Search Results (90)

The transition toward lower-carbon polyolefin manufacturing requires evaluating whether renewable hydrogen can be used in industrial polypropylene production while maintaining acceptable process operation and product quality. In this study, an industrial gas-phase polypropylene production campaign that used electrolytic hydrogen was assessed using statistical and multivariate analyses. A dataset comprising 1441 process observations and more than 100 laboratory measurements was analyzed to characterize process variability, catalyst-feed stability, fouling behavior, and polypropylene quality. The monitored variables included the H₂/C₃, triethylaluminum-to-titanium selectivity-control-agent-to-titanium (TEAL/Ti), SCA/Ti, and TEAL/SCA ratios, production rate, reactor pressure, distributor-plate pressure drop, recycle-system variables, and fouling indicators. Product quality was evaluated through melt flow index, xylene solubles, bulk density, and residual catalyst species. Descriptive statistics, temporal analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and principal component analysis were applied to identify the main sources of operational variability and their relationships with product quality. During the evaluated campaign, the process maintained an average production rate of 30.62 ± 0.69 t h⁻¹, with low variability in the principal catalyst-feed ratios. The polypropylene exhibited an average melt flow index of 2.10 ± 0.11 g/10 min and a xylene-soluble content of 1.19 ± 0.08 wt.%, both within the specifications considered for the commercial grade produced. Temporal analysis of variance identified catalyst ratios, hydrogen utilization, and production rate as the variables with the largest temporal effects, whereas the distributor-plate fouling factor showed comparatively limited variation. The first two principal components explained 58.99% of the total process variance, with hydrogen utilization, catalyst-related variables, reactor pressure, and space–time yield among the dominant contributors. These results provide industrial-scale evidence that electrolytic hydrogen can be integrated into the investigated polypropylene process while maintaining stable operation and specification-compliant product quality during the evaluated period. However, because no parallel or matched campaign using fossil-derived hydrogen was available under the same plant, catalyst, grade, and operating conditions, the present results should not be interpreted as demonstrating full equivalence or direct replacement of conventional hydrogen. Instead, the study establishes an operational baseline and a multivariate monitoring framework for future comparative validation of the use of renewable hydrogen in polyolefin manufacturing. Full article

The soil-borne oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici poses a serious threat to plant growth and results in substantial economic impact on the pepper industry. Therefore, the isolation of multifunctional biocontrol agents has become a major research priority. In this study, we isolated a biocontrol strain, Bacillus subtilis Z-294, which demonstrated strong inhibition of P. capsici in both plate and greenhouse experiments. This strain Z-294 exhibited broad-spectrum antagonistic activities as well as plant growth-promoting ability. Phylogenetic analysis based on core-genome and average nucleotide identity (ANI) further identified Z-294 as B. subtilis. Importantly, we found that the strain Z-294 alleviates the P. capsici disease through mechanisms associated with changes in the plant microbiome. Plants treated with Z-294 showed higher alpha-diversity. The application of B. subtilis Z-294 showed that the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Bacteroidia, Agaricomycetes, and Eurotiomycetes increased, while the relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria and Sordariomycetes declined. Strain Z-294 holds great promise as a multifunctional biocontrol agent for the sustainable management of diseases and the enhancement of plant health, laying a solid foundation for its future agricultural applications. Full article

Foxtail millet is one of the important minor cereal crops and is highly valued for its nutritional quality and drought tolerance. With the continuous expansion of the foxtail millet industry, the harm caused by foxtail millet blast has become increasingly severe. In this study, 53 samples of foxtail millet leaves symptomatic of foxtail millet blast were collected from a foxtail millet base in Dingxiang County, Shanxi Province, from June to October 2023. Isolation, culture and identification of the pathogen were carried out, yielding a total of 16 pure isolates, and preliminary studies on the growth inhibition and control effects of the fungus were conducted by determining the plate inhibition rate, scanning electron microscope observations and indoor potted plant experiments. The results showed that based on the morphological characteristics of the isolated strains and the combined analysis of ITS-RPB1-ACT sequences, all 16 pure isolates obtained were identified as Pyricularia oryzae. The results of the antifungal test showed that Bacillus velezensis YQH had the highest inhibition rate of 57.93% against the pathogen of foxtail millet blast; among chemical fungicides, 9% Pyraclostrobin Suspension Concentrate, 45% Prochloraz Emulsifiable Concentrate and 32.5% Difenoconazole–Azoxystrobin Suspension Concentrate had strong inhibitory effects on the fungus, with EC₅₀ values (95% confidence intervals) of 0.328 (0.262–0.400) μg·mL⁻¹, 0.848 (0.578–1.219) μg·mL⁻¹ and 0.310 (0.197–0.484) μg·mL⁻¹, respectively. The results of the potted plant experiment were in accordance with the in vitro antifungal results, and scanning electron microscopy showed that the mycelia in the treatment groups of these three chemical fungicides showed developmental deformities, breakage or surface shrinkage. In conclusion, B. velezensis YQH and the three chemical fungicides (especially 9% Pyraclostrobin Suspension Concentrate and 32.5% Difenoconazole–Azoxystrobin Suspension Concentrate) are effective candidates for controlling foxtail millet blast. Full article

Driven by global climate change and carbon reduction targets, nuclear energy has gained increasing prominence as a clean baseload power source. Enhancing the energy efficiency of key equipment in nuclear power plants is essential for achieving a low-carbon transition. This study addresses the trade-off between separation efficiency and pressure drop under multi-parameter coupling in hooked corrugated plate separators by proposing a multi-objective optimization strategy that integrates automated numerical simulation with data-driven optimization. An automated CFD framework was developed to efficiently generate a comprehensive dataset covering inlet velocity, droplet diameter, plate spacing, and hook length. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) surrogate model was then constructed, achieving high predictive accuracy with coefficients of determination (R²) of 0.95 for separation efficiency and 0.91 for pressure drop. Using the trained surrogate model, the NSGA-II algorithm was employed for multi-objective optimization, and the TOPSIS method was applied to identify the optimal compromise solutions. The results show that for representative droplet diameters of 5, 10, and 15 μm, the optimized structures improve separation efficiency by 25.71–29.14%. The integrated automated CFD–surrogate model–multi-objective optimization framework established in this study provides an efficient and generalizable approach for the design of gas–liquid separation equipment, contributing to energy consumption reduction in nuclear and process industries and supporting the realization of global carbon neutrality goals. Full article

The occurrence of pear Valsa canker caused by Cytospora pyri poses a serious threat to the healthy and sustainable development of the Korla fragrant pear industry. To effectively control the disease, endophytic strains were isolated from the bark of Korla fragrant pear trees and screened for strong antagonistic activity against the pathogen. The selected strain was identified based on morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis. Its biocontrol potential and functional traits were further evaluated, along with its growth-promoting ability assessed through in vitro tests and preliminary tomato pot experiments. Results showed that a total of 264 endophytic isolates were obtained from 200 pear tissue samples using dilution plating and tissue separation methods. Among them, strain FB-4 exhibited significant inhibition against C. pyri. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis identified the strain as Bacillus velezensis, named FB-4. The cell-free supernatant inhibited conidial germination and mycelial growth of the pathogen by 88.21% and 85.51%, respectively, and showed preventive and curative efficacies of 74.49% and 58.97% against pear Valsa canker. In vitro assays indicated that FB-4 could produce indole-3-acetic acid, protease, amylase, and cellulase, and demonstrated abilities to solubilize inorganic phosphate and synthesize siderophores. Inoculation with FB-4 bacterial suspension promoted the growth of tomato seedlings, with higher concentrations yielding more pronounced effects. In conclusion, strain FB-4 represents a dual-functional biocontrol agent with both antagonistic and plant-growth-promoting properties. Full article

Insect pests are a major limiting factor to producing profitable soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in South Carolina. Production practices within the soybean industry have drastically evolved over the last few decades, but treatment thresholds for insect pests have stayed the same. Evaluating treatment thresholds for insect pests typically involves simulating injury because it offers a controlled and repeatable way to evaluate an injury–yield relationship. Simulating defoliation injury in soybean typically involves methods such as hand-plucking or cutting leaflets, but these methods are not truly representative of insect feeding injury. This study describes the design, development, and validation of a novel pneumatic leaf puncher created with a 3D printer and used to simulate insect defoliation injury in soybean. The device was engineered to deliver controlled, repeatable leaf tissue removal at varying target levels (5, 15, 30, and 40%) by using interchangeable punching plates. Simulated defoliation treatments were applied to mature leaves on soybean plants at the V6 growth stage in a greenhouse study. The leaf area removed was quantified using LeafByte, a mobile app designed for measuring leaf area, and confirmed against target values. Results showed a high level of correlation between intended and actual defoliation levels, with accuracy ≥ 90%. The pneumatic leaf puncher provides a potential standardized method for administering foliar damage and offers a reliable alternative to manual clipping or herbivory feeding trials in defoliation research. Ongoing field trials at Clemson University will incorporate yield data to refine defoliation thresholds. Due to its adaptability and ease of use, the pneumatic leaf puncher could be implemented regionally, nationally, or internationally to support standardized defoliation studies across diverse cropping systems. Full article

Fermentation is a type of biological process conducted domestically or commercially to preserve foods and beverages, produce alcohol, add nutritional value and improve aroma and flavor. The natural fermentation of flour in water to obtain a leaven for baking, lately scrutinized in the laboratory with the application of metagenomic methods, has been ubiquitous since the dawn of civilization. Commercially, single culture or defined mixtures of microorganisms are used for their predictability, but regularly fed two-domain microorganism cultures are favored in less industrialized and domestic operations. Fungi principally produce the carbon dioxide responsible for leavening. The bacteria produce acid in the bread commonly known as sourdough for its aroma and flavor. A leaven made by fermentation using flour and water can be stored while it is dormant. We studied a mature culture that is fed twenty-fold with water and flour by incubating it for 24 h, sampling it regularly for pH measurements, and plating it. The colonies were suspended for micrography and DNA extraction for PCR and Sanger sequencing. The metagenomic DNAs were analyzed for bacterial and fungal composition. The proportions of the plant and microbial DNA endogenous to the flour decline rapidly, and the predominant bacteria and fungi in mature leaven propagate, without overlap between the respective microbiomes. Full article

To address the problems of high labor intensity, high production cost, low efficiency, and unevenness in the manual seed dressing process of cut potatoes, as well as the poor quality and easy damage caused by the poor adaptability of existing seed dressing equipment, this study designs a drum-type seed dressing device for cut potatoes based on design principles of seed treatment machinery. A kinematic model of the seed dressing process was established, and the process was simulated using EDEM 2024 discrete element simulation software combined with ray tracing. Two indicators commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry were introduced to evaluate seed dressing uniformity: the inter-tablet variation coefficient (CoV_inter) and intra-tablet variation coefficient (CoV_intra). Through single-factor experiments and three-factor, five-level orthogonal rotational combination experiments, the influence of drum speed, spiral guide plate pitch, and feed rate on the seed dressing effect were explored, and the parameters were optimized. The results show that the optimal parameter combination is a drum speed of 32.84 r·min⁻¹, a spiral guide plate pitch of 682.64 mm, and a feed rate of 10.44 t·h⁻¹, at which CoV_inter was 6.33% and CoV_intra was 6.35%. Bench tests verified that the seed dressing pass rate reached 94.1% and the breakage rate was only 0.32% under this parameter combination, meeting the requirements for seed potato treatment in mechanized potato planting. These findings can facilitate the progress of potato-seed engineering and offer theoretical and technical support for the development of mechanized potato seed dressing equipment. Full article

The design of ladle furnace (LF) refining pathways for weathering steels requires precise control of multi-component steel/slag reactions governed simultaneously by thermodynamics and interfacial mass transfer kinetics. An EERZ-based kinetic modeling strategy was employed using the Thermo-Calc^® (version 2022a) Process Metallurgy Module and the CALPHAD TCOX11 database to develop LF refining schedules capable of upgrading conventional S355J2R steel to weathering steel grades: S355J2W and S355J2WP. First, the sensitivity of predicted compositions to key kinetic inputs was quantified. The validated model was then used to simulate deoxidation and desulfurization sequences, predicting the evolution of liquid–steel and slag compositions, slag basicity, and FeO activity throughout the LF cycle. Subsequently, Cr- and P-ferroalloys were introduced to design tap-to-tap schedules that meet the EN 10025-5 chemical specifications for S355J2W and S355J2WP. To correlate simulation outcomes with material performance, plates produced following the modeled schedules were evaluated through a 1000 h accelerated salt spray test. Steel density and steel phase mass transfer coefficients were found to produce the highest prediction sensitivity (up to 7.5 wt.% variation in C and S), whereas slag phase parameters exhibited a lower impact. The predicted steel compositions showed strong agreement with industrial values obtained during plant trials. SEM-EDS analyses confirmed the development of a Cr-enriched protective patina and validated model-based alloying strategies. Full article

The expansion of green hydrogen requires technologies that are both manufacturable at a GW-to-TW power scale and adaptable for decentralized, renewable-driven energy systems. Recent advances in proton exchange membrane, alkaline, and solid oxide electrolysis reveal persistent bottlenecks in catalysts, membranes, porous transport layers, bipolar plates, sealing, and high-temperature ceramics. Emerging fabrication strategies, including roll-to-roll coating, spatial atomic layer deposition, digital-twin-based quality assurance, automated stack assembly, and circular material recovery, enable high-yield, low-variance production compatible with multi-GW power plants. At the same time, these developments support decentralized hydrogen systems that demand compact, dynamically operated, and material-efficient electrolyzers integrated with local renewable generation. The analysis underscores the need to jointly optimize material durability, manufacturing precision, and system-level controllability to ensure reliable and cost-effective hydrogen supply. This paper outlines a convergent approach that connects critical-material reduction, high-throughput manufacturing, a digitalized balance of plant, and circularity with distributed energy architectures and large-scale industrial deployment. Full article

Silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs) have gained considerable attention in recent years due to their wide-ranging applications in medicine, agriculture, industry, and other fields where they may interact with the environment. Green synthesis of NPs supports sustainability by reducing chemical waste and energy use while improving their biocompatibility through plant phytochemicals. Accordingly, it is important to assess the effects of metal NPs on microorganisms, which play vital roles in ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. This study aimed to investigate microbial growth dynamics in the presence of green-synthesized silver and gold NPs (using an aqueous extract of Mentha × piperita leaves) and to evaluate potential mechanisms of their interaction. Microorganisms were cultivated in 96-well microtiter plates, and growth curves were analyzed alongside bacterial enumeration on Petri plates. Silver NPs affected the growth of Brevundimonas vesicularis USM1, Pseudarthrobacter oxydans USM2, and Pseudomonas putida USM4, although these strains exhibited partial resistance. In contrast, gold NPs did not inhibit the growth of the tested strains. The ability of Brevundimonas vesicularis USM1 to precipitate metal NPs highlights its potential for sustainable bioremediation applications. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the environmental impact and sustainability aspects of silver and gold NPs in microbial systems. Full article

The search for novel microbial lipases with robust and versatile biochemical properties remains a priority in industrial biotechnology. In this study, the gut microbiota of the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) was explored as a potential source of lipase-producing bacteria. A total of 31 distinct bacterial strains were isolated, among which 10 exhibited extracellular lipase activity in qualitative plate assays. Molecular identification revealed representatives of the genera Staphylococcus, Serratia, and Aeromonas. Two promising strains, Staphylococcus ureilyticus LMB-06 and LMB-Ju02, were selected based on their superior lipase productivity and were further subjected to partial biochemical characterization. Their lipase-containing secretomes displayed activity across a broad temperature range, retained stability under mildly acidic conditions (pH 5.0–6.0), tolerated several organic solvents, and exhibited enhanced activity in the presence of Ca²⁺. Notably, the lipase activity of LMB-06 was positively influenced by Mg²⁺ and K⁺—a response not previously reported for Staphylococcus lipases—suggesting unique enzymatic properties. In addition, LMB-06 retained activity in the presence of H₂O₂, highlighting its suitability for biodiesel production from recycled oils. Furthermore, hydrolysis assays using various natural oils as substrates revealed a marked preference for plant-based oils, particularly olive oil. Altogether, these findings highlight the value of S. ureilyticus strains from anchovy gut microbiota as novel biocatalyst sources for sustainable oil bioprocessing and oleochemical applications. Full article

The term SHIP (solar heat for industrial processes) or SHIPs (solar heat for industrial plants) refers to the use of collected solar radiation for meeting industrial heat demands, rather than for electricity generation. The global thermal capacity of SHIP systems at the end of 2024 stood slightly above 1 GWth, which is comparable to the electric power capacity of a single power station. Despite this relatively small presence, SHIP systems play an important role in rendering industrial processes sustainable. There are two aims in the current study. The first aim is to cover various types of SHIP systems based on the variety of their collector designs, operational temperatures, applications, radiation concentration options, and solar tracking options. SHIP designs can be as simple as unglazed solar collectors (USCs), having a stationary structure without any radiation concentration. On the other hand, SHIP designs can be as complicated as solar power towers (SPTs), having a two-axis solar tracking mechanism with point-focused concentration of the solar radiation. The second aim is to shed some light on the status of SHIP deployment globally, particularly in 2024. This includes a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the current study show that more than 1300 SHIP systems were commissioned worldwide by the end of 2024 (cumulative number), constituting a cumulative thermal capacity of 1071.4 MWth, with a total collector area of 1,531,600 m². In 2024 alone, 120.3 MWth of thermal capacity was introduced in 106 SHIP systems having a total collector area of 171,874 m². In 2024, 65.9% of the installed global thermal capacity of SHIP systems belonged to the parabolic trough collectors (PTCs), and another 22% of this installed global thermal capacity was attributed to the unevacuated flat plate collectors (FPC-Us). Considering the 106 SHIP systems installed in 2024, the average collector area per system was 1621.4 m²/project. However, this area largely depends on the SHIP category, where it is much higher for parabolic trough collectors (37,740.5 m²/project) but lower for flat plate collectors (805.2 m²/project), and it is lowest for unglazed solar collectors (163.0 m²/project). The study anticipates large deployment in SHIP systems (particularly the PTC type) in 2026 in alignment with gigascale solar-steam utilization in alumina production. Several recommendations are provided with regard to the SHIP sector. Full article

Blockages in a transfer system are a crucial problem for the wet coals conveying process in thermal power plants. Improving the viscous material flow is a fundamental solution to prevent blockages. A discrete element simulation was employed to investigate the flow characteristics of viscous materials in transfer systems with different structures under vibration-assisted conditions. The results indicate that, near the structure wall, the adhesive force increased, which was the root cause of material blockages. Introducing vibration motions into the chute could break the adhesive forces between the wet particles and the structure wall. Compared with a linear chute, a curved chute was more sensitive to vibration movement and had less leftover viscous materials and a lower output velocity. Compared with a deflector hood, an impact plate had less residual material and a higher particle velocity because of its longer ejection distance and lower adhesive force. Based on the above simulation results, a transfer system with an impact plate and curved chute is proposed. By introducing the critical vibration intensity for the transfer system, the vibration parameters and transfer system structures are optimized. The aforementioned research findings provide guidance for intervention measures aimed at preventing material blockages in industrial bulk material conveying processes. Full article

This study analyzed the heavy metal tolerance and chromium reduction and the potential of plant growth to promote Rhizobium sp. OS-1. By genetic makeup, the Rhizobium strain is nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing in metal-contaminated agricultural soil. Among the Rhizobium group, bacterial strain OS-1 showed a significant tolerance to heavy metals, particularly chromium (900 µg/mL), zinc (700 µg/mL), and copper. In the initial investigation, the bacteria strains were morphologically short-rod, Gram-negative, appeared as light pink colonies on media plates, and were biochemically positive for catalase reaction and the ability to ferment glucose, sucrose, and mannitol. Further, bacterial genomic DNA was isolated and amplified with the 16SrRNA gene and sequencing; the obtained 16S rRNA sequence achieved accession no. HE663761.1 from the NCBI GenBank, and it was confirmed that the strain belongs to the Rhizobium genus by phylogenetic analysis. The strain’s performance was best for high hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] reduction at 7–8 pH and a temperature of 30 °C, resulting in a total decrease in 96 h. Additionally, the adsorption isotherm Freundlich and Langmuir models fit best for this study, revealing a large biosorption capacity, with Cr(VI) having the highest affinity. Further bacterial chromium reduction was confirmed by an enzymatic test of nitro reductase and chromate reductase activity in bacterial extract. Further, from the metal biosorption study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was built to assess the metal reduction capability, considering the variables of pH, temperature, incubation duration, and initial metal concentration. The model attained an excellent expected accuracy (R² > 0.90). With these features, this bacterial strain is excellent for bioremediation and use for industrial purposes and agricultural sustainability in metal-contaminated agricultural fields. Full article