Response Surface Design Research Articles

Using gardenia pigment for ultrasonic natural dyeing of hemp fiber: A step towards sustainable dyeing

In recent years, with the country advocating the establishment of a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society, people have been pursuing a green and healthy quality of life. The non-toxic, harmless, and biodegradable characteristics of grass and wood dyeing have brought this method back to people's lives. Despite the presence of antibacterial substances such as tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis fibers, they are still susceptible to microbial attacks. In recent years, scholars have conducted more research on the separation and purification of gardenia flower pigments, but there has been less analysis on the dyeing fibers and performance testing of gardenia flowers. The renewable characteristics, fewer side effects, and low cost increase the use of natural drugs as antibacterial agents in plant extracts or their active ingredients. This experiment used gardenia flowers as the raw material for dyeing experiments, and the dyeing percentage was used as the inspection index. Ultrasonic dyeing was carried out on hemp fibers after degumming treatment. It also aims to endow these dyed fabrics with natural antibacterial properties. During the sorting process, a liquid bath ratio of 1:20 was selected and experiments were conducted under different parameter variations. During the dyeing process, potassium aluminum sulfate (alum) is used as a mordant, and ultrasound is used as an auxiliary dyeing method. After dyeing, evaluate the fibers based on the percentage of exhaustion of obtained fiber and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. At the same time, the FT-IR analysis, strength, and color fastness of the sorted samples were also checked. Single factor experiments were conducted by controlling the ultrasonic frequency, dyeing temperature, time, and mordant concentration to analyze the effect of gardenia pigment on the dyeing percentage. Response surface design experiments were used to optimize the dyeing process parameters. The research results indicate that the optimal process conditions for dyeing gardenia flowers are ultrasonic power of 85 %, dyeing temperature of 77 ℃, dyeing time of 60 min, and mordant concentration of 15 g/L. The main and secondary order of factors affecting the dyeing effect of hemp fibers is: mordant concentration>ultrasonic power>dyeing temperature. After optimal dyeing process, the hemp fiber shows a bright yellow color with a dyeing percentage of 57.32 %. The single fiber strength is not affected, and the color fastness to water washing and sun exposure meets the requirements for consumption. The infrared spectrum shows good dyeing effect. It has a certain antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus, but the antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli is not significant. Due to these processes, it has been determined that hemp fiber can obtain antibacterial activity through the use of gardenia flowers and can be effectively colored.

Unraveling the Impacts of Germination on the Volatile and Fatty Acid Profile of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) Seeds.

Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) is a promising perennial grain explored for mainstream food applications. This study investigated the effects of different germination temperatures (10, 15, and 20 °C) and durations (2, 4, and 6 days) on IWG's volatile and fatty acid (FA) profiles. A method using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was optimized through response surface design to extract the volatile compounds, achieving ideal extraction conditions at 60 °C for 55 min. Multiple headspace extraction (MHE) was used for volatile compound quantification. Fifty-eight compounds were identified and quantified in IWG flour, mainly alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, terpenes, esters, organic acids, and ketones. The main FAs found were linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), and linolenic acid (C18:3). Principal component analysis showed a direct correlation between volatile oxidation products and FA composition. Germination at 15 °C for 6 days led to a reduced presence of aldehydes and alcohols such as nonanal and 1-pentanol. Therefore, optimized germination was successful in reducing the presence of potential off-odor compounds. This study provides valuable insights into the effects of germination on IWG flour, showing a way for its broader use in food applications.

Sustainable Biodiesel Production via Biogenic Catalyzed Transesterification of Baobab Oil Methyl Ester and Optimization Process

Biomass diesel is one of the sustainable and renewable sources of energy envisaged to hold a prominent position in the world energy infrastructure. In this study, biodiesel was production from baobab seed oil by transesterification using biogenic heterogeneous catalyst, derived from mixed wastes of white chicken eggshells and banana fruit peels. The production process was analyzed and statistically analyzed using Box-Behnken Design-Response Surface Methodology (BBD-RSM). The influential transesterification reaction parameters investigated with their ranges include reaction time (40–80 min), molar ratio of oil to methanol (1:9–1:15) and catalyst weight (3–5 wt%). The nano-catalyst (CaO-BFP-850 NPs) was prepared by calcination at high temperature of 850 °C for 4 h, and its properties were found to contain majorly the basic elements of Ca and K when investigated with analytical instruments such as SEM, EDS, DSC-TGA, FT-IR, and XRD. The regeneration test of the CaO-BFP-850 NPs conducted showed it could be reused for more than four cycles with less catalytic efficiency reduction. The ideal conditions instituted by BBD-RSM was 75 min of reaction time, 12.8:1 molar ratio of oil to methanol, and 4.08 wt% CaO-BFP-850 at 65 °C and 650 rpm constant temperature and agitation speed respectively, with the validated biodiesel yield of 96.70 wt%. The assessment of the quality of the biodiesel produced showed compliance with the standard specifications of ASTM D6751, EN 14241, and SANS 833.

Magnetically targeted lidocaine sustained-release microspheres: optimization, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic radius of effect

ObjectiveThis study aimed to optimize the formulation of magnetically targeted lidocaine microspheres, reduce the microsphere particle size, and increase the drug loading and encapsulation rate of lidocaine. The optimized microspheres...

Finding Robust Response Surface Designs With Blocking Using a Model-Weighted A-Optimality Criterion

This paper proposes a new approach to finding robust response surface designs that can accommodate potential model misspecifications. To achieve this, experimental designs that are robust across all potential models were considered prior to data collection. Blocking effects were combined into all possible models, and the set of all reduced models was obtained using the weak heredity principle. The objective of this study was to propose the use of the geometric mean of A-optimalities as a new weighted A-optimality criterion for finding robust response surface designs. Both a genetic algorithm (GA) and an exchange algorithm (EA) were employed to optimize the weighted A-optimality criterion and compared with the widely used central composite design. The weighted A-optimal designs generated by GA and EA in this study had higher Aw and A-efficiencies than CCD, and the Aw-optimal designs generated by the GA were as or more efficient than the EA.

CCD-RSM optimization of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using Angulyagra oxytropis and Bellamya crassa snail shell-based heterogeneous catalysts

In the present study, labuk tharoi (Angulyagra oxytropis), and ningkhabi tharoi (Bellamya crassa) were utilized to produce CaO catalyst for biodiesel production using waste cooking oil (WCO). The snail shells were calcined at a temperature of 800−1000℃ for 4 h and characterized using XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM, and EDX analysis. Central composite design-response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) was employed, and the input parameters considered for optimization were (i) catalyst calcination temperature (800−1000℃), (ii) methanol: oil ratio (molar) (6:1−12:1), (iii) catalyst loading (3−7 wt.%), and (iv) reaction temperature (55−75℃). A quadratic regression model was aliased by CCD-RSM with R2 values of 0.9291 and 0.976 for waste cooking oil methyl ester-labuk tharoi (WCOME-LT), and waste cooking oil methyl ester-ningkhabi tharoi (WCOME-NT) models indicating a good fit. An optimum biodiesel yield of (95.87, 95.91 %) was obtained at catalyst calcination temperature (891, 886℃), methanol to oil molar ratio (9.89:1, 9.67:1), catalyst loading weight % (7, 7 wt.%), and reaction temperature (75, 75℃) for WCOME-LT and WCOME-NT model respectively. The calcination temperature has a major impact on the biodiesel yield as per analysis of variance. The catalyst reusability was up to four cycles with a biodiesel yield of more than 83 %.

Influence of ultrasound-assisted extraction on the pectin extraction yield and structural characteristics: A case study on carrot pomace (Daucus carota)

For the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of pectin from carrot pomace, the influence of different extraction parameters on the pectin yield and structure was studied. Therefore, an Orthogonal Minimally Aliased Response Surface (OMARS) design and a constant extraction temperature were used. This study showed that pH had the most pronounced effect on the pectin yield and molecular structure, and that a low pH is crucial to liberate pectin from the cell wall matrix. Besides, it was shown that an increased pectin yield can be achieved with an increased ultrasound intensity, provided that the pH is sufficiently low. The optimal UAE conditions resulted in a pectin yield of 57.2 %, while the control extraction, which used the same extraction conditions without the application of ultrasound waves, only resulted in a pectin yield of 37.4 %, showing a significant increase with ultrasonication. Due to the temperature-control during the ultrasonication process, this increased yield can be attributed to the ultrasound waves as such, and not to the accompanying temperature increase. Additionally, shorter extraction times can be used to obtain pectin yields comparable to a conventional acid extraction process. These increased yields and shorter extraction processes show the potential of UAE as an alternative extraction technology.

Optimizing Coreopsis tinctoria Flower Extraction and Inhibiting CML Activity: Box-Behnken Design.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is an uncommon type of cancer of the bone marrow associated with high mortality. Although several effective therapies have been developed to reduce symptoms in patients with CML, many of these methods are associated with side effects. Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (C. tinctoria) is a natural medicinal material that possesses antioxidant and anticancer activities. Yet, its effect in treating leukemia has still not been fully explored. To optimize the C. tinctoria flower extraction process and investigate whether these extracts can impair CML cell survival. The extraction process of C. tinctoria was optimized by the Box-Behnken design response surface method. K562 cells were treated with different volumes (0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 μL) of C. tinctoria flower extracts. The effect of C. tinctoria extract on cell morphology and cell apoptosis was assessed by light microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. We established the following optimized C. tinctoria flower extraction conditions: temperature of 84.4°C, extraction period of 10 mins, solid-liquid ratio of 1:65, and times 4. These conditions were applied for C. tinctoria flower extraction. Pre-incubation of extracts prepared under the aforementioned optimal conditions with K562 cells induced cell cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis. C. tinctoria flower extracts exert obvious anti-leukemia effects in vitro and may be a potential drug candidate for leukemia treatment.

Whole-cell biocatalysis for phthalate esters biodegradation in wastewater by a saline soil bacteria SSB-consortium

Phthalic acid esters (PAE) are widely used as plasticizers and have been classified as ubiquitous environmental contaminants of primary concern. PAE have accumulated intensively in surface water, groundwater, and wastewaters; thus, PAE degradation is essential. In the present study, the ability of a saline soil bacteria (SSB)-consortium to degrade synthetic wastewater-phthalates with alkyl chains of different lengths, such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was characterized. A central composite design-response surface methodology was applied to optimize the degradation of each phthalate, where the independent variables were temperature (21–41 °C), pH (5.3–8.6) and PAE concentration (79.5–920.4 mg L−1), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was used to identify the metabolites generated during phthalate degradation. Optimal conditions were 31 °C, pH 7.0, and an initial PAE concentration of 500 mg L−1, where the SSB-consortium removed 84.9%, 98.47%, 99.09% and 98.25% of initial DEP, DBP, BBP, and DEHP, respectively, in 168h. A first-order kinetic model explained - the biodegradation progression, while the half-life of PAE degradation ranged from 12.8 to 29.8 h. Genera distribution of the SSB-consortium was determined by bacterial meta-taxonomic analysis. Serratia, Methylobacillus, Acrhomobacter, and Pseudomonas were the predominant genera; however, the type of phthalate directly affected their distribution. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that high concentrations (1000 mg L−1) of phthalates induced morphological alterations in the bacterial SSB-consortium. The metabolite profiling showed that DEP, DBP, BBP, and DEHP could be fully metabolized through the de-esterification and β-oxidation pathways. Therefore, the SSB-consortium can be considered a potential candidate for bioremediation of complex phthalate-contaminated water resources.

Development and optimization of a self micro-emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for co-administration of sorafenib and curcumin.

In this study, we developed a novel co-administration of curcumin and sorafenib using a Self micro-emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SMEDDS) called Sorafenib-Curcumin Self micro-emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SOR-CUR-SMEDDS). The formulation was optimized using star point design-response surface methodology, and in vitro cellular experiments were conducted to evaluate the delivery ratio and anti-tumor efficacy of the curcumin and sorafenib combination. The SOR-CUR-SMEDDS exhibited a small size distribution of 13.48 ± 0.61nm, low polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.228 ± 0.05, and negative zeta potential (ZP) of - 12.4 mV. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the SOR-CUR-SMEDDS was 3-fold lower for curcumin and 5-fold lower for sorafenib against HepG2 cells (human hepatocellular carcinoma cells). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and particle size detection confirmed that the SOR-CUR-SMEDDS droplets were uniformly round and within the nano-emulsion particle size range of 10-20nm. The SMEDDS were characterized then studied for drug release in vitro via dialysis membranes. Curcumin was released more completely in the combined delivery system, showing the largest in vitro drug release (79.20%) within 7 days in the medium, while the cumulative release rate of sorafenib in the release medium was low, reaching 58.96% on the 7day. In vitro pharmacokinetic study, it demonstrated a significant increase in oral bioavailability of sorafenib (1239.88-fold) and curcumin (3.64-fold) when administered in the SMEDDS. These findings suggest that the SMEDDS formulation can greatly enhance drug solubility, improve drug absorption and prolong circulation in vivo, leading to increased oral bioavailability of sorafenib and curcumin.

Preparation, optimisation, and properties of O-carboxymethyl chitosan-g-cholesterol succinic acid monoester polymer nanomicelles

Polymer nanomicelles have the advantages of small particle size, improved drug solubility, retention effect and enhanced permeability, so they can be used in the treatment of tumour diseases. The aim of this study was to prepare and optimise a nanomicelle which can improve the solubility of insoluble drugs. Firstly, the carboxyl group of cholesterol succinic acid monoester was grafted with the side chain amino group of O-carboxymethyl chitosan-g-cholesterol succinic acid monoester (CCMC), and its structure was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Particle size has an important impact on tissue distribution, cell uptake, permeability and inhibition of tumour tissue. In this study, particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) were selected as indexes to optimise the preparation process of CCMC nanomicelles through single factor experiment, Plackett-Burman experiment, the steepest climbing experiment and response surface design experiment. The optimised CCMC nanomicelles showed an average particle size of 173.9 ± 2.3 nm and a PDI of 0.170 ± 0.053. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay showed no significant effect on cell viability in the range of 0-1000 μg ml-1concentration. Coumarin-6 (C6) was used as a fluorescent probe to investigate the drug-carrying ability of CCMC nanomicelles. C6-CCMC showed 86.35 ± 0.56% encapsulation efficiency with a drug loading of 9.18 ± 0.32%. Both CCMC and C6-CCMC demonstrated excellent stability in different media. Moreover, under the same conditions, the absorption effect of C6 in C6-CCMC nanomicelles was significantly higher than that of free C6 while also exhibiting good sustained-release properties. Therefore, this study demonstrates CCMC nanomicelles as a promising new drug carrier that can significantly improve insoluble drug absorption.

Design and Evaluation of Ophthalmic Thermosensitive In Situ Gel of Compound Salvia.

The compound Salvia Recipe has been shown to have a relatively significant curative effect in management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This work aimed to prepare a thermosensitive in situ gel (ISG) delivery system that utilizes Poloxamer 407, Poloxamer 188, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose for ocular administration of the compound Salvia recipe to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The central composite design-response surface method was utilized to improve the prescription of the gel. The formulated gel was characterized and assessed in terms of stability, retention time, in vitro release, rheology, ocular irritation, pharmacokinetics studies, and tissue distribution. The gel was a liquid solution at room temperature and became semisolid at physiological temperature, prolonging its stay time in the eye. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution experiments indicated that thermosensitive ISG had enhanced targeting of heart and brain tissues. Additionally, it could lower drug toxicity and side effects in the lungs and kidneys. The compound Salvia ophthalmic thermosensitive ISG is a promising drug delivery system for the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular illnesses.

Modelling of Flank and Crater Wear during Dry Turning of AISI 316L Stainless Steel as a Function of Tool Geometry Using the Response Surface Design

Modelling of Flank and Crater Wear during Dry Turning of AISI 316L Stainless Steel as a Function of Tool Geometry Using the Response Surface Design

Optimization and clinical evaluation of hyaluronic acid proniosome loaded in-situ gel for the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a frequent unpleasant oral condition that causes ulcers. Hyaluronic acid (HY) is an inherent polymer owing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial patterns. D-optimal response surface design was used to investigate the impact of surfactant type (Span 80 or Brij®35) and the concentration of HY (0.5 % or 1), on three selected dependent variables: zeta potential (ζ, ZP, R1), particle size (PS, R2), and entrapment efficiency (%EE, R3). The optimized HYPN was then loaded in thermosensitive in-situ gel. The clinical efficacy in patients with RAS was evaluated by measuring the improvement in pain levels (using the Visual Analog Scale), reduction in ulcer size, enhancement in quality of life (measured by OHIP-14 scores), and analysis of pro-inflammatory Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in saliva samples. The optimized formula obtained a mucoadhesive strength of 26 ± 1.76 N/m2. A burst release of 38 ± 1.56 % after 2 h was obtained followed by 80 ± 2.21 % till 24 h, with a transbuccal flux (Jss) 425 ± 7.9 μg/h.cm2. Clinically, a significant difference (P ≤ 0.001) in pain scores, ulcer diameter, OHIP-14 scores, TAC, and TNF-α between the in-situ gel containing HYPN and the placebo gel was found. The mean values for the number of recurrences at 6 months follow-up were 2.55 ± 1.13 and 4.63 ± 1.75, respectively, before and after treatment. The thermosensitive mucoadhesive in-situ gel seems to be a promising therapeutic choice for RAS treatment.

Application of Hydrothermal Synthesized Titanium Dioxide-Doped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Filtration Properties-Response Surface Methodology Study.

The success of any drilling activity mainly depends on the characteristics of the drilling fluid. Therefore, a high-performance drilling fluid is substantial for any drilling operation. During overbalance drilling operations, the drilling mud invades the permeable formations and causes the loss of circulation, which is responsible for nonproductive time events. Hence, the filtration characteristics of the drilling mud are an imperative property. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the filtration characteristics of water-based mud systems in the presence of polyanionic cellulose (PAC) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/TiO2 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were synthesized by using the hydrothermal technique. For the first time, a composite of MWCNTs and TiO2 has been utilized as a fluid loss control additive in the petroleum sector, marking a significant development in the field. The filtration properties of water-based mud were assessed at two concentrations (0.35 g and 3.5 g). Furthermore, based on the two levels (concentrations) and two factors (particles), the novel application of the central composite response surface design of experiment (CCD) was implemented. The results showed that the predicted model from CCD was in good agreement with the filter press experimental result with R 2 = 0.8446. Furthermore, based on the ANOVA analysis, the concentration of MWCNTs/TiO2 nanoparticles was the most significant parameter with p-value < 0.05. In addition, 10 out of 13 experimental points fall under the ±10% error window, thus indicating a higher accuracy of the regression model. The 2D interactive plots further show that the concentration of PAC is insignificant and has no considerable influence on fluid loss control, which was also validated by p-value > 0.05. The performance of MWCNTs/TiO2 nanoparticles is superior to PAC because these nanodimension particles plug the pore-spacing and block the permeation channels on the filter paper. However, the PAC, because of its long molecular chain, entangles around the pore spaces and plugs the microsize pores, which eventually reduces the filtration loss volume up to some extent. By observing the synergistic interaction between MWCNTs/TiO2 nanoparticles and PAC, this study develops valuable insights that assist in improving the performance of drilling fluid and minimizes the wellbore instability issues in the oil and gas sector.

Extraction of Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Atlantic Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa) Viscera Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

This study explores the potential of Cucumaria frondosa (C. frondosa) viscera as a natural source of omega-3 FAs using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction. The extraction conditions were optimized using a response surface design, and the optimal parameters were identified as 75 °C and 45 MPa, with a 20 min static and a 30 min dynamic extraction, and a 2:1 ethanol to feedstock mass ratio. Under these conditions, the scCO2 extraction yielded higher FAs than the solvent-based Bligh and Dyer method. The comparative analysis demonstrated that scCO2 extraction (16.30 g of FAs/100 g of dried samples) yielded more fatty acids than the conventional Bligh and Dyer method (9.02 g, or 13.59 g of FAs/100 g of dried samples with ultrasonic assistance), indicating that scCO2 extraction is a viable, green alternative to traditional solvent-based techniques for recovering fatty acids. The pre-treatment effects, including drying methods and ethanol-soaking, were investigated. Freeze-drying significantly enhanced FA yields to almost 100% recovery, while ethanol-soaked viscera tripled the FA yields compared to fresh samples, achieving similar EPA and DHA levels to hot-air-dried samples. These findings highlight the potential of sea cucumber viscera as an efficient source of omega-3 FA extraction and offer an alternative to traditional extraction procedures.

Optimizing the Extraction of Protein from Defatted Schizochytrium Cell Residues and Studying the Emulsification Characteristics of Protein

In this study, proteins were prepared from Schizochytrium pombe residue after oil extraction using isoelectric point precipitation, and their physicochemical and emulsifying properties were investigated. Our objective was to assess the suitability of these proteins for functional ingredient applications. Through a one-way experiment and optimization using response surface design, the effects of time, temperature, pH, and the material–liquid ratio of NaOH alkaline extraction were explored. The isoelectric point is verified by isoelectric point precipitation; the results revealed that crude protein from Schizochytrium (SCP) is minimally soluble at pH 4.2. Compared with whey protein (WP), it promotes better emulsion stability through the emulsification test. This study suggests that Schizochytrium oil-processing byproducts represent a promising source of protein, with potential applications as functional ingredients, offering implications for the usage of these byproducts in various industries.

Study and Optimization of the Formation Step of Next Generation Li-Ion Cells Using Design of Experiments (DOE) Methodology

The importance of the formation step in the Li-ion cell assembly process is often underestimated both in terms of economic impact due to its elevated cost [1] (Left Figure 1, with more than one third of cell finishing cost), but also in terms of electrochemical performance influence mainly driven by the Solid-Electrolyte-Interphase (SEI) formation during this first charge of the Li-Ion cell after its activation by electrolyte [2].In this study concerning the optimization of the formation step, we will use the design of experiments (DOE) methodology as this approach is a powerful tool that allows evaluating the effect of numerous parameters (including their linear, quadratic or interaction terms) on selected responses of interest with a limited number of trials when the experimental resources (including testing time, number of cells...) are limited.The formation step is generally divided in several sub-steps that includes many parameters [3,4] with some of them illustrated on the right figure 1: different current densities during the successive constant current steps, the different temperatures associated for each of these sub-steps that can also be of different durations and/or associated with limitations in states of charge. Additionally, specific electrolyte additives maybe used to improve the efficiency and quality of the formation step especially to modify the chemistry of the SEI....In our case, we present here a first approach using a screening design that is a specific type of DOE particularly adapted when the number of factors is elevated. Screening designs especially allow precising the first order input factors on the selected responses of interest, in our case Initial Coulombic Effciciency (ICE), resistance, discharge capacity; cyclability...The experimental data are generated thanks to the use of industrial dry (i.e. unactivated) NMC532/Graphite pouch-cells of 0.435 Ah. These dry cells allowed us including electrolyte factors in the DOE. Considering 8 different factors, a total of 17 trials were defined in the DOE that was set with MINITAB software. The full analysis of the DOE will be presented with the main effects for each response combined with the Pareto diagrams. These results will give general trends to define better conditions for the formation step and improve the cell performances.In a next step, we plan to pursue this approach with a surface response design on the selected first order factors, to enable a quantification of the performances and an optimization of the formation step. The study will also be completed by post-mortem analysis such as XPS studies to better correlate the formation step parameters with the SEI characteristics (chemistry, thickness...). Boston Consulting Report (2018). E Peled, S. Menkin. SEI: Past, Present and Future. Electrochem. Soc. 164 (7), 2017, A1703-C. Chiang, M.-S. Wu, J.-C. Lin. A Novel Dual-Current Formation Process for Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries. Electrochem. Solid State Letters 8 (8), 2005, A423S. Zhang, K. Xu, T. R. Jow. Optimization of the Forming Conditions of the Solid-State Interface in the Li-Ion Batteries. J. Power Sources 130 (1-2) 2004, 281–285 Figure 1

Optimization of calcined eggshell as an effective coagulant for treating colloidal particles in complex effluents in the CPCP industry: mechanistic insights, scale-up design, and comparative analysis with alum

Highly turbid industrial effluent poses significant challenges to environmental sustainability. In this study, we investigated the optimal aggregation kinetics for the removal of colloidal and turbid particles in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products (CPCP) industrial effluent using calcined eggshell (CES) and industrial-grade aluminum sulfate as flocculants. The effluent characteristics were determined following ASTM specifications, and process optimization was carried out using a response surface design approach. The optimal operating conditions at a settling time of 3 min were found to be pH 8, 0.2 g/L dosage of CES, pH 10, and 0.3 g/L of alum dosage. The flocculation efficiencies of CES and alum were found to be 80% and 78%, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of both flocculants in removing colloidal particles and reducing turbidity in CPCP effluent. Mechanistic studies revealed that CES achieved particle removal through enmeshment and inter-particle bridging with a significant aggregation rate (1.3 × 10−7) and a lower floc breakup tendency (2.8 × 10−14) compared to alum-sweep flocculation. The hydrodynamics at a velocity gradient of 269s−1 ≤ G ≤ 29s−1 indicated spontaneous agglomeration within a flocculation period of ≤10 min, indicating rapid and efficient particle removal. The findings of this study justify the use of CES as a sustainable and effective option for the removal of colloid/turbid particles from CPCP effluent. The optimized operating conditions and mechanistic insights into the flocculation process contribute to establishing an optimized sedimentation geometry, with specified aspect ratio, detention time, hypothetical settling, and sludge depth for CES, ensuring the favorable stability of the finished CPCP effluent before discharge.

A computationally efficient approach of tuned mass damper design for a nuclear cabinet based on two-step machine learning and optimization methods

Enhancing nuclear power plant (NPP) safety is demanded because of the recent beyond-design-basis earthquake near a NPP. Therefore, research on improving the seismic performance of the electrical cabinet, which ensures the safe operation of NPPs, is needed. In this paper, a tuned mass damper (TMD) is employed to control the seismic response of cabinet. To design the TMD, we employ existing design equations or perform numerical model–based optimization. However, limitations, such as inconsistencies with targeted control of the load and structure, the possibility of converging a local solution, and the high cost of numerical analysis. Therefore, this paper proposes a two-step machine learning and optimization method. Such an approach is utilized to find the optimal global design solution and reduce numerical analysis costs. Each step involves the design of experiment (DOE), response surface, and optimization. Notably, range setting in the DOE accounts for the difference between each step. In the first step, the sampling range is widened to determine the relationship between the design variables and the cabinet's response, and in the second step, the sampling range is narrowed depending on the result of the first step. Consequently, the proposed method reduced the cabinet's response by 35.4 % on average and numerical analysis cost declined by 1/3.