Proportion Of Raw Materials Research Articles

Experimental Development Process of a New Fluid–Solid Coupling Similar-Material Based on the Orthogonal Test

Similar-material, composed of different raw materials with different properties, is similar to the physical and mechanical properties of geotechnical media, in which raw material proportioning is an important means to control the performance of similar-material in physical simulation. On this basis, a new fluid–solid coupling similar-material was developed through proportioning tests, in which similar-material is mixed with river sand, calcium carbonate, talc powder, white cement, vaseline, antiwear hydraulic oil. The optimum proportioning test development process was established. First, the proportioning test scheme was designed based on the orthogonal test. Subsequently, test specimens were produced to obtain parameters such as density, compressive strength, tensile strength, and permeability coefficient. Then, by increasing the ingredients of the proportioning, the evolution law of parameters was obtained by range and variance analysis. Finally, four multiple linear regression equations between the parameters and similar-material ingredients were obtained, and the optimum proportioning of ingredients was further determined for different requirements. The results indicate that the selected raw materials and their proportioning method are feasible, and the results were also verified in a coal mine floor water inrush by physical simulation test. The experimental development process of a fluid–solid coupling similar-material can provide a reference for similar-material under different demand conditions.

Autoclave Ammonia Leaching of Silver from Low-Grade Copper Concentrates

Autoclave ammonia leaching of silver from low-grade copper concentrates is studied with use of Zhezkazgan concentrates of the following composition, %: 9.55 Cu, Fe 4.84, S 5.6, 27.03 Si, 109.6 g/ton Ag. According to X-ray phase analysis the main minerals present in the concentrate are, %: 29 quartz (SiO2 ), 33 plagioclase ((Ca, Na)(Al, Si)AlSi2O6 ), 16 mica, 10 chalcocite (Cu2S), 2 chalcopyrite (CuFeS2 ), and 7 pyrite (FeS2 ). It is shown that during ore processing in which gold and silver are in close association with sulfide minerals, precious metals are not extracted by cyaniding even after ultrafine grinding. The proportion of such persistent raw materials is more than 30% of the total ore reserves containing precious metals in the world. Use of the most common technologies of autoclave sulphuric acid and neutral leaching for quantitative oxidation of gold and silver containing sulphides in this case is limited due to the formation of argentojarosite, inert with respect to the cyanide ion. In order to avoid its formation and to increase the degree of leaching silver directly at the autoclave stage, its extraction in ammonia is investigated. With direct autoclave leaching copper extraction into solution is 93–97%, while silver extraction is not observed in some experiments, which may be due to the sorption activity of aluminum and silicon compounds present in the concentrate. Preliminary mechanical activation and surface resynthesis have a favorable effect on recovery rates of copper and silver in solution. An additional operation of concentrate silica removal provides extraction of 97% copper and 83% silver into solution with [NH4OH] = 7 mole/dm3, L:S = 10:1, τ = 3 h, pO2 = 0.6 MPa, t = 140°С.

Preparation and Characterization of the Lightweight Fired Brick with Low-silicon Iron Tailings

This research investigated the possibility of using low-silicon iron tailings together with bentonite, feldspar and rice husk to prepare lightweight fired brick. The bulk density and compressive strength of the lightweight fired brick with different raw material proportions and sintering temperature were studied. The mineral compositions, microstructure and sintering mechanism of the samples were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The results showed that the optimal incorporation amounts of iron tailings, bentonite, feldspar and rice husk were 40%, 30%, 10% and 8% by weight, and the suitable sintering system was 900°C for 1.5h. Under these conditions, the bulk density and compressive strength of the lightweight fired brick were 1.2294g/cm3 and 7.4MPa, respectively. The primary mineral phases of the sample were hematite, muscovite, mullite, quartz, anhydrite and microcline, which were mainly responsible for the mechanical strength of the samples, and the analysis of microstructures revealed the evenly distributed and interconnected pores and the molten minerals made contributions to the tailing brick good properties.

Environmental-friendly one-step fabrication of tertiary amine-functionalized adsorption resins for removal of benzophenone-4 from water

2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid with a trade name of benzophenone-4, a typical anti-UV product, is increasingly detected in real aqueous environment. Few literature using cost-effective adsorption means with enough high adsorption capacity for the removal of benzophenone-4 is available. In this work, a series of novel tertiary amine-functionalized crosslinking polymeric resins, synthesized using different proportions of raw materials including 2-dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate as the monomer, divinylbenzene as the crosslinking reagent and toluene as the pore-forming reagent, were employed for the adsorption of benzophenone-4. During the synthesis process, an environmental-friendly one-step fabrication method, following the concept of cleaner production, was established for the reduction of unnecessary derivatization steps, extra pollution risk, costs and time. Among these resins, the optimal one with relatively larger pore diameter, larger specific surface area, and fewer inner defects, exhibited the highest adsorption capacity of 154 mg/g. Such a value was notably larger than several frequently reported commercial adsorbents, including activated carbon, ion exchange resins and macroporous resins. The performance of the resin not only owned strong resistance against influences of coexisting natural organic matter and inorganic ions, but also bore reuse without much capacity loss after six adsorption-desorption cycles. Adsorption interfacial interactions were studied, via both experimental analyses and chemical calculations. Electrostatic attraction between tertiary amine of the resin and SO3- of benzophenone-4 played a leading role during adsorption.

Are raw materials or composting conditions and time that most influence the maturity and/or quality of composts? Comparison of obtained composts on soil properties

Abstract Waste composting is a process which is spreading worldwide to reduce waste disposal in landfill. The composting technical currents give little attention to the type and chemical composition of biomass that are mixed not considering that these can affect quality and maturity of the compost produced. In addition, during the composting process the amount of oxygen and temperature are generally only monitored but not set up. Our hypothesis is that composts, prepared from different organic wastes, can be chemically different with consequent different fertilizer properties. Stability and quality of composts are dependent on multivariate parameters such as raw material source, proportions used, composting procedure, and maturation time. Starting from this consideration a composting experiment was carried out to evaluate if were the raw materials (chemical composition, mixture and ratio), or the composting conditions and time, to influence the maturity or the quality of composts. We prepared four composts starting from different combinations and ratios of vegetable residues and/or olive pomace. After 120 days, the four composts were physically, chemically and biologically characterized to evaluate maturity degree, stability and quality of the products obtained under the same composting conditions and time. Their ability, as soil improver, was evaluated assessing soil chemical and biochemical properties 90 days after the compost addition. Here we show that the chemical composition of raw materials and the set up parameters of composting processes can have a different weight in influencing compost stability and quality. Our results evidenced that during the composting process all the composts had a similar percentage of C/N ratio reduction and all of them achieved an acceptable maturity degree. The composts produced by olive pomace showed the highest degree of maturity as demonstrated by T value and organic matter loss, both indices of compost stability. Conversely the composts coming from green vegetable residues were richest in nutrients and phenols and had the highest CSC all indices of better quality. In this work we identified two composts able to increase carbon stock, and water holding capacity parameters that positively influence soil structure, and two compost able to increase the amount of soil microbial biomass, their activity and soil biodiversity, improving soil biological fertility. These results highlighted that compost maturity doesn't mean compost quality, suggesting that compost maturity is mainly linked to composting setup parameters, while compost quality is mainly linked to chemical composition. FDA and DHA activities have been identified as markers for assessing the quality of amended soils.

Clarity and brilliance: antimony in colourless natron glass explored using Roman glass found in Britain

This paper discusses the development of Roman antimony decolourised natron glass, its dominance, and subsequent decline, using new trace element data for colourless glass found in Britain. Experimental glasses are used to investigate the influence of different proportions of raw materials (particularly the ratio of natron to calcium carbonate) on the resulting transparency or opacity of glass when antimony is added. Focusing on the 1st to 3rd centuries AD, the study has found that (1) There are chronological differences in antimony colourless glass compositions including (a) some early vessels have abnormally low calcium, aluminium and barium levels; (b) 1st/mid-2nd-century AD vessels in Britain may also contain up to 0.6 wt% lead oxide whereas mid-2nd/3rd-century AD vessels contain less than 300 ppm, and (c) the antimony content tends to decline over time. (2) These developments can be linked to production and recycling practices; but trace elements suggest that all of these antimony colourless glasses share an origin, probably Egypt. (3) Crucially, production of experimental glasses illustrates the inherent suitability of a sodium-rich, calcium-poor base glass composition for making antimony colourless glass, as it readily dissolves added antimony; conversely lower-sodium, higher-calcium glasses start to form opacifying calcium-antimonate crystals with the same quantities of antimony. Thus, the sodium-rich, calcium-poor glass composition from Egypt was ideally suited for decolourising with antimony and formed a water-clear glass. The calcium-rich Syro-Palestine glasses were more easily opacified with antimony to make opaque glass, but were decolourised with manganese, not antimony.

Evaluation of workability parameters in 3D printing concrete

The aim of this paper was to examine workability of fresh concrete used as material for additive manufacturing. 3D concrete printing is an innovative construction method that promises to be highly advantageous in the construction field in terms of optimizing construction time, cost, design flexibility, error reduction, and environmental aspects. Quality of the final printed structure is significantly affected by the properties of fresh concrete which must possess adequate workability in order to be extruded through an extruder head (printability), maintain its shape once deposited and not collapse under the load of subsequent layers (buildability). In the present paper, workability of fresh concrete used as material for additive manufacturing was measured according to four different tests: flow table, ICAR rheometer, Vicat and an experimental applied in the laboratory by measuring the electric power consumption of the motor that rotates the screw extruder. By measuring a wide range of mixtures produced with different aggregates (limestone, river sand, combination of both) and binders (cement, fly ash, ladle furnace slag), printing them with a printing system with screw extruder and setting printable criteria, the range of printability was obtained. Flow table test was more consistent in relation to the other methods used. Printability range was found between 18 and 24 cm (flow table values). Time after mixing for moving from the upper limit to the lower was also measured and was highly depended on the type of aggregates and binders used. A maximum of 30 minutes was obtained without using any retarder additives. Electric power consumption was considered as a parameter of measuring real-time workability of the mixture, making it possible to modify it on time in real scale applications by adding chemical additives during printing. Regarding hardened concrete properties, density of concrete was measured, between 1.9 and 2.1 g/cm³, depending on the aggregate and binder. Compressive strength and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity are significantly affected by the type and proportions of raw materials in the mixtures.

Regional Assessment of the Virtual Water of Sheep and Goats in Arid Areas

The increased consumption of livestock products is likely to put further pressure on the world’s freshwater resources, an agricultural virtual water strategy will alleviate the water resources pressure of livestock husbandry, especially in arid areas. The research on the virtual water requirement of living animals is still blank in China. Most of the researches on the virtual water of animal products in China adopt foreign data and there is some error with the actual situation in China. In this study, the virtual water requirements of sheep and goats (n=80) in North China were evaluated and validated. Factors that affect animals’ virtual water requirements and the water supply for sheep and goat management were analyzed. We found that the virtual water productivity in sheep at five growth stages (40-day-old [D40], 6-month [M6], 12-month-old [M12], 24-month-old [M24], and 36-month-old [M36]) was lower than that in goats. The amount of virtual water requirements was 496.07 m3 from birth to M36 in sheep and was 217.14 m3 in goats. The water consumes were estimated to be 9 019.4 m3 /t in sheep and 4 825.3m3 /t in goats. The virtual water requirement for feed accounted for more than 99% of the total water consumption. Daily water consumption in rams is larger than that in ewes. We found that the crop type and yield, the proportion of high water consumption feed raw material in complete diet pellets, as well as the flock structure are the three major factors influencing virtual water demand in animals. Our results provided strategies to reduce water consumption in animal husbandry industries in arid areas, and further show that the crop import trade strategies can be used to increase the import of high water-consuming crops, instead of the virtual water consumption of the sheep and goat industry output, thereby alleviating the pressure on local water resources.

Преднамеренная фрагментация пластин как специфический прием в технологии начального верхнего палеолита стоянки Кара-бом (Горный Алтай, Россия)

Purpose. Recent investigations have highlighted an Asian variant of the so-called Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) broadly comparable in age and material culture to techno-complexes further to the west, but also showing distinct derived features. Several principal common technological features characterize the IUP in East Asia. The main targeted products of flaking were medium or large blades, the latter sometimes of very significant size, and the number of bladelets is also large. Primary flaking is characterized by alternate bidirectional reduction of cores in which spalls, alternately detached from opposing platforms along the long axis of the core, determined the shape of targeted blank: pointed blades. Reduced cores were prismatic, sub-prismatic and flat. Burin-core reduction for bladelet and small blade production was the specific knapping technology employed in the IUP of southern Siberia and Central Asia. Here, we describe and provide corroborating evidence for another distinct technological method employed in the Initial Upper Paleolithic – intentional fragmentation (IF). The most effective means of understanding knapping technology are refitting studies of archaeological collections. This article examines several examples of refitted fragmented cores and blades, as well as debitage as the by-product of blank breakage. Results. Our refitting study includes assemblages from all excavation units and partially divided, relatively homogenous raw material types, representing a diachronic assemblage of Middle and Upper Paleolithic materials, even in very disturbed excavation areas. The present study illustrates the best examples of directional reduction associated with core preparation and tool blank production because of the lack of statistical information for some Upper Paleolithic assemblages from this site. We reconstructed the process of intentional fragmentation for burin-cores and a few large and medium blades. Often, blank breakage produced butterfly-like debitage. Pieces of fragmented blades could have been used as tools. Typical attributes of IF consistently appearing on two transverse edges of blanks and present in the assemblage of artifacts prove the anthropogenic character of these flaking traces. Conclusions. It is probable that intentional fragmentation was used in the Initial Upper Paleolithic assemblage at Kara-Bom because of the influences of mobility and transportation of stone raw material by local settlers. They transported a significant proportion of raw material from primary chert outcrops situated 4–5 km from the Kara-Bom site.

Large size crystal growth and structural, thermal, optical and electrical properties of KCl1−xBrx mixed crystals

Large size and high quality KCl1−xBrx mixed crystals [with x = 0.0 (pure KCl), 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 (pure KBr)] have been grown with suitable raw material proportion by the melt (Czochralski) method using the miscible alkali halides KCl and KBr. The grown crystals have been characterized by determining their density, refractive index, lattice constant, chemical composition, thermal parameters (Debye-Waller factor, Debye temperature and Debye frequency), optical absorption, micro hardness and electrical parameters (dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor, AC, and DC electrical conductivities and AC, and DC activation energies) through X-ray diffraction, optical, mechanical and electrical (both AC and DC at various temperatures in the range 30–150 °C) measurements. Results obtained in the present study indicate that mixing KCl with KBr leads to significant tuning of thermal, optical, mechanical and electrical properties without disturbing the crystal structure. The dielectric constant is found to increase several times due to mixing and KCl0.5Br0.5 crystal has the maximum value.

PROFIL FLAVOR ENHANCER HASIL HIDROLISIS ENZIMATIS IKAN BERNILAI EKONOMI RENDAH DALAM PENGGUNAANNYA SEBAGAI INGREDIEN PADA MAKANAN

A natural flavor enhancer based on local source potential is indispensable. While the potential of inferior fishes of low economic value especially in the Madura archipelago, Indonesia such as tongue (‘lidah’), wedge (‘baji-baji’) and biblical (‘bibisan’) fish is very high and has not been utilized optimally. Fish raw materials can be developed as a hydrolyzate and derivatives thereof. In this case, the study aimed to find out the enzymatic hydrolysis enzymatic flavor enhancer profile of the inferior fishes with the comparison of inferior fish feedstock and additional ingredients has been performed. The study was conducted by observing descriptively the mean values of each parameter of 3 repetitions ie color, yield, moisture, ash, fat, protein, dissolved protein contentand maillard product and overall organoleptic value of flavor enhancer result of enzymatic hydrolysis process with 7 (seven) formulas of inferior fishes feedstock and additional ingredients (20:80, 40:60; 50:50; 60:40; 80:20; 90:10; 100: 0) and 9 (nine) types of additives according to the treatment. The results showed that inferior fishes flavor enhancers had a diversity of their profile values due to the comparison of fish and the weight of different additives. The greater the proportion of fish raw material to the additional ingredients, the higher the level of brightness, water, fat, protein, dissolved protein content and its maillard products, but the lower the ash content and the yield. The best inferior fish flavor enhancer profile based on sensory parameters resulted from formulations with 50 grams of inferior fish and 50 grams of additional ingredients. The treatment has a flavor enhancer profile with a brightness level of 69.90; yield of 45,17 gram, water content of 1,983%; ash content of 39.72%; 2.15% fat content; protein content of 24,17%, dissolved protein of 2,114 mg / ml; and maillard products of 0.17; as well as the overall value of organoleptic properties 2.88 (very dislike-rather like).
 Keywords: biduri enzyme, flavor enhancer, formulation, and inferior fishes

Stability Enhanced Online Powdery Cement Raw Materials Quality Monitoring Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Mastering the change of cement raw materials composition in real time has important significance to timely adjusting the proportion of raw materials and improving the quality of cement products. As a result, a greater need for online chemical sensors is evolving. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) possesses many of the characteristics required for such online chemical sensing, and is a promising technique for field measurements in harsh industrial environments. In this work, we developed a LIBS device for online cement raw materials quality monitoring in the way of ejecting gas-powder mixture, and enhanced the measurement stability through approaches including powder concentration of the ejected gas-powder stream stabilization, pulsed laser power stabilization, and optical efficiency enhancement.

Deep red emission enhancement in Mg28Ge10O48:Mn4+ phosphor by Zn substitution

Zinc co-doped Mg28Ge10O48:Mn4+ red phosphors are synthesized by a solid-state method. The effects of zinc on the phosphors have been investigated by varying the stoichiometric proportions of raw materials. Zn concentration affects the phosphor crystallinity, morphology, composition and energy structure. We have carried out the X-ray power diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersion spectrum (EDS), element mapping, UV–Vis absorption measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The phosphorescence enhancement centered at around 660nm is ascribed to 2Eg→4A2g transition of Mn4+. The red emission Intensity of optimized sample is 3.08 and 1.64 times of Zn-free samples and conventional magnesium fluorogermanate phosphors, respectively.

X-ray fluorescence analysis of Portland cement and clinker for major and trace elements: accuracy and precision

Accurate, rapid methods for controlling and determining composition are necessary to aid in classification of cements and for correlation of performance characteristics with composition. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is used to adjust the raw material proportions and to control the process conditions. The aim of the present study was to establish a reliable analytical program by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, based on the choice of a well-defined range of standards, which are used to control the quality of the clinker. The results showed a second order polynomial regression model that could properly interpret the experimental data with an R 2 value >0.97 even after correction for some elements. The results obtained indicate the reliability, reproducibility, and the ease of use of the established program.

Magnetic properties of (Co, Al) co-doped SnO2 nanoparticles

The desired size of pure SnO2 and Co (1, 3, 5 mol%) with constant 5 mol% of Al co-doped into SnO2 nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. The raw materials used in synthesis are SnCl2.2H2O, AlCl3, Co (C2H3O2).4H2O, aqueous NH4OH and Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) from AR grade. The XRD pattern of pure and co-doped samples confirm the formation of tetragonal rutile phase of SnO2 nanoparticles with average particle size 25 and 20 nm respectively. Micrographs of scanning electron microscope (SEM) for pure and (Co, Al) co-doped into SnO2 show that the prepared nanoparticles are agglomerate and spherical in shape. The EDAX spectra of prepared nanoparticles indicate the presence of Co2+, Al3+, Sn4+ and O2+ and also confirm stoichiometric proportions of raw material in the formation of SnO2. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) reveals that the surface morphology of pure and co-doped samples are spherical, and average size of particles is ~20 nm. Magnetization measurements from M-H curves of VSM show that the ferromagnetism at low concentration of Co and at higher concentration of Co shows weak ferromagnetism due to super exchange coupling among neighboring ions. The bound magnetic polarons model supports the observed ferromagnetic behavior.

Within plant variation of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced from multiple raw materials in varying proportions: Chemical composition and in vitro evaluation of feeding value for ruminants

Chemical composition and feeding value of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) differ among types of raw material and ethanol production plants. Possibly more challenging, variation does as well occur between batches from the same plant. Although some comprehensive studies on within plant variation of DDGS exist, they are limited to DDGS produced from maize as the sole raw material. Nevertheless, the use of raw material blends may increase variability, particularly if proportions of raw materials vary over time. In the current study, 28 samples of blend DDGS were obtained from one ethanol plant over 420days in around 14day intervals. The raw material blend contained varying proportions of barley, maize, wheat and sugar beet syrup. Samples were analyzed in terms of chemical composition including minerals. Energy and protein values for ruminants were estimated based on chemical composition and in vitro methods. Descriptive statistics were calculated to describe within plant variation, which affected DDGS characteristics to different extents. Coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from approximately 3% for crude protein and metabolizable energy to >25% for starch, sugar and Na. Regarding protein value, predicted ruminally undegraded feed crude protein (RUP) varied considerably (CV approximately 13%), whilst in vitro results for intestinal digestibility of RUP and utilizable crude protein at the duodenum displayed consistency (CV<5%). Differing methodology impeded comparison with previous research, but results indicate that varying proportions of raw materials did not result in increased variability compared with DDGS produced from a single raw material. In addition, regression analysis was performed to examine correlations between raw material proportions and DDGS characteristics. Resulting equations have to be considered specific for the current set of samples and ethanol plant. However, equations generally reflected the proportions and ascribed quality of the raw materials. Particularly, reasonable correlations were found for proximate constituents, energy concentrations and minerals K and Mn. In contrast, other macro and trace elements either could not be predicted by raw material proportions or equations were difficult to interpret. Similarly, characteristics of the protein value displayed very limited correlation to raw material proportions. These findings were likely because minerals as well as composition, degradability and digestibility of crude protein are more prone to be affected by processing details. Thus, results suggest a limited potential to predict chemical composition of blend DDGS from raw material proportions and, on the other hand, indicate the considerable impact of processing on DDGS characteristics.

Highly effective self-propagating synthesis of CeO2-doped MnO2 catalysts for toluene catalytic combustion

Using a facile new synthesis method, the fabrication of cerium oxide doped birnessite MnO2 (δ-MnO2) catalysts has been operated, for the toluene catalytic combustion. These samples were investigated by XRD, Raman, TEM, BET, H2-TPR and XPS techniques and their catalytic activities were investigated and compared. The catalytic combustion of toluene was investigated as the model reaction for VOCs abatement. The several CeO2/MnO2 based nano composites were accomplished via controlling the molar proportion of potassium permanganate and cerium acetate raw materials. The subtle CeO2 doped δ-MnO2 catalyst displayed better reducibility at lower reduction temperature, with the higher Mn4+/Mn3+ ratio, which converts completely the 1000ppm toluene to CO2 and H2O at 318°C and its T90 is 277°C. The excellent catalytic performance of Mn12Ce1Ox catalyst might be resulted from the synergistic effect between the highly dispersed CeO2 nanoparticles and the δ-MnO2 substrate at their interface. These new observations provide a new perspective on the design of the high activity catalyst for decomposing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs abatement).

Utilization of Siwalan (Borassus flabellifer L) Plantation Waste for Kraft Paper Production

Borassus flabellifer L., one of the palm-based commodities in Indonesia which is grows in dry areas especially around the north coast of Java Island. An abundant waste of this plant is a leaf midrib and fruit fiber have an opportunity as a source of lignocellulose for the paper industry. In this study, Kraft paper production was conducted to know the influence of the proportion of Borassus flabellifer L. leaf midrib pulp and fruit fiber pulp, and the concentration of Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) adhesives on the sensory and physical quality of kraft paper. The research method used was Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two factors. The Friedman test was used to determine the sensory quality of kraft paper. The physical quality of kraft paper was used ANOVA analysis. The results showed that the treatment of raw material proportion and PVAc adhesive concentration had significant effect on color, surface texture, yield, and tensile resistance, but not significantly different between treatment of gramature and tear resistance. The best treatment of sensory tests was kraft paper with proportion of leaf midrib pulp 50% and fruit fiber pulp 50% and a 7.5% PVAc adhesive concentration. It has a yield value of 72.11%, gramature of 162.80 g/m2, tensile strength of 1.70 %, and tear resistance of 197.6 gf.

Assessing the potential sustainability benefits of agricultural residues: Biomass conversion to syngas for energy generation or to chemicals production

Crop residues represent more than half of the world’s agricultural phytomass. Residual biomass, from agriculture or forestry, can be converted into synthesis gas (syngas) to generate energy (electrical or thermal) or chemicals. The paper uses eco-efficiency as a tool to compare these two options. A basis of 1000 kg/hour of residual pecan nut shell residue was considered to estimate the material flow of chemicals that can be produced, as well as the power that can be generated through residual biomass gasification. This study compares two alternate routes: (1) gasification with air, which renders a gas stream with hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and other hydrocarbons, as well as nitrogen; and (2) gasification with steam, where a residual biomass amount is used as fuel, rendering a gas stream like the first route, but without nitrogen. The eco-efficiency index shows that a decrease of environmental influence leads to a high output material flow for the alternative process with higher economic values, thus a higher proportion of input raw materials can be transformed into chemical products. The paper highlights that eco-efficiency can be used as a decision-making tool to choose between transformation processes by combining scientific and technical issues with economic ones. This can help to move towards a better and more sustainable use of natural resources through the utilisation of residual biomass.

ANALISIS STRATEGI DAN PROGRAM PENINGKATAN DAYA SAING PADA INDUSTRI UNGGULAN PROVINSI JAWA TENGAH DALAM MENGHADAPI MASYARAKAT EKONOMI ASEAN (MEA)

The establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), forces industries in Central Java Province shall retain their high level of competitiveness. This study aims to know what kind of industry that can be categorized as leading industry through SLQ, DLQ, combination of the methods and the Shift Share analysis. In addition, this study investigates on how much the level of competitiveness that recently retained by every leading industry in Central Java Province, either national or ASEAN level through RCA. Finally, this study help to formulate strategy to increase and intensify the competitiveness due to the AEC through SWOT Balanced Scorecard analysis. The result showed that, there are industry in Cental Java Province which is included as a leading industy, such as beverage, some agriculture products, manufacturing industries, printing and reproduction of recorded media. There are some Industries that are competitive either national or ASEAN level such as apparel, timber, wood, printing and reproduction of recorded media. While textile and furniture has a level of competitiveness at national level only. The strategy to improve industrial competitiveness in the face of AEC namely SO Strategy to expand the non traditional’s export; ST Strategy to improve the quality of product; WO Strategy by enhancing the quality of skilled human resources to meet market demand; WT Stategy by providing incentivies to industries that are able to perform and increase proportion of raw materials. Firm equity, organizational capital and human capital are ways to do the program of improving industrial competitiveness to welcome AEC.