study revealed the environmental benefits of lower global warming potential compared to commercially available activated carbons.