Effect of Polyethylene Pyrolysis Oil Hydrotreatment on the Pt/Al2O3 Catalyst: Experimental Characterization.

The dramatic increase in plastics production, coupled with a low recycling and recovery rate, has been a major challenge for sustainable practices and combating climate change. Hydrotreatment processing to upgrade fuel oils is a well-known process in the petroleum industry. In this work, we aim to investigate the catalyst properties before and after the hydrotreatment of pyrolysis oil derived from plastics, namely, linear low-density polyethylene, as no such report is available in the literature. Granular and powder forms of the Pt/Al2O3 catalyst were used in this study with characterization methods executed as such: transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and IR-RIS. XRD data show that the crystallinity of the catalyst support was unaffected by the hydrotreatment without any residues left, as the characteristic diffraction peaks were indicated for the crystalline phase of the support as 37.4, 39.8, 46.3, and 67.3°. In addition, the TGA experiments revealed that the carbon deposition on the spent catalyst was higher, as indicated by the higher weight loss (15.359%) compared to the fresh catalyst sample (11.43%). XPS analysis showed that the carbon deposition is more intense on the granular spent catalyst, as the intensity of the peaks is some 15 times greater than the peaks from the fresh catalyst. Also, compared to the observed peaks of the powder catalyst, less coke is formed. The band at 1624.05 cm-1 from the IR-RIS spectra was attributed to a shifted C=O band from the coke formation. The extension of these investigations using different catalysts to improve their characteristics and performance and to inhibit coke deposition will contribute to the incorporation of such processes in industry as well as the cost of fuels.

Aiding the well celebrated Kuk's randomized response technique through auxiliary and prior information.

Asking direct questions in face to face surveys about sensitive traits is an intricate issue. One of the solutions to this issue is the randomized response technique (RRT). Being the most widely used indirect questioning technique to obtain truthful data on sensitive traits in survey sampling RRT has been applied in a variety of fields including behavioral science, socio-economic, psychological, epidemiology, biomedical, criminology, data masking, public health engineering, conservation studies, ecological studies and many others. This paper aims at exploring the methods to subsidize the randomized response technique through additional information relevant to the parameter of interest. Specifically, we plan to contribute by proposing more efficient hybrid estimators compared to existing estimator based on (Kuk, 1990) [31] family of randomized response models. The proposed estimators are based on the methodology of incorporating the pertinent information, available on the basis of either historical records or expert opinion. Specifically, in case of availability of auxiliary information, the regression-cum-ratio estimator is found to be the best to further enhance the estimation through (Kuk, 1990) [31] model while the (Thompson, 1968) [49] shrinkage estimation is observed to be yielding more precise and accurate estimator of sensitive proportion. The findings in this study signify the importance of the proposed methodology. Additionally, to support the mathematical findings, a detailed numerical investigation to evaluate the comparative performances is also conducted. Based on performance analysis, overwhelming evidences are witnessed in the favor of proposed strategies.

Formic Acid Decomposition Using Palladium-Zinc Preformed Colloidal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanofibre in Batch and Continuous Flow Reactors: Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling Studies.

The need to replace conventional fuels with renewable sources is a great challenge for the science community. H2 is a promising alternative due to its high energy density and availability. H2 generation from formic acid (FA) decomposition occurred in a batch and a packed-bed flow reactor, in mild conditions, using a 2% Pd6Zn4/HHT (high heated treated) catalyst synthesised via the sol-immobilisation method. Experimental and theoretical studies took place, and the results showed that in the batch system, the conversion was enhanced with increasing reaction temperature, while in the continuous flow system, the conversion was found to decrease due to the deactivation of the catalyst resulting from the generation of the poisoning CO. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies were developed to predict the conversion profiles, which demonstrated great validation with the experimental results. The model can accurately predict the decomposition of FA as well as the deactivation that occurs in the continuous flow system. Of significance was the performance of the packed-bed flow reactor, which showed improved FA conversion in comparison to the batch reactor, potentially leading to the utilisation of continuous flow systems for future fuel cell applications for on-site H2 production.

A machine learning-based Biding price optimization algorithm approach.

Trading companies of used product market are struggling to gain customers attentaion and to sell the products. The aim of this research is to develop a mechanism that can maximize the sale of products while considering profit implications. The literature review classifies the procurement mechanism. Given the limited-supply nature, that also includes unpredictable quality levels and a procurement mechanism that perceives the company offering prices to suppliers on a single-item basis. The academic literature has not covered such a mechanism. Techniques like those that improve the required bidding strategy are reviewed and considered fit to be included in the support tool as the procedures intention to maximize an objective function depending on the bidding price and contain the probability of winning the auction and the profit made from the proceeding, the motivation laid on the approach that predicts the probability. It is determined that this assembles a Response to Reverse Request for Quotation that meets the assumptions of a First-Price Sealed-Bid(FPSD) auction that potentially includes a hidden reservation price.

Computational Studies on Microreactors for the Decomposition of Formic Acid for Hydrogen Production Using Heterogeneous Catalysts.

Sustainable alternatives to conventional fuels have emerged recently, focusing on a hydrogen-based economy. The idea of using hydrogen (H2) as an energy carrier is very promising due to its zero-emission properties. The present study investigates the formic acid (FA) decomposition for H2 generation using a commercial 5 wt.% Pd/C catalyst. Three different 2D microreactor configurations (packed bed, single membrane, and double membrane) were studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Parameters such as temperature, porosity, concentration, and flow rate of reactant were investigated. The packed bed configuration resulted in high conversions, but due to catalyst poisoning by carbon monoxide (CO), the catalytic activity decreased with time. For the single and double membrane microreactors, the same trends were observed, but the double membrane microreactor showed superior performance compared with the other configurations. Conversions higher than 80% were achieved, and even though deactivation decreased the conversion after 1 h of reaction, the selective removal of CO from the system with the use of membranes lead to an increase in the conversion afterwards. These results prove that the incorporation of membranes in the system for the separation of CO is improving the efficiency of the microreactor.

Green growth and environmental quality in top polluted economies: the evolving role of financial institutions and markets.

An efficient financial system is crucial for the attainment of green growth and superior environmental quality. Therefore, our focus in this analysis is to estimate the effect of financial institutions and markets on green growth and environmental quality in highly polluted economies from 1991 to 2019. Estimates of the variables are collected with the help of the ARDL bounds testing approach. Findings of the ARDL model imply that a financial institution's efficiency helps improve green growth in the USA, China, and Japan in the long-run. However, the efficiency of the financial markets causes the green economy to grow in the long run in China and Russia only. On the other side, in the CO2 model, the long-run estimated coefficients of a financial institution's efficiency are negatively significant in Japan and China only, implying that a financial institution's efficiency significantly reduces CO2 emissions. Similarly, the long-run estimates of financial markets are significantly negative in the context of China and Japan only in CO2 emissions.

Risk assessment of ICU patients through deep learning technique: A big data approach.

Background: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are exposed to various medications, especially during infusion, and the amount of infusion drugs and the rate of their application may negatively affect their health status. A deep learning model can monitor a patient's continuous reaction to tranquillizer therapy, analyze the treatment plans of experts to avoid severe situations such as reverse medication associations, work with a convenient mediator, and change the treatment plans of specialists as needed. Methods: Generally, patients' treatment histories are linked together via a period grouping connection, which is usually burdened by missing information. Displaying time-succession via Repetitive Neural Organization (RNO) is the best available solution. However, it's possible that a patient's treatment may be prolonged, which RNN may not be able to demonstrate in this manner. Results: We propose the use of the LSTM-RNN driven by heterogeneous medicine events to predict the patient's outcome, as well as the Regular Language Handling and Gaussian Cycle, which can handle boisterous, deficient, inadequate, heterogeneous, and unevenly tested prescription records of patients while addressing the missing value issue using a piece-based Gaussian cycle. Conclusions: We emphasize the semantic relevance of every medication event and the grouping of drug events on patients in our study. We will focus specifically on LSTM-RNN and Phased LSTM-RNN for showing treatment results and information attribution using bit-based Gaussian cycles. We worked on Staged LSTM-RNN.

Economic Feasibility Study of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Integration Project in an Oil-Driven Economy: The Case of the State of Kuwait.

The rapid growth and urbanization rate, coupled with hot climate and scarce rainfall, makes it essential for a country like Kuwait to have several power and desalination plants with high-generating capacity. These plants are entirely reliant on burning fossil fuels as a source of thermal energy. These plants are also universally accepted to be the largest CO2 emitters; hence, they present a potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Having established the suitability of the existing conditions for post-combustion CCS, a techno-economic-based feasibility study, which took into consideration local power generation technologies and economic conditions, was performed. Relying on fifteen case study models and utilizing the concept of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), the statistical average method (SAM) was used to assess CCS based on realistic and reliable economic indicators. Zour power station, offering the highest potential CO2 stream, was selected as a good candidate for the analysis at hand. Heavy fuel oil (HFO) was assumed to be the only fuel type used at this station with affixed price of USD 20/barrel. The analysis shows that the internal rate of return (IRR) was about 7%, which could be attributed to fuel prices in Kuwait and governmental support, i.e., waived construction tax and subsidized workforce salaries. Furthermore, the net present value (NPV) was also estimated as USD 47,928 million with a 13-year payback period (PBP). Moreover, 1-3% reductions in the annual operational cost were reflected in increasing the IRR and the NPV to 9-11% and USD 104,085-193,945 million, respectively, and decreasing the PBP to 12-11 years. On the contrary, increasing the annual operational cost by 1% made the project economically unfeasible, while an increase of 3% resulted in negative IRR (-1%), NVP (-USD 185,458 million) and increased PBP to 30 years. Similarly, increasing the HFO barrel price by USD 5 resulted in negative IRR (-10%) and NVP (-USD 590,409); hence, a CCS project was deemed economically unfeasible. While the study considered the conditions in Kuwait, it is expected that similar results could be obtained for other countries with an oil-driven economy. Considering that around 62% of the fossil fuel blend in Kuwait is consumed by electricity and water generation, it is inevitable to consider the possibility and practicality of having a carbon network with neighboring countries where other oil-driven economies, such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, can utilize a CCS-based mega infrastructure in Kuwait. The choice of Kuwait is also logical due to being a mid-point between both countries and can initiate a trading scheme in oil derivatives with both countries.

Role of globalziation defining the incidence of entrepreneurship.

Globalization boosts the process of market predictions in the pursuit of economic growth. When economic, political, and social forces gain traction by promoting policies and the climate favoring globalization, entrepreneurial results reach out. Policymakers are still searching for a context within which regional policies can be structured to foster long-term entrepreneurship opportunities. The literature on entrepreneurial phenomena is incomplete and uncertain as to how globalization forces establish a nonlinear mechanism to promote the entrepreneurial process. This study provides the basic context for identifying globalization forces to create a nonlinear effect on the entrepreneurial process in order to address this problem. The results propose that policymakers strengthen the social and political dimension of globalization to increase opportunities-based entrepreneurship.

Soil quality of simulated landfill exposure to plastics in context of heavy metal analysis.

It is imperative to have soil guidelines that consider commodities on the market especially biodegradable plastics that are increasing in popularity nowadays. In this short communication, heavy metal in soil was investigated after degrading plastics commonly used on the market. The plastic materials included virgin linear low-density polyethylene, plastic waste of polyolefin origin, and biodegradables of oxo- and hydro-based types. Soil/water matrix that simulates arid land conditions was used. Metals including cobalt, chromium, cadmium, and nickel, among others, were studied after exposure of three continuous months. It was noted that background concentrations reduced with water indicating that leachate might contain the majority of the transferred metals from plastics. In particular, the concentration of nickel in soil was detected to be 84 ppm after exposure to type I of the oxo-biodegradable commercial plastics. Furthermore, the material of similar source started to retain nickel by day 74 of exposure. This surpasses both Canadian and Australian guidelines discussed herein. Furthermore, nickel concentrations exceeded international guidelines and point towards the need for remediation. Mean values of chromium exceeded soil control results and the USA remediation values in the case of single screw compounded plastics. It should also be noted that the work conducted points towards metal trace detection limits that are tied to waste and sludge disposal in an improper manner with time.

Nexus Between Foreign Direct Investment Inflow, Renewable Energy Consumption, Ambient Air Pollution, and Human Mortality: A Public Health Perspective From Non-linear ARDL Approach.

A huge foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow has been witnessed in China, though on the one hand, it brings a significant contribution to economic growth. On the other hand, it adversely affects the ambient air pollution that may affect human mortality in the country. Renewable energy (RE) usage meets the country's energy needs with no adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, this study is trying to empirically analyze the effect of FDI inflow on human morality and RE consumption in China. We used time-series data for 1998-2020 and applied a non-linear ARDL approach for the estimations. The empirical outcomes suggest that FDI inflow positively affects mortality and RE. There is also unidirectional causality running from RE and pollution to mortality. In addition, the relationship among the variable verifies the existence of a non-linear relationship. The government needs policy guidelines to further boost FDI inflow due to its positive aspects. However, to reduce the negative effect on the environment and human morality, the extensive usage of RE should be adopted. Indeed, proper legislation for foreign firms might be a good step toward quality environmental and longevity of human health in society.

Investigating the Co-movement Nexus Between Air Quality, Temperature, and COVID-19 in California: Implications for Public Health.

This research aims to look at the link between environmental pollutants and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in California. To illustrate the COVID-19 outbreak, weather, and environmental pollution, we used daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 patients, average daily temperature, and air quality Index, respectively. To evaluate the data from March 1 to May 24, 2020, we used continuous wavelet transform and then applied partial wavelet coherence (PWC), wavelet transform coherence (WTC), and multiple wavelet coherence (MWC). Empirical estimates disclose a significant association between these series at different time-frequency spaces. The COVID-19 outbreak in California and average daily temperature show a negative (out phase) coherence. Similarly, the air quality index and COVID-19 also show a negative association circle during the second week of the observed period. Our findings will serve as policy implications for state and health officials and regulators to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

Interventions for the Current COVID-19 Pandemic: Frontline Workers' Intention to Use Personal Protective Equipment.

BACKGROUND: Frontline workers (FLWs) are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection during care interactions than the general population. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is regarded as an effective intervention for limiting the transmission of airborne viruses. However, research examining FLWs' intention to use PPE is limited. OBJECTIVES: This study addresses this research gap and also contributes by expanding the conceptual mechanism of planned behavior theory by incorporating three novel dimensions (perceived benefits of PPE, risk perceptions of the epidemic, and unavailability of PPE) in order to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence FLWs' intentions to use PPE. METHOD: Analysis is based on a sample of 763 FLWs in Pakistan using a questionnaire survey, and the structural equation modeling approach is employed to evaluate the suppositions. RESULTS: Study results indicate that attitude, perceived benefits of PPE, and risk perceptions of the epidemic have positive influence on FLWs' intention to use PPE. In comparison, the unavailability of PPE and the cost of PPE have opposite effects. Meanwhile, environmental concern has a neutral effect. CONCLUSIONS: The study results specify the importance of publicizing COVID-19's lethal impacts on the environment and society, ensuring cheap PPE, and simultaneously enhancing workplace safety standards.

Can plastic waste management be a novel solution in combating the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)? A short research note.

The year 2020 has been noted to be one of major calamity the world over, in which the majority of efforts in research and development have been dedicated towards combating the threat of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Ever since the announcement of COVID-19 as a pandemic, such efforts were dedicated towards the research of its spread and vaccination. Yet still, the world might reach a resolution via an environmental solution that various entities have overlooked, with a plethora of environmental benefits vis-à-vis waste management. In this short communication, the possibility of using plastic solid waste as a substrate to employ copper, and copper alloys and their nanocomposite nanopowders to be used as permanent surface protective coats, is presented. The fact that we present such materials to be of waste origin, is an added value advantage to their beneficial advantage of developing various commodities and products that could be used in our daily lives. Furthermore, the fact that such recyclable materials are susceptible to antiviral properties and chemicals, is an added value that we should not neglect.

From gangue to the fuel-cells application.

Hydrogen, which is a new clean energy option for future energy systems possesses pioneering characteristics making it a desirable carbon-free energy carrier. Hydrogen storage plays a crucial role in initiating a hydrogen economy. Due to its low density, the storage of hydrogen in the gaseous and liquids states had several technical and economic challenges. Despite these traditional approaches, magnesium hydride (MgH2), which has high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen density, offers an excellent potential option for utilizing hydrogen in automobiles and other electrical systems. In contrast to its attractive properties, MgH2 should be mechanically and chemically treated to reduce its high activation energy and enhance its modest hydrogen sorption/desorption kinetics. The present study aims to investigate the influence of doping mechanically-treated Mg metal with 5 wt% amorphous Zr2Cu abrasive nanopowders in improving its kinetics and cyclability behaviors. For the first time, solid-waste Mg, Zr, and Cu metals were utilized for preparing MgH2 and amorphous Zr2Cu alloy (catalytic agent), using hydrogen gas-reactive ball milling, and arc melting techniques, respectively. This new nanocomposite system revealed high-capacity hydrogen storage (6.6 wt%) with superior kinetics and extraordinary long cycle-life-time (1100 h) at 250 °C.

Top-Down Reactive Approach for the Synthesis of Disordered ZrN Nanocrystalline Bulk Material from Solid Waste.

Transition metal nitrides possess superior mechanical, physical, and chemical properties that make them desirable materials for a broad range of applications. A prime example is zirconium nitride (ZrN), which can be obtained through different fabrication methods that require the applications of high temperature and pressure. The present work reports an interesting procedure for synthesizing disordered face centered cubic (fcc)-ZrN nanoparticles through the reactive ball milling (RBM) technique. One attractive point of this study is utilizing inexpensive solid-waste (SW) zirconium (Zr) rods as feedstock materials to fabricate ZrN nanopowders. The as-received SW Zr rods were chemically cleaned and activated, arc-melted, and then disintegrated into powders to obtain the starting Zr metal powders. The powders were charged and sealed under nitrogen gas using a pressurized milling steel vial. After 86 ks of milling, a single fcc-ZrN phase was obtained. This phase transformed into a metastable fcc-phase upon RBM for 259 ks. The disordered ZrN powders revealed good morphological characteristics of spherical shapes and ultrafine nanosize (3.5 nm). The synthetic ZrN nanopowders were consolidated through a spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique into nearly full-density (99.3% of the theoretical density for ZrN) pellets. SPS has proven to be an integral step in leading to desirable and controlled grain growth. Moreover, the sintered materials were not transformed into any other phase(s) upon consolidation at 1673 K. The results indicated that increasing the RBM time led to a significant decrease in the grain size of the ZrN powders. As a result, the microhardness of the consolidated samples was consequently improved with increasing RBM time.

Biohydrogen Production by Catalytic Supercritical Water Gasification: A Comparative Study.

In this article, supercritical water gasification of biocrude at different conditions was performed and compared to each other. Three scenarios were considered while treating biocrude originating from cattle manure (CM) and corn husk (CH), namely, uncatalyzed feedstock, catalyzed with 10% Ni-0.08% Ru/Al2O3 and finally catalyzed with 10% Ni-0.08% Ru/Al2O3-ZrO2. It was found that 10% Ni-0.08% Ru/Al2O3-ZrO2 has performed significantly better than the other two scenarios over the 5 hour run time with a 193 and 187% higher hydrogen yield compared to the uncatalyzed and 10% Ni-0.08% Ru/Al2O3 catalyzed scenarios, respectively. Compared to CM gasification in the presence of a 10% Ni-0.08% Ru/Al2O3-ZrO2 catalyst, the catalyst got deactivated because of the high phenol and furan content in the corn husk biocrude, therefore hydrogen yield performance fell significantly. It was observed that the carbon gasification efficiency of the biocrude was independent of temperature. In terms of carbon conversion, the equilibrium conditions for the biocrude considered were attained at lower temperature. A mechanistic model based on the Eley-Rideal method was devised and tested against the obtained data. The dissociation of adsorbed oxygenated hydrocarbon is found to be the rate-determining step with an average absolute deviation of 3.55%.

Solid-State Conversion of Magnesium Waste to Advanced Hydrogen-Storage Nanopowder Particles.

Recycling of metallic solid-waste (SW) components has recently become one of the most attractive topics for scientific research and applications on a global scale. A considerable number of applications are proposed for utilizing metallic SW products in different applications. Utilization of SW magnesium (Mg) metal for tailoring high-hydrogen storage capacity nanoparticles has never been reported as yet. The present study demonstrates the ability to produce pure Mg ingots through a melting and casting approach from Mg-machining chips. The ingots were used as a feedstock material to produce high-quality Mg-ribbons, using a melting/casting and spinning approaches. The ribbons were then subjected to severe plastic deformation through the cold rolling technique. The as-cold roll Mg strips were then snipped into small shots before charging them into reactive ball milling. The milling process was undertaken under high-pressure of pure hydrogen gas (H2), where titanium balls were used as milling media. The final product obtained after 100 h of milling showcased excellent nanocrystalline structure and revealed high hydro/dehydrogenation kinetics at moderate temperature (275°C). The present study shows that primer cold rolling of Mg-strips before reactive ball milling is a necessary step to prepare ultrafine magnesium hydride (MgH2) nanopowders with advanced absorption/desorption kinetics behavior. These ultrafine powders with their nanocrystalline structure are believed to play an important role in effective gas diffusion process. Moreover, the fine titanium particles came from the ball-powder-ball collisions and introduced to the Mg matrix have not only acted as micro-scaled milling media, but they played a vital catalyzation role for the process.

A review of the valorization and management of industrial spent catalyst waste in the context of sustainable practice: The case of the State of Kuwait in parallel to European industry.

Industrial solid waste management encompasses a vital part of developed and developing countries strategies alike. It manages waste generated from vital industries and governs the hazardous waste generated as a major component of integrated waste management strategies. This article reviews the practices that govern the management approaches utilized in the developed world for industrial spent catalysts. It critically assesses the current situation of waste management within the developing world region focusing on the industrial waste component, in a novel attempt to crucially develop a strategy for a way forward based on best practices and future directions with major European industries. The review also draws parallels with European countries to compare their practices with those of the State of Kuwait, which rely solely on landfilling for the management of its industrial waste. Spent catalysts recovery methods are discussed at length covering conventional methods of valuable metals and chemicals recovery (e.g., hydrometallurgical, solid-liquid and liquid-liquid extraction) as well as biological recovery methods. A major gap exists within regulations that govern the practice of managing industrial waste in Kuwait, where it is essential to start regulating industries that generate spent catalysts in-view of encouraging the establishment of valorization industries for metal and chemical recovery. This will also create a sustainable practice within state borders, and can reduce the environmental impact of landfilling such waste in Kuwait.