Cobot selection using hybrid AHP-TOPSIS based multi-criteria decision making technique for fuel filter assembly process.

The choice of a suitable collaborative robot (cobot) for a real-time industrial process is one of the obstacles to effective robot implementation in terms of energy and cost. The cobot selection process for an application have become more complex due to increasing sophisticated features and capabilities in cobots offered by the manufacturers. The paper presents a hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) technique based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approaches for selecting cobots for fuel filter assembly operation. The product design methodology, manufacturing method, and associated cost are directly influencing the decision on cobot selection. The most appropriate robot to accomplish the desired task at the lowest possible cost and capability can be selected by AHP with prospective criterion weight for subsequent processing. The TOPSIS approach orders alternatives based on the prominence of criteria. A diesel fuel filter assembly process case was considered for validating the proposed technique of cobot selection process. An expert knowledge base was generated for 12 advocated cobots and the best cobot was selected using the proposed hybrid MCDM technique.

Molecular structural dataset of lignin macromolecule elucidating experimental structural compositions.

Lignin is one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature and has great potential to be transformed into high-value chemicals. However, the limited availability of molecular structure data hinders its potential industrial applications. Herein, we present the Lignin Structural (LGS) Dataset that includes the molecular structure of milled wood lignin focusing on two major monomeric units (coniferyl and syringyl), and the six most common interunit linkages (phenylpropane ß-aryl ether, resinol, phenylcoumaran, biphenyl, dibenzodioxocin, and diaryl ether). The dataset constitutes a unique resource that covers a part of lignin's chemical space characterized by polymer chains with lengths in the range of 3 to 25 monomer units. Structural data were generated using a sequence-controlled polymer generation approach that was calibrated to match experimental lignin properties. The LGS dataset includes 60 K newly generated lignin structures that match with high accuracy (~90%) the experimentally determined structural compositions available in the literature. The LGS dataset is a valuable resource to advance lignin chemistry research, including computational simulation approaches and predictive modelling.

Dataset for techno-economic analysis of catalytic hydrothermolysis pathway for jet fuel production.

This detail the economics of Catalytic Hydrothermolysis (CH), an approve pathway for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. Techno-economic analysis was conducted with the assumption of CH processing facility that process 832 metric tonnes per day of feedstock into renewable fuels such as SAF, gasoline and diesel. Economic data includes estimation of renewable fuel production plant cost such as capital and operating cost; cost benefit analysis model to predict the SAF or jet fuel price; regression models to evaluate the cost for co-product such as diesel and petroleum in relation to SAF price. Estimated SAF, gasoline and diesel cost for the feedstock such as carinata oil, soybean oil, yellow grease and brown grease feedstock is included in the data.

Direct Catalytic Conversion of Ethanol to C5+ Ketones: Role of Pd-Zn Alloy on Catalytic Activity and Stability.

Ethanol can be used as a platform molecule for synthesizing valuable chemicals and fuel precursors. Direct synthesis of C5+ ketones, building blocks for lubricants and hydrocarbon fuels, from ethanol was achieved over a stable Pd-promoted ZnO-ZrO2 catalyst. The sequence of reaction steps involved in the C5+ ketone formation from ethanol was determined. The key reaction steps were found to be the in situ generation of the acetone intermediate and the cross-aldol condensation between the reaction intermediates acetaldehyde and acetone. The formation of a Pd-Zn alloy in situ was identified to be the critical factor in maintaining high yield to the C5+ ketones and the stability of the catalyst. A yield of >70 % to C5+ ketones was achieved over a 0.1 % Pd-ZnO-ZrO2 mixed oxide catalyst, and the catalyst was demonstrated to be stable beyond 2000 hours on stream without any catalyst deactivation.

Pretreatment of milk thistle seed to increase the silymarin yield: an alternative to petroleum ether defatting.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) seed meal is extracted for the flavonolignans, silychristin, silydianin, silybinin A, silybinin B, isosilybinin A and isosilybinin B, which are collectively known as the silymarin complex. To obtain the flavonolignans, the meal is usually treated with successive washes of petroleum ether to remove the lipids, followed by extraction of the flavonolignans with ethanol. This work examines the possible replacement of petroleum ether and ethanol by water or other aqueous solutions in these processes. To replace petroleum ether, pretreatments with 1.2% NaOH (w/w), 1.5% H2SO4 (w/w), 2% NaHCO3 (w/w), 0.14% cellulase and water were investigated. Of these pretreatments, 1.5% H2SO4 and water produced similar flavonolignan yields as petroleum ether. Results established that pretreating the milk thistle seed meal with 1.5% H2SO4 (w/w) at 50 degrees C for 18 h could replace the petroleum ether pretreatment. In addition, it was shown that similar amounts of flavonolignan could be recovered with a 1.5% H2SO4/water (100 degrees C) extraction as with a petroleum ether/ethanol extraction. Although cellulase pretreatment was not examined extensively, significant advances in cellulase effectiveness and cost have occurred in the past few years by companies such as Genencor International and Novozymes. These advances should help to make enzyme use for cellulose conversion, as well as extraction pretreatment, technically and economically feasible.