Traceability Of Materials Research Articles

North America’s Potential for an Environmentally Sustainable Nickel, Manganese, and Cobalt Battery Value Chain

The Detroit Big Three General Motors (GMs), Ford, and Stellantis predict that electric vehicle (EV) sales will comprise 40–50% of the annual vehicle sales by 2030. Among the key components of LIBs, the LiNixMnyCo1−x−yO2 cathode, which comprises nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) in various stoichiometric ratios, is widely used in EV batteries. This review reveals NMC cathodes from laboratory research. Furthermore, this study examines the environmental effect of NMC cathode production for EV batteries (including coating technologies), encompassing aspects such as energy consumption, water usage, and air emissions. Although gaps persist in NMC cathode environmental assessments (NMC111, NMC532, NMC622, and NMC811), limited life cycle assessments “(LCA)” have been conducted. Most available data originate from Asia (primarily China), accounting for 85% of the production of EV LIB cathode materials. The concept of battery passports for data collection on LIB components has been proposed to facilitate material traceability as a system for ensuring a sustainable supply chain for critical minerals. The automotive industry’s shift to electrification necessitates a sustainable supply chain from mine to vehicle end-of-life. As the critical mineral supply moves from Asia to North America, environmentally friendly industrial methods must be studied to provide this supply chain direction.

Exploring the influence of different processing conditions on DNA quality of collagen peptides and the feasibility of its raw material traceability

In this work, we have presented a new method for species origin verification of collagen peptides based on DNA techniques. First, we investigate the changes in DNA during the preparation of collagen peptides including the total amount of collagen peptide DNA and the DNA degradation under different processing conditions. Secondly, we discussed the possibility of using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for follow-up detection of collagen peptides. The results showed that the total amount of DNA decreased as the treatment intensity increased. The size of the cleaved fragments of DNA are mainly concentrated between 200 and 500 bp. On this basis, the combined PCR results finally determined that trace collagen peptide DNA can be effectively amplified with amplicons of about 300 bp to complete the verification of the species origin of collagen peptide. This study provides a new strategy for determining the authenticity of food labels for bovine collagen peptides.

Assessment methods and digital tools to support circular building strategies

Abstract The aim of the paper is to highlight how digital technology can be a vector for maintaining information of buildings products, promoting supply chain transparency and traceability of materials and environmental data, contributing to activate a sustainable circular economy. Indeed, the current lack of knowledge of product characteristics often hinders the activation of reverse logistic and the assessment of the environmental benefits of circular material flows. This means, on one hand, the need to trace and collect product characteristics and product environmental information throughout the entire life cycle, and, on the other hand, the to identify ways of communicating and sharing information. This paper outlines current digital tools to support transparency and traceability of materials. Next, the paper verticalises the method and indicators used to declare the circular and sustainable profile of products, emphasising the importance of applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Finally, the prefiguration of a possible integration between traceability tools and the LCA methodology is discussed, identifying possible drivers (e.g. legislative, trainings) and possible key-operators for the widespread of the “LCA-integrated traceability tools”.

Brazilian Biofuel Policy: Challenges to Incorporating Socio-Environmental Criteria

Objective: Biofuels have been receiving increasing attention around the world as a result of growing concerns about the security of oil supplies and global climate change. Considering this context, the article aims to analyze the Brazilian biofuels policy (RenovaBio program) in order to propose a summary table of gaps in the consideration of socio-environmental criteria. Method: Qualitative, descriptive research was carried out, supported by secondary data obtained through bibliographical research. Results and Discussion: We found that gaps in the incorporation of socio-environmental criteria in RenovaBio are related to the following topics: traceability of inputs and raw materials; sugarcane agroecological zoning (ZAE Cana), measurement of water footprint consumption associated with traceability of raw materials, measurement of emissions resulting from I-MUT and criteria encouraging E2G. Research Implications: We found that RenovaBio could include the adoption of instruments and practices aimed at agricultural production that are more appropriate to the Brazilian scenario, considering the characteristics of each biome, aiming to include socio-environmental criteria. Originality/Value: The analysis of socio-environmental criteria that are absent or insufficiently included in public policy contributes to clarify the challenges to be overcome in the biofuels production process marked by the agricultural, industrial and distribution phases.

A Blockchain-Based Model for Traceability and Quality Management of Raw Materials in Clothing Products

In this study, we employ blockchain-based traceability technology to construct a comprehensive model for raw material traceability and quality management in clothing products. Additionally, we investigate engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) for their antibacterial, hydrophilic, and anti-pilling effects on textiles. The EWNS can serve as an effective tool for monitoring quality, enabling precise tracking and verification of nanomaterials during clothing production. The research validated the traceability performance of the blockchain-based model for raw material traceability and quality management in clothing products, achieving a remarkable traceability accuracy of 99.92% and an exceptionally low traceability response time of merely 1.83 seconds. Moreover, after being treated with EWNS, antibacterial rates against E. coli and S. aureus in clothing antibacterial quality management reached 99.9% and 99.0%, respectively. In the hydrophilicity test, EWNS was applied to clothing for a duration of 1 to 7 hours, resulting in a significant reduction in the wetting time of clothing from 10.8 seconds to 1.2 seconds. In the anti-pilling tests, there was a notable enhancement in the effectiveness of anti-pilling properties after EWNS treatment. In summary, our model has achieved remarkable outcomes in material traceability and quality management, offering consumers and the clothing industry a reliable method to ensure product quality and traceability, while simultaneously improving performance aspects such as antibacterial efficacy, hydrophilicity, and resistance against pilling.

Digital threads for sustainable concrete: A prototype traceability system

AbstractAchieving traceability of concrete materials is a crucial step toward promoting sustainable concrete use. This includes creating accurate Environmental Product Declarations, minimizing mistakes during concrete placement, and improving understanding of the relationship between concrete constituents and performance. Despite these benefits, effective traceability for concrete materials has not yet been achieved in the laboratory environment or within wider practice. This work sets out a digital thread for concrete use and the functional requirements for a traceability framework for adoption in a laboratory environment. Traceable resource units (TRUs) are identified, and the primary critical tracking events for each TRU are described. A prototype traceability system is developed to link the necessary properties, constituent material data, production information, and performance results for concrete materials. The prototype system incorporates a novel inkjet printer QR code fingerprinting solution that is demonstrated to be highly effective for concrete specimens and for various media, including paper and metal, used to transport and store raw concrete constituent materials. A laboratory test series demonstrated a 100% readability rate with the proposed QR fingerprinting solution according to standard measures. This work advances knowledge of the appropriate traceable resource units and critical tracking events within concrete practice, develops effective marking procedures and forms a prototype constituent‐to‐product traceability system.

Ensuring metrological traceability of reference gas mixture composition materials

Ensuring metrological traceability of reference gas mixture composition materials

Residence time distribution in continuous virus filtration.

Regulatory authorities recommend using residence time distribution (RTD) to address material traceability in continuous manufacturing. Continuous virus filtration is an essential but poorly understood step in biologics manufacturing in respect to fluid dynamics and scale-up. Here we describe a model that considers nonideal mixing and film resistance for RTD prediction in continuous virus filtration, and its experimental validation using the inert tracer NaNO3. The model was successfully calibrated through pulse injection experiments, yielding good agreement between model prediction and experiment ( 0.90). The model enabled the prediction of RTD with variations-for example, in injection volumes, flow rates, tracer concentrations, and filter surface areas-and was validated using stepwise experiments and combined stepwise and pulse injection experiments. All validation experiments achieved 0.97. Notably, if the process includes a porous material-such as a porous chromatography material, ultrafilter, or virus filter-it must be considered whether the molecule size affects the RTD, as tracers with different sizes may penetrate the pore space differently. Calibration of the model with NaNO3 enabled extrapolation to RTD of recombinant antibodies, which will promote significant savings in antibody consumption. This RTD model is ready for further application in end-to-end integrated continuous downstream processes, such as addressing material traceability during continuous virus filtration processes.

Ensuring metrological traceability of reference materials of gas mixtures composition

The modern concept of metrological assurance for gas analytical measuring instruments with the use of reference materials of gas mixtures composition in cylinders under pressure is presented. The reference materials of gas mixtures composition of approved type in cylinders under pressure, which are the most often means of mole fraction and mass concentration units transfer in gas analytical measurements, are considered. The certified value in these reference materials is the content of the target component (or components) in the gas medium (analytical matrix). All the produced reference materials of gas mixtures composition, which are used for ensuring the uniformity of measurements are traceable to the State primary standard of units of mole fraction, mass fraction and mass concentration of components in gas and gas condensate media GET 154-2019, which characteristics are confirmed on the international level by the results of about 90 international comparisons. The paper presents a methodology for ensuring metrological traceability of reference materials of gas mixtures composition using GET 154-2019, taking into account the constantly increasing park of gas analytical instruments and the emergence of new measuring tasks in various fields of industry and environmental control. Currently, a park of secondary and working standards has been created at enterprises producing reference materials of gas mixtures composition, and their traceability to GET 154-2019 has been implemented according to the state verification scheme. The paper presents the results of international comparisons with participation of GET 154-2019, confirming the comparability of the obtained and reference value of the target component content in reference gas mixtures at the international level. The variety and large number of relevant gas analytical measurement tasks in various industries and the social sphere determines the need to choose priority areas for improving the existing reference base, including the structure of the GET 154 Standard and the nomenclature of reference gas mixtures. The strategic program of the Gas Analysis working group of the Consultative Committee of the Amount of Substance of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures developed for the period up to 2030 has been analysed and a review of the long-term tasks of gas analytical measurements is given. The currently existing GET 154-2019 Standard of the latest generation provides reproduction, storage and transfer of the components’ mole fraction units in gas and gas condensate media in the range from 1.5·10 –8 to 99.99999 %, and mass concentration units in the range from 1.0·10–6 to 2.0·105 mg/m3, what is confirmed by the results of participation in international comparisons and published CMC positions in the International database of calibration and measurement capabilities (about 400 CMCs positions).

Accurate Determination of Trace Sulfur in Superalloys and Its Application

The accurate determination technology of trace sulfur in superalloys adopts the latest infrared carbon/sulfur analyzer CS844ES, and carries out technological innovation in five aspects: the three calibrations technology at both ends, the ultrapure composite flux, the reference material traceability technology, the blank influence value determination technology, and the criteria for the accurate determination of trace sulfur. The lower limit of sulfur measurement is extended to 0.5ppm. After appraisal, it has reached the international advanced level. Two reference materials of wrought superalloy GH4169 with trace Sulfur concentration were developed by this technology. Finally, the accurate determination technology of trace Sulfur in superalloys, independent intellectual property rights and trace sulfur reference materials constitute a “Trinity” technical system. This technical system was used to measure GH4169 superalloy in the United States and China at the same time, and the results showed that there are differences in sulfur content among them. This technology is mainly applied independently and has been applied in relevant units and won many technical awards.

Implementing Industry 4.0 Technologies for Enhanced Material Flow and Handling Management: A Case Study in Logistics

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has emerged as a highly innovative response to market needs, particularly in logistics. This paper presents a structured case study on the implementation of I4.0 technologies for material flow and handling management. The study explores the contextual framework, historical development, and key characteristics of I4.0, focuses on the necessary characteristics for I4.0 certification and outlines the specific features exhibited by the company under study. Objectives include enhanced traceability of metallic materials and optimization of crane management. The paper outlines the project phases, highlighting the positive impact on lead time reduction and providing insights into operational procedures. This research contributes to understanding I4.0 practices in logistics and offers valuable insights for future implementations, driving enhanced efficiency and productivity.

Application of Rare Earth Marking on Anti-Counterfeiting Waterless/Less-Water Dyeing Technology

Compared with traditional water-based dyeing, non-aqueous medium dyeing technology has been paid more and more attention in the textile dyeing industry because of its advantages of saving water and chemicals. In order to distinguish and identify water bath dyeing products and non-aqueous medium dyeing products, a traceability technology method for non-aqueous medium dyeing products was established with rare earth elements. First, traceable materials for two typical fibers, polyester and cotton, were selected from five rare earth elements: La, Ce, Nd, Eu, and Sm. Rare earth elements were added to mark products during the non-aqueous dyeing process. Then the rare earth elements content of marked products was detected by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry, which was used to identify non-aqueous media products. The influence of this traceability method on the basic properties of dyed fabrics was studied. Compared with traditional anti-counterfeiting technologies such as label anti-counterfeiting and query label anti-counterfeiting, the method of inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry has a low method detection limit in the range of 0.0204–0.036 mg/kg, and a good relative standard deviation values in the range of 0.69–2.43%. The content of rare earth elements in dyed fabrics was detected by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry at 6–7 mg/kg when 10 mg/kg of rare earth elements were employed during dyeing. Therefore, a detection and certification method for non-aqueous dyeing products has been established, which is of great significance to the anti-counterfeiting traceability of non-aqueous medium dyeing technology.

Research on building deconstruction based on BIM technology

This paper delves into the revolutionary role of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in building deconstruction and its profound implications for sustainable development. Conventional demolition methods often neglect considerations of material reuse and environmental ramifications. BIM emerges as a versatile solution, offering sophisticated analytical tools that amplify efficiency, safety, and material traceability throughout the deconstruction process. In this paper, the lifecycle applications of BIM are further explored. Traversing from the planning stage to material handling and recycling, the important contribution of BIM to the circular economy is highlighted. Despite being in the nascent stages of adoption for building demolition, this paper posits that comprehensive integration of BIM holds the promise to fundamentally transform the construction sector, ensuring its alignment with sustainability objectives. Case studies and real-world applications are meticulously analysed to furnish empirical evidence corroborating these assertions, shedding light on the practical and environmental advantages of leveraging BIM in deconstruction.

Dynamic data‐driven railway bridge construction knowledge graph update method

AbstractEffectively integrating and correlating multisource data involved in the bridge construction process is crucial for the improvement of the bridge informatization level. In the current issues of dynamic numerous data and low information sharing between different engineering departments, the traditional information management methods are inefficient in providing comprehensive and accurate data support for construction safety. Focusing on the bridge construction stage, this article proposes a dynamic data‐driven construction method of railway bridge construction knowledge graph (KG) in combination with dynamic data (materials, personnel, equipment and sensors) in the construction process and KG technology. By taking a railway bridge as a case, the study develops a prototype system and analyzes the effectiveness of bridge construction KG in material traceability, personnel and equipment management and construction safety guidance, which can provide comprehensive and accurate data support for bridge construction management and construction optimization. The results show that: (1) bridge construction KG that takes into account the dynamic features of bridge projects can effectively integrate multiple elements; (2) the bridge construction KG is dynamically updated through real‐time comparison and advance prediction based on the dynamic data collected by multi‐sensing equipment at the construction site, and can provide effective data support for guiding bridge construction safety; and (3) the construction management prototype system based on railway bridge construction KG can provide accurate data support for material traceability, personnel and equipment management and assisted risk event decision‐making. The results of the comparative experiment between the KG group and the spreadsheet group showed that utilizing the KG saved approximately 50% of time and achieved a 20% higher accuracy rate in the material traceability task compared to the spreadsheet group. In general, this study proposes a dynamic data‐driven construction method of railway bridge construction KG, which can effectively realize the effective integration and management of multisource data in the bridge construction process, provide the necessary scientific basis for fine bridge management, and help to improve bridge informatization management level.

Electronic witnessing in the medically assisted reproduction laboratory: insights and considerations after 10 years of use.

What have we learnt after 10 years of electronic witnessing? When applied correctly, an electronic witnessing system can replace manual witnessing in the medically assisted reproduction lab to prevent sample mix-up. Electronic witnessing systems have been implemented to improve the correct identification, processing, and traceability of biological materials. When non-matching samples are simultaneously present in a single workstation, a mismatch event is generated to prevent sample mix-up. This evaluation investigates the mismatch and administrator assign rate over a 10-year period (March 2011-December 2021) with the use of an electronic witnessing system. Radiofrequency identification tags and barcodes were used for patient and sample identification. Since 2011, IVF and ICSI cycles and frozen embryo transfer cycles (FET) were included; IUIs cycles were included since 2013. The total number of tags and witnessing points were recorded. Witnessing points in a particular electronic witnessing system represent all the actions that have been performed from gamete collection through embryo production, to cryopreservation and transfer. Mismatches and administrator assigns were collected and stratified per procedure (sperm preparation, oocyte retrieval, IVF/ICSI, cleavage stage embryo or blastocyst embryo biopsy, vitrification and warming, embryo transfer, medium changeover, and IUI). Critical mismatches (such as mislabelling or non-matching samples within one work area) and critical administrator assigns (such as samples not identified by the electronic witnessing system and unconfirmed witnessing points) were selected. A total of 109 655 cycles were included: 53 023 IVF/ICSI, 36 347 FET, and 20 285 IUI cycles. The 724 096 used tags, led to a total of 849 650 witnessing points. The overall mismatch rate was 0.251% (2132/849 650) per witnessing point and 1.944% per cycle. In total, 144 critical mismatches occurred over the different procedures. The yearly mean critical mismatch rate was 0.017 ± 0.007% per witnessing point and 0.129 ± 0.052% per cycle. The overall administrator assign rate was 0.111% (940/849 650) per witnessing point and 0.857% per cycle, including 320 critical administrator assigns. The yearly mean critical administrator assign rate was 0.039 ± 0.010% per witnessing point and 0.301 ± 0.069% per cycle. Overall mismatch and administrator assign rates remained fairly stable during the evaluated time period. Sperm preparation and IVF/ICSI were the procedures most prone to critical mismatch and administrator assigns. The procedures and methods of integration of an electronic witnessing system may vary from one laboratory to another and result in differences in the potential risks related to sample identification. Individual embryos cannot (yet) be identified by such a system; this makes extra manual witnessing indispensable at certain critical steps where potential errors are not recorded. The electronic witnessing system still needs to be used in combination with manual labelling of both the bottom and lid of dishes and tubes to guarantee correct assignment in case of malfunction or incorrect use of radiofrequency identification tags. Electronic witnessing is considered to be the ultimate tool to safeguard correct identification of gametes and embryos. But this is only possible when used correctly, and proper training and attention of the staff is required. It may also induce new risks, i.e. blind witnessing of samples by the operator. No funding was either sought or obtained for this study. J.S. presents webinars on RIW for CooperSurgical. The remaining authors have nothing to declare. N/A.

Pseudotargeted metabolomics-based random forest model for tracking plant species from herbal products

BackgroundThe “one-to-multiple” phenomenon is prevalent in medicinal herbs. Accurate species identification is critical to ensure the safety and efficacy of herbal products but is extremely challenging due to their complex matrices and diverse compositions. PurposeThis study aimed to identify the determinable chemicalome of herbs and develop a reasonable strategy to track their relevant species from herbal products. MethodsTake Astragali Radix-the typical “one to multiple” herb, as a case. An in-house database-driven identification of the potentially bioactive chemicalome (saponins and flavonoids) in AR was performed. Furthermore, a pseudotargeted metabolomics method was first developed and validated to obtain high-quality semi-quantitative data. Then based on the data matrix, the random forest algorithm was trained to predict Astragali Radix species from commercial products. ResultsThe pseudotargeted metabolomics method was first developed and validated to obtain high-quality semi-quantitative data (including 56 saponins and 49 flavonoids) from 26 batches of AR. Then the random forest algorithm was well-trained by importing the valid data matrix and showed high performance in predicting Astragalus species from ten commercial products. ConclusionThis strategy could learn species-special combination features for accurate herbal species tracing and could be expected to promote the traceability of herbal materials in herbal products, contributing to manufacturing standardization.

SNP fingerprinting and farmer criteria for selection, multiplication, and traceability of cacao in Nicaragua

Introduction. Genetic diversity, registration, and traceability of cacao planting material are the essential tripod to support its sustainable cultivation. In Nicaragua, cocoa planting material is mostly obtained from seeds, which leads to great variability in yield, bean quality, and tolerance to pests and diseases. Farmers, technical staff, development projects, and investors depend on a limited supply of elite trees as a reliable source of genetic material to support new cacao fronts and meet market quality standards. Therefore, the development of a national genetic improvement program and a planting material traceability system in Nicaragua are necessary to improve the sustainability of cacao cultivation. Objective. To evaluate the genetic resources on farms and provide information for future breeding programs, as well as to lay foundation for a national traceability and certification system. Materials and methods. Fourty-nine elite trees selected by farmers in the main producing regions in Nicaragua between 2018 and 2020 were sampled. Ninety-three SNP markers were used to characterize them and resolve their genetic origins. Results. The evaluated cacao trees had a narrow genetic background, mainly composed of hybrids with Amelonado (36 %), Criollo (17 %) and Iquitos (15 %) origins. A set of trees with high genetic diversity that could be incorporated into a selection and breeding program was identified. Conclusion. Fingerprinting with SNP markers was a useful tool for evaluating the genetic links of cultivated cacao and can be used for varietal identity test at the farm level. The study provided the basis for developing both a breeding program and a traceability system of cacao planting material in Nicaragua.

A Traceability Framework to Enable Circularity in the Built Environment

The transition towards a Circular Economy (CE) has been receiving an increasing amount of attention in the built asset industry. One of the key aspects of CE is traceability, which can enable the identification and tracking of materials, products, and their associated value throughout their entire lifecycle. However, achieving traceability has been challenging in the built asset industry due to the complex nature of construction projects and a lack of awareness about the benefits of traceability in achieving the circularity of building products and materials. Despite recent studies and efforts, a limited number of frameworks or guidelines exist to support traceability in the built asset industry. In many cases, several of the existing traceability standards, strategies, and guidelines must be identified and framed to support development and implementation of theories and models applicable within the built asset domain. This paper proposes a traceability framework consisting of five key components covering: the main purposes of traceability enabling CE principles, the role of traceability across asset lifecycle stages, the type of data needed to support traceability, the value of collaboration and coordination among industry stakeholders, and key enablers and drivers of traceability from technological and organizational perspectives. The proposed framework developed in this paper contributes to the effort aimed at framing the knowledge domain of CE through the traceability of products and materials in the built environment.

Residence Time Distribution-Based Smith Predictor: an Advanced Feedback Control for Dead Time–Dominated Continuous Powder Blending Process

PurposeIn continuous manufacturing (CM), the material traceability and process dynamics can be investigated by residence time distribution (RTD). Many of the unit operations used in the pharma industry were characterized by dead time–dominated RTD. Even though feasible and proper feedback control is one of the many advantages of CM, its application is challenging in these cases. This study aims to develop a feedback control, implementing the RTD in a Smith predictor control structure in a continuous powder blender line.MethodsContinuous powder blending was investigated with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), and the blending was controlled through a volumetric feeder. A MATLAB GUI was developed to calculate and control the concentration of the API based on the chemometric evaluation of the spectra. The programmed GUI changed the feeding rate based on the proportional integral derivative (PID) and the Smith predictor, which implemented the RTD of the system. The control structures were compared even on a system with amplified dead time.ResultsIn this work, the control structure of the Smith control was devised by utilizing the RTD of the system. The Smith control was compared to a classic PI control structure on the normal system and on an increased dead time system. The Smith predictor was able to reduce the response time for various disturbances by up to 50%, and the dead time had a lower effect on the control.ConclusionsImplementing the RTD models in the control structure improved the process design and further expanded the wide range of applications of the RTD models. Both control structures were able to reduce the effect of disturbances on the system; however, the Smith predictor presented more reliable and faster control, with a wider space for control tuning.

Investigations for Material Tracing in Selective Laser Sintering: Part ΙΙ: Validation of Modified Polymers as Marking Agents

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is currently in transition to the production of functional components. However, the ability to apply it is confronted with new requirements for reliability and reproducibility. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of aging processes in polymers is essential. Regarding material traceability as well as defective component identification with subsequent cause tracing, the application of a material-inherent marking technology represents a solution. SLS in combination with modified polymers as a marking technology proves to be an efficient opportunity to produce reproducible and high-quality components due to an increased understanding of the process. Based on a selection of modified polymers for use in SLS, which were characterized in part I of the study, this work focuses on the experimental validation of the result. The influence of modified polymers on materials and component properties and the SLS process's influence on the traceability of modified polymers are examined. Intrinsic and extrinsic material properties as well as mechanical properties, surface quality and sinter density are analyzed. No discernible influences of the modified polymers on the investigated properties could be observed and the traceability of the modified polymers could also be confirmed in the aged powder and component using mass spectroscopy.