Sustainable Production Processes Research Articles

Compressed fluid-based technology for downstream isolation of bluish anthocyanin-derived pigments obtained from blueberry surplus.

A dynamic compressed fluid-based separation process combining carbon dioxide and ethanol was explored to isolate portisins previously hemi-synthesized from blueberry surplus anthocyanins. The influence of process parameters such as pressure (100-500 bar), temperature (40-60 °C), and ethanol content in the compressed fluid mixture (20-50 wt%) on extraction yield, portisins yield, and portisins content in the extract was investigated. The two-step isolation process includes (1) a first step at 100 bar, 60 °C, and 20 wt% ethanol content in the compressed fluid mixture to remove the low polarity compounds; and (2) a second step at 500 bar, 40 °C, and 100 wt% ethanol to recover portisins, resulting in a 1.5-fold increase in portisins content. The performance of the two-step separation process was compared to centrifugal partitional chromatography and conventional reverse phase liquid chromatography already reported in terms of portisins content in the extract, process throughput, process efficiency, and total solvent used. The two-step separation process decreased the total solvent used, although with a decrease in the throughput and efficiency. Nevertheless, the choice of the best separation technology depends on the application, as these techniques result in different portisins purities. Overall, this study contributed to a scalable and more sustainable process for natural colorant production, specifically focusing on blue pigments, with several industrial applications.

Continuous reciprocating plate and packed bed multiphase reactors in biodiesel production: Advancements and challenges

Biodiesel, a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuels, has gained significant attention over the last two decades. Continuous production of biodiesel offers efficiency, productivity, and scalability advantages. This paper provides a concise overview of continuous reactor systems for biodiesel production, focusing on two specific systems-the reciprocating plate reactor and the packed bed reactor-subjects of the authors' extensive research. A thorough comparison of these reactors, spanning biodiesel yield, reaction kinetics, and conversion efficiency, underscores their advantages. The reciprocating plate reactor demonstrates superior mixing characteristics, which improve mass transfer and reaction kinetics. Conversely, the packed bed reactor offers a higher catalyst-to-feedstock ratio and longer residence time, enhancing conversion efficiency. Both reactors exhibit favourable performance for continuous biodiesel production. This research can contribute to understanding continuous biodiesel production using innovative reactor designs. The comparative analysis between the reciprocating plate and packed bed reactors offers valuable insights for process optimization and reactor selection based on specific requirements such as feedstock availability, reaction kinetics, and economic considerations. These insights pave the way for the implementation of sustainable and efficient biodiesel production processes in the future.

Chemistry of the iron-chlorine thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production utilizing industrial waste heat

This research presents an inventive thermochemical cycle that utilizes a reaction between iron and HCl acid for hydrogen production. The reaction occurs spontaneously at room temperature, yielding hydrogen and a FeCl2 solution as a by-product. Exploring the thermal decomposition of the FeCl2 by-product revealed that, at conditions suitable for utilization of low-temperature industrial waste heat (250 °C), chlorine gas formation can be circumvented. Instead, the resulting by-product is HCl, which is readily soluble in water, facilitating direct reuse in subsequent cycles. The utilization of low-temperature industrial heat not only optimizes resource utilization and reduces operational costs but also aligns with environmentally sustainable production processes. From the kinetic studies the activation energy was calculated to be 45 kJ/mol and kinetics curves were constructed. They showed significant kinetics at room temperature and above but rapid decrease towards lower temperatures. This is important to consider during real-scale technology optimization. The theoretical overall energy efficiency of the cycle, with 100% and 70% heat recuperation, was calculated at 68.8% and 44.8%, respectively. In practical implementation, considering the efficiency of DRI iron reduction technology and free waste heat utilization, the cycle achieved a 41.7% efficiency. Beyond its energy storage capabilities, the Iron-chlorine cycle addresses safety concerns associated with large-scale hydrogen storage, eliminating self-discharge, reducing land usage, and employing cost-effective storage materials. This technology not only facilitates seasonal energy storage but also establishes solid-state energy reserves, making it suitable for balancing grid demands during winter months using excess renewable energy accumulated in the summer.

SUSTAINABILITY APPROACHES IN DENIM PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTION PROCESSES

Sustainability in denim refers to the practices implemented to reduce the environmental, economic and social impacts of the denim production process and these practices are divided into two as product and production process. Sustainable denim product practices include various approaches such as using environmentally friendly, organic materials and recycled denim. In the sustainable production process, there are more sustainable alternatives such as desizing with amylase enzyme, mercerization with the best available techniques, bleaching with enzyme, ozone and laser technologies, washing with natural resources and water reduction technologies. This study aims to explain the sustainable product and production process that can reduce waste, water and energy consumption, using environmentally friendly raw materials, recycling and reuse.

PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE OF A FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION LINE IMPLEMENTED IN MATLAB

In the latest years, the need of new technologies in the industrial environment has increased due to the need of a more cost efficient, resilient, and sustainable production process. One of the main issues that is addressed in this research work is the lack of a technology that allows prediction and prevention of the breakdowns of a production line using digital models and artificial intelligence to take the best decisions based on real-time data. This paper presents a method for collecting data from the production line and feed these data to a database used by the Digital Twin model created in Matlab Predictive Maintenance Toolbox in which, based on this data, a decision about the maintenance activities required will be taken. This approach generates significant value by assisting maintenance engineers in pinpointing the precise timing for equipment maintenance. This capability directly contributes to reducing production line downtime and minimizing failures. Also, the Digital Twin model can be used to enable and test adjustments to the parameters of the production line equipment in order to determine the impact of this changes of the production process without interfering with the production process itself.

Efficient catalyst regeneration through solvent-based wax extraction for Co/Al2O3 Fischer-Tropsch catalysts

The regeneration of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalysts plays a crucial role in sustaining their catalytic activity and longevity in sustainable production processes. This research investigates the effectiveness of various solvents, including n-hexane, n-heptane, toluene, xylene, and the liquid fraction of FT products (LF-FT), for catalyst regeneration and extracting wax from the 15 wt%Co/Al2O3 catalyst. Toluene, with a unique combination of key parameters such as polarity, solubility, boiling point, aromatic structure, and chemical interactions, exhibited the highest wax removal efficiency of 90.6%. However, due to its 41 °C lower boiling point compared to toluene and very similar wax removal efficiency, n-hexane appears as a more energy-efficient and cost-effective option for this process. The regenerated catalysts showed comparable characteristics, including the textural properties (surface area, pore size, and pore volume), crystallinity, and reducibility, to fresh catalysts. The slightly lower reduction temperature in the regenerated catalyst indicates a higher possibility for the formation of cobalt active sites during the catalyst reduction process with hydrogen, leading to an increased potential for higher catalytic activity. The LF-FT, comprising paraffins, iso-paraffins, olefins, napthenes, and aromatics, provided a unique combination of aliphatic and aromatic moieties, enhancing the solubility of both polar and nonpolar components in FT wax and improving the wax removal efficiency to 91.5%. The higher boiling point and operating temperature of the LF-FT also contributed to its better performance. Efficient separation of hydrocarbons from solvents allowed for solvent reusability in subsequent FT wax removal cycles, making it advantageous for large-scale applications.

Electrochemical Analysis on Transition Metal Nitride Catalysts for Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

A versatile and sustainable process for ammonia production is needed to ensure a sustainable future for the growing global population, both with regards to fertilizer production as well as energy carrier. Theoretical simulations of transition metal nitride catalysts have demonstrated the possibilityof a nitrogen reduction reaction catalysis cycle on four transition metal nitrides, CrN, VN, ZrN and NbN.[1,2] Reproducible and reliable research and development approaches in the direction of electrochemical reduction of nitrogen towards ammonia are therefore of importance. An operando ammonia quantification methodology for electrochemical catalysis studies has been developed in-house and recently published [3]. Allowing for automatic, quantitative detection of aqueouos ammonia at the ppb level, within minutes from the sample preparation. We have now analyzed all four theoretically proposed TMNs, as well as rutile Niobium oxynitride (NbON) of several stochiometries as thin films on a conductive electrode substrate in ambient environment and aqueouos electrochemical system [3,4].Electrochemical analysis and ammonia quantification suggest NbON of specific stochiometry and ZrN to be promising catalyst candidates, while lacking stability in the environment of choice in these studies.Literature:[1] Y. Abghoui, A.L. Garden, J.G. Howalt, T. Vegge and E. Skúlason, Electroreduction of N2 to ammonia at ambient conditions on mononitrides of Zr, Nb, Cr, and V: A DFT guide for experiments. ACS Catalysis, 2016.6(2): p. 635.[2] Y. Abghoui, A.L. Garden, V.F. Hlynsson, S. Björgvinsdóttir, H. Ólafsdóttir and E.Skúlason, Enabling electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia at ambient conditions through rational catalyst design. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics,2015.17(7): p. 4909.[3] F. Hanifpour, C.P. Canales, E.G. Fridriksson, A. Sveinbjörnsson, T.K. Tryggvason,E. Lewin, . H.D. Flosadóttir, Investigation into the mechanism of electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction to ammonia using niobium oxynitride thin-film catalysts. Electrochimica Acta, 2022.403: p. 139551.[4] F. Hanifpour, C.P. Canales, E.G. Friðriksson, A. Sveinbjörnsson, T. Tryggvason, Y.Abghoui, . E. Skúlason, Operando Quanitification of ammonia produced from computationally derived transition metal nitride electro catalysts. Journal of Catalysis, 2022. 413: p.956

Free Standing Electrodes: From Roll Product to 41-Layer Pouch Cells

Processes to produce free standing electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIB), using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) as active material for the cathode and artificial graphite for the anode, are being developed. The production of these electrodes is realized by using a slot die to produce a liquid film which solidifies in a precipitation bath and is wound up after moving through washing baths. This procedure consumes significantly less energy compared to conventional coating processes, as the drying needs are reduced, and the electrodes have a broader spectrum of use cases due to their high flexibility.In this work, the development process of the manufacturing procedures of pouch cells using free standing electrodes will be presented. This includes the characterization of the electrodes, usability trials with research pilot line equipment, and cycling tests of built pouch cells of up to more than 7 Ah per device.The screening of electrodes through cycling in coin cells showed a specific discharge capacity of > 120 mAhg-1 for 50 cycles at 0.2C.This innovative and sustainable electrode production process required adjustments throughout the whole production process of a LIB, starting with the slot die geometry to reduce thick edges of the released film. The electrodes’ surfaces were investigated regarding homogeneity and roughness using a digital microscope. Gas adsorptioneasurements showed the specific surface of cathodes at around 3.6 m²g-1. Challenges during calendaring of the free-standing electrodes included thickness deviations of the pristine electrodes and uneven tension throughout the width of the samples.After laminating the free-standing electrodes with current collectors, they were electrochemically and mechanically analysed. Therefore, additional adjustments had to be made to attach tabs on multiple layers of these flexible electrodes through a single ultrasonic welding spot. All electrodes were successfully processed inside a dry room (dew point < -40 °C) using industrially relevant pilot scale equipment (punching, stacking, electrolyte filling, sealing).The manufactured pouch cells all showed an initial OCV of around 400 mV and were formed prior to cycling. During three formation cycles at 0.1C, followed by a constant Voltage step, the two-layered pouch cells showed a specific discharge capacity of . These cells reached roughly 90 mAhg-1 of discharge capacity after 20 cycles at 0.2C, but higher C-rates reduced the capacity and cell life significantly. Measuring the cells’ resistance after cycling at 3.3 V using 10 measurement points at 1 kHz revealed the high inner resistance of > 2 Ohm. Post-mortem analysis revealed lithium deposition throughout the whole surface of the anode. In the following upscaling process, the number of layers was increased to 11 layers (2 Ah cells) and 41 layers (7 Ah cells). These pouch cells showed similar performances, specific discharge capacities of around 110 mAhg-1 during formation, but with decreased cycling capabilities at C-rates higher than 0.1C. The main cause for this behaviour is the high inner resistance of these cells.In this work we demonstrate that free-standing electrodes can be handled at pilot scale in a comparable manner as conventionally coated electrodes. The produced cells were all successfully cycled but showed higher inner resistances and lower capacities at high C-rates (> 0.5C). The proof-of-concept was therefore achieved, further improvement of the cell performance will be focused on in the future. Figure 1

Amylase production from marine sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis; potentials sustainability benefits.

The marine sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis is a globally distributed and invasive species with extensive filter-feeding characteristics. The symbiotic relationship fostered between the sea sponge and the inhabiting microorganism is key in the production of metabolic enzymes which is the focus of this study. Sponge bacterial symbionts were grown on starch agar for 48hrs. Colourimetric analyses of amylase were conducted at 540nm using a spectrophotometric plate reader. Using an X-Bridge column (3.5μM, 4.6x150mm), 80/20 acetonitrile/water in 0.1% ammonium were the conditions used for the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses. Seven reducing sugars were used to optimise LC-MS to determine the presence of the crude enzyme formed. Not all the bacterial symbionts isolated from H perlevis produced alpha and beta amylases to break down starch. From the statistical mean of crude enzyme concentrations from the hydrolysis of starch by amylase, isolate seven had the highest optical density (OD) at 0.43475 while isolate twelve had the lowest OD at 0.141417. From the LC-MS analysis, out of the seven sugars, Glucose and maltose constituted > 65% of the reducing sugars formed from the hydrolysis of starch by the amylases. Isolates 3,6 and 7 produced 6.906 mg/l, 12.309 mg/l, and 5.909 mg/l of glucose, while isolates 3,4,5,6 and 7 produced 203.391 mg/l, 176.238 mg/l, 139.938 mg/l, 39.030 mg/l, and 18.809 mg/l of maltose, respectively. Isolate two had the highest amount of maltose at a concentration of 267.237 mg/l while isolate four had the highest amount of glucose concentration of 53.084 mg/l. Enzymes from marine sponge bacteria offer greater potential for a green and sustainable production process. Amylase extraction from bacterial symbionts in H perlevis is sustainable and should be supported. They can serve as reliable sources of revenue for enzyme industries, and applications in food industries and biotechnological processes.

Dispersed Bi2S3 site in a porphyrin-based metal–organic framework for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation

The development of suitable alternatives to the energy-intensive and seriously polluting Haber–Bosch process for ammonia production is crucial. Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation has attracted extensive research attention as a pollution-free, low-cost, and sustainable ammonia production process. However, most reported photocatalysts so far have relatively low conversion rates for N2 reduction. Herein, we employed a strategy based on bismuth precoordination and in-situ sulfurization strategy to grow highly dispersed bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) on a porous coordination network (PCN) metal–organic framework. The as-fabricated photocatalyst (Bi2S3@PCN-2) with high-density heterojunctions was used for the photocatalytic nitrogen fixation for ammonia production and degradation of bisphenol A, achieving an ammonia production rate of 3880 μg h−1 g−1 and a 96.4% degradation efficiency for bisphenol A within 30 min in the absence of a sacrificial agent. The abundant porphyrin rings and highly dispersed Bi2S3 broadened the visible-light absorption range of the photocatalyst, leading to numerous photogenerated charge carriers. Additionally, the high-density heterojunctions facilitated the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, resulting in excellent photocatalytic performance. This work provides a new approach for the design and preparation of bifunctional photocatalysts.

Catalytic hydrolysis of agar using magnetic nanoparticles: optimization and characterization

BackgroundAgar is used as a gelling agent that possesses a variety of biological properties; it consists of the polysaccharides agarose and porphyrin. In addition, the monomeric sugars generated after agar hydrolysis can be functionalized for use in biorefineries and biofuel production. The main objective of this study was to develop a sustainable agar hydrolysis process for bioethanol production using nanotechnology. Peroxidase-mimicking Fe3O4-MNPs were applied for agar degradation to generate agar hydrolysate-soluble fractions amenable to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli during fermentation.ResultsFe3O4-MNP-treated (Fe3O4-MNPs, 1 g/L) agar exhibited 0.903 g/L of reducing sugar, which was 21-fold higher than that of the control (without Fe3O4-MNP-treated). Approximately 0.0181% and 0.0042% of ethanol from 1% of agar was achieved using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli, respectively, after process optimization. Furthermore, different analytical techniques (FTIR, SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, and TGA) were applied to validate the efficiency of Fe3O4-MNPs in agar degradation.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, Fe3O4-MNP-treated agar degradation for bioethanol production through process optimization is a simpler, easier, and novel method for commercialization.

Continuous Anhydrous Synthesis of Oxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers by Reaction of Dimethyl Ether with Molecular Formaldehyde.

A novel gaseous synthesis route to oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OMEn, n = 3-5) starting from CO2 and green H2 by using molecular formaldehyde (FA) and dimethyl ether (DME) is presented. The anhydrous reaction runs in a pressure free, gaseous, and continuous reaction setup. Hetero-geneous cata-lysts including zeolites and ion exchange resins (IER) are investigated, if they catalyze this reaction. While IER is almost inactive, zeolites with a 3D pore structure and an acidity exceeding ρm,H+(NH3,ads) = 250 µmol·gcat.-1 proved to be catalytically active. DME conversions of up to 2.76 mol-% are observed. The observed product gas stream compositions confirm thermo-dynamic considerations with back reactions / OMEn decomposition occurring as part of the equilibria under the investigated reaction conditions (90…180 °C). However, feed gas ratio variations (FA:DME = 1:2 to 1:9.5) highlighted the possibility to shift the product selectivity in favor of OMEn and suppress FA disproportionation to methyl formate. FA trimerization to trioxane is almost completely suppressed by running the reaction at 120 °C. The results presented here provide an important and unprecedented contribution to understand the complex reaction network in the OMEn synthesis reaction necessary to establish an energy efficient sustainable OMEn production process.

A Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalyst with oxygen vacancy for efficient hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived guaiacol to hydrocarbons

This study explores the efficacy of a cost-effective Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalyst for one-pot hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol into hydrocarbons. Notably, complete conversion of guaiacol was achieved, yielding a 99.6% hydrocarbon over the robust Cu(6)Zn(3)Al(1) catalyst under the conditions of 4 MPa H2, 300 °C, and 8 h with a catalyst/guaiacol ratio of 0.5 g/1.0 g. In-depth catalyst characterizations unveiled the presence of oxygen vacancies within the ZnO surface layer, acting as pivotal active sites that facilitated the hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol. Furthermore, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were employed to evaluate several potential active sites, revealing that the oxygen vacancy of ZnO on the Cu surface played a crucial role. This vacancy enhanced the adsorption of intermediate cyclohexanol and markedly reduced the energy barrier for the rate-limiting step. This comprehensive investigation sheds light on the catalytic pathway and offers insights into designing efficient and sustainable biofuel production processes.

Enlighting Electron Routes In Oxyfunctionalizing Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Phototrophic microorganisms, like cyanobacteria, are gaining attention as host organisms for biocatalytic processes with light as energy source and water as electron source. Redox enzymes, especially oxygenases, can profit from in-situ supply of co-substrates, i. e., reduction equivalents and O2 , by the photosynthetic light reaction. The electron transfer downstream of PS I to heterologous electron consuming enzymes in principle can involve NADPH, NADH, and/or ferredoxin, whereas most direct and efficient transfer is desirable. Here, we use the model organism Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to investigate, to what extent host and/or heterologous constituents are involved in electron transfer to a heterologous cytochrome P450 monooxygenase from Acidovorax sp. CHX100. Interestingly, in this highly active light-fueled cycloalkane hydroxylating biocatalyst, host-intrinsic enzymes were found capable of completely substituting the function of the Acidovorax ferredoxin reductase. To a certain extent (20 %), this also was true for the Acidovorax ferredoxin. These results indicate the presence of a versatile set of electron carriers in cyanobacteria, enabling efficient and direct coupling of electron consuming reactions to photosynthetic water oxidation. This will both simplify and promote the use of phototrophic microorganisms for sustainable production processes.

Sustainable Lean Six-sigma: A new framework for improve sustainable manufacturing performance

Sustainable Manufacturing is essential in supporting a more sustainable production process in the current era. However, continuous improvement research that utilizes Manufacturing Sustainability Index (MSI) scores in improving Sustainable Manufacturing performance is still limited. Therefore, this study aims to propose a new framework for evaluating Manufacturing Sustainability based on lean Six Sigma and Sustainable Manufacturing concepts using Sustainable Value Stream Mapping (Sus-VSM). We call this new framework Sustainable Lean Six-sigma (SLSS) based on the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) approach. The SIPOC diagram and the Delphi method are used in the Define stage to select relevant indicators. Then, the selected indicators were evaluated in the Measure stage, and the Manufacturing Sustainability Index (MSI) was calculated. At the Analyze stage, the Sus-VSM is analyzed. At the Improve stage, improvement proposals are made using Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), and a future Sus-VSM is created. Finally, in the Control stage, check sheets are created to control the implementation of the proposed improvements. In the DMAIC process, Sus-VSM is used as a production flow mapping using a traffic light system to map indicators in each process and MSI values on the production line. A case study was also conducted on the Agro-Food Industry. The results showed that the proposed framework could be implemented in the company and successfully improved the Manufacturing Sustainability Index (MSI) score from 88.78% to 93.80%. The implication of this research shows the potential of using the SLSS framework in improving manufacturing sustainability performance in industrial sectors.

Frame by frame, attitude by attitude – The effect of information framing in videos on consumers’ acceptance of sustainable food production innovations

Innovations in the agricultural sector were identified as key drivers for the transition towards more sustainable food production. To achieve consumer acceptance, it is necessary to communicate about innovations and sustainable food production processes effectively. This study investigates the effect of loss- and gain-framing on consumers’ implicit and explicit attitudes towards, and purchase intentions of, agricultural innovations, using the example of beneficial soil-microbes in tomato production. We conducted a pre-registered, online, experimental study with a between-subjects design among German consumers (n = 754). To test the effect of communication, three video clips were created: a control video, a loss-frame video and a gain-frame video. The control video described the innovation on a technical level without specific framing. Through the usage of videos, visual and linguistic framing cues could be applied. Group comparisons of the different types of framing did not result in significant differences. Results of a serial mediation analysis show that explicit attitudes play an important role in the model. The effect of both loss- and gain-framing in relation to the control video resulted in a significant effect on explicit attitudes, and these in turn had a significant effect on purchase intentions. Findings from this study suggest that information videos that describe the consequences of innovation application (loss- or gain-framing) contribute more strongly towards innovation acceptance than more technical and neutral accounts (our control video) of the innovation.

Unraveling the effects of sodium carbonate on hydrothermal liquefaction through individual biomass model component and machine learning-enabled prediction

Despite sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) being commonly utilized as a catalyst in actual biomass hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), its impact on individual biomass components hasn't been well-examined. This study thus delves into the role of Na2CO3 in HTL of biomass model components (carbohydrate, lignin, protein, and lipid) at varying conditions. Na2CO3 at 5 wt% amplified carbohydrate degradation into biocrude and aqueous-gaseous products (AG), resonating with previous work on carbohydrate-rich feedstocks. While Na2CO3 has a marginal effect on lignin HTL, it negatively influences lipid HTL. Here, 5 wt% and 13.5 wt% Na2CO3 decrease the biocrude yield from 95.6% to less than 10%, simultaneously increasing the AG yield to approximately 90%. This is presumably due to the interaction of lipid decomposition intermediates (fatty acids) with sodium cations, resulting in water-soluble soap. For protein HTL, a low Na2CO3 concentration (5 wt%) has no significant impact on product formation, but excessive Na2CO3 (27 wt%) converts a considerable portion of biocrude into AG. In addition to these explorations that provided insights for actual biomass HTL, we also developed a machine learning model to adequately predict HTL biocrude yield by taking Na2CO3 effect into consideration. The Adaboost machine learning model displayed the most satisfactory prediction performance (training and testing R2: 0.96, 0.8) among the three investigated machine learning models. The feature importance analysis reveals lipid content and Na2CO3 concentration as pivotal factors over HTL process conditions and other biochemical components. This research provides fundamental insights into the Na2CO3 role in HTL product formation pathway and offers an intelligent and precise prediction model for HTL biocrude yield, thereby advancing the development of more efficient and sustainable bioenergy production processes.

Economic benefits and soil improvement: Impacts of vermicompost use in spinach production through industrial symbiosis

Industrial symbiosis is being increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for promoting a more sustainable production process in agriculture. However, the primary motivation for implementing industrial symbiosis is economic viability. In the context of industrial symbiosis, by linking agriculture and food together, the study examines the impact of the use of vermicompost, derived from agricultural by-products, on spinach yield as well as on nutritional and biochemical soil aspects. Moreover, the economic feasibility for spinach farmers is also investigated. A field experiment with five treatments i) solarization ii) solarization and vermicompost iii) green manure and solarization iv) green manure, solarization, and vermicompost, and v) vermicompost has been realized in “Piana del Sele”, a rural area in Southern Italy. Collected data have been analysed through a Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling approach to assess the overall impact (direct and indirect effects) of vermicompost on both spinach yield and soil characteristics. Lastly, the economic profitability of using vermicompost is pointed out for spinach growers. The study findings show that the highest positive impact on yield occurs when vermicompost is combined with solarization (+15 %). Moreover, with regard to soil characteristics, the combination of vermicompost and solarization has a positive impact on nutrients, fungal biodiversity, and the biochemical quality of the soil. The economic profitability of using vermicompost in conjunction with solarization is guaranteed when the price of vermicompost is below € 0.84/kg. In light of these findings, some policy interventions can be implemented to enable industrial symbiosis as a viable tool for a circular economy in the agri-food sector. These include promoting the diffusion of biogas plants to valorize agricultural by-products and promoting the use of vermicompost in farms, by encouraging its purchase by farmers.

A Methodology for Multivariate Investigation on the Effect of Acrylate Molecular Structure on the Mechanical Properties and Delivery Efficiency of Microcapsules via In Situ Polymerization.

In the field of encapsulation, microcapsules containing perfume have emerged as effective vehicles for delivering active ingredients across various applications. The present study employed a multivariate analysis framework to examine polyacrylate microcapsules for household products synthesized using different acrylate monomers. The advanced multivariate approach allowed us to quantify critical properties such as the Molecular Weight between Cross-links (MWc), mechanical attributes, Encapsulation Efficiency (EE), and On-Fabric delivery. It is worth noting that the mechanical properties were gauged using a novel nanoindentation technique, which measures the Rupture Force per unit diameter (RFD). Both Encapsulation Efficiency and On-Fabric delivery were assessed using GC-MS. Our findings identified the optimal microcapsule system as one synthesized with 100% aromatic hexafunctional urethane acrylate, showcasing a 94.3% Encapsulation Efficiency and an optimal RFD of 85 N/mm. This system achieved an exemplary On-Fabric delivery rate of 307.5 nmol/L. In summary, this research provides crucial insights for customizing microcapsule design to achieve peak delivery efficiency. Furthermore, by designing acrylic monomers appropriately, there is potential to reduce the amount of active ingredients used, owing to enhanced delivery efficiency and the optimization of other microcapsule properties. Such advancements pave the way for more environmentally friendly and sustainable production processes in the fast-moving consumer goods industry.

Green Industry as a Tourism-Based MSME Development Strategy in Supporting a Sustainable Future (Case Study in Cowindo Sendang District, Tulungagung District, East Java)

Indonesia’s efforts to contribute as a member of the G20 are to maximize domestic economic development. One of the important problems faced in economic development is between meeting development needs and efforts to maintain aspects of environmental sustainability. Environmental problems are a contemporary issue that does not only occur at the macro level. However, at a micro level, the world is trying to get to know the issues of environmentally friendly products or what is known as Green Business or Green Industry. The impact of the existence of the green industry is that the global market trend is increasingly moving towards environmentally friendly products (eco-products). This condition is an obstacle and opportunity that needs to be immediately anticipated and utilized. For this reason, the government created a policy to help MSMEs through the Center for the Study of Green Industry and the Environment of the Ministry of Industry (2011), namely by developing environmentally friendly industries or green industries that can produce green products. MSMEs from the tourism sector in Tulungagung, East Java are Cowindo. Cowindo is one of the educational tours in Sendang District, Tulungagung Regency, East Java. Starting from local wisdom, it became known as a quality milk-producing area, then educational tourism was opened in 2018 and a sustainable production process was officially developed in 2020. In supporting sustainability at the domestic level, biogas is one of the strategies to make it happen. Apart from that, there are several implementations carried out by Cowindo as a form of green business, namely Bio-Slurry, the use of banana leaves as an alternative to reducing the use of soap and water, as well as processing lemongrass distillate for cows to drink as additional nutrition for the cows.