Processes

Glucosinolates (GSL) (β-thioglucoside-N-hydroxy sulfates) are rich-sulfur secondary metabolites raising potential biofumigation interest due to their biological properties. Sinigrin and gluconapin are the main glucosinolates present in brown mustard seeds (Brassica juncea). These glucosinolates are very suitable for the development of phytosanitary products due to their fungicidal, bactericidal and insecticidal effects. In this work, the purification of sinigrin and gluconapin extracted from defatted mustard seeds was studied using macroporous anion exchange resins. A strongly and a weakly anionic resin were first tested according to the nature of their functional group and through their selectivity towards glucosinolates. Anion-exchange resin purification was first studied in static (batch) mode in order to determine the optimal operating conditions; it was then tested in a dynamic (continuous) mode (column) to validate the process. In static mode, the adsorption behavior and characteristics of both resins were compared. The results showed that the strongly basic resin PA312LOH ensures better adsorption of glucosinolates and that the experimental data fit well with the Freundlich isotherm. Moreover, analysis showed that PA312LOH resin was selective for glucosinolates purification towards the proteins. The desorption of glucosinolates was then investigated. Firstly, the operating conditions were optimized by studying the effects of salt concentration and the eluate-resin ratio. This preliminary optimization allowed recovering 72.9% of intact sinigrin and the juice purity was increased from 43.05% to 79.63%. Secondly, dynamic (continuous mode) experiments allowed the recovery of 64.5% of sinigrin and 28% of gluconapin by varying the eluent ionic strength and the flow rate. Resin was finally successfully regenerated using NaOH. Full article

Agricultural policies should be aimed at enhancing production per unit area and help to reduce the cultivated area. To that end, it is critical to conserve soil fertility, promote ecological agriculture, employ climate change adaptation technology, significantly enhance irrigated agriculture, and decrease agricultural production risks. Sustainable agricultural production requires optimized land usage, increased energy efficiency, reduced use of fossil fuels, and minimized environmental consequences. Energy has been used in agriculture in a dramatically increased manner, and the agri-food chain now accounts for 30% of the total global energy use. Energy analysis quantifies the amount of energy used in agricultural production, so it may be used to optimize energy consumption and boost energy efficiency, further propelling the sustainable development of agriculture. Recently, the Mongolian government has expressed concerns about how to realize food sustainability and self-sufficiency in wheat production and agriculture, while also maintaining environmental sustainability. However, there is a substantial study gap between agriculture and energy analysis in Mongolia. This study investigated energy consumption and the effects of energy inputs and energy types on the agricultural production of Mongolia from 2005 to 2018. The output was calculated based on the annual wheat equivalent for the 14 major provinces as a whole. The output level is given as a function of human labor, machinery, electricity, diesel fuel, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water, and seed energy, and the yield and different energy inputs are determined using the ordinary least squares of the Cobb–Douglas function. Total energy input grew from 2359.50 MJ ha⁻¹ in 2005 to 3047.61 MJ ha⁻¹ in 2018, while total output energy increased from 2312.08 MJ ha⁻¹ to 4562.56 MJ ha⁻¹. During this period, the energy use efficiency (input–output ratio), energy productivity, and net energy of wheat production were studied. The fertilizer inputs were statistically significant. The contribution of nitrogen, diesel, and irrigation water towards the production level was 3.52, 3.09, and 2.33, respectively. As a result, the data indicated that non-renewable, direct, and indirect energy sources all had a positive impact on the output level. Furthermore, non-renewable energy in Mongolian agriculture has been used in a significantly increased manner. Full article

The growing biopharmaceutical industry has reached a level of maturity that allows for the monitoring of numerous key variables for both process characterization and outcome predictions. Sensors were historically used in order to maintain an optimal environment within the reactor to optimize process performance. However, technological innovation has pushed towards on-line in situ continuous monitoring of quality attributes that could previously only be estimated off-line. These new sensing technologies when coupled with software models have shown promise for unique fingerprinting, smart process control, outcome improvement, and prediction. All this can be done without requiring invasive sampling or intervention on the system. In this paper, the state-of-the-art sensing technologies and their applications in the context of cell culture monitoring are reviewed with emphasis on the coming push towards industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing within the biopharmaceutical sector. Additionally, perspectives as to how this can be leveraged to improve both understanding and outcomes of cell culture processes are discussed. Full article

The chemical surface of Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) was functionalized with polyaniline (SBA-15/PA) and was prepared using aniline and ammonium persulfate as the modifying agent and oxidant. The samples were characterized by N₂ physical adsorption at 77 K. SBA-15’s surface area was 654.5 m² g⁻¹, changing to 254.6 m² g⁻¹. The total acidity and basicity were determined using a modified Boehm’s method, and the point of zero charge pH (pH_pzc) was determined. Immersion calorimetry in water, benzene, and NaOH, HCl, and phenol (100 mg L⁻¹) solutions was performed, producing values ranging from −15.1 to −174.1 J g⁻¹ related to the chemical surface, pH_pzc, and acid and base group values. Finally, the phenol adsorption capacity was found to be higher for the modified polyaniline silica, at 138 mg g⁻¹. Full article

At present, the majority of available road and jet biofuels are produced from oleochemical feedstocks that include vegetable oils and biowastes such as waste cooking oils and animal fats. Additionally, one of the most promising ways to achieve long-term environmental goals is to sustainably use lignocellulosic residues. These resources must be treated through a deoxygenation process and subsequent upgrading processes to obtain high-quality road and jet biofuels. Accordingly, in this review, we explore recent advancements in the deoxygenation of oleochemical and lignocellulosic feedstocks in the absence of hydrogen to produce high-quality road and jet biofuels, mainly focusing on the use of nanomaterials as catalysts and the valorization of lipid-rich biowastes and lignocellulosic residues. As a result, we found that regardless of the catalyst particle size, the coexistence of basic sites and weak/medium acid sites is highly important in catalytic systems. Basic sites can enhance the removal of oxygenates via decarboxylation and decarbonylation reactions and inhibit coke formation, while weak/medium acid sites can enhance the cracking reaction. Additionally, the extraction of value-added derivatives from lignocellulosic residues and their subsequent upgrade require the use of advanced methods such as the lignin-first approach and condensation reactions. Full article

The adaptability of vehicle-mounted heating systems that include burner and stove remarkably influences the system efficiency, heat flux uniformity, and pollutants emission. In this work, the performance of a rotary cup burner assembly with three different cooking stoves was investigated using ANSYS Fluent software based on five factors of thermal efficiency, heat transfer intensity, heating uniformity, CO emissions, and flue gas outlet temperature. The Eulerian-Lagrangian method was used to perform the diesel spray, and the shear stress transfer k-ω turbulence model and the probability density function model were employed to simulate the turbulent combustion. Based on the simulation results, the performance pentagon of the above five factors was constructed to evaluate the comprehensive performance of the new rotary cup burner system. The rotary cup burner had a good performance when it is used in two staple food stoves and a subsidiary food stove. In staple food stove A, its higher furnace increased the heat exchange area of the vessel, while the higher fireboard of staple food stove B caused a higher heat transfer intensity at the bottom of the vessel. However, the higher fireboard also led to higher CO emissions. In consideration of these two factors, the thermal efficiency of stove A was about 7% higher than that of stove B. Different from the staple food stove, the furnace of subsidiary food stove C had better wrapping to the bottom of the boiler so that it had the highest heat transfer intensity. The obtained performance pentagon shows that the comprehensive adaptability performance of stove A was the best and that of stove B was the worst, which is mainly caused by the height of the fireboard and the shape of the vessel. This research guides the optimization of the heating system and promotes the application of the rotary cup burner. Full article

To improve the accuracy of the parameters used in discrete element simulation tests in the process of clearing fresh sunflowers, this study took the extracts of fresh sunflower as the research object and used a combination of physical experiments and simulation experiments to calibrate the discrete element simulation parameters. First, the composition of the edible sunflower extract is determined, and then, the physical test method is used to determine the characteristics of the edible sunflower extract material. Based on the results of the physical test as a simulation basis, the Plackett–Burman test is used to screen the significance of the test parameters, and the screening results show that the shear modulus, static friction coefficient, and collision recovery coefficient of sunflower kernels have significant effects on the simulated angle of repose. On the basis of the steepest climbing test, the Box–Behnken test is carried out to obtain the simulated angle of repose and significance. The second-order regression equation of texture parameters is optimized with the actual physical angle of repose (24.68°) as the target value to obtain the optimal parameter combination. Finally, through the two-sample T test, p > 0.05 is obtained, indicating that the simulated angle of repose and the actual physical test angle of repose are not significantly different, and the relative error is 0.923%, which verifies the reliability of the optimal simulation parameter combination. The research results show that the calibrated simulation parameter combination can be used in discrete element simulation tests of the extraction process of sunflower extracts. Full article

The financial evaluation of renewable energy sources (RES) projects is well explored in the literature, but many different methods have been followed by different authors. Then, it is important to understand if and how these methods have been changing and what factors may have driven new approaches. Therefore, this article aims to explore the publications on the financial evaluation of RES projects from 2011 to 2020 and to present a critical analysis of the reviewed literature. The methods for evaluating RES projects were grouped into four categories: (i) traditional metrics based on net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period; (ii) levelized cost of electricity; (iii) return on investment approach; and (iv) real options analysis. A quantitative analysis was carried out considering aspects related to the relevance of the authors, productivity by country, and the most relevant journals for each of these groups. Then, a qualitative analysis of the main characteristics of the five most cited articles in each group was conducted. The results show that the more traditional methods are still widely used for the financial evaluation of RES projects. However, approaches based on the levelized cost and real options have been growing in importance to tackle the complex features of financial evaluation and comparison of RES projects. Full article

Known for its high nutritional and medicinal value, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is commonly used for replacing plasma and expanding blood volume in humans. It is a major economic crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate and evaluate the nutritional properties and prospective applications of the consumable parts of okra. The total ash content (mineral content), carbohydrate, crude fiber, fat, protein, and moisture fractions of okra pod aqueous extract were determined. The results show that okra aqueous extract contained 84.670–87.650% moisture, 1.514–1.197% ash, 7.857–8.261% carbohydrate, 2.367–3.410% crude protein, and 6.781–8.314% crude fiber. Okra was determined to have high nutritional value, with γ-tocopherol and α-tocopherol contents about 2.67 mg/100 g and 1.62 mg/100 g, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to determine the sugars present in okra aqueous extract. The water-soluble polysaccharide content was 10.22–16.45 g/100 g. The tested aqueous extract was a rich source of total phenolic compounds in gallic acid equivalents (288.2–3426.2 mg/100 g), chlorophyll a (3.53 mg/100), chlorophyll b (2.43 mg/100), and carotenoids (1.3 mg/100 g). The detected minerals were Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, K, Na, and Mn. Atomic absorption spectrometry analysis of these ashed minerals was performed. In addition to the nutritional benefits, okra pods exhibited antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. The aqueous extract was found to be potentially active against bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC value = 21.8 mg/mL), Escherichia coli (MIC value = 18.7 mg/mL), Bacillus cereus (MIC value = 20.7 mg/mL), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC value = 20.2 mg/mL). Okra aqueous extract exhibited inhibitory activity against α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 120 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 115 µg/mL). The okra extract exhibited high anticancer activity, concentration-dependent and with an IC₅₀ value of about 158.3 mg/mL. The results indicated that okra pods have nutritional and medicinal properties and, hence, can be used as a functional food and broad-spectrum nutraceutical supplement. Full article

The team’s cognitive behavior plays a crucial role in dealing with accidents at nuclear power plants. Herein, the main behaviors of reactor operators and coordinators in performing accident management were analyzed in executing a state-oriented procedure. According to these cognitive behavioral characteristics, we established cognitive behavioral models of accident management procedures. After that, a cognitive behavioral model was established for the team in the main control room of the nuclear power plant based on the two models, which is expected to provide support to the optimization of a corresponding Human Reliability Analysis model. Full article

The data based on location/activity sensing technology is exploding and integrating multi-source data provides us with a new perspective to observe tourist behavior. On the one hand, tourist preferences can be extracted from the attractions generated by clustering. On the other hand, potentially extracted tourist information can provide decision-making support for tourism management departments in tourism planning and resource development. Therefore, developing smart tourism services for tourists and promoting the realization of “smart scenic spots.” A field survey was conducted in Zhongshan Botanical Garden, China, from 3 February to 3 April 2019. This empirical study combines a handheld GPS tracking device and questionnaire survey using SEE to optimize k-means clustering algorithm and explores the spatial–temporal behavior patterns of tourists. The results showed that tourists in the botanical garden could be divided into three behavioral patterns. They are recreation and leisure, birdwatching and photography, and learning and education. The spatial–temporal behavior patterns of different tourists have obvious differences, which provides a basis for the planning and management of smart scenic spots. Full article

The effect of gum Cordia (GC) and gum Ziziphus (GZ) on the physicochemical properties of wheat, potato, and chickpea starches was investigated. Native or acetylated gums were mixed with starch at 2% or 5%. Starches were analyzed using rapid viscoanalyzer (RVA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), texture analyzer, and rheometer. In the presence of gums, the data showed clear variations between the starch gels. The effects of gum acetylation on the starch characteristics were significant. According to the starch type, the peak viscosity of the gels increased depending on the gum type or concentration. With the exception of the potato starch, when gums were added, the gelatinization temperature of the starches increased. Gum acetylation significantly increased starch–gel elasticity (high G′), particularly at the 2% concentration. GC-starch gel hardness was ranked as follows: chickpea–5% native gum > wheat–5% native gum > potato–0% gum, whereas GZ followed the order of: chickpea–2% native gum > wheat–2% native gum > potato–2% native gum. Both the gums promoted reduction in syneresis for the wheat and chickpea starches. Although there was no clear trend, the Ea of the native starches was lowered overall as a result of the gums, indicating the limited effect of temperature on the rheological properties of the blends. Full article

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are promising technologies, aiming at treating different types of industrial and domestic wastewater. In recent years, more and more publications focusing on wastewater treatment have been published. Based on the retrieval of publications from Web of Science Core Collection database, the new emerging trends of microbial fuel cells in wastewater treatment was evaluated with a scientometric analysis method from 1995 to 2020. All publications downloaded from (WOS) were screened by inclusion criteria, and 2233 publications were obtained for further analysis. Document co-citation and burst detection of MFCs in wastewater treatment were analyzed and visualized by software of CiteSpace. Our study indicated that “Environmental Science” is the most popular discipline, while the journal of Bioresource Technology published the greatest quantity of articles in the field of MFCs applied wastewater treatment. China and the Chinese Academy of Science are the most productive country and institution, respectively. “Azo dye” has become the new research topic, which indicates the application area and the development of MFCs. The performance of MFCs for wastewater treatment has been widely discussed. The findings of this study may ameliorate the researcher in seizing the frontier of MFCs in wastewater treatment. Full article

Innovations in food extrusion technology are enabling its rapid expansion and applicability in diverse areas related to bioprocessing and value addition. This study relates raw material particulate rheology to the granular flow in a single screw food extruder. Raw materials based on corn (i.e., meal, flour, and starch), wheat (i.e., farina, flour, and starch), and sucrose (i.e., granulated, superfine, and powdered) were used as model particulate systems for the study. Various particulate-scale characteristics and flow parameters of these nine materials were determined using a powder rheometer, a promising new offline tool. Properties such as basic flow energy, specific energy, cohesion, stability index, flow function, and effective angle of internal friction were good indicators of flowability in an extruder. Corn meal exhibited lower energy requirements and a higher propensity for flow than corn flour (6.7 mJ/g versus 10.7 mJ/g, and “free-flowing” versus “cohesive,” according to Flow Function classifications), with wheat farina showing similar results when compared to wheat flour (5.8 mJ/g versus 7.9 mJ/g, and “highly free-flowing versus “cohesive,” according to Flow Function classifications), although both wheat systems showed comparatively lower energy requirements than their comparable corn systems. Sugar, being of a different base material and particle shape, behaved differently than these starch-based materials—flow energy decreased and propensity to flow increased (51.7 mJ/g versus 8.0 mJ/g, and “free-flowing” versus “highly free-flowing”). This large energy requirement for coarse sugar particles may be attributed more to particle shape than composition, as the sharp edges of sugar can interlock and increase restriction to movement through the sample. The starch-based results were validated in a particulate flow study involving the above model systems (corn meal, corn flour, wheat farina, and wheat flour) in a pilot-scale single screw extruder. Visualization data, obtained using a transparent plexiglass window during extrusion, confirmed that the flours exhibited higher flow energy requirements and a lower flow factor when compared to the coarser-particle size corn meal during extrusion, seen by the increased peak heights and barrel fill. Full article

Plasma-facing components (PFCs) are used as the barrier to the beam of high heat flux generated due to nuclear fusion. Therefore, efficient cooling of PFCs is required for safety and smooth operation of a fusion reactor. The Hyper Vapotron (HV) is generally used as the heat exchanger to cool down the PFCs during operation. These heat exchangers use pool and flow boiling mechanisms, and hence, their ability is inherently constrained by critical heat flux (CHF). The boiling of nanofluid is very promising as the working fluid in the HV. The efficiency of the HV increases due to the increase in CHF by applying nanofluids. However, the feasibility of nanofluid cooling in fusion reactors needs proper understanding. This paper reviews the recent developments in the utilization of boiling phenomena in nanofluid as a coolant in the HV. Experiments, theoretical studies, significant achievements, and challenges are analyzed and discussed. Finally, important points are indicated for future research. Full article

The present study deals with the stock-dependent Markovian demand of a retrial queueing system with a single server and multiple server vacation. The items are restocked under a continuous review $(s,Q)$ ordering policy. When there is no item in the system, the server goes on vacation. Further, any arrival demand permits entry into an infinite orbit whenever the server is on vacation. In the Matrix geometric approach with the Neuts-Rao truncation technique, the steady-state joint distribution of the number of customers in orbit, the server status, and the inventory level is obtained. Under the steady-state conditions, some significant system performance measures, including the long-run total cost rate, are derived, and the Laplace-Stieltjes transform is also used to investigate the waiting time distribution. According to various considerations of uncontrollable parameters and costs, the merits of the proposed model, especially the important characteristics of the system with stock dependency over non-stock dependency, are explored. Ultimately, the important facts and ideas behind this model are given in conclusion. Full article

Microalgae (including cyanobacteria) are the basis for an emerging worldwide industry but still face significant bottlenecks in contributing to the global economy. It is an enormous challenge to translate experiences from established industries such as aquaculture and agriculture to the microalgae sector. In particular, this includes the challenge of adapting regulations that apply to such macroscopic production and mindsets, to the microscopic world of microalgae and to the scale-up to a million times smaller. Current European and country-based regulations do not always, indeed rarely, consider relevant specific issues that limit the path for innovation and growth applicable to the microalgae sector. In this work, the boundaries for the main issues impacting this sector are presented and discussed. Examples and possible analytical frameworks are presented in a question and answer format. Relevant key topics and related boundaries are discussed: What are algae and how do microalgae differ from macroalgae? Why are algae and specifically microalgae relevant? Is algae cultivation an aquaculture process? Can algae and specifically microalgae be classified as vegetables and their production be classified as agriculture or are they an industrial process? How is algaculture compared with other agricultural sectors? What are organic algae? Can microalgae be grown in wastewater and how can they be used? What are toxic algae? What are the bottlenecks for microalgae culture scale-up? How does the microalgae biodiversity contribute to their development? We conclude that microalgae are developing as a novel agricultural enterprise that can provide major benefits to a sustainable circular economy and environment but require appropriate regulations and support from governments and businesses, recognising its unique attributes and potential. Full article

Matrix acidizing in carbonate reservoirs is a process that has been long used to increase productivity in oil and gas producing formations. The main goal is to create wormholes that bypass the damage in the formation. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is the main acid used for this; however, it has several disadvantages that affect the success of these treatments. Its high reaction rate, inability to divert, and corrosive nature are a few of the reasons why research in this area has focused on finding alternative fluids. This paper discusses studies on successful alternatives to HCl. It has been observed that emulsified acids, which work with the addition of a surfactant to HCl, have shown positive results as their high viscosity allows them to retard the reaction rate between the acid and the rock and form effective and dominant wormholes. This is needed, especially in high-temperature environments. As HCl also lacks the ability to divert to low-permeability zones in highly heterogeneous formations, emulsified acids are also helpful for this task. While viscoelastic surfactants have been found to be less susceptible to form damage since they do not have any polymer content, their diversion performance has not been as effective as emulsified acids. Corrosion is one of the greatest and most expensive issues faced in matrix acidizing treatments. The use of corrosion inhibitors has been proposed as the best way to deal with this problem. Inorganic corrosion inhibitors are no longer an option as they are extremely toxic and pose a great danger to the environment. Organic corrosion inhibitors have been proposed as an alternative since the 1970s. However, organic compounds still pose a hazard in their use. Natural extracts as alternatives have been proposed for their inhibition ability. The use of henna extract and aqueous garlic peel extract as corrosion inhibitors has shown positive results with lower corrosion rates compared to some conventional inhibitors. Full article

In order to better evaluate the effects of ethanol/diesel blends on engine combustion and emission characteristics, we developed an engine cylinder model using the software CONVERGE combined with the program CHEMKIN. The model was validated experimentally. A modified chemical kinetic mechanism was used to calculate the combustion process of diesel fuel and ethanol for the diesel engine, including 154 reactions and 68 species. Furthermore, the influence of different ethanol proportions on diesel engine combustion and emission characteristics, including power, brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, cylinder pressure, cylinder temperature, nitrogen oxide (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO), and soot emissions, was also investigated. Our results showed that cylinder pressure and temperature increased with increased ethanol content. When the ethanol content increased to 20% at 100% load, the cylinder pressure increased by 0.46%, and the thermal efficiency increased by 3.63%. However, due to the lower calorific value of ethanol, the power decreased by 4.12%, and the brake specific fuel consumption increased by 4.23%. In addition, the ethanol/diesel blends significantly reduced CO and soot emissions. Compared with diesel, soot and CO emissions from the D80E20 at 100% load reduced by 63.25% and 17.24%, respectively. However, NO_x emission increased by 1.39%. Full article