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Processes, Volume 7, Issue 7 (July 2019) – 83 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): The gut microbiota is a heterogeneous group of microbes spatially distributed along various sections of the intestines and across the mucosa and lumen in each section. Understanding the dynamics between the spatially differential microbial populations will provide valuable insights into the gut microbiome and intestinal health. We developed a dynamic framework using genome-scale metabolic models to predict the spatially differential microbiota composition and metabolism. We were able to capture the essential features of the spatially differential composition of anaerobes vs. aerobes and found that the spatial organization depends primarily on the oxygen-per-microbe availability in each region. View this paper.
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15 pages, 1687 KiB  
Article
Thermal Analysis of Nigerian Oil Palm Biomass with Sachet-Water Plastic Wastes for Sustainable Production of Biofuel
by Bello Salman, Mei Yin Ong, Saifuddin Nomanbhay, Arshad Adam Salema, Revathy Sankaran and Pau Loke Show
Processes 2019, 7(7), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070475 - 23 Jul 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5068
Abstract
Nigeria, being the world’s largest importer of diesel-powered gen-sets, is expected to invest in bio-fuels in the future. Hence, it is important to examine the thermal properties and synergy of wastes for potential downstream resource utilization. In this study, thermal conversion as a [...] Read more.
Nigeria, being the world’s largest importer of diesel-powered gen-sets, is expected to invest in bio-fuels in the future. Hence, it is important to examine the thermal properties and synergy of wastes for potential downstream resource utilization. In this study, thermal conversion as a route to reduce the exploding volume of wastes from sachet-water plastic (SWP) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) biomass was studied. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and subsequent differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used for the analysis. The effect of heating rate at 20 °C min−1 causes the increase of activation energy of the decomposition in the first-stage across all the blends (0.96 and 16.29 kJ mol−1). A similar phenomenon was seen when the heating rate was increased from 10 to 20 °C min−1 in the second-stage of decomposition. Overall, based on this study on the synergistic effects during the process, it can be deduced that co-pyrolysis can be an effective waste for energy platform. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Technologies: Bridging Conventional Practices and Industry 4.0)
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23 pages, 1652 KiB  
Article
Research on Green Management Effect Evaluation of Power Generation Enterprises in China Based on Dynamic Hesitation and Improved Extreme Learning Machine
by Yunfu Qin, Menglu Li, Gejirifu De, Liling Huang, Shenbo Yang, Qinkun Tan, Zhongfu Tan and Fengao Zhou
Processes 2019, 7(7), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070474 - 22 Jul 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2607
Abstract
Carbon emissions and environmental protection issues have become the pressure from the international community during the current transitional stage of China’s energy transformation. China has set a macro carbon emission target, which will reduce carbon emissions per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [...] Read more.
Carbon emissions and environmental protection issues have become the pressure from the international community during the current transitional stage of China’s energy transformation. China has set a macro carbon emission target, which will reduce carbon emissions per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 40% in 2020 and 60–65% in 2030 than that in 2005. To achieve the emission reduction target, the industrial structure must be adjusted and upgraded. Furthermore, it must start from a high-pollution and high-emission industry. Therefore, it is of practical significance to construct a low-carbon sustainability and green operation benefits of power generation enterprises to save energy and reduce emissions. In this paper, an intuitionistic fuzzy comprehensive analytic hierarchy process based on improved dynamic hesitation degree (D-IFAHP) and an improved extreme learning machine algorithm optimized by RBF kernel function (RELM) are proposed. Firstly, we construct the evaluation indicator system of low-carbon sustainability and green operation benefits of power generation enterprises. Moreover, during the non-dimensional processing, the evaluation index system is determined. Secondly, we apply the evaluation indicator system by an empirical analysis. It is proved that the D-IFAHP evaluation model proposed in this paper has higher accuracy performance. Finally, the RELM is applied to D-IFAHP to construct a combined evaluation model named D-IFAHP-RELM evaluation model. The D-IFAHP evaluation results are used as the input of the training sets of the RELM algorithm, which simplifies the comprehensive evaluation process and can be directly applied to similar projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental and Green Processes)
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12 pages, 2044 KiB  
Article
Temporal Feature Selection for Multi-Step Ahead Reheater Temperature Prediction
by Ning Gui, Jieli Lou, Zhifeng Qiu and Weihua Gui
Processes 2019, 7(7), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070473 - 22 Jul 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2817
Abstract
Accurately predicting the reheater steam temperature over both short and medium time periods is crucial for the efficiency and safety of operations. With regard to the diverse temporal effects of influential factors, the accurate identification of delay orders allows effective temperature predictions for [...] Read more.
Accurately predicting the reheater steam temperature over both short and medium time periods is crucial for the efficiency and safety of operations. With regard to the diverse temporal effects of influential factors, the accurate identification of delay orders allows effective temperature predictions for the reheater system. In this paper, a deep neural network (DNN) and a genetic algorithm (GA)-based optimal multi-step temporal feature selection model for reheater temperature is proposed. In the proposed model, DNN is used to establish a steam temperature predictor for future time steps, and GA is used to find the optimal delay orders, while fully considering the balance between modeling accuracy and computational complexity. The experimental results for two ultra-super-critical 1000 MW power plants show that the optimal delay orders calculated using this method achieve high forecasting accuracy and low computational overhead. Moreover, it is argued that the similarities of the two reheater experiments reflect the common physical properties of different reheaters, so the proposed algorithms could be generalized to guide temporal feature selection for other reheaters. Full article
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19 pages, 2893 KiB  
Article
Aqueous and Enzymatic Extraction of Oil and Protein from Almond Cake: A Comparative Study
by Thaiza S. P. Souza, Fernanda F. G. Dias, Maria G. B. Koblitz and Juliana M. L. N. de M. Bell
Processes 2019, 7(7), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070472 - 22 Jul 2019
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 8542
Abstract
The almond cake is a protein- and oil-rich by-product of the mechanical expression of almond oil that has the potential to be used as a source of valuable proteins and lipids for food applications. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the [...] Read more.
The almond cake is a protein- and oil-rich by-product of the mechanical expression of almond oil that has the potential to be used as a source of valuable proteins and lipids for food applications. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the individual and combined effects of solids-to-liquid ratio (SLR), reaction time, and enzyme use on oil and protein extraction yields from almond cake. A central composite rotatable design was employed to maximize the overall extractability and distribution of extracted components among the fractions generated by the aqueous (AEP) and enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction process (EAEP). Simultaneous extraction of oil and protein by the AEP was favored by the use of low SLR (1:12.82) and longer reaction times (2 h), where extraction yields of 48.2% and 70% were achieved, respectively. Increased use of enzyme (0.85%) in the EAEP resulted in higher oil (50%) and protein (75%) extraction yields in a shorter reaction time (1 h), compared with the AEP at the same reaction time (41.6% oil and 70% protein extraction). Overall, extraction conditions that favored oil and protein extraction also favored oil yield in the cream and protein yield in the skim. However, increased oil yield in the skim was observed at conditions where higher oil extraction was achieved. In addition to improving oil and protein extractability, the use of enzyme during the extraction resulted in the production of skim fractions with smaller and more soluble peptides at low pH (5.0), highlighting possible uses of the EAEP skim in food applications involving acidic pH. The implications of the use of enzyme during the extraction regarding the de-emulsification of the EAEP cream warrant further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Process Engineering)
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13 pages, 1546 KiB  
Article
Choline-Based Ionic Liquids as Media for the Growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
by Magaret Sivapragasam, Cecilia Devi Wilfred, Joshua Raj Jaganathan, Sooridarsan Krishnan and Wan Azlina Wan Ab Wan Karim Ghani
Processes 2019, 7(7), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070471 - 22 Jul 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4423
Abstract
Ionic liquids (ILs) have garnered great attention as alternative solvents in many biological reactions and applications. However, its unknown toxicity is in line with the challenges to use it for biological applications. In this study, three choline based Ionic Liquids—choline saccharinate (CS), choline [...] Read more.
Ionic liquids (ILs) have garnered great attention as alternative solvents in many biological reactions and applications. However, its unknown toxicity is in line with the challenges to use it for biological applications. In this study, three choline based Ionic Liquids—choline saccharinate (CS), choline dihydrogen phosphate (CDHP), and choline tryptophanate (CT) were assessed for their suitability on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ILs were incorporated into the growth media of S. cerevisiae (defined as synthetic media) to access its potential as a substitute to conventional media. The compatibility of the synthetic media was evaluated based on the toxicity (EC50), growth curve, and glucose profile. The results showed that the incorporation of CDHP and CS did promote the growth of S. cerevisiae with a rapid glucose consumption rate. The growth of S. cerevisiae with the media composition of yeast extract, peptone, and CS showed improvement of 13%. We believe that these observations have implications in the biocompatibility studies of ILs to microorganisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental and Green Processes)
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26 pages, 942 KiB  
Review
An Overview of Recent Advances in State-of-the-Art Techniques in the Demulsification of Crude Oil Emulsions
by M. A. Saad, Mohammed Kamil, N. H. Abdurahman, Rosli Mohd Yunus and Omar I. Awad
Processes 2019, 7(7), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070470 - 21 Jul 2019
Cited by 120 | Viewed by 14786
Abstract
The processing of crude oil often requires the extraction of a large amount of water. Frequently, crude oil is mixed with water to form water-in-crude oil emulsions as the result of factors such as high shear at the production wellhead and surface-active substances [...] Read more.
The processing of crude oil often requires the extraction of a large amount of water. Frequently, crude oil is mixed with water to form water-in-crude oil emulsions as the result of factors such as high shear at the production wellhead and surface-active substances that are naturally present in crude oil. These emulsions are undesirable and require demulsification to remove the dispersed water and associated inorganic salts in order to meet production and transportation specifications. Additionally, the demulsification of these crude oil emulsions mitigates corrosion and catalyst poisoning and invariably maximizes the overall profitability of crude oil production. Recently, there has been growing research interest in developing workable solutions to the difficulties associated with transporting and refining crude oil emulsions and the restrictions on produced water discharge. Therefore, this paper reviews the recent research efforts on state-of-the-art demulsification techniques. First, an overview of crude oil emulsion types, formation, and stability is presented. Then, the parameters and mechanisms of emulsification formation and different demulsification techniques are extensively examined. It is worth noting that the efficiency of each of these techniques is dependent on the operating parameters and their interplay. Moreover, a more effective demulsification process could be attained by leveraging synergistic effects by combining one or more of these techniques. Finally, this literature review then culminates with propositions for future research. Therefore, the findings of this study can help for a better understanding of the formation and mechanisms of the various demulsification methods of crude oil to work on the development of green demulsifiers by different sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Digital and Other Processes)
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12 pages, 2295 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Green Procedure for Extraction of Hesperidin from Selected Croatian Mandarin Peels
by Stela Jokić, Silvija Šafranko, Martina Jakovljević, Ana-Marija Cikoš, Nikolina Kajić, Filip Kolarević, Jurislav Babić and Maja Molnar
Processes 2019, 7(7), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070469 - 20 Jul 2019
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6351
Abstract
The peels of Citrus reticulata Blanco mandarin cultivars of different Croatian varieties (Zorica rana, Chahara, Okitsu, Kuno) were extracted using 15 different choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) at 50 °C for 30 min and with 20% water [...] Read more.
The peels of Citrus reticulata Blanco mandarin cultivars of different Croatian varieties (Zorica rana, Chahara, Okitsu, Kuno) were extracted using 15 different choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) at 50 °C for 30 min and with 20% water addition. The extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) to determine the most suitable DES for the extraction of hesperidin in the samples. The screening results indicated that choline chloride: acetamide (1:2) provided the most efficient hesperidin extraction (112.14 mg/g of plant), while choline chloride:citric acid (1:1) solvent showed the lowest hesperidin yield (1.44 mg/g of plant). The Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize extraction parameters for each variety of mandarin peel, including extraction time, temperature and water content on hesperidin extraction. The results indicated that hesperidin content in mandarin peels was completely variety-dependent. Being a novel and efficient green media for hesperidin extraction, deep eutectic solvents could also serve as promising solvent systems for the production of extracts rich in bioactive compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Separation and Extraction Processes)
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15 pages, 6311 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Total Anthocyanin Content, Stability and Antioxidant Evaluation of the Anthocyanin Extract from Vietnamese Carissa Carandas L. Fruits
by Xuan Tien Le, Minh Thuan Huynh, Tri Nhut Pham, Van Thai Than, Tran Quoc Toan, Long Giang Bach and Nguyen Quang Trung
Processes 2019, 7(7), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070468 - 20 Jul 2019
Cited by 65 | Viewed by 11015
Abstract
In this study, the extraction of anthocyanin colorant from karanda fruit (Carissa carandas L.) was carried out and optimized with multiple single factor assays. Selected conditions for yield maximization consisted of ripen fruits with black-purple color, material size of thin slices (1.0–1.5 [...] Read more.
In this study, the extraction of anthocyanin colorant from karanda fruit (Carissa carandas L.) was carried out and optimized with multiple single factor assays. Selected conditions for yield maximization consisted of ripen fruits with black-purple color, material size of thin slices (1.0–1.5 mm), solvent of EtOH 50%, material/ solvent ratio of 1:3, temperature of 50 °C, extraction time of 45 min, and two extraction cycles. The anthocyanin content in the extract was 277.2 mg/L, which is equivalent to 9.33 mg anthocyanin per gram of dry material. Aqueous solutions of the extract and dried extracts from Carissa carandas fruit were evaluated for stability at two temperature conditions, namely room temperature (30 ± 2 °C) and 45 °C. The temperature exerted great impact on color change, anthocyanin content and the degree of polymerization of anthocyanin. Aqueous solutions of extract with citric acid (3.0–5.0 g/L) were generally more color stable and less anthocyanin degradable than those without citric acid. In the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assay, The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the dried extract was 87.56 μg/mL, which was approximately 29 times higher than that of vitamin C. After 3-month storage at −18 °C, IC50 of the dried extract was 173.67 μg/mL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Separation and Extraction Processes)
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14 pages, 2606 KiB  
Article
Air-Conditioning Resource Management and Control Method based on Cloud Platform for Wind Power Consumption
by Kaixin Liang, Jinying Yu and Xin Wu
Processes 2019, 7(7), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070467 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2857
Abstract
Air-conditionings have energy storage functions. Through reasonable aggregation control, the output tracking can be implemented for wind power with stronger fluctuation to enhance its utilization rate. Cloud technology and intelligent appliances enable the appliance vendor to implement information interaction with the air-conditioning through [...] Read more.
Air-conditionings have energy storage functions. Through reasonable aggregation control, the output tracking can be implemented for wind power with stronger fluctuation to enhance its utilization rate. Cloud technology and intelligent appliances enable the appliance vendor to implement information interaction with the air-conditioning through cloud platforms to realize flexible regulation. In this paper, a management and control method of air-conditioning based on cloud platform is established. Based on this structure, the air-conditionings are divided into several aggregation groups according to the similarity of parameters, and each group completes the consumption task collaboratively. The consumption evaluation model of the air-conditioning group is established. On this basis, the allocation problem on consumption task for the aggregated group is constructed to implement the optimal solution under the condition of guaranteeing the degree of completion and user comfort. Each group implements the control for air-conditioning inside the group through the sliding mode control model. The simulation experiment verifies that the algorithm can effectively follow the output of clean energy, while intervening less in the air-conditioning operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neural Computation and Applications for Sustainable Energy Systems)
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16 pages, 2464 KiB  
Article
Spectroscopic Examination and Chemometric Analysis of Essential Oils Obtained from Peppermint Herb (Mentha piperita L.) and Caraway Fruit (Carum carvi L.) Subjected to Pulsed Electric Fields
by Urszula Sadowska, Arkadiusz Matwijczuk, Agnieszka Niemczynowicz, Tomasz Dróżdż and Andrzej Żabiński
Processes 2019, 7(7), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070466 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4700
Abstract
In the food industry, the pulsed electric field (PEF) technique is used to support the process of extraction of various substances. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of a number of PEF pulses applied to peppermint and caraway on [...] Read more.
In the food industry, the pulsed electric field (PEF) technique is used to support the process of extraction of various substances. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of a number of PEF pulses applied to peppermint and caraway on both the content of essential oils (EO) and their spectroscopic properties. The examined herb species were placed in a special vessel in the working chamber of the device between two electrodes providing high voltage electric pulses. The pulses were delivered 0, 150, 250, and 350 times per a studied sample of each herb. Essential oils were then obtained by way of hydrodistillation. The infrared spectra for all samples were measured using an FTIR spectrometer in the spectral range of 3700–730 cm−1. The applied electric field of a predetermined number of pulses had no significant effect on the amount of distilled essential oil from caraway fruit, while in the case of peppermint, it caused a slight decrease in relation to the raw material not subjected to PEF exposure. It was found that the analysis of infrared spectra made it possible to compare the quality of the obtained oils with each other and to pre-determine their compositions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental and Green Processes)
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12 pages, 1290 KiB  
Article
Lipase Production by Solid-State Cultivation of Thermomyces Lanuginosus on By-Products from Cold-Pressing Oil Production
by Marina Tišma, Toma Tadić, Sandra Budžaki, Marta Ostojčić, Anita Šalić, Bruno Zelić, Nghiep Nam Tran, Yung Ngothai and Volker Hessel
Processes 2019, 7(7), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070465 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5477
Abstract
This study shows that by-products obtained after cold-pressing oil production (flex oil cake, hemp oil cake, hull-less pumpkin oil cake) could be used as substrates for the sustainable and cost-effective production of lipase when cultivating Thermomyces lanuginosus under solid-state conditions (T = [...] Read more.
This study shows that by-products obtained after cold-pressing oil production (flex oil cake, hemp oil cake, hull-less pumpkin oil cake) could be used as substrates for the sustainable and cost-effective production of lipase when cultivating Thermomyces lanuginosus under solid-state conditions (T = 45 °C, t = 9 days). Lipase showed optimum activity at T = 40 °C. The produced lipase extract was purified 17.03-folds with a recovery of 1% after gel chromatography. Three different batch experiments were performed in order to test the possibility of using the lipase in biodiesel production. Experiments were performed with a commercial, unpurified enzyme, and partially purified lipase with sunflower oil and methanol as substrates in a batch reactor at 40 °C. During the experiments, the operational stability of the enzyme was studied. The obtained results clearly showed that produced crude and purified lipase can be used for biodiesel production, but the process needs some additional optimization. As for operation stability, it was noticed that the commercial enzyme was deactivated after 30 h, while produced crude enzyme remained 8.25% of its activity after 368 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Process Engineering)
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22 pages, 5720 KiB  
Article
Online Operation Risk Assessment of the Wind Power System of the Convolution Neural Network (CNN) Considering Multiple Random Factors
by Qingwu Gong, Si Tan, Yubo Wang, Dong Liu, Hui Qiao and Liuchuang Wu
Processes 2019, 7(7), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070464 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2796
Abstract
In order to solve the problem of the inaccuracy of the traditional online operation risk assessment model based on a physical mechanism and the inability to adapt to the actual operation of massive online operation monitoring data, this paper proposes an online operation [...] Read more.
In order to solve the problem of the inaccuracy of the traditional online operation risk assessment model based on a physical mechanism and the inability to adapt to the actual operation of massive online operation monitoring data, this paper proposes an online operation risk assessment of the wind power system of the convolution neural network (CNN) considering multiple random factors. This paper analyzes multiple random factors of the wind power system, including uncertain wind power output, load fluctuations, frequent changes in operation patterns, and the electrical equipment failure rate, and generates the sample data based on multi-random factors. It uses the CNN algorithm network, offline training to obtain the risk assessment model, and online application to obtain the real-time online operation risk state of the wind power system. Finally, the online operation risk assessment model is verified by simulation using the standard network of 39 nodes of 10 machines New England system. The results prove that the risk assessment model presented in this paper is more rapid and suitable for online application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neural Computation and Applications for Sustainable Energy Systems)
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15 pages, 2112 KiB  
Article
Separation of Protein-Binding Anthraquinones from Semen Cassiae Using Two-Stage Foam Fractionation
by Linlin Ding, Yanyan Wang, Chuanjun Yue, Zeying Wu, Ye Sun, Min Wang and Rui Li
Processes 2019, 7(7), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070463 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2967
Abstract
Anthraquinones are compounds of high medicinal value in many plants. Based on their good protein binding affinity, foam fractionation was attempted to separate them using proteins in the aqueous extract of Semen Cassiae as collectors. Firstly, the interaction between anthraquinones and Semen Cassiae [...] Read more.
Anthraquinones are compounds of high medicinal value in many plants. Based on their good protein binding affinity, foam fractionation was attempted to separate them using proteins in the aqueous extract of Semen Cassiae as collectors. Firstly, the interaction between anthraquinones and Semen Cassiae proteins has been analyzed by the Stem–Volmer equation with physcion as a standard. The results show that physcion had good interaction with the proteins via hydrophobic forces. More importantly, the proteins effectively assisted the foam fractionation of several anthraquinones including aurantio-obtusifolin, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion. On this basis, a two-stage foam fractionation technology was developed for process intensification using a foam fractionation with vertical sieve trays (VSTs). VSTs, initial feed concentration of total anthraquinones, temperature, volumetric air flow rate and pore diameter of gas distributor had significant effects on enrichment ratio and recovery yield of anthraquinones. Under suitable conditions, the enrichment ratio of total anthraquinones reached 47.0 ± 4.5 with a concentration of 939 ± 94 mg/L in the foamate while their total recovery percentage reached more than 47.7%. In addition, foam fractionation also increased the purity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of total anthraquinones. The results had significant implications for the separation of anthraquinones from Semen Cassiae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Separation and Extraction Processes)
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11 pages, 947 KiB  
Article
Topological Characterization of Nanosheet Covered by C3 and C6
by Sumiya Nasir, Fozia Bashir Farooq, Nazeran Idrees, Muhammad Jawwad Saif and Fatima Saeed
Processes 2019, 7(7), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070462 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2896
Abstract
A topological index of a graph is a single numeric quantity which relates the chemical structure with its underlying physical and chemical properties. Topological indices of a nanosheet can help us to understand the properties of the material better. This study deals with [...] Read more.
A topological index of a graph is a single numeric quantity which relates the chemical structure with its underlying physical and chemical properties. Topological indices of a nanosheet can help us to understand the properties of the material better. This study deals with computation of degree-dependent topological indices like the Randic index, first Zagreb index, second Zagreb index, geometric arithmetic index, atom bond connectivity index, sum connectivity index and hyper Zagreb index of nanosheet covered by C3 and C6. Furthermore, M-polynomial of the nanosheet is also computed, which provides an alternate way to express the topological indices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Process Control and Monitoring)
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20 pages, 317 KiB  
Article
Towards the Grand Unification of Process Design, Scheduling, and Control—Utopia or Reality?
by Baris Burnak, Nikolaos A. Diangelakis and Efstratios N. Pistikopoulos
Processes 2019, 7(7), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070461 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4019
Abstract
As a founder of the Process Systems Engineering (PSE) discipline, Professor Roger W.H. Sargent had set ambitious goals for a systematic new generation of a process design paradigm based on optimization techniques with the consideration of future uncertainties and operational decisions. In this [...] Read more.
As a founder of the Process Systems Engineering (PSE) discipline, Professor Roger W.H. Sargent had set ambitious goals for a systematic new generation of a process design paradigm based on optimization techniques with the consideration of future uncertainties and operational decisions. In this paper, we present a historical perspective on the milestones in model-based design optimization techniques and the developed tools to solve the resulting complex problems. We examine the progress spanning more than five decades, from the early flexibility analysis and optimal process design under uncertainty to more recent developments on the simultaneous consideration of process design, scheduling, and control. This formidable target towards the grand unification poses unique challenges due to multiple time scales and conflicting objectives. Here, we review the recent progress and propose future research directions. Full article
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17 pages, 3146 KiB  
Article
Workflow for Data Analysis in Experimental and Computational Systems Biology: Using Python as ‘Glue’
by Melinda Badenhorst, Christopher J. Barry, Christiaan J. Swanepoel, Charles Theo van Staden, Julian Wissing and Johann M. Rohwer
Processes 2019, 7(7), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070460 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6247
Abstract
Bottom-up systems biology entails the construction of kinetic models of cellular pathways by collecting kinetic information on the pathway components (e.g., enzymes) and collating this into a kinetic model, based for example on ordinary differential equations. This requires integration and data transfer between [...] Read more.
Bottom-up systems biology entails the construction of kinetic models of cellular pathways by collecting kinetic information on the pathway components (e.g., enzymes) and collating this into a kinetic model, based for example on ordinary differential equations. This requires integration and data transfer between a variety of tools, ranging from data acquisition in kinetics experiments, to fitting and parameter estimation, to model construction, evaluation and validation. Here, we present a workflow that uses the Python programming language, specifically the modules from the SciPy stack, to facilitate this task. Starting from raw kinetics data, acquired either from spectrophotometric assays with microtitre plates or from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy time-courses, we demonstrate the fitting and construction of a kinetic model using scientific Python tools. The analysis takes place in a Jupyter notebook, which keeps all information related to a particular experiment together in one place and thus serves as an e-labbook, enhancing reproducibility and traceability. The Python programming language serves as an ideal foundation for this framework because it is powerful yet relatively easy to learn for the non-programmer, has a large library of scientific routines and active user community, is open-source and extensible, and many computational systems biology software tools are written in Python or have a Python Application Programming Interface (API). Our workflow thus enables investigators to focus on the scientific problem at hand rather than worrying about data integration between disparate platforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In silico metabolic modeling and engineering)
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18 pages, 4658 KiB  
Article
Adsorptive Removal of Pyridine in Simulation Wastewater Using Coke Powder
by Qieyuan Gao, Lei Wang, Zhipeng Li, Yaqi Xie, Qiongqiong He and Yongtian Wang
Processes 2019, 7(7), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070459 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4079
Abstract
Pyridine is a toxic component in industrial wastewater, which is difficult to remove using conventional methods. In this study, the cost-effective coke powder was used to remove pyridine from a pyridine simulation wastewater. The removal efficiency and adsorption capacity of pyridine reached up [...] Read more.
Pyridine is a toxic component in industrial wastewater, which is difficult to remove using conventional methods. In this study, the cost-effective coke powder was used to remove pyridine from a pyridine simulation wastewater. The removal efficiency and adsorption capacity of pyridine reached up to 67.32% and 0.4488 mg/g, respectively, at a coke powder concentration of 60 mg/L and an adsorption time of 30 min. The pyridine removal efficiency and adsorption capacity of coke powder reached saturation when the initial concentration was 40 mg/L. The pH of 2–12 in the solution was found to have little effect on the pyridine adsorption process of coke powder, while the coke powder with lower ash content was of better adsorbability for pyridine. The coke powder was regenerated by heat treatment, and reused for pyridine adsorption. It was found that the pyridine removal efficiency slightly decreased after nine times of reuse, in addition to a small cumulative weight loss rate of coke powder. Adsorption isotherm analysis showed that the adsorption of pyridine by coke powder could be well described by the Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, indicating multi-molecular layers mainly dominated the adsorption of pyridine on the surface of coke powder. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wastewater Treatment Processes)
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16 pages, 1398 KiB  
Review
Overview of Alternative Ethanol Removal Techniques for Enhancing Bioethanol Recovery from Fermentation Broth
by Hamid Zentou, Zurina Zainal Abidin, Robiah Yunus, Dayang Radiah Awang Biak and Danil Korelskiy
Processes 2019, 7(7), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070458 - 17 Jul 2019
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 18178
Abstract
This study aims at reviewing the alternative techniques for bioethanol recovery, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages, and to investigate the technical challenges facing these alternatives to be widely used. The findings showed that the integration of these techniques with the fermentation process did [...] Read more.
This study aims at reviewing the alternative techniques for bioethanol recovery, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages, and to investigate the technical challenges facing these alternatives to be widely used. The findings showed that the integration of these techniques with the fermentation process did not meet a large acceptance in the industrial sector. The majority of conducted studies were mainly focusing on ethanol recovery from aqueous standard solution rather than the investigation of these techniques performance in fermentation-separation coupled system. In this context, pervaporation has received more attention as a promising alternative to distillation. However, some challenges are facing the integration of these techniques in the industrial scale as the fouling problem in pervaporation, the toxicity of solvent in liquid extraction, energy consumption in vacuum fermentation. It was also found that there is a lack of the technical economic analysis for these techniques which may limit the spread of its application in the large scale. Currently, hybrid systems integrating distillation with other alternative techniques are considered as an innovative solution to reduce the high cost of the distillation process and the low separation efficiency of the alternatives techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Separation and Extraction Processes)
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23 pages, 4111 KiB  
Article
Ear Detection and Localization with Convolutional Neural Networks in Natural Images and Videos
by William Raveane, Pedro Luis Galdámez and María Angélica González Arrieta
Processes 2019, 7(7), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070457 - 17 Jul 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7117
Abstract
The difficulty in precisely detecting and locating an ear within an image is the first step to tackle in an ear-based biometric recognition system, a challenge which increases in difficulty when working with variable photographic conditions. This is in part due to the [...] Read more.
The difficulty in precisely detecting and locating an ear within an image is the first step to tackle in an ear-based biometric recognition system, a challenge which increases in difficulty when working with variable photographic conditions. This is in part due to the irregular shapes of human ears, but also because of variable lighting conditions and the ever changing profile shape of an ear’s projection when photographed. An ear detection system involving multiple convolutional neural networks and a detection grouping algorithm is proposed to identify the presence and location of an ear in a given input image. The proposed method matches the performance of other methods when analyzed against clean and purpose-shot photographs, reaching an accuracy of upwards of 98%, but clearly outperforms them with a rate of over 86% when the system is subjected to non-cooperative natural images where the subject appears in challenging orientations and photographic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinformatics Applications Based On Machine Learning)
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11 pages, 1149 KiB  
Article
Extraction Process, Identification of Fatty Acids, Tocopherols, Sterols and Phenolic Constituents, and Antioxidant Evaluation of Seed Oils from Five Fabaceae Species
by Lan Phuong Doan, Thi Thuy Nguyen, Minh Quan Pham, Quoc Toan Tran, Quoc Long Pham, Dinh Quang Tran, Van Thai Than and Long Giang Bach
Processes 2019, 7(7), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070456 - 16 Jul 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5550
Abstract
The present study aimed to extract seed oils and characterize the chemical composition, including fatty acid profiles, tocopherols, sterols, and total phenolics of oils and extracts from five Fabaceae seeds: Glycine soja, Vigna angularis, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgarisand, and [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to extract seed oils and characterize the chemical composition, including fatty acid profiles, tocopherols, sterols, and total phenolics of oils and extracts from five Fabaceae seeds: Glycine soja, Vigna angularis, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgarisand, and Phaseolus coccineus. The composition and content of all substance layers in total lipids of the extracted seed oils from five Fabaceae species contain: polar lipid (PL), sterol (ST), diacylglycerol (DG), triacylglycerol (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), and hydrocarbon and wax (HC + W). Antioxidant activity determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method was also estimated. Among these examined samples, Phaseolus vulgarisand and Phaseolus coccineus seed oils showed high content of α-linolenic acid (59.39% and 49.38%, respectively). Linoleic acid was abundantly found in Vigna angularis (49.01%). Ferunic and caffeic acid, γ-tocopherol, and β-sistosterol were the main ingredients present in the species studied. The V. angularis seed extract displayed significant antioxidant activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Separation and Extraction Processes)
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12 pages, 1286 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dissolved Organic Matter on Agglomeration and Removal of CuO Nanoparticles by Coagulation
by Rizwan Khan, Muhammad Ali Inam, Muhammad Akram, Ahmed Uddin, Sarfaraz Khan and Ick Tae Yeom
Processes 2019, 7(7), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070455 - 16 Jul 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3359
Abstract
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), such as copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), are emerging as pollutants extensively used in many commercial and industrial applications, thus raising environmental concerns due to their release into water bodies. It is, therefore, essential to remove these pollutants from water [...] Read more.
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), such as copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), are emerging as pollutants extensively used in many commercial and industrial applications, thus raising environmental concerns due to their release into water bodies. It is, therefore, essential to remove these pollutants from water bodies in order to minimize the potential threat to the aquatic environment and human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the removal of CuO NPs from waters by the coagulation process. This study also explored the efficiency of coagulation to remove hydrophobic/hydrophilic dissolved organic matter (DOM) and turbidity with varying polyaluminum chloride (PACl) doses. According to the results, a high concentration of DOM affects both the CuO NPs zeta potential and hydrodynamic diameter, thereby decreasing the agglomeration behavior. At effective coagulation zone (ECR), high removal of CuO NPs (>95%) was observed for all studied waters (hydrophobic and hydrophilic waters), above ECR excess charge induced by coagulant restabilized particles in solution. Furthermore, waters containing hydrophobic DOM and those with high UV254nm values needed more coagulant dose than hydrophilic waters to obtain similar CuO NP removals. The primary mechanism involved in CuO NPs removal might be charge neutralization. These findings suggest that PACl is an effective coagulant in the removal of CuO NPs; however, water characteristics are an influencing factor on the removal performance of ENMs during the coagulation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wastewater Treatment Processes)
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20 pages, 3895 KiB  
Article
Development of a Numerical Model for a Compact Intensified Heat-Exchanger/Reactor
by Menglin He, Zetao Li, Xue Han, Michel Cabassud and Boutaib Dahhou
Processes 2019, 7(7), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070454 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3546
Abstract
A heat-exchanger/reactor (HEX reactor) is a kind of plug-flow chemical reactor which combines high heat transfer ability and chemical performance. It is a compact reactor designed under the popular trend of process intensification in chemical engineering. Previous studies have investigated its characteristics experimentally. [...] Read more.
A heat-exchanger/reactor (HEX reactor) is a kind of plug-flow chemical reactor which combines high heat transfer ability and chemical performance. It is a compact reactor designed under the popular trend of process intensification in chemical engineering. Previous studies have investigated its characteristics experimentally. This paper aimed to develop a general numerical model of the HEX reactor for further control and diagnostic use. To achieve this, physical structure and hydrodynamic and thermal performance were studied. A typical exothermic reaction, which was used in experiments, is modeled in detail. Some of the experimental data without reaction were used for estimating the heat transfer coefficient by genetic algorithm. Finally, a non-linear numerical model of 255 calculating modules was developed on the Matlab/Simulink platform. Simulations of this model were done under conditions with and without chemical reactions. Results were compared with reserved experimental data to show its validity and accuracy. Thus, further research such as fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant control of this HEX reactor could be carried out based on this model. The modeling methodology specified in this paper is not restricted, and could also be used for other reactions and other sizes of HEX reactors. Full article
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10 pages, 1704 KiB  
Article
A Numerical Approach to Solve Volume-Based Batch Crystallization Model with Fines Dissolution Unit
by Safyan Mukhtar, Muhammad Sohaib and Ishfaq Ahmad
Processes 2019, 7(7), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070453 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2582
Abstract
In this article, a numerical study of a one-dimensional, volume-based batch crystallization model (PBM) is presented that is used in numerous industries and chemical engineering sciences. A numerical approximation of the underlying model is discussed by using an alternative Quadrature Method of Moments [...] Read more.
In this article, a numerical study of a one-dimensional, volume-based batch crystallization model (PBM) is presented that is used in numerous industries and chemical engineering sciences. A numerical approximation of the underlying model is discussed by using an alternative Quadrature Method of Moments (QMOM). Fines dissolution term is also incorporated in the governing equation for improvement of product quality and removal of undesirable particles. The moment-generating function is introduced in order to apply the QMOM. To find the quadrature abscissas, an orthogonal polynomial of degree three is derived. To verify the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed technique, two test problems are discussed. The numerical results obtained by the proposed scheme are plotted versus the analytical solutions. Thus, these findings line up well with the analytical findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Process Design, Simulation and Optimization)
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14 pages, 3971 KiB  
Article
Mathematical Modelling Forecast on the Idling Transient Characteristic of Reactor Coolant Pump
by Xiuli Wang, Yajie Xie, Yonggang Lu, Rongsheng Zhu, Qiang Fu, Zheng Cai and Ce An
Processes 2019, 7(7), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070452 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3446
Abstract
The idling behavior of the reactor coolant pump is referred to as an important indicator of the safe operation of the nuclear power system, while the idling transition process under the power failure accident condition is developed as a transient flow process. In [...] Read more.
The idling behavior of the reactor coolant pump is referred to as an important indicator of the safe operation of the nuclear power system, while the idling transition process under the power failure accident condition is developed as a transient flow process. In this process, the parameters such as the flow rate, speed, and head of the reactor coolant pump are all nonlinear changes. In order to ensure the optimal idling behavior of the reactor coolant pump under the power cutoff accident condition, this manuscript takes the guide vanes of the AP1000 reactor coolant pump as the subject of this study. In this paper, the mathematical model of idling speed and flow characteristic curve of reactor coolant pump under the power failure condition were proposed, while the hydraulic modeling database of different vane structure parameters was modeled based on the orthogonal optimization schemes. Furthermore, based on the mathematical modeling framework of multiple linear regressions, the mathematical relationship of the hydraulic performance of each guide vane in different parameters was predicted. The derived model was verified with the idling test data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Process Modelling and Simulation)
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24 pages, 3267 KiB  
Article
Discrete-Time Kalman Filter Design for Linear Infinite-Dimensional Systems
by Junyao Xie and Stevan Dubljevic
Processes 2019, 7(7), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070451 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3185
Abstract
As the optimal linear filter and estimator, the Kalman filter has been extensively utilized for state estimation and prediction in the realm of lumped parameter systems. However, the dynamics of complex industrial systems often vary in both spatial and temporal domains, which take [...] Read more.
As the optimal linear filter and estimator, the Kalman filter has been extensively utilized for state estimation and prediction in the realm of lumped parameter systems. However, the dynamics of complex industrial systems often vary in both spatial and temporal domains, which take the forms of partial differential equations (PDEs) and/or delay equations. State estimation for these systems is quite challenging due to the mathematical complexity. This work addresses discrete-time Kalman filter design and realization for linear distributed parameter systems. In particular, the structural- and energy-preserving Crank–Nicolson framework is applied for model time discretization without spatial approximation or model order reduction. In order to ensure the time instance consistency in Kalman filter design, a new discrete model configuration is derived. To verify the feasibility of the proposed design, two widely-used PDEs models are considered, i.e., a pipeline hydraulic model and a 1D boundary damped wave equation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Process Systems Engineering à la Canada)
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14 pages, 992 KiB  
Review
Do Bioreactor Designs with More Efficient Oxygen Supply to Ovarian Cortical Tissue Fragments Enhance Follicle Viability and Growth In Vitro?
by Gerardo Catapano, Gionata Fragomeni, Giuseppe Falvo D’Urso Labate, Luigi De Napoli, Vincenza Barbato, Maddalena Di Nardo, Valentina Costanzo, Teresa Capriglione, Roberto Gualtieri and Riccardo Talevi
Processes 2019, 7(7), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070450 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3059
Abstract
Background: Autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is currently the main option to preserve fertility for cancer patients. To avoid cancer cell reintroduction at transplantation, a multi-step culture system has been proposed to obtain fully competent oocytes for in vitro fertilization. Current in vitro [...] Read more.
Background: Autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is currently the main option to preserve fertility for cancer patients. To avoid cancer cell reintroduction at transplantation, a multi-step culture system has been proposed to obtain fully competent oocytes for in vitro fertilization. Current in vitro systems are limited by the low number and health of secondary follicles produced during the first step culture of ovarian tissue fragments. To overcome such limitations, bioreactor designs have been proposed to enhance oxygen supply to the tissue, with inconsistent results. This retrospective study investigates, on theoretical grounds, whether the lack of a rational design of the proposed bioreactors prevented the full exploitation of follicle growth potential. Methods: Models describing oxygen transport in bioreactors and tissue were developed and used to predict oxygen availability inside ovarian tissue in the pertinent literature. Results: The proposed theoretical analysis suggests that a successful outcome is associated with enhanced oxygen availability in the cultured tissue in the considered bioreactor designs. This suggests that a rational approach to bioreactor design for ovarian tissue culture in vitro may help exploit tissue potential to support follicle growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Review Papers)
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18 pages, 3522 KiB  
Article
Lanthanum Effect on Ni/Al2O3 as a Catalyst Applied in Steam Reforming of Glycerol for Hydrogen Production
by Nuria Sánchez, José María Encinar, Sergio Nogales and Juan Félix González
Processes 2019, 7(7), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070449 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3422
Abstract
Nowadays, the massive production of biodiesel leads to a surplus of glycerol. Thus, new applications of this by-product are being developed. In this study, glycerol steam reforming was carried out with Ni catalysts supported on Al2O3 rings and La-modified Al [...] Read more.
Nowadays, the massive production of biodiesel leads to a surplus of glycerol. Thus, new applications of this by-product are being developed. In this study, glycerol steam reforming was carried out with Ni catalysts supported on Al2O3 rings and La-modified Al2O3. The catalysts were characterized by N2 physical adsorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetry. Both catalysts were effective in glycerol steam reforming. However, Ni/Al2O3 activity decreased over reaction time. Ni/La2O3/Al2O3 showed the best stability during the reaction. In addition, the activity of the modified support, La2O3/Al2O3, was evaluated. The modification of the support lent catalytic properties to the solid. Some conditions such as catalyst arrangement (catalyst in the first or second reactor), space velocity, and reaction temperature were studied. The highest hydrogen production was obtained when half the amount of the catalyst was located in both reactors. Glycerol conversion into gases was similar, regardless the space velocity, although higher amounts of H2 were obtained when this variable decreased. Complete glycerol conversion into gases was obtained at 900 and 1000 °C, and hydrogen production reached a H2/glycerol molar ratio of 5.6. Finally, the presence of the catalyst and the optimization of these conditions increased the energy capacity of the produced stream. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Catalysis Processes Based on Biomass)
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19 pages, 3838 KiB  
Article
Online Decision-Support Tool “TECHoice” for the Equipment Technology Choice in Sterile Filling Processes of Biopharmaceuticals
by Haruku Shirahata, Sara Badr, Yuki Shinno, Shuta Hagimori and Hirokazu Sugiyama
Processes 2019, 7(7), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070448 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5187
Abstract
In biopharmaceutical manufacturing, a new single-use technology using disposable equipment is available for reducing the work of change-over operations compared to conventional multi-use technology that use stainless steel equipment. The choice of equipment technologies has been researched and evaluation models have been developed, [...] Read more.
In biopharmaceutical manufacturing, a new single-use technology using disposable equipment is available for reducing the work of change-over operations compared to conventional multi-use technology that use stainless steel equipment. The choice of equipment technologies has been researched and evaluation models have been developed, however, software that can extend model exposure to reach industrial users is yet to be developed. In this work, we develop and demonstrate a prototype of an online decision-support tool for the multi-objective evaluation of equipment technologies in sterile filling of biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Multi-objective evaluation models of equipment technologies and equipment technology alternative generation algorithms are implemented in the tool to support users in choosing their preferred technology according to their input of specific production scenarios. The use of the tool for analysis and decision-support was demonstrated using four production scenarios in drug product manufacturing. The online feature of the tool allows users easy access within academic and industrial settings to explore different production scenarios especially at early design phases. The tool allows users to investigate the certainty of the decision by providing a sensitivity analysis function. Further enrichment of the functionalities and enhancement of the user interface could be implemented in future developments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Model-Based Tools for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Processes)
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12 pages, 4561 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Performance Analysis of Graphite Additive/Paraffin Composite Phase Change Materials
by Wei Li, Yan Dong, Xu Zhang and Xueling Liu
Processes 2019, 7(7), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070447 - 13 Jul 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5332
Abstract
In the thermal energy storage system, the thermal properties of phase change materials (PCM) have a great influence on the system performance. In this paper, paraffin-based composite phase change material with different graphite additive (expanded graphite, EG; graphene, GR; and graphene oxide, GO) [...] Read more.
In the thermal energy storage system, the thermal properties of phase change materials (PCM) have a great influence on the system performance. In this paper, paraffin-based composite phase change material with different graphite additive (expanded graphite, EG; graphene, GR; and graphene oxide, GO) and different concentrations (0.5 to 2.0%) are manufactured by a two-step method combining mechanical agitation and ultrasonic vibration. The characteristics of charge/discharge processes are studied, and the thermophysical properties are measured by T-history method. The experimental results show that the thermal conductivity and heat charge rate of the composite PCM are effectively improved by adding the graphite additive to the PCM, and the addition of additives can improve the melting point of the material. When the same graphite additive is added, the higher the concentration, the higher the thermal conductivity of the composite PCM, and the latent heat decreases with the increase of concentration. When adding the same amount of carbon additives, the graphene/paraffin composite PCM has the highest heat charge/discharge rate and thermal conductivity. It is finally concluded that graphene is the most promising candidate for heat transfer enhancement of paraffin among three carbon additives even though the EG-based composite PCM gives relatively high latent heat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Application of Novel Nanocatalysts)
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14 pages, 1029 KiB  
Article
Method of Desulfurization Process Selection Based on Improved Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation: A Case Study of Papermaking Desulfurization in China
by Zhiguo Wang, Fei Wang, Yali Zhu and Bengang Gong
Processes 2019, 7(7), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070446 - 13 Jul 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5589
Abstract
With the increasingly prominent global energy and environmental problems, more and more enterprises have been required to desulfurize the exhausted gases. Different enterprises have different demands for the desulfurization process, thus the choice of desulfurization process methods has become a focus of attention. [...] Read more.
With the increasingly prominent global energy and environmental problems, more and more enterprises have been required to desulfurize the exhausted gases. Different enterprises have different demands for the desulfurization process, thus the choice of desulfurization process methods has become a focus of attention. Since the evaluation of the desulfurization process involves many factors, this paper proposes an improved fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to evaluate the selection of desulfurization process when the traditional evaluation method is not applicable. Firstly, an evaluation system with two rating indicators was constructed, which considers the subjective and objective weights comprehensively. Secondly using the two hierarchical indicators, an effective desulfurization process method was obtained according to the principle of maximum membership degree. Finally, we took a real papermaking factory as an example to illustrate the detailed implementation processes of this method. The result shows that the model could be used as a comprehensive evaluation tool to select desulfurization scheme or optimize the desulfurization process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Chemical Processes and Systems)
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