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Processes
Special Issues
Circular Economy on Production Processes and Systems Engineering
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Circular Economy on Production Processes and Systems Engineering

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1000

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lucian-Ionel Cioca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Industrial Engineering and Management Department, Faculty of Engineering, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 10 Victoriei Blv., 550024 Sibiu, Romania
Interests: management; human resources management; occupational health and safety management; production systems engineering; ergonomics; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elena Simina Lakatos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Research in Circular Economy and Environment "Ernest Lupan", 400609 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: social development and community sustainability; entrepreneurship and circular economy; sustainable development and environmental protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The circular economy (CE) significantly impacts production processes, changing the traditional linear model of “take, make, throw away” to a more sustainable and restorative approach. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, and waste and resource consumption are minimized. The following are some key impacts on production processes: 

  • Resource efficiency: Circular economy principles prioritize using fewer raw materials by reusing, remanufacturing, and recycling existing resources. This leads to more efficient production processes that reduce the demand for virgin materials, which can reduce costs and environmental impact.
  • Design for longevity: Manufacturers are encouraged to design products with longer life cycles, easier repairability, and modular components. This results in a shift toward more durable goods that can be reconditioned, upgraded, or reused rather than discarded after a short lifespan. This affects production regarding design, material selection, and assembly methods.
  • Energy reduction: Reusing materials and reducing the need for new raw materials can make production processes less energy-intensive. For example, recycling materials often uses less energy than producing new materials from scratch.
  • Waste reduction: In a circular economy, waste is minimized by recycling, repurposing, and reusing materials. This reduces the overall environmental footprint of production, reducing waste and landfill pollution. Manufacturers focus on creating processes where waste is a resource rather than an end product.

In short, the circular economy reshapes production to be more sustainable, resource-efficient, and waste-friendly, fostering long-term economic, environmental, and social benefits. It stimulates innovation, reduces costs, and promotes a shift towards sustainability in both production and consumption.

In the current Special Issue, titled "Circular Economy on Production Processes and Systems Engineering", we invite researchers to contribute their recent scientific works on this topic.

Prof. Dr. Lucian-Ionel Cioca
Dr. Elena Simina Lakatos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circular economy
  • resource efficiency
  • design for longevity
  • energy reduction
  • waste reduction

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3339 KiB  
Article
Case Study: Component Design for Streamlining the Manufacturing Process Using 3D Printing
by Jozef Trojan, Peter Trebuňa, Jozef Svetlík and Ján Kopec
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051282 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 155
Abstract
The innovative pressure device, developed to address contamination issues on Essity Slovakia’s carton production line, was successfully implemented using 3D printing technology. This approach resulted in a precise prototype that significantly reduces contamination, simplifies packaging procedures, and lessens the need for manual labor. [...] Read more.
The innovative pressure device, developed to address contamination issues on Essity Slovakia’s carton production line, was successfully implemented using 3D printing technology. This approach resulted in a precise prototype that significantly reduces contamination, simplifies packaging procedures, and lessens the need for manual labor. The project entailed a comprehensive review of the current system, 3D scanning, creation of a model using SolidWorks software, and fabrication with a Trilab DeltiQ 2 printer. The outcomes demonstrate a staggering 96% decrease in contamination, elimination of downtime, and a boost in overall line efficiency. This research underscores the transformative capabilities of additive manufacturing in industrial modernization and accentuates the significance of technological advancements in enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and quality within the manufacturing industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy on Production Processes and Systems Engineering)
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19 pages, 4419 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Environmentally Responsive Thickening Agents for Fracturing Fluids in Shale Gas Reservoir Stimulation
by Cheng Huang, Liping Mu and Xuefeng Gong
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1253; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041253 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 181
Abstract
In response to the special requirements for shale gas reservoir stimulation, a novel environmentally responsive fracturing fluid thickener was designed and developed in this paper. N,N-dimethylhexadecylallylammonium chloride (C16DMAAC), N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), and Acrylamide (AM) were used as functional monomers, and the [...] Read more.
In response to the special requirements for shale gas reservoir stimulation, a novel environmentally responsive fracturing fluid thickener was designed and developed in this paper. N,N-dimethylhexadecylallylammonium chloride (C16DMAAC), N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), and Acrylamide (AM) were used as functional monomers, and the synthesis of the target product was achieved successfully through free radical polymerization in an aqueous solution. The findings indicated that in the optimized situation, where the total monomer mass fraction was 25%, the ratio of AM:AMPS:C16DMAAC:NVP was 15:10:3:2, the initiator mass fraction was 0.3%, the pH was 6.5, and the temperature was 60 °C, the thickener achieved a number-average molecular weight of 1.13 × 106. Furthermore, its remarkable thermal stability was manifested, as it only experienced a 15% mass loss in the temperature interval spanning from 40 °C to 260 °C. Performance evaluation results indicated that, at 120 °C, the viscosity of the thickener under study increased by over 49% compared to the control group. Simultaneously, in a 0.4 wt% CaCl2 environment, it retained a high viscosity of 54.75 mPa·s. This value was 46.61 mPa·s greater than that of the control group. Furthermore, under the conditions of a temperature of 170 °C, the fracturing fluid viscosity remained above 68 mPa·s. Regarding the flow performance, within the flow rate range from 110 to 150 L/min, it showed a remarkable drag reduction effect, achieving a maximum drag reduction rate of 70%. At 150 °C, the fracturing fluid exhibited superior proppant-carrying efficacy, with a settlement rate that was 26.1% lower than that of the control group. The viscosity and residue content of the gel-broken fracturing fluid exceeded the requirements of industry standards. In particular, the residue content of this fracturing fluid was 21% lower than that of the control group. The research results provide an environmentally responsive fracturing fluid thickener with excellent performance for shale gas reservoir stimulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy on Production Processes and Systems Engineering)
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14 pages, 4119 KiB  
Article
The Development of an Alginate Drilling Fluid Treatment Agent for Shale and a Study on the Mechanism of Wellbore Stability Sealing
by Cheng Huang, Liping Mu and Xuefeng Gong
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041250 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 179
Abstract
In order to prevent and control the problem of wellbore instability during the drilling process in shale formations, this study, based on the unique rheological properties, water solubility, and thermal stability of sodium alginate (SA), systematically investigated the rheological properties, filtration properties, and [...] Read more.
In order to prevent and control the problem of wellbore instability during the drilling process in shale formations, this study, based on the unique rheological properties, water solubility, and thermal stability of sodium alginate (SA), systematically investigated the rheological properties, filtration properties, and temperature resistance of sodium alginate-based drilling fluids before and after salt contamination. Additionally, it explored the wellbore stability and plugging mechanism of these drilling fluids in shale formations. The research shows that the BF + 0.4 wt% SA system significantly improves the rheological properties of the drilling fluid, effectively reduces the filtration loss, and exhibits good stability under the conditions of salt contamination and a high temperature of 100 °C. Sodium alginate binds to clay particles through hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds, enhancing the hydration and dispersion ability of the particles. The absolute value of its zeta potential reaches 39 mV and 37 mV before and after salt contamination, respectively, which is better than that of the control group, thus improving the colloidal stability of the drilling fluid. At the same time, through the moderate flocculation of clay particles, low-permeability filter cakes with filtration losses of 14 mL and 25 mL before and after salt contamination are formed, realizing a wellbore stability mechanism that combines physical plugging and chemical inhibition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy on Production Processes and Systems Engineering)
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18 pages, 1903 KiB  
Article
Thermal Parameters Optimization of the R744/R134a Cascade Refrigeration Cycle Using Taguchi and ANOVA Methods
by Thanhtrung Dang, Hoangtuan Nguyen and Hung-Son Dang
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041210 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 164
Abstract
In recent years, the use of R744 natural refrigerant has become increasingly popular in a wide range of applications from air conditioning to low-temperature refrigeration. This study focuses on optimizing the thermodynamic parameters of the R744/R134a cascade cycle operating under evaporative temperature varying [...] Read more.
In recent years, the use of R744 natural refrigerant has become increasingly popular in a wide range of applications from air conditioning to low-temperature refrigeration. This study focuses on optimizing the thermodynamic parameters of the R744/R134a cascade cycle operating under evaporative temperature varying from −23 °C to −29 °C, operating in tropical climates region. The parameters include the evaporating temperature, the condensing temperature, the subcooling temperature, and the superheating temperature in the low temperature cycle, and the evaporating temperature, the subcooling temperature, and the superheating temperature in the high temperature cycle. The study has given a rating of the influence of thermodynamic parameters on the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system. In addition, the study shows that the optimal dataset for all the above thermodynamic parameters is A3B3C2D1E1F3 with a COP of 2.560 in theory and 2.461 in experiment. Moreover, the ANOVA analysis method for the variances also shows the consistency of the above results with the highest error of 3.54% compared to the experiment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy on Production Processes and Systems Engineering)
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