Transport Processes Research Articles

Improved textural properties of transglutaminase treated milk acid gel: Influence of citric acid

Keeping the stability of yogurt during the fermentation, storage and transportation process is necessary to reduce the syneresis. To achieve this goal, the combination of the acid treatment and transglutaminase (TG) was proposed to improve the textural properties of milk acid gels. We investigated the synergistic effect of acid treatment and TG on the water holding capacity (WHC) and physical stability of milk acid gels. As the pH of the skimmed milk decreased from 6.7 to 5.2, the casein micelles dissociated into smaller particles, exposing more site for the crosslinking of TG. The WHC and stability of the TG-treated acid gels were significantly enhanced as the particle size of casein micelles decreased. Our results suggested that the combination of the treatment of acid and TG could significantly improve the textural properties of milk acid gels by the dissociation of casein micelles induced and increase in the covalent-crosslinking. This study provided a simple and novel method to improve the stability of the milk gels, which showed enormous potential for dairy processing.

Relationship between soil structure and hydrological properties of the active layer in the permafrost region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau based on fractal theory

Soil structure and hydrological properties influence ecosystem stability and hydrological cycles. Fractal theory has been widely used in the quantitative analysis of soil particle-size distribution (PSD), aggregate and pore distribution, and evaluation of soil degradation, desertification, and wind erosion. However, the complex relationships between soil physiochemical properties and soil hydrological processes based on fractal theory have not been thoroughly investigated. This study focused on the correlation among soil structure, physicochemical properties, and hydrological properties in the active layers of various soil types and vegetation coverages in the permafrost region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) using the principles of fractal theory. The results showed that the fractal dimension of soil PSD (DPSD) in the active layer of the QTP was predominantly within the range of 2.13–2.70, which is notably smaller than the fractal dimension of the soil water retention curve (DWRC: 2.72–2.93). With decreased vegetation coverage, the alpine soil particles exhibit gradual fineness, increasing the DPSD. Soil physicochemical properties were affected by the interactions among internal factors and the external environment, such as geographical locations, slope orientations, vegetation coverages, and soil freeze–thaw cycles. The results of correlation analysis indicated that the fractal dimension of PSD and the soil water retention curve (WRC) were significantly correlated with soil textural, physicochemical, and hydraulic properties, particularly in clay, silt, and very fine sand content. Finally, a fractal model of WRC in the permafrost region was established based on DPSD and WRC parameters of the Gardner and van Genuchten models. The study provides an improved perspective for revealing the transport process and influencing mechanism of soil water and salt in the active layer of the QTP and a more accurate prediction of soil physiochemical and hydrological properties for climate warming and wetting.

A physiologically based toxicokinetic model for microplastics and nanoplastics in mice after oral exposure and its implications for human dietary exposure assessment

Evidence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in foods and daily-use products, along with their frequent detection in the human body, has raised concerns regarding their potential impact on human health through dietary ingestion. However, there is a lack of quantitative tools to simulate their bioaccumulation and tissue distribution following environmental exposure. To address this gap, we developed the first physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model for predicting the biodistribution of MPs and NPs in mice following oral exposure under various exposure scenarios. This novel model incorporated key kinetic mass transport processes, such as membrane permeability, albumin binding, and cellular uptake. We identified that the absorption rate in the gastrointestinal tract and fecal excretion rate constant had significant impacts on organ dosimetry. Our regression analysis indicated that the size-dependent dissociation constant and urine clearance rate constant sharply increased by a factor of 3 as NPs particle size increased to 1µm. Finally, we developed a graphical user interface to enable interactive visualization and analysis for future applications, supporting human dietary exposure and risk assessment using available food consumption data and MPs/NPs residue data. The simulation results offer a mechanistic perspective, enhancing understanding of the internal organ dosimetry burden and health impacts from dietary exposure to MPs and NPs.

Experimental Study on the Impact of Airflow Velocity and Pipeline Diameter on Dust Explosions in Vessel-Pipeline Pneumatic Conveying

To ensure the process safety of powder particles during pneumatic transport, a dust explosion experimental apparatus was designed to simulate the dust transport process. The system is supplied with a stable airflow by a high-pressure fan, capable of continuously transferring dust from the vessel to the pipeline at a controllable speed. Dust explosion experiments were meticulously executed by applying 1 kJ of ignition energy to the transported dust particles at airflow velocities of 5, 10, and 15 m/s. This study examines the effects of dust concentration, airflow velocity, and pipe diameter on explosion characteristics and delves into the mechanisms these effects through a detailed analysis of experimental results. The results demonstrate that the starch explosion flame progresses through four distinct stages within the vessel: flame development, flame stretching towards the pipe, intense combustion of starch particles, and complete combustion of the particles. As airflow velocity and pipe diameter increase, the stretching effect on the flame becomes more pronounced. At an airflow velocity of 15 m/s within a pipeline, a balance is struck between intensified particle combustion rates and unconstrained discharge, resulting in a maximum explosion pressure of 135.56 kPa for a 100 mm diameter pipe, with a maximum pressure rise rate of 7.27 MPa/s. Additionally, flame propagation velocity is higher at the pipe inlet. Different flame behaviors were observed inside the pipeline under varying airflow speeds. Compared to previous studies that utilized high-pressure gas to create dust clouds within vessels for explosion experiments, the results of this study underscore the crucial impact of airflow velocity on dust explosions. This research provides critical parameters for explosion prevention and presents a case study on the safety of dust handling processes.

High porosity, excellent mechanical strength, interpenetrating network-reinforced double network regenerated cellulose separators for lithium-ion battery

Cellulose material is emerging as a promising alternative to polyolefin separators in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its wide availability, electrolyte wettability and thermal stability. Based on the non-solvent induced phase separation, dissolving and regenerating the cellulose material by environmentally friendly solvents and non-solvent enables the efficient and pollution-free preparation of porous regenerated cellulose separator (RCS), greatly expanding their application potential in LIBs. However, the mechanical strength of pure RCS still hardly satisfactory, due to the weak intermolecular bonding and loose porous structure. Therefore, this study introduced an acrylic acid/acrylamide (AA/AM) polymer cross-linking system forming an interpenetrating network with the cellulose framework to produce a double network regenerated cellulose separator (DN-RCS) with high mechanical strength and high porosity. At meantime, the special functional group on AA/AM can influence the transport process of Li+ and PF6− in the electrolyte, helping to form a stable interface on the electrolyte/lithium anode surface to reduce the formation of lithium dendrites. The results showed that DN-RCS possessed excellent mechanical strength and porosity compared to RCS. The high ionic conductivity of DN-RCS (1.03 mS cm−1) enabled the assembled cell with excellent cycling stability (90.8 % at 0.5C for 100 cycles) and rate performance (65.2 % at 5C). This work provides a further feasible strategy for the preparation of a high-performance cellulose-based separator.

Optimizing food transportation processes for grocery stores across the US

In the rapidly evolving landscape of food logistics, optimizing transportation processes for grocery stores across the United States has become paramount to enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, perishable goods. This article examines the multifaceted challenges inherent in food transportation, including logistical complexities, environmental concerns, and rising operational costs. It highlights the importance of data-driven strategies, such as route optimization and machine learning algorithms, to improve delivery times and reduce waste. Additionally, the integration of advanced technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for temperature monitoring and automation in warehouse management, is explored to enhance the cold chain and ensure food safety. Moreover, the article emphasizes the critical role of strategic partnerships with third-party logistics providers and suppliers in streamlining operations and enhancing overall performance. Through in-depth case studies of successful grocery chains, it illustrates effective practices that have led to significant improvements in food transportation processes. The regulatory landscape surrounding food transportation is also analysed, underscoring compliance with safety standards and sustainability initiatives. Finally, the article looks ahead to future trends, including the potential impact of autonomous vehicles, blockchain technology, and sustainable practices on the food supply chain. By providing a comprehensive overview of best practices and innovative solutions, this article aims to equip grocery store operators and stakeholders with actionable insights to optimize their food transportation processes, ultimately leading to improved customer satisfaction and reduced environmental impact.

Data Generation and Training of Surrogate Models for Friction Factor and Nusselt Number in Low Reynolds Number Flows Through Pin Fin Geometries

Abstract The design of various biomedical, electronics cooling, and microfluidic devices relies on geometry-specific models and empirical correlations for flow and heat transfer through microscale pin fin geometries. Machine learning (ML) techniques are being used across many branches of science to develop more generalized surrogate models that can predict such transport processes. To collapse the simulation of flow and thermal properties across many different pin fin surfaces into a single predictive tool, the present study develops machine-learning-based surrogate models for the friction factor and Nusselt number (for constant wall temperature conditions) for fully developed low Reynolds number flow across pin fin geometries of differing cross section shape (circular, square, triangular) in aligned or staggered arrangements, oriented at any angle to the incoming flow, and for a range of transverse and longitudinal pitches, with water as the working fluid. The model training data are generated using an automated workflow that allows thousands of numerical simulations to be carried out on across different geometric and flow configurations. A total of ∼14,800 distinct simulation cases, for both friction factor and Nusselt number, are generated while varying the Reynolds number and aforementioned geometric parameters to train and test the machine learning models. The machine learning model architecture takes inputs of both image and vector data, and then outputs a scalar friction factor or Nusselt number. The trained models yield a goodness of fit (R2) value of 0.98 on unseen data.

Assessment of Safety Probability of Fastening Operations in Loading-unloading Work Process

One of the important strategic objectives in the target programs for economic and social development adopted by the Government of Georgia is to improve the coordination of all types of transport – sea, rail, road, air, and pipeline. The methods of organizing and managing the transport system at different levels greatly impact solving the problems faced by water transport. Therefore, research in the field of improving the organization and management of the transport hub (port), as an integral part of this system, plays an important role in increasing the traffic volume and service quality of all types of transport on the transport corridors of Georgia. Foreign and domestic experience shows that a large percentage of waiting times for cargo operations by ships and berths is mainly due to the lack of coordinated actions between the adjacent modes of transport and ports and the imperfection of the organization and management of loading and unloading processes in ports. In this regard, it is necessary to focus on identifying and eliminating "vegetables". First of all, this link of the transport system connects water and land transport routes. Transport communications have long been called the arteries of life. Without them, the economy's rise and the country's prosperity, even if it has huge natural resources, is impossible. Whoever controls the transportation system holds the levers of economic management, which means that he can decide the fate of the entire state. The development of transport communications of the global transport system puts new demands on the quality of functioning of the existing intermodal corridor through Georgia. In particular, the transport corridor created by the EU countries under the name ITC TRACECA creates new challenges for the existing transport system of Georgia to maintain the transit cargo flows between Europe and Asia in competition with the seaports of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and partly Ukraine and Russia. In this regard, all the main directions of improving the organization and management of the technological processes of seaports become relevant: (i) increasing the capacity of berths and transport complexes in the Black Sea ports of Georgia to the maximum limit by reducing costs; (ii) creating new methods for identifying capacity reserves, which will ensure the competitiveness of Georgian seaports in competition with these ports; (iii) speeding up the process of transit cargo transportation through seaports, as well as reducing the processing time of cargo going to export and import in Georgian ports. Keywords: Transport hub, organization of technological processes, ship unloading work.

Na3.5(MnVFeTi)0.5(PO4)3: A Multi‐Transition‐Metal‐Ion‐Engineered NASICON‐Type Cathodes for Sodium Ion Batteries

AbstractElectrochemically active Na‐superionic conductor (NASICON)‐type cathodes have the structural flexibility to include various transition elements, thus enabling high power outputs benefited by multi‐electron redox reactions. This study amalgamated multiple transition metal ions to construct a new NASICON‐type cathode i. e., carbon coated Na3.5(MnVFeTi)0.5(PO4)3 (NMVFTP/C) for Na‐ion batteries (NIBs). The NMVFTP/C cathode engineered in this study demonstrated stable Na+‐storage capacity, including long‐term cycling stability up to 4000 cycles at 3000 mA g−1 with 96 % capacity retention and a high‐rate output capacity of 85.16 mAh g−1 at 2500 mA g−1. To elucidate the ion transport process within the cathode, density functional theory modeling was employed. The low energy barrier for the diffusion of Na+ in the NMVFTP/C materials was proved to be a key factor supporting our material's superior electrochemical performances.

Predicting the Impact of Parameter Uncertainty on Model-Guided Li-O2 Cathode Design

Abstract Despite their high theoretical capacity, actual performance in lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries is limited by sluggish transport and kinetic processes. Cathodes must provide ample surface area to host solid reduction products, but must also support species transport to access these surfaces. Numerous modeling studies therefore attempt to optimize cathode design by identifying microstructures to balance these two needs. However, model validation has historically relied on literature-sourced transport properties, which vary greatly between studies. In this work, we develop an open source, 1-D, continuum-scale Li-O2 battery model to examine the impact of electrolyte properties on predicted Li-O2 battery performance and design. Results demonstrate that O2 diffusion and solubility have the greatest impact on optimal design. Varying O2 diffusivity within the range of literature values surveyed led to maximum energy density variations of nearly 400%. These variations have a meaningful impact on the associated design conclusions: the optimal cathode porosity varied between 55 and 75%, depending on the O2 diffusivity. Moreover, the impact of advanced micrsotructures, such as graded cathode porosity, varies greatly with changes in electrolyte transport parameter estimates. As such, fundamental studies are required to accurately measure key electrolyte properties to enable numerical simulation as a guide to Li-O2 cathode design.

Deciphering the anthocyanin metabolism gene network in tea plant (Camellia sinensis) through structural equation modeling.

Tea is an important cash crop that significantly contributes to rural development, poverty reduction and food security in many developing countries. It provides livelihoods for millions of smallholder producers and aids their economic stability. Anthocyanins in tea leaves provides excellent commercial quality and germplasm exploration potential. These compounds give tea leaves vibrant colors and increase health benefits. The current understanding of the synergistic regulation mechanisms responsible for color changes in purple tea, attributed to anthocyanin degradation, remains unclear. In this study, we have identified 30 gene families within the genome that are associated to with anthocyanin metabolism from tea. These gene families play distinct roles in the biosynthesis of anthocyanin including the formation of the core, structure, modification of the molecular framework, facilitation of transport process, regulation of gene expression, breakdown pathways, sugar transportation and iron ion respectively. Subsequently, we investigated the synergistic mechanisms of anthocyanin metabolism related gene families within tea leaves using structural equation modeling. The results showed that sugar transport positively affects anthocyanin transportation, and promotes anthocyanin degradation during leaf pigmentation, whereas, it inhibits anthocyanin degradation during the fading of leaf color. Further, Iron ions facilitate the degradation of anthocyanins during their deposition and conversely, impede this degradation process during digestion. These finding suggests that tea plants may regulate the synthesis and degradation of anthocyanins through sugar transport and iron ions ensure healthy levels and vibrant colors. Our study contributes valuable information into the dynamic equilibrium anthocyanin mechanism and sheds light on complex regulatory mechanisms that govern the synthesis, transport and degradation of these pigments. These insights could be further used to develop strategies for enhancing anthocyanins content in unique tea germplasm to aid tea industry in producing new tea products with increased health benefits and aesthetic appeals.

Turbulent plasma flow, its energies, and structures: Velocity vortices, magnetic field cocoons, and plasmoids

Turbulent flows are believed to be present in the solar corona, especially in connection with solar flares and coronal mass ejections. They are supposed to be very effective processes in energy transportation and can contribute to the heating of the solar corona. We study turbulence in reconnection outflows associated with flares and coronal mass ejections. We simulated the generation and evolution of the turbulent plasma flow and investigated its energies and formed plasma velocity and magnetic field structures. For the numerical simulations, we adopted a three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model, in which we solved a full set of the 3D time-dependent resistive and compressible MHD equations using the Lare3d numerical code. We numerically studied turbulence in the plasma flow in the model with the plasma parameters that could simulate processes in the magnetic reconnection outflows in solar flares. Starting from a non-turbulent plasma flow in the energetically closed system, we studied the evolution of the kinetic, internal, and magnetic energies during the turbulence generation. We found that most of the kinetic energy is transformed into the plasma heating (about $95 <!PCT!>$) and only a small part to the magnetic energy (about $5 <!PCT!>$). The turbulence in the system evolves to the saturation stage with the power-law index of the kinetic density spectrum, $-5/3$. Magnetic energy is also saturated due to its dissipation and reconnection in small and complex magnetic field structures. We show examples of the structures formed in studied turbulent flow: velocity vortices, magnetic field cocoons, and plasmoids.

Sustainability assessment in food analysis: the application of Green Analytical Chemistry tools to phthalate residue analysis in edible oils

Edible oils are essential in daily diet due to their high contribution of fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and triglycerides. During the processes of growing, processing, storage, transport, or packaging, they can be contaminated by ubiquitous phthalate esters, considered endocrine disruptors. Thus, analytical methodologies to allow tight control of their presence are mandatory. Several sample treatments have been considered in this study: microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE), magnetic SPE (MSPE), solid phase microextraction (SPME), Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) or its combinations. However, the selection of an analytical procedure is usually performed from an Analytical Chemistry perspective, without considering factors such as the sustainability of the selected methodology and/or its impact on the environment. In this sense, the Green Analytical Chemistry strategy can play an important role. To demonstrate this fact, six different analytical procedures have been evaluated in terms of sustainability by using several greenness evaluation tools. Procedures from MAE-gel permeation chromatography (GPC)-SPE till SERS, showing adequate analytical characteristics, have been selected. The application of Analytical GREEnness calculator (AGREE), AGREE preparation (AGREE prep), and blue applicability grade index (BAGI) tools showed that MAE-GPC-SPE was the less green analytical procedure while SERS was the greener one. The BAGI evaluation showed that headspace (HS) and SERS were the most applicable procedures.

Contributions of Stationary and Transient Water Vapor Transports to the Extreme Precipitation Changes Over the Tibetan Plateau

AbstractThe Tibetan Plateau (TP) has experienced “south drying‐north wetting” extreme precipitation changes over the past half century. The effects of water vapor transport at different timescales on TP extreme precipitation changes remain unexplored. Here, we utilize the reanalysis data sets to quantify the contributions of stationary and transient processes of water vapor transport to the long‐term changes in the extreme precipitation (R95p) during wet season (Jun‐Jul‐Aug‐Sep) over the TP and surrounding regions. We find that the daily scale transient processes dominate the dipole trend of extreme precipitation with a contribution of 55.1% in the northern and 79.5% in the southern TP, respectively, whereas the contribution of monthly scale stationary processes is of 19.0% and 20.5%. The long‐term changes in extreme precipitation are dominated by the transient dynamic component. We identified the synoptic circulation patterns affecting the changes of R95p over the northern and southern TP by using k‐means clustering. The patterns featured with a 500 hPa trough, 200 hPa wind divergence and low transient geopotential height are identified. The frequency of the dominant circulation patterns increases in the northern TP and decreases in the southern TP, which leads to the dipolar changes of extreme precipitation over the TP and surrounding regions.

Interpreting depositional environments from modern floodplain sediments using optically stimulated luminescence

We investigate how luminescence signals imprinted on fluvial sediments vary depending on the depositional environment and vary through time in the same river. We collected sediment samples from four geomorphically distinct locations on the modern floodplain and modern point bar on the Buffalo River in northwest Arkansas, USA, in order to determine if different depositional environments are associated with distinct bleaching characteristics in the sediments. Our analysis revealed that all samples from different depositional environments yielded ages consistent with modern deposition. The samples collected from the floodplain and bar head contained a higher proportion of grains with residual doses, indicative of incomplete bleaching during transport, while samples from the mid‐bar and bar tail appeared well bleached. Our results are particularly intriguing for two significant reasons. First, they highlight distinct equivalent dose distributions in different depositional environments. Second, they shed light on an intriguing relationship: despite generally well‐bleached modern floodplain samples, ancient sediments from corresponding terraces displayed equivalent dose (De) distributions that suggest partial bleaching in some cases. This research contributes to the growing body of work that seeks to establish a relationship between luminescence properties and sediment transport processes and offers valuable insight into how luminescence signals vary locally in modern fluvial deposits, which can help guide the interpretation of older fluvial deposits.

Chemically reactive and aging macromolecular mixtures. II. Phase separation and coarsening.

In a companion paper, we put forth a thermodynamic model for complex formation via a chemical reaction involving multiple macromolecular species, which may subsequently undergo liquid-liquid phase separation and a further transition into a gel-like state. In the present work, we formulate a thermodynamically consistent kinetic framework to study the interplay between phase separation, chemical reaction, and aging in spatially inhomogeneous macromolecular mixtures. A numerical algorithm is also proposed to simulate domain growth from collisions of liquid and gel domains via passive Brownian motion in both two and three spatial dimensions. Our results show that the coarsening behavior is significantly influenced by the degree of gelation and Brownian motion. The presence of a gel phase inside condensates strongly limits the diffusive transport processes, and Brownian motion coalescence controls the coarsening process in systems with high area/volume fractions of gel-like condensates, leading to the formation of interconnected domains with atypical domain growth rates controlled by size-dependent translational and rotational diffusivities.

Transient Sand Scour Dynamics Induced by Pulsed Submerged Water Jets: Simulation Analysis

Water jet scouring technology is extensively applied in marine engineering, harbor maintenance, river training, and various other fields, showcasing a broad spectrum of potential applications. However, achieving a comprehensive understanding of the transient sand scouring characteristics of water jets remains challenging due to the inherent complexity of the coupled flow structure involving submerged jets and environmental fluids, along with the intricate dynamics of two-phase flow. This study, rooted in numerical simulation and experimental validation, introduces pulse characteristics into a submerged jet. A thorough investigation is conducted to explore the transient sand scouring characteristics and sand transport laws of the submerged jet under diverse working conditions. The results of this study revealed that the main reason for the asymmetry of the sand pit morphology is not the non-uniform distribution of sand grains, but more likely caused by turbulence effects. Simultaneously, within the initial 0.25 s of the pulse cycle, suspended sediment resulting from the pulsed jet in the preceding cycle gradually transports to the dune and its surrounding areas. Subsequently, from 0.25 s to 0.5 s, sediment on both sides of the pit’s bottom undergoes movement and amalgamation with the sediment that remained unsettled during the previous cycle. The findings reveal that higher jet velocities significantly enhance sediment suspension, migration, and redeposition, leading to deeper erosion and the rapid formation of the sand pit’s outline within 2 s. Additionally, the jet velocity and the impact distance are identified as critical factors influencing erosion depth and sediment dynamics. These insights advance the understanding of erosion mechanisms driven by pulsed jets, highlighting their impact on sediment transport processes. The research findings provide important guidance for dredging and ocean engineering fields and offer a theoretical basis for improving the understanding of submerged jet scouring mechanisms.

Synthetic iterative scheme for thermal applications in hotspot systems with large temperature variance

A synthetic iterative scheme is developed for thermal applications in hotspot systems with large temperature variance. Different from previous work with linearized equilibrium state and small temperature difference assumption, the phonon equilibrium distribution shows a nonlinear relationship with temperature and mean free path changes with the spatial temperature when the temperature difference of system is large, so that the same phonon mode may suffer different transport processes in different geometric regions. In order to efficiently capture nonlinear and multiscale thermal behaviors, the Newton method is used and a macroscopic iteration is introduced for preprocessing based on the iterative solutions of the stationary phonon BTE. Macroscopic and mesoscopic physical evolution processes are connected by the heat flux, which is no longer calculated by classical Fourier’s law but obtained by taking the moment of phonon distribution function. These two processes exchange information from different scales, such that the present scheme could efficiently deal with heat conduction problems from ballistic to diffusive regime. Numerical tests show that the present scheme could efficiently capture the multiscale heat conduction in hotspot systems with large temperature variances. In addition, a comparison is made between the solutions of the present scheme and effective Fourier’s law by several heat dissipations problems under different sizes or selective phonon excitation. Numerical results show that compared to the classical Fourier’s law, the results of the effective Fourier’s law could be closer to the BTE solutions by adjusting effective coefficients. However, it is still difficult to capture some local nonlinear phenomena in complex geometries.

Evaluation of Performance Improvement Rate of Plastic Production System Using ARENA: A Case Study of Phoenix Plastic Services

Production improvement has become essential to all industrial activity because of the fierce competition among today's production systems and organizations and the unquenchable customer demand. The shorter product life cycle has significantly increased the demand for prompt reactions to increase the productivity and efficiency of these industrial systems. This study examined the evaluation of performance improvement rate of plastic production system using ARENA. The report provided by the plastics industry was used in the study to analyze and assess the rate of performance improvement of the plastic manufacturing system. The location of the bottleneck was determined by the research following a thorough analysis of the plastic company's data, which included information on all manufacturing lines and procedures. The research employed Arena to assess and compute the rate of improvement in system performance while accounting for the material transporting process throughout the production line. The conveyor velocity maintains a lock at 75m/min, despite the company's report stating that the transports run at 30m/min. The optimized and unoptimized processes when obtained from a finished recycling process running for 1000 working hours, indicate that the conveyor process had 1045 and 1027 entity input and output, respectively, and the transporter process had 953 and 929 entities input and output respectively. The remaining number left when considering the number that enters the system with the number that leaves the system went to waste, resulting from the sorting and demagnetization process. The introduction of the conveyor brings 10.549% in the production rate and 50% decrease on expenses spent in labor. Through the conveyor system's speed control factor, which is an automated procedure, the system's percentage increment may be further raised. By raising the conveyor system's speed, more items will be produced. Conveyor system installation free up more space for additional production-related equipment, increasing products formed and the company's profit. The cost of purchasing and installing the conveyor will be covered by the excess profit.

Carbon Negative Technologies: Carbon Capture, Sequestration, and Conversion

Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage are now an essential reality that we are required to adapt to address global climate change concerns. Adapting carbon neutrality or carbon negative processes in mainstream energy generation, manufacturing, and transportation is possible using current technologies, albeit with some limitations. Carbon neutral technologies (CNTs) can be seamlessly integrated with existing systems as well as green technologies to ensure that carbon capture gets a boost. On-land and undersea storage are realistic possibilities since there is immense potential to lock atmospheric CO2 using existing technologies. Thermocatalytic, electrochemical, photo(electro)catalytic, and biological – based approaches do offer promising options, but require optimization of different parameters to ensure commercial viability, scalability, and safety. The role of electrochemical process specifically is examined. New directions for further research in the area of electrochemical – driven applications are identified and opportunities in three areas, viz., electrocatalysts design, pilot scale integrated systems, and simultaneous CO2 capture and conversion, are discussed in detail. The global implementation of any CNTs requires dramatic policy shift, unequivocal support from the world governments, public acceptance, backing from industries, and unwavering financial backing from stakeholders to ensure that there is a real chance to address climate change issues.