Product Recovery Research Articles

Enhanced Modeling and Control of Organic Rankine Cycle Systems via AM‐LSTM Networks Based Nonlinear MPC

ABSTRACTThe organic Rankine cycle (ORC) serves as an effective means of converting low‐grade heat sources into power, playing a pivotal role in environmentally friendly production and energy recovery. However, the inherent complexity, strong and unidentified nonlinearity, and control constraints pose significant challenges to designing an optimal controller for ORC systems. To address these issues, this research introduces a novel modeling and control framework for ORC systems. Leveraging an attention mechanism‐based long short‐term memory (AM‐LSTM) network, the dynamic characteristics of ORC systems, which are subject to non‐Gaussian disturbances, are accurately modeled. A performance metric based on survival information potential (SIP) is developed to optimize the network parameters. Furthermore, a multi‐objective optimization approach that integrates nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) with the multiverse optimizer (MVO) algorithm is implemented to ensure effective control under varying operating conditions and constraints. Through extensive simulations, the proposed framework demonstrates superior accuracy, robustness, and control performance for ORC systems.

Do bigger farms suffer less from corruption? Anti‐corruption efforts and the recovery of livestock production

Do bigger farms suffer less from corruption? Anti‐corruption efforts and the recovery of livestock production

Carbon-Chalcogenide Cross-Coupling Reactions in Water

: Over the past two decades, researchers have witnessed the synthesis of diaryl sulfides and diaryl selenides via transition metals-mediated carbon-heteroatom cross-coupling reactions in the presence of various organic and inorganic solvents. The use of water as a clean and environmentally friendly solvent in cross-coupling chemistry of C-S/Se bond formations has attracted profound interest owing to its availability, non-toxicity, low cost and renewability. The most commonly used solvents have been recognized as being of environmental concern, but the use of green and eco-friendly solvents like water is frequently considered with respect to the recovery of catalysts, isolation of products, and recycling. The fundamental interactions between the water and the transition metal catalysts or ligands are viewed from mechanistic aspects, which mostly favours the rational selection of high-performance and safe solvents. In this article, the authors intended to focus extensively on the critical role of water in various transition metals mediated C-S/Se cross-coupling methodologies.

Green preparation and isolation of carrageenan oligosaccharides and assessment of their ability to inhibit melanogenesis

An efficient method was developed for generating carrageenan oligosaccharides, a high-value material with health benefits for humans. The study used microwave-assisted mild acid hydrolysis of κ-carrageenan to achieve complete liquefaction. Under optimal reaction conditions, the yield of κ-carrageenan disaccharide (KCO2) was 22.90% ± 0.80%, with a total sugar product recovery rate of approximately 90%, while retaining the sulfate groups. Different degrees of polymerization (DP) carrageenan oligosaccharides with 4-sulfate-D-galactose (D-G4S) as the non-reducing end were obtained, with purities of over 90% for both KCO2 and κ-carrageenan tetrasaccharide (KCO4). KCO2 was identified as the oligosaccharide with the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Enzyme kinetics studies revealed that KCO2 exhibited typical reversible competitive inhibition, with an IC50 of 1.09 ± 0.04 mg/mL and a Ki value of 0.16 ± 0.01 mg/mL. Molecular docking showed that KCO2 primarily interacted with key His residues at the tyrosinase active site through its sulfate groups. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that the KCO2-tyrosinase complex structure was stable. These findings show that the carrageenan oligosaccharides generated by this strategy could be used as tyrosinase inhibitors in the food, cosmetic, and nutraceutical fields.

HARNESSING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ADDRESS RISING INSECURITY, INEFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges: rising insecurity, ineffective governance (kakistocracy), and economic downturns. AI’s ability to analyze vast datasets, predict outcomes, and optimize processes positions it as a critical tool for mitigating the impacts of these complex issues. In the realm of security, AI enhances threat detection and prevention through predictive policing, real-time surveillance, and cybersecurity solutions. Tools like machine learning algorithms and anomaly detection systems can proactively identify and neutralize threats ranging from terrorism to cyberattacks. In governance, AI-driven technologies can improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency by automating bureaucratic processes and enabling data-driven policymaking. Block chain-integrated AI systems, for example, ensure tamper-proof public transactions, reducing corruption and inefficiency in public administration. Meanwhile, economic downturns can be mitigated using AI’s predictive capabilities, which allow early identification of financial crises, and its role in optimizing automation can boost productivity and streamline recovery efforts. However, deploying AI is not without risks. Issues such as bias, privacy infringements, and the centralization of power must be carefully addressed to avoid unintended consequences, such as exacerbating inequalities or enabling authoritarianism. This paper explores the multifaceted applications of AI in these contexts, underscoring its promise and the necessity for robust ethical and regulatory frameworks to guide its implementation. Through balanced integration, AI can serve as a powerful ally in navigating global insecurity, governance challenges, and economic instability.

New insights into typical biodegradable plastics in rapid pyrolysis: Kinetics, product evolution and transformation mechanism

Biodegradable plastics (BP) have undergone rapid development in the field of replacing traditional packaging plastics. However, their recycling and disposal systems are unclear, and the standards are different, causing new environmental pollution. The rapid and appropriate disposal of BP has become a worthy direction of exploration. Here, rapid pyrolysis technology was used to explore the recycling of BP, and the product evolution and transformation mechanism of typical BP (BP1∼BP4) were analyzed. The results show that the main reaction stages of BP pyrolysis are concentrated at approximately 260∼450 °C. Most of the heat treatment stages of BP conform to the random nucleation and nuclear growth model An (n = 1.5, 2, 2.5. 3). The gaseous products of BP pyrolysis were mainly 1, 3-butadiene. The top four pyrolysis components are the same for the liquid products of BP1, BP2, and BP4, which are mainly benzoic acid (42.54%–44.67%). However, the proportion of polycyclic aromatic substances in the products of the BP3 pyrolysis solution was as high as 63.85%. For the transformation mechanism, BP containing polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene terephthalate-adipate (PBAT) is mainly composed of C–O bond fractures at the ester group and intramolecular hydrogen transfer to form a carboxyl group and CC. This study of BP pyrolysis provides an important scientific basis and theoretical reference for its rational and rapid treatment and product recovery and reuse.

Threads untangled: Regional mapping of post-consumer textile management

In the coming decade, the EU intends to intervene in the textile value chain to steer it towards sustainability and circularity. As part of this effort, post-consumer textile (PCT) management should align with the waste hierarchy. This study employs material flow analysis (MFA) to examine and compare PCT management in two European regions: Flanders (Belgium) and the Netherlands. Additionally, future scenarios provide insights into transformations of PCT management toward 2030. The results show that Flanders outperformed the Netherlands in 2018, with a higher share of PCTs being collected separately, going to product recovery, local reuse, and material recovery. However, in both regions, there is still much potential to increase the recovery of products or materials. In 2018, local reuse was at only 4 % in Flanders and 2 % in the Netherlands. Most materials were still lost through incineration, with 52 % in Flanders and 62 % in the Netherlands. Even so, the future scenarios indicate that the Netherlands’ greater policy ambitions, with specific targets aimed at higher circular strategies, such as local reuse and closed-loop recycling, can result in more circular PCT management toward 2030. Hence, when designing interventions, policymakers should go beyond targets on separate collection to successfully steer the waste management of PCT toward circularity. This study shows how MFA-based monitoring provides a good overview of a specific system, allowing for a high level of transparency. Therefore, monitoring PCT management is key to developing informed policies and effective targets.

Advancing biorefineries with ultrasonically assisted ionic liquid-based delignification: Optimizing biomass processing for enhanced bio-based product yields

Encouraging sustainable business needs utilization of bio-based substrate for green manufacturing of chemicals and fuels to achieve sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. One of the abundantly available bio-based substrates is lignocellulosic (LC) biomass, which requires effective pretreatment to fractionate into its structural biocomponents to maximize biorefinery potential. This study addresses the use of an inexpensive ionic liquid (triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate) [T2220][HSO4] in an ultrasound-assisted process as an environmentally acceptable pretreatment method for the delignification of LC biomass, specifically rice straw (RS). Using ionic liquid (IL)-assisted (IL, acid-IL, and alkali-IL) pretreatment procedures, the effects of IL volume, sonication time, and temperature were methodically examined for RS delignification. To evaluate the compositional changes in pretreated and raw RS, instrumental analyses were carried out. The maximum rates of 47 %, 55 %, and 64 % for the only IL, acid-IL, and alkali-IL treatments demonstrated the effect of temperature, operating time, and IL concentration on the delignification efficiency. The alkali-IL pretreatment was noteworthy for achieving a 64 % delignification rate under optimum values of IL volume (8.65 mL), sonication time (123 min), and temperature (82 °C). Artificial neural networks (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM) were used for process modeling and optimization. With an accuracy of 0.989 in correlation coefficient, the ANN model outperformed the RSM regression model regarding forecasting delignification performance. Biorefinery of renewable biomass resources ensures the sustainable supply of materials, chemicals, and fuels. The delignification and downstream product recovery technologies are major limiting factors in the commercialization of biomass processing. The suggested [T2220][HSO4]-based ultrasonic approach provides a viable way to boost biomass valorization efficiency, which in turn improves economical and sustainable biorefinery and aids in the shift to green bio-based production.

Enhancing waste management in batang regency: Integrating circular economy principles with life cycle assessment and material flow analysis

Batang Regency encountered persistent waste management challenges, requiring effective mitigation strategies. This study evaluated residential waste management utilizing life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA) to propose sustainable plans. Three scenarios were compared: the current conditions (Scenario 1) had the highest environmental impact. In contrast, Scenarios 2 and 3, which included sorting and recycling processes, demonstrated improved energy and product recovery, making them more sustainable. The results indicated that Scenario 1 had a global warming potential (GWP) of up to 1.65E+04 CO2 eq/t MSW, Scenario 2 had up to 2.88E+03 CO2 eq/t MSW, and Scenario 3 had up to 3.08E+03 03 CO2 eq/t MSW. Scenario 2 exhibited a lower GWP than Scenario 1, while Scenario 3, although higher in GWP, was recommended for excluding landfills. These findings highlighted the potential for waste sorting improvements and adjustments to classified waste treatment with environmental regulations, supporting sustainability in Batang Regency's waste management.

Oxygen and pH fluxes in shallow bay habitats: Evaluating the effectiveness of a macroalgal forest restoration.

Marine macroalgae are important primary producers in coastal ecosystems. Within sheltered and shallow bays in the Mediterranean, various Fucalean macroalgae and seagrasses coexist, creating habitats of high ecological importance. These habitats have historically suffered from various disturbances, and on this basis, active restoration actions have been proposed as potential solutions for their recovery. Here, we assessed the restoration success of a 10-year restored macroalgal forest by evaluating the recovery in terms of oxygen and pH fluxes and comparing those data with those of a healthy marine forest and a degraded habitat counterpart. We estimated the overall changes in dissolved oxygen and pH using light and dark community insitu incubations. We also determined the biomass and composition of macroalgal and macroinvertebrate compartments of each assemblage. During light incubations, the healthy and restored forest assemblages showed similar average net oxygen production, 5.7 times higher than in the degraded one, and a greater increase in pH. More than 95% of the incubated biomass corresponded to macroalgal and seagrass species. The restored forest showed a six-fold increase in biomass, most likely being responsible for the recovery of primary production. This work provides empirical evidence that the restoration of a single structural species, once successful in the early stages, can yield positive results by recovering processes such as primary production and dark respiration. Moreover, these results showcase differences in ecosystem functions between healthy (either mature or restored) and degraded habitats, highlighting the importance of protecting and preserving coastal marine forests.

Utilization of molasses Wastewater for enzymatic fermentation in bioethanol production and residual glucose recovery

Molasses liquid waste (MLW) is a byproduct of the bioethanol production process from sugar cane molasses, typically containing approximately 10 % v/v glucose. This study investigates the use of enzymatic fermentation with turbo yeast to enhance bioethanol production from MLW while minimizing fermentation time. Various volumes of MLW, ranging from 500 to 2500 mL, were pretreated to remove impurities and then stirred for 30 min prior to fermentation. Fermentation was carried out using turbo yeast concentrations of 2 to 6 % v/v over durations of 4 to 12 days, with the pH maintained at 4.5 to achieve a bioethanol content of 21.92 % v/v. Optimization of the fermentation process was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Results indicated that an optimized condition of 3 % v/v turbo yeast and an 8-day fermentation period yielded the highest bioethanol content while minimizing residual glucose to approximately 2.04 % v/v. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing fermentation parameters to maximize bioethanol yield from MLW.

Temporal Trends in Soil Health and Productivity on Reclaimed Natural Gas Pipeline Rights‐of‐Way on Cropland

ABSTRACTThe construction of underground pipelines negatively impacts soil productivity in various ecosystems. However, the temporal progression in the recovery of soil productivity following the reclamation of cropland impacted by natural gas pipeline rights‐of‐way (ROWs) construction remains unclear. This study examined temporal, post‐reclamation changes in selected soil health indicators and productivity on reclaimed underground natural gas pipeline ROWs on cropland. Soil and crop samples were collected from ROWs ranging in time elapsed since reclamation (TSR) from 6 to 12 years and from adjacent undisturbed locations (off‐ROW) in the same field. The soil samples were analyzed for soil health indicators (permanganate‐oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil respiration, and autoclaved citrate‐extractable (ACE) protein) and selected chemical properties. Crop samples were assessed for grain and total biomass yields as well as grain protein content. Compared to the off‐ROW, soil organic C on the ROWs was 29% (6‐year ROW) and 33% (9‐year ROW) lower than on the off‐ROWs. Soil respiration recovered within 6 years of ROW reclamation, whereas it took 12 years for POXC and ACE protein to recover to off‐ROW levels. Grain and biomass yields 12 years post‐reclamation were still 42% and 36%, respectively, lower on the ROWs than on the off‐ROWs. However, measured soil attributes recovered faster than crop variables, indicating that pipeline construction on cropland has longer‐term impacts on crop yields than on soil attributes. These results indicate that, although underground pipeline construction has detrimental impacts on soil and crop attributes, these attributes would slowly recover to pre‐construction levels with increasing TSR.

Entrance Lengths for Fully Developed Laminar Flow in Eccentric Annulus

Abstract We study the entrance length in eccentric annular geometries, where the axes of the inner and outer pipes forming the annulus are offset from each other. Such geometries are considered relevant for several industrial applications, such as drilling of wells for hydrocarbon production or geothermal energy recovery, as well as biomedical research involving annular vessels. Previous studies have shown that eccentricity increases the entrance length in annular geometries, and this has been attributed to azimuthal redistribution of fluid between the wide and narrow sides of the annulus. The present computational study aims to increase the understanding of entrance lengths in eccentric annuli for laminar flow with Reynolds numbers spanning the range from the creep limit and up to intermediate laminar values, below the regime of annular gap instabilities. We find that the entrance lengths in eccentric annuli generally increase for narrower annular gaps (higher aspect ratios). Moreover, the entrance lengths in the annuli with higher aspect ratios are also more sensitive to the degree of eccentricity compared to wider annuli (lower aspect ratios). We report empirical correlations for the dimensionless entrance length using the same form as earlier studies (Le = [C0n + (C1 Re)n ]1/n ). We find that eccentricity, which breaks the axial symmetry of the annulus and causes azimuthal flow in the entrance region, impacts the value of the exponent n, which has been assigned the value of 1.6 in previous studies of axisymmetric conduits.

Enhancing end-of-life product recyclability through modular design and social engineering optimiser

Amidst the thriving landscape of manufacturing, the vision of sustainability in Industry 5.0 is becoming increasingly significant. The implementation of recycling represents a crucial step in the pursuit of sustainability, particularly in light of the mounting challenge posed by the proliferation of end-of-life (EOL) products. Addressing this challenge, we propose a novel Design for Modular Recyclability (DFMR) approach aimed at facilitating the recycling of EOL products. Our study develops a multi-objective optimisation model with a focus on maximising green recyclability and independence while minimising aggregation. We introduce an innovative Social Engineering Optimiser (SEO) to simulate behavioural patterns in complex environments, aiding in identifying and implementing effective strategies for optimal or near-optimal results in diverse scenarios. The practical effectiveness of the proposed models and algorithms is demonstrated by applying them to a real-life case study in an internal combustion engine, followed by performance comparisons with existing well-established multi-objective optimisation algorithms. The findings of our study demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed DFMR model, offering a novel approach for decision-makers to undertake EOL product recovery. This contributes to the further exploration of complex and promising paths towards sustainable manufacturing and green production that are more in line with Industry 5.0.

Research on the stimulation mechanism of well shut-in imbibition and parameter optimization during fracturing-flooding

ABSTRACT In the development of low-permeability tight oil reservoirs, fracturing-flooding technology, with its dual advantages of “fracture creation and energy replenishment, and displacement by imbibition,” effectively addresses challenges such as poor water injection and low oil recovery. However, the mechanism of oil-water migration within the reservoir and the enhanced oil recovery during the shut-in imbibition process remain unclear, and the construction parameters are primarily based on empirical data. In this study, focusing on the Y block in the Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, we conducted dynamic imbibition experiments and utilized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology to analyze the key factors influencing imbibition-driven oil displacement and the microscopic oil-water migration mechanisms within the pore space. Numerical simulation was then employed to optimize the construction parameters for fracturing-flooding operations. The results indicate that displacement and imbibition primarily occur in medium-sized pores, while the poor connectivity of micro- and small-sized pores leads to suboptimal effects. The shut-in process provides favorable conditions for imbibition displacement, allowing oil in small and medium pores to be further displaced into fractures. The main factors affecting imbibition efficiency include core permeability (optimal range: 1.5 mD to 4 mD), fracture length (approximately 2/3 of the core length), fracturing-flooding fluid concentration (optimal around 0.2%), and shut-in time (optimal range: 24 to 48 hours). Based on production capacity simulations, the optimal construction parameters for the Y block include an injection rate of 1152 to 1440 m3/min, a total injection volume of 20,000 to 25,000 m3, and a shut-in time of 30 to 45 days. The application of these optimized parameters resulted in an increase in the average daily oil production in the Y block from 4.4 tons to 7.7 tons, demonstrating a significant enhancement in reservoir productivity and oil recovery.

Recovery of waste anode materials in solid oxide fuel cells

This study focuses on the recovery and recycling of production wastes from solid oxide cell (SOC) anode support manufacturing, specifically targeting the state-of-the-art NiO-YSZ (yttria stabilized zirconia) materials. A practical recovery strategy involving a burn-out process to remove additives is developed, followed by milling to manage grain growth and achieve desirable powder properties. The various reclaimed powders obtained after milling at different conditions are subsequently used to fabricate anode support microtubes through extrusion and tape casting coupled with isostatic pressing. Microtubular cells are also constructed on these supports. Comparative analyses of the mechanical and electrochemical performance, along with microstructural investigations, are conducted on supports and cells fabricated from both recovered and commercial powders. The findings indicate that anode supports fabricated from powders recovered through the suggested method exhibit flexural strengths and electrochemical performances comparable to those fabricated from commercial powders, thereby validating the effectiveness of the proposed recovery strategy.

Intelligent Optimization and Impact Analysis of Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction in the High-Temperature Sintered Ore Production Process.

The coordinated optimization of energy conservation, efficiency improvement, and pollution reduction in the sintering production process is vital for the efficient and sustainable development of the sintering department. However, previous studies have shown shortcomings in the multi-objective collaborative optimization of sintering systems and the quantification of pollutant impacts. To address these, this paper proposes a multi-objective optimization method integrated with the NSGA-III algorithm and establishes an integrated system optimization model for sintered ore production and high-temperature waste heat recovery. The results demonstrate significant improvements: energy utilization efficiency increased by 0.67%, energy consumption decreased by 17.3 MJ/t, production costs were reduced by 11.45 CNY/t, and the emissions of CO2, SO2, and NOx were reduced by 0.464 kg/t, 0.034 kg/t, and 0.008 kg/t, respectively. Additionally, the study identified optimal configuration parameters and analyzed the quantitative impact of several key factors on multiple indicators. The results also show that reducing the water content of the mixture, decreasing the middling coal content in the fuel, and increasing the thickness of the material layer are effective strategies to reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions in the sintering process. Overall, implementing these optimizations can bring significant economic and environmental benefits to the steel industry.

Process swing adsorption with selective purge gas recirculation (PSA-SPUR): Adsorption process technology optimised for separation of heavy component from a gas mixture and its design for CO2 capture through Equilibrium Theory analysis

PSA-SPUR (Pressure Swing Adsorption with Selective Purge Gas Recirculation) has been developed aimed at separating the most strongly adsorbing component from a gas mixture at high product purity and recovery. The innovative strategy for designing a Pressure Swing Adsorption system features recycling its purge gas stream exiting the column and mixing it back into the feed. This operation enriches the mixed feed with an elevated fraction of the heavy component during the adsorption step, thus enhancing the PSA’s performance greatly. Reusing the purge gas helps significantly increase the product recovery compared to conventional methods where purge gas is simply discarded or taken as a low-quality product. For theoretical analysis of a PSA-SPUR system, a bespoke Equilibrium Theory model was developed and solved successfully, providing valuable insights into the performance of the PSA-SPUR system designed for capturing CO2 from a flue gas. The study revealed that there exists an optimum extent of purging that maximises the heavy component mole fraction in the mixed feed, leading to the best possible feed throughput of the adsorption system. Furthermore, the effects of the desorption pressure and feed composition on the PSA-SPUR system’s performance were investigated. The results indicate that the CO2 capture PSA-SPUR system using commercial zeolite 13X has excellent potential to achieve very high product purity and recovery, being allowed to operate at moderate vacuum pressures without having to compress the flue gas feed, even when the gas feed contains less than 10 mol% CO2.

Optimization based process modeling of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor system: Application to swine wastewater

To maintain current levels of consumption in the economy with the dwindling supply of non-renewable material and energy, alternative resource streams more traditionally viewed as waste streams must be considered. Fermentation of high-strength wastewaters is one such pathway that allows for the recovery of energy, nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon compounds. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are an emerging technology that allow for the digestion of wastewater in a much smaller footprint than traditional anaerobic digesters. Adoption of this technology into industry has been limited by membrane capital and cleaning costs, but these costs may be offset through the recovery of valuable products. To evaluate the viability of AnMBR technology in the context of swine wastewater treatment, an optimization-based process model built upon Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) has been developed. Modeling results show that a swine wastewater stream provides potential for net positive energy generation from the AnMBR system in most cases. Sensitivity analyses around important variables were conducted to determine focus areas for future research into AnMBR technology and evaluate the robustness of the model to microbial variables that may change with different microbial communities.

Effects of Particle Exit Diameter on the Performance of a Gas-Solid Cyclone Separator of High Solid Loading Designed for a Circulating Fluidized Adsorption Refrigeration System

In applications such as in chemical, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology and food industries where cyclones are used for product separation and recovery, the gases carry a product rather than a waste in which the solid loadings (Co) can be much higher. Ensuring efficient products separation and recovery from the air stream without damaging their characteristics becomes so crucial. It is therefore highly imperative to consider the effects of the particle (product) exit design on the cyclone performance for optimization purposes. The effects of particle exit diameter (