| 1. |
- Arrhenius, Karine, et al.
(författare)
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Detection of contaminants in hydrogen fuel for fuel cell electrical vehicles with sensors—available technology, testing protocols and implementation challenges
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI. - 2227-9717. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Europe’s low-carbon energy policy favors a greater use of fuel cells and technologies based on hydrogen used as a fuel. Hydrogen delivered at the hydrogen refueling station must be compliant with requirements stated in different standards. Currently, the quality control process is performed by offline analysis of the hydrogen fuel. It is, however, beneficial to continuously monitor at least some of the contaminants onsite using chemical sensors. For hydrogen quality control with regard to contaminants, high sensitivity, integration parameters, and low cost are the most important requirements. In this study, we have reviewed the existing sensor technologies to detect contaminants in hydrogen, then discussed the implementation of sensors at a hydrogen refueling stations, described the state-of-art in protocols to perform assessment of these sensor technologies, and, finally, identified the gaps and needs in these areas. It was clear that sensors are not yet commercially available for all gaseous contaminants mentioned in ISO14687:2019. The development of standardized testing protocols is required to go hand in hand with the development of chemical sensors for this application following a similar approach to the one undertaken for air sensors. © 2021 by the authors.
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| 2. |
- Hossain, Md Shakhawath, et al.
(författare)
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Explicit-pH Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations Enable Insights into Restructuring of Intestinal Colloidal Aggregates with Permeation Enhancers
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI. - 2227-9717. ; 10:1, s. 29-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Permeation enhancers (PEs) can increase the bioavailability of drugs. The mechanisms of action of these PEs are complex, but, typically, when used for oral administration, they can transiently induce the alteration of trans- and paracellular pathways, including increased solubilization and membrane fluidity, or the opening of the tight junctions. To elucidate these mechanistic details, it is important to understand the aggregation behavior of not only the PEs themselves but also other molecules already present in the intestine. Aggregation processes depend critically on, among other factors, the charge state of ionizable chemical groups, which is affected by the pH of the system. In this study, we used explicit-pH coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the aggregation behavior and pH dependence of two commonly used PEs—caprate and SNAC—together with other components of fasted- and fed-state simulated intestinal fluids. We also present and validate a coarse-grained molecular topology for the bile salt taurocholate suitable for the Martini3 force-field. Our results indicate an increase in the number of free molecules as a function of the system pH and for each combination of FaSSIF/FeSSIF and PEs. In addition, there are differences between caprate and SNAC, which are rationalized based on their different molecular structures and critical micelle concentrations.
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Mathias, et al.
(författare)
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Faba Bean Fractions for 3D Printing of Protein-, Starch- and Fibre-Rich Foods
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Food 3D printing allows for the production of personalised foods in terms of shape and nutrition. In this study, we examined whether protein-, starch- and fibre-rich fractions extracted from faba beans can be combined to produce fibre- and protein-rich printable food inks for extrusion-based 3D printing. Small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements were used to characterise the inks while compression tests and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterise the freeze-dried samples. We found that rheological parameters such as storage modulus, loss tangent and yield stress were related to ink printability and shape stability. Investigations on the effect of ink composition, infill pattern (honeycomb/grid) and direction of compression on textural and microstructural properties of freeze-dried 3D-printed objects revealed no clear effect of infill pattern, but a strong effect of direction of compression. Microstructure heterogeneity seemed to be correlated with the textural properties of the printed objects.
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| 4. |
- Ladd, Brian, et al.
(författare)
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Proof-of-Concept of Continuous Transfection for Adeno-Associated Virus Production in Microcarrier-Based Culture
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adeno-associated virus vectors (AAV) are reported to have a great potential for gene therapy, however, a major bottleneck for this kind of therapy is the limitation of production capacity. Higher specific AAV vector yield is often reported for adherent cell systems compared to cells in suspension, and a microcarrier-based culture is well established for the culture of anchored cells on a larger scale. The purpose of the present study was to explore how microcarrier cultures could provide a solution for the production of AAV vectors based on the triple plasmid transfection of HEK293T cells in a stirred tank bioreactor. In the present study, cells were grown and expanded in suspension, offering the ease of this type of operation, and were then anchored on microcarriers in order to proceed with transfection of the plasmids for transient AAV vector production. This process was developed in view of a bioreactor application in a 200 mL stirred-tank vessel where shear stress aspects were studied. Furthermore, amenability to a continuous process was studied. The present investigation provided a proof-of-concept of a continuous process based on microcarriers in a stirred-tank bioreactor.
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| 5. |
- Lallo, Elias, et al.
(författare)
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Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Using Aemion((TM)) Anion Exchange Membranes
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is a promising and commercially available technology that poses advantageous features for stationary energy storage. A key component of the VRFB in terms of cost and system efficiency is the membrane. In recent years, anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have gained interest in VRFB research as they in general exhibit lower vanadium crossover due to a more substantial Donnan exclusion effect. In this study, a low-resistance flow cell was developed and the electrochemical performance of Aemion (TM) anion exchange membranes AF1-HNN5-50-X, AF1-HNN8-50-X and AF1-ENN8-50-X were compared against commonly used cation exchange membranes, Nafion(R) 211 and 212. The VRFB using AF1-ENN8-50-X exhibited superior performance versus Nafion(R) 212 regarding cycling efficiency and rate performance. However, relatively high and comparable capacity losses were observed using both membranes. NMR analysis showed no sign of chemical degradation for AF1-ENN8-50-X by immersion in VO2+ solution for 800 h. Although Aemion (TM) AEMs showed good chemical and electrochemical performance, considerable electrolyte crossover was observed due to high water uptake.
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| 6. |
- Ramesh, Vetukuri
(författare)
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Effect of Biochar and Microbial Inoculation on P, Fe, and Zn Bioavailability in a Calcareous Soil
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To identify effective ways of increasing the yield of crops grown in nutrient-poor calcareous soils, the combined effects of biochar addition and inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on wheat growth and soil properties were investigated under rhizobox conditions. Measured soil properties included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter content (OM), the availability of P, Fe, and Zn in the rhizosphere, and the uptake of these elements by plants. Combined biochar addition and microbial inoculation were shown to significantly increase the concentration of available forms of P, Fe, and Zn in the soil when compared to non-biochar treatments. The highest soil pH (7.82) was observed following biochar addition without microbial inoculation. The EC following biochar addition and PGPR inoculation was significantly higher than the other treatments, and the soil OM content was highest when combining AMF inoculation with biochar addition. The available P content after AMF inoculation combined with biochar addition was 27.81% higher than the control conditions, and AMF inoculation increased Fe and Zn bioavailability by factors of 2.38 and 1.29, respectively, when combined with biochar addition relative to AMF inoculation alone. The simultaneous biochar addition and PGPR inoculation significantly increased P uptake by the plants. The highest shoot Fe and Zn uptake rates were observed after a simultaneous application of biochar and PGPR inoculation. Under these conditions, shoot uptake was higher than seen when combining biochar addition with AMF inoculation by factors of 1.64 and 1.21, respectively. In general, it can be concluded that combining inoculation with growth-promoting bacteria and biochar addition can effectively improve nutrient availability to plant and soil conditions.
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| 7. |
- Zhang, Zhibo, et al.
(författare)
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Developing and Regenerating Cofactors for Sustainable Enzymatic CO2 Conversion
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI. - 2227-9717. ; 10:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Enzymatic CO2 conversion offers a promising strategy for alleviating global warming and promoting renewable energy exploitation, while the high cost of cofactors is a bottleneck for large-scale applications. To address the challenge, cofactor regeneration is usually coupled with the enzymatic reaction. Meanwhile, artificial cofactors have been developed to further improve conversion efficiency and decrease cost. In this review, the methods, such as enzymatic, chemical, electrochemical, and photochemical catalysis, developed for cofactor regeneration, together with those developed artificial cofactors, were summarized and compared to offer a solution for large-scale enzymatic CO2 conversion in a sustainable way.
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| 8. |
- Acharya, Sarthak, et al.
(författare)
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Detailed Characterization of a Fully Additive Covalent Bonded PCB Manufacturing Process (SBU-CBM Method)
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI. - 2227-9717. ; 10:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To bridge the technology gap between IC-level and board-level fabrications, a fully additive selective metallization has already been demonstrated in the literature. In this article, the surface characterization of each step involved in the fabrication process is outlined with bulk metallization of the surface. This production technique has used polyurethane as epoxy resin and proprietary grafting chemistry to functionalize the surface with covalent bonds on an FR-4 base substrate. The surface was then metalized using an electroless copper (Cu) bath. This sequential growth of layers on top of each other using an actinic laser beam and palladium (Pd) ions to deposit Cu is analyzed. State-of-the-art material characterization techniques were employed to investigate process mechanism at the interfaces. Density functional theory calculations were performed to validate the experimental evidence of covalent bonding of the layers. This manufacturing approach is capable of adding metallic layers in a selective manner to the printed circuit boards at considerably lower temperatures. A complete analysis of the process using bulk deposition of the materials is illustrated in this work.
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| 9. |
- Ahlström, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
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Pilot-Scale Protein Recovery from Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Press Cake: Influence of Solids Recirculation
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The agricultural sector is responsible for about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and thus there is a need to develop new plant-based proteins with lower climate impact. Rapeseed press cake, a by-product from rapeseed oil production, contains 30% high-quality protein. The purpose of this study was to recover protein from cold-pressed rapeseed press cakes on a pilot scale using a decanter and investigate the effect of recirculation of the spent solids fraction on protein yield. Proteins were extracted under alkaline conditions (pH 10.5) followed by precipitation at pH 3.5. Recirculating the spent solids fraction once increased the accumulated protein yield from 70% to 83%. The efficiency of the recovery process was highest in the first and second cycles. The additional yield after the third and fourth cycles was only 2%. The amino acid composition showed high levels of essential amino acids and was not reduced throughout the recovery process. The glucosinolate and phytate content was reduced in the precipitate after one cycle, although additional process steps are needed to further reduce the phytate content and limit the negative effect on mineral uptake.
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| 10. |
- Asim, Zeeshan, et al.
(författare)
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Supporting Management Disciplines for Research and Development in Public Organizations
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In practice, R&D in public organizations in developing countries is confronted with a variety of failures related to supporting management disciplines. The primary goal of this study is to address this issue through multiple-criteria decision making, which includes the DANP (DEMATEL-based ANP) approach. The DANP approach helps to resolve the classification issue that arises as a result of interdependence and feedback characteristics among the capabilities related to supporting management disciplines, allowing weak capabilities to be prioritized based on their interdependence. In the case of criteria weighting, the empirical result in terms of the degree of the net causal relationship had a greater influence on other criteria; however, in terms of dimensions, the technology management process capability had a greater significance on other dimensions, while the innovation management process capability had the least significance on other dimensions. The studies were based on relevant capabilities under a generic perspective so as to oppose country-specific reviews. However, for empirical testing, the proposed framework needs to fit into a country-specific context. According to specific conditions, Pakistan is considered as a case of empirical testing, providing the experts from the multidisciplinary field of science and technology with robust professional credentials in managing multi-mission R&D from public organizations.
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| 11. |
- Barin, Mohsen, et al.
(författare)
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Optimization of Biofertilizer Formulation for Phosphorus Solubilizing by Pseudomonas fluorescens Ur21 via Response Surface Methodology
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to analyze and quantify the effect of different ratios of vermicompost, phosphate rock, and sulfur on P solubilization and release by Pseudomonas fluorescens Ur21, and to identify optimal levels of those variables for an efficient biofertilizer. Twenty experiments were defined by surface response methodology based on a central composite design (CCD), and the effects of various quantities of vermicompost, phosphate rock, and sulfur (encoded by −1, 0, or +1) on P solubilization was explored. The results show that the CCD model had high efficiency for predicting P solubilization (R2 = 0.9035). The strongest effects of the included variables on the observed P solubilization were linear effects of sulfur and organic matter (vermicompost), a quadratic effect of phosphate rock, and an interactive effect of organic matter × phosphate rock. Statistical analysis of the coefficients in the CCD model revealed that vermicompost, vermicompost × phosphate rock, and phosphate rock × phosphate rock treatments increased P solubilization. The optimal predicted composition for maximal P solubilization by P. fluorescens Ur21 (at 1684.39 mg·kg−1, with more than 90% of the added phosphate dissolved) was 58.8% vermicompost, 35.3% phosphate rock, and 5.8% sulfur. ANOVA analysis confirmed the model’s accuracy and validity in terms of F value (10.41), p value (<0.001), and non-significant lack of fit.
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| 12. |
- Hussien, Abdelazim, et al.
(författare)
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An Enhanced Evaporation Rate Water-Cycle Algorithm for Global Optimization
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI. - 2227-9717. ; 10:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Water-cycle algorithm based on evaporation rate (ErWCA) is a powerful enhanced version of the water-cycle algorithm (WCA) metaheuristics algorithm. ErWCA, like other algorithms, may still fall in the sub-optimal region and have a slow convergence, especially in high-dimensional tasks problems. This paper suggests an enhanced ErWCA (EErWCA) version, which embeds local escaping operator (LEO) as an internal operator in the updating process. ErWCA also uses a control-randomization operator. To verify this version, a comparison between EErWCA and other algorithms, namely, classical ErWCA, water cycle algorithm (WCA), butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA), bird swarm algorithm (BSA), crow search algorithm (CSA), grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO), whale optimization algorithm (WOA), dandelion optimizer (DO) and fire hawks optimization (FHO) using IEEE CEC 2017, was performed. The experimental and analytical results show the adequate performance of the proposed algorithm.
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| 13. |
- Håkansson, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Identification and Mapping of Three Distinct Breakup Morphologies in the Turbulent Inertial Regime of Emulsification—Effect of Weber Number and Viscosity Ratio
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Turbulent emulsification is an important unit operation in chemical engineering. Due to its high energy cost, there is substantial interest in increasing the fundamental understanding of drop breakup in these devices, e.g., for optimization. In this study, numerical breakup experiments are used to study turbulent fragmentation of viscous drops, under conditions similar to emulsification devices such as high-pressure homogenizers and rotor-stator mixers. The drop diameter was kept larger than the Kolmogorov length scale (i.e., turbulent inertial breakup). When varying the Weber number (We) and the disperse-to-continuous phase viscosity ratio in a range applicable to emulsification, three distinct breakup morphologies are identified: sheet breakup (large We and/or low viscosity ratio), thread breakup (intermediary We and viscosity ratio > 5), and bulb breakup (low We). The number and size of resulting fragments differ between these three morphologies. Moreover, results also confirm previous findings showing drops with different We differing in how they attenuate the surrounding turbulent flow. This can create ‘exclaves’ in the phase space, i.e., narrow We-intervals, where drops with lower We break and drops with higher We do not (due to the latter attenuating the surrounding turbulence stresses more).
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| 14. |
- Iplik, Esin, et al.
(författare)
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A Feedforward Model Predictive Controller for Optimal Hydrocracker Operation
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:12, s. 2583-2583
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hydrocracking is an energy-intensive process, and its control system aims at stable product specifications. When the main product is diesel, the quality measure is usually 95% of the true boiling point. Constant diesel quality is hard to achieve when the feed characteristics vary and feedback control has a long response time. This work suggests a feedforward model predictive control structure for an industrial hydrocracker. A state-space model, an autoregressive exogenous model, a support vector machine regression model, and a deep neural network model are tested in this structure. The resulting reactor temperature decisions and final diesel product quality values are compared against each other and against the actual measurements. The results show the importance of the feed character measurements. Significant improvements are shown in terms of product quality as well as energy savings through decreasing the heat duty of the preheating furnace.
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| 15. |
- Khemis, Chiheb, et al.
(författare)
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Development of Artificial Neural Networks to Predict the Effect of Tractor Speed on Soil Compaction Using Penetrologger Test Results
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI. - 2227-9717 .- 2227-9717. ; 10:6, s. 1-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- African agriculture is adversely impacted by arable soil compaction, the degree of which is affected by the speed at which the tractor is maneuvered on the fields, which affects the degree of soil compaction. However, there is no reliable, existing mathematical correlation between the extent of compaction on the one hand, and the tractor speed/s and soil moisture levels on the other. This paper bridges this gap in knowledge by resorting to the artificial neural networks (ANNs) method to predict the effects of tractor speed and soil moisture on the state of soil compaction. The models were ‘trained’ with penetration resistance (CPR) and bulk density test data obtained from field measurements. The resulting correlation coefficient (R = 0.9) showed good compliance of the prediction made with the ANN models with on-field data. It follows, thereby, that the model developed by the authors in this study can be effectively used for predicting the effects of speed, soil density, and moisture content on compaction of alluvial, poorly developed soil with much greater precision, thereby providing guidance to farmers around the world.
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| 16. |
- Pal, Shashank, et al.
(författare)
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Recent Advances in Catalytic Pyrolysis of Municipal Plastic Waste for the Production of Hydrocarbon Fuels
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI. - 2227-9717. ; 10:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Currently, the resources of fossil fuels, such as crude oil, natural gas, and coal, are depleting day by day due to increasing energy demands. Nowadays, plastic items have witnessed a substantial surge in manufacturing due to their wide range of applications and low cost. Therefore, the amount of plastic waste is increasing rapidly. Hence, the proper management of plastic wastes for sustainable technologies is the need of the hour. Chemical recycling technologies based on pyrolysis are emerging as the best waste management approaches due to their robustness and better economics. However, research on converting plastic waste into fuels and other value-added goods has yet to be undertaken, and more R&D is required to make waste-plastic-based fuels economically viable. In this review article, the current status of the plastic waste pyrolysis process is discussed in detail. Processcontrolling parameters such as temperature, pressure, residence time, reactor type, and catalyst dose are also investigated in this review paper. In addition, the application of reaction products is also described in brief. For example, plasto-oil obtained by catalytic pyrolysis may be utilized in various sectors, e.g., transportation, industrial boilers, and power generation. On the other hand, byproducts, such as solid residue (plasto-char), could be used as a road construction material or to make activated carbon or graphenes, while the non-condensable gases have a good potential to be utilized as heating/energy source.
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| 17. |
- Tahriri, Farzad, et al.
(författare)
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A Decision-Making Model for Predicting Technology Adoption Success
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) has the potential to significantly improve manufacturing performance and boost competitiveness in the global market. Investment in AMT remains a promising but potentially risky venture due to the numerous factors that must be considered before the full benefits of implementing a new technology can be realized. To respond to the reported risks and uncertainties, such as those revealed in the recent industrial revolution, it is very important to identify and classify the critical factors that can influence the success of AMT adoption early in the planning stage. Based on an extensive review of relevant literature, 32 critical factors are identified and classified into ten categories in this paper. A new multiple-input single-output (MISO) model is developed by combining the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) and the fuzzy inference system (FIS) based on the objectives defined. The FDM is used to determine the critical factors, and the FIS addresses the general fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) problem in order to evaluate and predict the percentage of AMT adoption success with an existing system. The model is validated using a numerical test bed, and the results show that the model is a proper tool for risk management in AMT implementation.
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| 18. |
- Tallvod, Simon, et al.
(författare)
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Automation of Modeling and Calibration of Integrated Preparative Protein Chromatography Systems
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- With the increasing global demand for precise and efficient pharmaceuticals and the biopharma industry moving towards Industry 4.0, the need for advanced process integration, automation, and modeling has increased as well. In this work, a method for automatic modeling and calibration of an integrated preparative chromatographic system for pharmaceutical development and production is presented. Based on a user-defined system description, a system model was automatically generated and then calibrated using a sequence of experiments. The system description and model was implemented in the Python-based preparative chromatography control software Orbit.
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| 19. |
- Vetter, Florian Lukas, et al.
(författare)
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Toward Autonomous Production of mRNA-Therapeutics in the Light of Advanced Process Control and Traditional Control Strategies for Chromatography
- 2022
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Ingår i: Processes. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9717. ; 10:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- mRNA-based therapeutics are predicted to have a bright future. Recently, a B2C study was published highlighting the critical bottlenecks of mRNA manufacturing. The study focused on supply bottlenecks of various chemicals as well as shortages of skilled personnel. The assessment of existing messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine processing shows the need for continuous manufacturing processes that are capable of about 80% chemical reduction and more than 70% personnel at factor five more efficient equipment utilization. The key technology to solve these problems is both a higher degree of automation and the maximization of process throughput. In this paper, the application of a quality-by-design process development approach is demonstrated, using process models as digital twins. Their systematic application leads to both robust optimized process parameters, with an increase in productivity of up to 108%, and sophisticated control concepts, preventing batch failures and minimizing the operating workload in terms of personnel and chemicals’ consumption. The approach thereby provides a data-driven decision basis for the industrialization of such processes, which fulfills the regulatory requirements of the approval authorities and paves the way for PAT integration. In the process investigated, it was shown that conventional PID-based controls can regulate fluctuations in the input streams sufficiently well. Model-based control based on digital twins may have potential above all in a further increase in productivity, but is not mandatory to implement for the industrialization of continuous mRNA manufacturing.
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