Raw Materials Research Articles

The Heteropolyacid-Catalyzed Conversion of Biomass Saccharides into High-Added-Value Products and Biofuels

The industrial processes used to produce paper and cellulose generate many lignocellulosic residues. These residues are usually burned to produce heat to supply the energy demands of other processes, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and resulting in a high environmental impact. Instead of burning these lignocellulosic residues, they can be converted into saccharides, which are feedstock for high-value products and biofuels. Keggin heteropolyacids are efficient catalysts for obtaining saccharides from cellulose and hemicellulose and converting them into bioproducts or biofuel. Furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, levulinic acid, and alkyl levulinates are important platform molecules obtained from saccharides and raw materials in the biorefinery processes used to produce fine chemicals and biofuels. This review discusses the significant progress achieved in the development of the processes based on heteropolyacid-catalyzed reactions to convert biomass and their residues into furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, levulinic acid, and alkyl levulinates in homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction conditions. The different modifications that can be performed to a Keggin HPA structure, such as the replacement of the central atom (P or Si) with B or Al, the doping of the heteropolyanion with metal cations, and a proton exchange with metal or organic cations, as well as their impact on the catalytic activity of HPAs, are detailed and discussed herein.

Embedment of Molybdenum Disulfide in Electrospun Fibers as an Integrated Cathode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

As an important component of LIBs, the electrode material plays a crucial role in determining the lithium (Li) storage performance in LIBs. In this study, MoS2 nano-flowers were synthesized using a one-pot hydrothermal method. The resulting MoS2 nano-flower, along with PAN, were used as raw materials for electrospinning. After annealing treatment, MoS2/(carbon nanofibers) CNFs nano-composites coated with carbon fibers were formed. The CNFs coating exhibited electrical conductivity and enhanced structural stability of the MoS2 due to the stabilizing effect of the carbon fibers. Additionally, electrochemical tests, including CV and GCD, indicated that the optimal capacity and cycling stability were achieved when the MoS2 content was 10%. The results indicated that the charge/discharge capacity of MoS2/CNFs-10% at a current density of 100 mA/g was ~650 mAh/g. After the cycling current returned to 100 mA/g, the current recovery was ~600 mAh/g, thereby indicating outstanding cycling stability. Accordingly, our fabrication technique and new insight could both widen design strategy of multicomponent composite electrode materials and promote the practical applications of the latest emerging transition metal sulfides in next-generation high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

Optimizing Basil Seed Vigor Evaluations: An Automatic Approach Using Computer Vision-Based Technique

The short cultivation cycle and high essential oil content of basil plants render them a valuable raw material source for diverse industries. However, large-scale production is hindered by the lack of specific protocols to assess seed vigor; thus, a consistent supply of high-quality seeds that meet consumer demands cannot be ensured. This study investigated the effectiveness of an automated system for seedling analysis as a tool for evaluating basil seed vigor and compared it to traditional tests. For this purpose, seeds from eight commercial lots were evaluated in two separate trials spaced six months apart using the following tests: germination, first germination count, saturated salt accelerated aging, primary root emergence, mean germination time, seedling emergence, seedling emergence speed index, and computerized seedling image analysis. The parameters provided by the system allowed us to clearly and objectively classify the basil seed lots based on vigor, and the results were strongly and significantly correlated with the findings of traditional vigor tests, particularly between the vigor index and seedling length. Digital analysis of four-day-old seedlings proved to be a fast and efficient technique for evaluating basil seed vigor and has the potential for use in automating the data collection and analysis process.

Physical, biochemical, and biological characterization of olive-derived lipid nanovesicles for drug delivery applications

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown great promise as drug delivery system (DDS). However, their complex and costly production limit their development for clinical use. Interestingly, the plant kingdom can also produce EV-like nanovesicles that can easily be isolated and purified from a large quantity of raw material at a high yield. In this study, olive-derived nanovesicles (ODNVs) were isolated from raw fruits using serial centrifugations and their physical and biological features characterized to demonstrate their promising potential to be used as a DDS. Nanotracking particle analysis indicated an average size of 109.5 ± 3.0 nm and yield of 1012 ODNVs/mL for the purest fraction. Microscopy imaging, membrane fluidity assay and lipidomics analysis showed the presence of a rich lipid bilayer that significantly varied between different sources of ODNVs but showed a distinct signature compared to human EVs. Moreover, ODNVs were enriched in PEN1 and TET8 compared to raw fruits, suggesting an extracellular origin. Interestingly, ODNVs size and yield stayed unchanged after exposure to high temperature (70 °C for 1 h), wide pH range (5–10), and 50–100 nm extrusion, demonstrating high resistance to physical and chemical stresses. This high resistance allowed ODNVs to stay stable in water at 4 °C for a month, or with the addition of 25 mM trehalose for long-term freezing storage. Finally, ODNVs were internalized by both 2D and 3D cell culture without triggering significant cytotoxicity and immunogenicity. Importantly, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (dox) could be loaded by passive incubation within ODNVs and dox-loaded ODNVs decreased cell viability by 90% compared to only 70% for free dox at the same concentration, indicating a higher efficiency of drug delivery by ODNVs. In addition, this high cytotoxicity effect of dox-loaded ODNVs was shown to be stable after a 2-week storage at 4 °C. Together, these findings suggested that ODNVs represent a promising candidate as drug nanocarrier for various DDS clinical applications, as demonstrated by their biocompatibility, high resistance to stress, good stability in harsh environment, and improvement of anticancer drug efficacy.

Inactivation of Anisakis simplex Allergens in Fish Viscera by Acid Autolysis

The evisceration of infested species on board commercial fleets and the throwing of viscera into the sea, as is mostly the case for hake, is common practice for reducing the occurrence of Anisakis in fishery products. Moreover, the high levels of infestation and the lack of technically and economically feasible solutions hinder the possibility of recovering viscera with other fish processing byproducts as raw material for feed without the risk of transmission of allergens to humans, with the subsequent risk for public health. The aim of this work was to study the fate of Anisakis simplex allergens during 11 days of silage of infested hake (Merluccius merluccius) viscera, as a potential method for eliminating this risk. While the viscera were almost completely liquefied, an increase in the allergenicity of the soluble fraction was observed, which decreased only slightly after day 9. As we are aware of the resistance of parasite allergens to gastrointestinal enzymes, silage was also analyzed after 12 and 15 months. While the lower molecular weight fragments of Anisakis proteins are fully digested, some larger fragments with potential allergenicity resisted autolysis after long silage periods, but they were present in a very low concentration. The study concludes that there is the potential of silage as a method for recovering fish viscera infested with Anisakis.

New Management Strategy Framework for Effectively Managing Microplastic in Circular System Form Plastic Product Manufacturing to Waste Treatment Facility

In recent years, concerns regarding the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs) have led to increased international attention on these pollutants. Although the initial focus was largely directed toward marine environments, land-based pollution sources, including MP release, have been recognized to directly affect marine ecosystems. Therefore, soil-, atmosphere-, groundwater-, and river-based research is ongoing. However, when considering sources of MP, it is necessary to examine the circular system of plastic in terms of raw materials, production, consumption, discharge, and disposal (recycling). Accordingly, the present study proposes a strategy to effectively manage MPs using this circular system. First, the factors influencing MPs in the circular system were identified, and MPs at the system’s final stage, i.e., at the waste treatment facility, were subsequently investigated. Using the concept of MP waste (MPW), strategies were then developed for effective MP management within the circular system. Applying the proposed theoretical strategy to the Korean waste management system revealed that the new policy framework improves the current MP management system. Overall, this study provides fundamental data for establishing new or improved MP management schemes from a waste sector perspective.

A Novel Cold‐Adapted Catechol 1,2‐Dioxygenase From Antarctic Sea‐Ice Bacterium Halomonas sp. ANT108: Characterization and Immobilization

ABSTRACTThe enzyme catechol 1,2‐dioxygenase (CAT) plays a critical role in the biosynthesis pathway of cis, cis‐muconic acid (CCMA), which serves as an indispensable raw material for various industrial applications. In this research, we cloned a novel cold‐adapted CAT (HaCAT) from the Antarctic sea ice bacterium Halomonas sp. ANT108. Homology modeling analysis revealed that HaCAT possessed the characteristic Fe3+ binding site and catalytic active site of typical CATs, and it exhibited unique structural adaptations to cold environments. The optimal temperature and pH for recombinant HaCAT (rHaCAT) were found to be 25°C and 6.5, respectively. At 0°C, the enzyme retained a maximum activity of 43.6%, and in the presence of 1.0 M NaCl, its activity reached 173.9%, demonstrating significant salt tolerance. Additionally, the Vmax and Km of rHaCAT were 6.68 μmol/min/mg and 128.90 μM at 25°C, respectively. Furthermore, rHaCAT was successfully immobilized in the metal‐organic framework ZIF‐8 and retained almost 50% of its activity after five reuse cycles, demonstrating excellent reusability. Overall, these results provided a new resource and theoretical foundation for the industrial biocatalytic production and modification of CAT.

Problems of precipitation treatment in closed water management systems of industrial enterprises

The article is devoted to solving urgent problems of creating and improving closed water management systems of industrial enterprises. An overview and detailed analysis of the implementation of the federal program “Waste” in the existing regional centers of the Russian Federation is provided. During the analysis, the authors identified and solved the following tasks: justification of the need for the creation of closed water management systems (ZSVH); determination of the subject composition required for the development of SPM; selection of process diagrams and corresponding equipment. The article illustrates the experience of implementing the federal program “Waste” in various regions of the Russian Federation, which testifies to the cooperation of enterprises where industrial waste is generated with enterprises where it is processed and used as raw materials or disposed of. Based on the consideration of the types of industrial effluents and the directions of activities of enterprises, the authors came to the conclusion about the advisability of special treatment of industrial effluents before disposal directly at the site of their formation to obtain a dried final product, which should be carried out in accordance with regulatory requirements in the field of waste management.

Potential of Dry Leaf Waste as A Raw Material for Charcoal Briquettes Preparation as an Alternative Fuel

This research was motivated by the large potential of dry leaf waste in the campus environment of the University of North Sumatra and the awareness of the importance of appropriate innovation in the use of dry leaf waste as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel. The aim of this research was to determine the potential of leaf waste in the campus environment as a raw material for making environmentally friendly charcoal briquettes. The research method was observation, conducted in the campus environment of the University of North Sumatra, followed by calculating the amount of leaf waste produced per day, and testing continued with the production of dry leaf briquettes. The test results of the three combustions with different mixtures of raw materials in each combustion resulted in solid dry leaf briquettes that could ignite well. This study produced briquettes with proximate and ultimate tests that met SNI No.01-6235-2000 standards with a moisture content test of 4.35%, ash content test of 5.65%, carbon content test of 78.68%, calorific value of 6115 cal/g, and a burning rate of 1.5 grams/minute. Briquettes that meet SNI standards can become an environmentally friendly alternative energy source, a source of livelihood, and will certainly have a positive impact on waste management on the campus of the University of North Sumatra.

A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques

AbstractMono-ethylene glycol (MEG) is a high-volume chemical intermediate used as a raw material for a variety of chemical products. It could also be used as a hydrate inhibitor in natural gas. Recently, the importance of MEG has been increased due to its usage as a supporting emulsifier in diesel engines to reduce NOx and soot emissions, in addition to its usage as an additive to dual fuel diesel engines. The increase consumption of MEG in wide range of applications leads to the search for the most efficient, environmental friendly and cost effective technique to produce more quantities of it. MEG is most commonly manufactured via the hydration of ethylene oxide (EO). In this work, two different technologies of EO hydration to produce MEG are compared; the direct hydration of EO with water and the indirect hydration through the usage of ethylene carbonate (EC) as an intermediate. Comparative economic and environmental impact assessments were performed based on plant-scale simulations (per 600,000 tons per year of MEG produced) of the two hydration technologies using Aspen HYSYS version 11 simulation software. Economic analysis showed that the utilities’ energy consumption for direct hydration process is significantly higher than for indirect hydration by 279 megawatts. On the other hand, the environmental impact assessments showed that GHG emissions from natural gas power generation from utilities from direct hydration are three times greater than GHG emissions from indirect hydration. This leads to indirect hydration of ethylene oxide through ethylene carbonate formation being considered economically and environmentally preferable compared to the direct hydration process of ethylene oxide.

Nutrients and Antioxidant Composition of Local Condiment “Ogiri” Produced from Different Leguminous Seeds

‘Ogiri’ refers to a fermented oily paste that is used as soup condiments for its strong smell. Apart from the fact that it’s mostly used in soup preparation because of the strong pungent odour and organoleptic properties, it also impact nutrients to soup. This study investigated the nutrients and antioxidant composition of Ogiri produced from different leguminous seeds. Raw material such as melon (EGU) and sesame (SES) seeds were procured from Oja Oba (Oba Market) in Owo, Ondo State while pumpkin (PUM) and Castor (CAS) seed were purchased at Upper Iweka market, Onitsha Anambra State, Nigeria. The raw materials were processed into ‘Ogiri’ using traditional methods and were subjected to chemical analysis using standard analytical methods.” Data generated were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test at 5% level of significance. Findings shows that the moisture content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in PUM than any other sample. Sample SES was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Ash (10.22g /100g) content, and fibre (11.21g/100g) while EGU was significantly (P<0.05) higher in fat (30.17g/100g) and protein (29.30g/100g). CAS had the highest carbohydrate content (27.58g/100g).Minerals result shows that Na (14.835mg/g), Ca (22.570mg/100g) and Mg (3.351mg/100g) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in sample EGU. Sample SES was significantly higher in K (55.855mg/100g) and Zn (0.308mg/100g), while CAS was significantly lower (P<0.05) in Na (3.45mg/100g), Ca (13.15mg/100g) K, (21.655mg/100g), Zn (0.128mg/100g) and Mg (1.925mg/mg) but has the highest value in P (12,252mg/100g). PUM was significantly higher in Vitamin E (8.270mg/100g), while CAS was significantly higher in vitamin A (7.576UI/g). Sample PUM had the highest Polyphenol and Terpenoid content (106.82mg/g and 1.37mg/g respectively) while sample SES had the highest steroid content (0.92mg/g). In conclusion, this study revealed that the nutrients and antioxidant properties of the “Ogiri” samples vary proportionately. The results can guide farmers, processors, and consumers in making informed decisions regarding seed selection and Ogiri preparation.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is dedicated to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished products on a large scale and included in the economy´s secondary sector. The Scopus database was used for the bibliometric analysis, based on the term {manufacturing}. The better result shows in the function of the number of documents produced: year 2023; source Proceedings of SPIE; author Franke J. and Wang, L.; affiliation Ministry of Education of China; country USA; document type article; scientific area engineering and funding support National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Design Of Dynamic System Simulation Model Of Trash Bin Production Process at Harapan Mulya Putri Company

Harapan Mulya Putri is a manufacturing company established in 2010. This company produces equipment for cleaning or cleaning tools, hotel equipment, restaurant equipment, household equipment, and traffic signs. Problems encountered by Harapan Mulya Putri company that the number of stainless steel trash backorders will reach 28% in 3 months. This study aims to reduce the number of back orders in the production process of stainless steel trash bins. Reducing the number of back orders is done by designing a simulation model of stainless steel trash bin production. The method used is a dynamic system simulation. Three scenarios are used to maximize the fulfillment of consumer demand. The first scenario is a policy of adding raw materials suppliers send, such as 150 units of stainless steel plates. The simulation results for the first scenario resulted in a 75% decrease in back orders. The second scenario is ordering based on the bill of material grouping to optimize raw material utilization. The simulation results of the second scenario reduced back orders by 56.25%. The third policy scenario is combined with the first and second scenarios. The results of the third simulation show that back orders have decreased by 87.5%. Thus, the selected scenario is the third scenario.

HIGH-ADDED VALUE PRODUCTS FROM DISCARDED COOKING OIL

Vegetable oils are widely used in human consumption as food, with increasing productivity. As they are sustainable raw materials, they are suitable substitutes for fossil-derived raw materials and have great potential for producing high-value bioproducts, contributing to sustainability, the economy, and environmental issues. This article explores multiple applications of vegetable oils, highlighting residual oil included in making soaps, biofuels, animal feed, green solvents, bioasphalt, and asphalt binders. It also addresses the treatment of these vegetable oils with enzymes and the methods for converting soybean oil into biofuels, highlighting their properties that favor efficiency and the reduction of pollutant gas emissions. In addition, the extraction and purification processes that make obtaining ingredients with more excellent market value possible are discussed.

Application of PACz-Based Self-Assembled Monolayer Materials in Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

Due to the advantages of low interface resistance, high work function, and high stability, PACz family materials have developed rapidly in p-i-n structure perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in recent years. Numerous studies have shown that PSCs prepared on the basis of PACz family materials or their derivatives as hole transport layers (HTLs) generally exhibit superior performance compared to PSCs prepared on the basis of organic HTL PTAA and inorganic HTL NiOx, especially in terms of stability, demonstrating unparalleled charm. Since the application of PACz-like molecule V1036 as a HTL in PSCs in 2018, research reports on high-performance PSCs based on the PACz family HTL have been widely disseminated. Currently, PSCs based on the PACz HTL exhibit a world record value of 26.7% power conversion efficiency (PCE), breaking the long-standing world record held by n-i-p-structured PSCs, indicating its great potential for application in PSCs. The main problem with using PACz as a HTL is that it exhibits poor wettability toward perovskite precursor solutions, is sensitive to the thickness of the HTL and the roughness of the substrate, has poor thermal stability, and lacks preparation methods, making it difficult to achieve large-area device fabrication. This review summarizes the outstanding achievements of PACz to date, describes the mechanism and unique properties of PACz in PSCs, and looks forward to the future development prospects of PACz.

Process Synthesis, Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Malonic Acid Production

This work focuses on the design and techno-economic evaluation of an industrial facility for the production of malonic acid. The raw material utilized is commercial glucose syrup with a concentration of 95%. Based on a patent of Lygos, Inc., an innovative biotechnology research company, this study presents a comprehensive synthesis, design, and simulation framework for the production of malonic acid through oligosaccharide fermentation. An integrated process flowsheet is proposed and simulated using SuperPro Designer™. The analysis indicates that for an installation capacity of about 8000 MT/yr of the final product with a purity of 99.5%, the production cost is estimated at USD 7.92/kg. A comprehensive study of the capacity’s impact on economics reveals that this cost could decrease to as low as USD 6.05/kg. A parametric analysis and optimization conducted at the flowsheet level identifies opportunities for further reducing production costs, laying the groundwork for a potential decrease in the product’s selling price.

Preparation of NaA zeolite with graphite tailings and its adsorption of ammonia nitrogen.

Environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of graphite tailings (GT) is a significant global challenge. In this study, GT was utilized as a raw material to synthesize NaA zeolite (GTA), with synthesis conditions optimized. The synthesized GTA was characterized by SEM, EDS, BET, XRD, and FTIR, and its ammonia nitrogen (AN) adsorption performance was investigated under varying conditions, including dosage, pH, adsorption time, and temperature. The optimized synthesis conditions were an alkali melting temperature of 700°C, alkali-ore ratio of 1.2:1, aging time of 8h, hydrothermal temperature of 90°C, liquid-solid ratio of 6:1, and hydrothermal time of 8h, yielding a specific surface area of 36.62m2/g. In a 100mg/L AN solution at pH 7 and 30°C, GTA exhibited an adsorption capacity of 13.88mg/g within 1h. The adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherm conforms to the Langmuir model, suggesting that the mechanism involves uniform monolayer adsorption on the surface. The adsorption of AN on zeolite is primarily controlled by chemical rather than physical adsorption. This study provides a foundation for the resource utilization of GT and AN treatment, with practical environmental implications.

Preparation and characterisation of pozzolanic blended cement incorporating various ratio of volcanic basalt

ABSTRACT The construction industry relies heavily on cement and concrete as primary building materials. However, concerns regarding environmental sustainability have prompted efforts to develop more durable and sustainable alternatives to Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the commonly used binder materials with low CO2 emission, where every ton of cement produce about 0.94 ton of carbon dioxide. The present study investigates the partial replacement of clinker with volcanic basalt powder in cement production to produce eco-friendly building materials with low emission of CO2, in addition to conserve the native raw materials from depletion. The replacement was done with various ratios up to 30%. The findings are supported by XRD and FTIR analyses as well as DTG. The results indicate that the use of basalt enhances the mineralogical and physical properties of the cement, resulting in the formation of a pozzolanic cement with sustainable characteristics. Notably, a 15% basalt ratio produces the highest extent of binding cementing phases upon hydration, leading to maximum compressive strength. Further, on increasing in basalt content lead to a decrease in strength, although the compressive strength remains above the target value of 42.5 MPa for 20% and more than 32.5 MPa for 25%.

Environmental Impact of Wind Farms

The aim of this article is to analyse the global environmental impact of wind farms, i.e., the effects on human health and the local ecosystem. Compared to conventional energy sources, wind turbines emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, which helps to mitigate global warming. During the life cycle of a wind farm, 86% of CO2 emissions are generated by the extraction of raw materials and the manufacture of wind turbine components. The water consumption of wind farms is extremely low. In the operational phase, it is 4 L/MWh, and in the life cycle, one water footprint is only 670 L/MWh. However, wind farms occupy a relatively large total area of 0.345 ± 0.224 km2/MW of installed capacity on average. For this reason, wind farms will occupy more than 10% of the land area in some EU countries by 2030. The impact of wind farms on human health is mainly reflected in noise and shadow flicker, which can cause insomnia, headaches and various other problems. Ice flying off the rotor blades is not mentioned as a problem. On a positive note, the use of wind turbines instead of conventionally operated power plants helps to reduce the emission of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM 2.5), which are a major problem for human health. In addition, the non-carcinogenic toxicity potential of wind turbines for humans over the entire life cycle is one of the lowest for energy plants. Wind farms can have a relatively large impact on the ecological system and biodiversity. The destruction of animal migration routes and habitats, the death of birds and bats in collisions with wind farms and the negative effects of wind farm noise on wildlife are examples of these impacts. The installation of a wind turbine at sea generates a lot of noise, which can have a significant impact on some marine animals. For this reason, planners should include noise mitigation measures when selecting the site for the future wind farm. The end of a wind turbine’s service life is not a major environmental issue. Most components of a wind turbine can be easily recycled and the biggest challenge is the rotor blades due to the composite materials used.

Halal procurement strategy for the halal pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to develop a halal procurement strategy for the halal pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative research is based on in-depth interviews, followed by a strength, weakness, opportunity and threat analysis (using analytical network process technique) to develop halal procurement strategies for the halal pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia. Findings Access to halal-certified raw materials is the most difficult issue for pharmaceutical business procurement departments. Because Indonesia is heavily dependent on raw material imports, developing the raw material industry should be a top priority. Recommendations are drafted for the government, pharmaceutical industry and education to strengthen Indonesia’s halal pharmaceutical sector and procurement strategies. Research limitations/implications Few studies have been conducted on halal procurement in the pharmaceutical industry, and case studies are recommended to further explore halal procurement best practices. Quantitative research is also recommended to better understand existing halal procurement strategies and the purchasing process of halal critical items for pharmaceutical industries in Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia. Practical implications Halal critical items sourced for the halal pharmaceutical industry require halal certification, multiple supplier sourcing, evaluation mechanisms and benefit from horizontal collaboration. The main bottleneck for the halal pharmaceutical industry is lack of raw materials with the right halal certificates. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on halal procurement strategies in the pharmaceutical industry. Its findings are relevant to regulatory, technical and business strategies in Muslim-majority countries.