Department Industrial Engineering
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In general, composite materials are difficult to recycle. Tires belong to this class of materials. On top, one of their main constitutents, vulcanized rubber, is as elastomer, which cannot be remolten and hence is particularly challenging to put to a new use. Today, the main end-of-life routes of tires and other rubber products are landfilling, incineration in e.g., cement plants, and grinding to a fine powder, generating huge quantities and indicating a lack of sustainable recycling of this valuable material. True feedstock recycling is not feasible for complex mixtures such as tires, but devulcanization can be done to reactivate the cross-linked polymer for material recycling in novel rubber products. Devulcanization, i.e., the breaking up of sulfur bonds by chemical, thermophysical, or biological means, is a promising route that has been investigated for more than 50 years. This review article presents an update on the state-of-the art in rubber devulcanization. The article addresses established devulcanization technologies and novel processes described in the scientific and patent literatures. On the one hand, tires have become high-tech products, where the simultaneous improvement of wet traction, rolling resistance, and abrasion resistance (the so-called “magic triangle”) is hard to achieve. On the other hand, recycling and sustainable end-of-life uses are becoming more and more important. It is expected that the public discussion of environmental impacts of thermoplastics will soon spill over to thermosets and elastomers. Therefore, the industry needs to develop and market solutions proactively. Every year, approximately 40 million tons of tires are discarded. Through the devulcanization of end-of-life tires (ELT), it is possible to produce new raw materials with good mechanical properties and a superior environmental footprint over virgin products. The devulcanization process has become an interesting technology that is able to support the circular economy concept.
Methane is the main greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted by ruminants. Mitigation strategies are required to alleviate this negative environmental impact while maintaining productivity and ruminants’ health. To date, numerous methane mitigation strategies have been investigated, reported and suggested by scientists to the livestock industry. In this review, the authors will focus on the commonly practiced and available techniques expanding the knowledge of the reader on the advances of methane mitigation strategies with a focus on the recent literature. Furthermore, the authors will attempt to discuss the drawbacks of the strategies in terms of animal health and performance reduction as well as the concept of feed and energy loss, adding an economic perspective to methane emission mitigation which is in the farmers’ direct interest. As a whole, many factors are effective in reducing undesired methane production, but this is definitely a complex challenge. Conclusively, further research is required to offer effective and efficient methane production mitigation solutions in ruminants worldwide, thus positively contributing to climate change.
This study aimed to assess the impact of essential oils (EOs) on in vitro gas formation and the degradability of dairy and beef cattle diets. This study also aimed to investigate the effects of different types of EOs on nutrient utilization and rumen microbial activity. The current study was conducted using a fully randomized design consisting of eight experimental treatments, including two control treatments without any additives, and treatments with cinnamon essential oil (CEO), flaxseed essential oil (FEO), and lemon seed essential oil (LEO) at a concentration of 60 mg/kg fresh mass. Two control treatments were used, one with alfalfa silage and dairy concentrate (DC, CON-DC) and the other with alfalfa silage and fattening concentrate (FC, CON-FC). Gas formation, dry matter (DM) digestibility, crude protein (CP) digestibility, effective degradability (ED), and soluble fractions of DM and organic matter (OM) were evaluated. CEO had a substantial effect on gas formation (p < 0.05). When EOs were added to the diets, they increased dry matter digestibility after 24 h of incubation as compared to control treatments. After 24 h of incubation, FCCEO and FCFEO had the highest CP digestibility among the diets. FCLEO considerably enhanced ED, as well as the soluble fraction of DM (a) at a passage rate of 2% per hour. Treatment with FCCEO resulted in a significant increase in soluble fractions compared to the control diets. At a passage rate of 2% h, DCCEO had the maximum ED value. When EOs were introduced to the diet, they dramatically decreased the insoluble portion of CP (b). Compared to the control treatments, gas production was significantly lower in the presence of LEO (FCLEO; p < 0.05). The addition of EOs to cattle diets may increase nutrient utilization and enhance rumen microbial activity. EOs extracted from lemon seeds (at a dose of 60 mg/kg of diet) lowered gas production in both dairy cattle and fattening diets.
In order to enhance the strength of 3D-printed parts made of polymer materials and reduce the anisotropy caused by the fused filament fabrication process, this paper proposes an inter-layer interleaved composite path planning method based on the directional partition of the principal stress field. This method not only ensures intra-layer reinforcement under specific working conditions but also increases the strength of the printed part by enhancing the adhesion of adjacent layers through staggered filling between layers. The mechanical performance is improved by 10 to 30% compared to other conventional filling patterns such as the zigzag filling algorithm. Inter-layer interleaved composite enhancement path planning method is suitable for path planning of structures with complex shapes and is easily integrated into existing general computer-aided engineering processes.
Talipot starch, a non-conventional starch source with a high yield (76%) from the stem pith of talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera L.) was subjected to three different thermal treatments (dry-heat, heat-moisture and autoclave treatments) prior to phosphorylation. Upon dual modification of starch with thermal treatments and phosphorylation, the phosphorous content and degree of crosslinking significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) and was confirmed by the increased peak intensity of P=O and P–O–C stretching vibrations compared to phosphorylated talipot starch in the FT-IR spectrum. The highest degree of crosslinking (0.00418) was observed in the autoclave pretreated phosphorylated talipot starch sample. Thermal pretreatment remarkably changed the granule morphology by creating fissures and grooves. The amylose content and relative crystallinity of all phosphorylated talipot starches significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) due to crosslinking by the formation of phosphodiester bonds, reducing the swelling power of dual-modified starches. Among all modified starches, dry-heat pretreated phosphorylated starch gel showed an improved light transmittance value of 28.4%, indicating reduced retrogradation tendency. Pasting and rheological properties represented that the thermal pretreated phosphorylated starch formed stronger gels that improved thermal and shear resistance. Autoclave treatment before phosphorylation of talipot starch showed the highest resistant starch content of 48.08%.
In tropical fruits such as durian (Durio zibethinus) and jackfruit (Artocarpus
heterophyllus), only one quarter to one third of the fruit is edible. Finding more
ways to industrially use the other components of the fruit can reduce the waste
burned or dumped in landfills. Another fruit tree of interest that can also grow
in Austria is the fig tree (Ficus carica). Currently, the fruits are the main product
of that plant; however, components in the latex of the tree are of interest too.
The latex is known to contain natural rubber, which could potentially be used for
industrial applications. Jackfruit trees also produce latex, which contains natural
rubber. In both cases, the natural rubber has different properties compared to
the conventionally used rubber from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). This
could provide new opportunities in various applications. Therefore, the purpose
of this research is to analyze the properties of the natural rubber obtained from
the jackfruit and fig trees. Additionally, durian fruit also produces a sticky liquid,
so the same experiments were also carried out with durian samples.
The experimental procedure included extraction with acetone and
cyclohexane as well as polymer length determination with gel permeation
chromatography and polymer analysis with differential scanning calorimetry.
The results show that in both jackfruit and fig tree latex, there is natural
rubber of similar polymer length. Durian pulp also contains a polymer; however,
with these experiments, it could not be identified. Further research is required to
identify the durian polymer and to confirm the results of this experiment.
On the surface, the process landscape for fixed income securities trading within most banks has changed only slightly in the past four decades. The value chain remains divided amongst front-, middle-, and back office, with IT in support. Front office negotiates deals with customers and other banks, middle office manages risks and reporting, and back office ensures that payments are made in exchange for a transfer of the bonds that have been traded. Though these processes have gradually migrated to electronic mediums, much of the work in all functional areas remains manual. But the advent of digital technologies, primarily process automation software and data integration in an open software architecture, allows banks to dramatically change how the processes along the value chain are carried out. Repetitive and predictable tasks can be performed by automated software, allowing humans to concentrate on complex activities that require flexibility and discretion. Those tasks that remain in the hands of humans can also be made more efficient by extracting data from software applications along the entire process chain and providing them to the human user at the right point in time in the right system.
Carbon footprint reduction in households using professional services – example of laundry cleaning
(2020)
Methodik zur Entwicklung sicherer kollaborativer Produktionssysteme im Rahmen von Industrie 4.0
(2019)
Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, can be used as host to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which are promising bioplastic raw materials. The most important material thereof is polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which can replace the commodity polymer polypropylene (PP) in many applications, yielding a bio-based, biodegradable alternative solution. The advantage from using cyanobacteria to make PHB over the standard fermentation processes, with sugar or other organic (waste)
materials as feedstock, is that the sustainability is better (compare first-generation biofuels with the feed vs. fuel debate), with CO2 being the only carbon source and sunlight being the sole energy source. In this review article, the state of the art of cyanobacterial PHB production and its outlook is discussed. Thirty-seven percent of
dry cell weight of PHB could be obtained in 2018, which is getting close to up to 78% of PHB dry cell weight in heterotrophic microorganisms in fermentation reactors. A good potential for cyanobacterial PHB is seen throughout the literature.
Plant-based food additives in functional foods can improve consumer’s nutrient uptake and promote optimal health effects. Considering the ongoing development of new technologies for extracting bioactive substances the potential pricing of these substances plays a major role in assessing the overall profitability of new technologies. The study therefore assessed potential prices for not yet commercially existing bioactive substances from wood by carrying out a business-to-businesssurvey. Applying the van Westendorp method the study identified a potential price in context of varying product properties like different health claims or increasing purities. The Indifference Price of 101.5 €/kg can be considered as a guide value to assess the overall profitability. The study identified potential price ranges for such products and provided information that can be used for according pricing strategies. © 2014, OGA-Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Agrarokonomie.
Communication is an important tool in maintaining legitimacy and acceptability of forest sector operations and activities, and expectations by the general public on the forest sector conduct in Europe are in general very high. Despite this, there is scarce research in cross-national contexts on how forest sector sustainability is communicated to the general public and what development areas can be identified in terms of communication content. This study applies a qualitative content analysis in four forestry-rich European countries (Austria, Finland, Germany, and Slovenia). The state of online communication of 61 companies and 19 industry associations was qualitatively analyzed in 2014 with a focus on eight core sustainability topics of interest that were identified via an international forest sector stakeholder feedback process. Our results show some great similarities, but also some interesting differences in terms of communication frequency and weight of hot topics across countries. The most frequently communicated area was economic contribution of forests (in Finland and Austria), followed by debate over forest conservation versus production (Germany) and the concept-added value of wood (in Slovenia). With the exception of Slovenia, the role of forests in combating global warming was emphasized more frequently within industry associations than among individual forest industry companies. Characteristically, current content of sustainability communicatio
n focuses on supplying factual information. Thus, there is a need for developing more targeted and bidirectional forms of stakeholder communication in the future, emphasizing also more active use of social media channels and empowering organizations to promote interactive communication and collaborative learning.
Forest owner associations act as middlemen in the cooperative marketing of timber: they are supplied with small and fluctuating quantities of timber and sell bundled amounts to industrial consumers. Knowledge of the future quantity of monthly dis-tributable timber is of particular importance for planning, but remains a subject of uncertainty. This work presents models to predict wood supply based on a simple database. Models were tested in two case-study regions, which substantially differ
Seite 88 J. List, P. Schwarzbauer, M. Braun, A. Werner, G. Langthaler, T. Sternin framework conditions for timber marketing. In each of the regions in Styria and Burgenland, different model types and subtypes were superior. It was concluded that models which determine timber supply in one forest association, are only restrictedly suitable to predict timber supply in another one.
The overall impression of a glossy surface is an important parameter for consumer’s choice of wooden products. A new gloss parameter, called gloss impression, which calculates a reflexion structure image, was developed in order to complement the measurements made by industrial glossmeters, which are highly limited in describing the visual human perception, for example the commonly used gloss value. The objective of this study is to investigate to what extent the new measurement method of surface gloss is applicable to describe human gloss perception, in other words, to validate the new method. In order to analyse the concordance of the new methodology with human perception, 113 naïve observers had to rank the glossiness of eight series of black and white samples. The results were compared to both gloss impression and gloss value. The statistical evaluation by means of Pearson’s chi-squared tests revealed that the new method has an overall better correspondence to human perception than the gloss value. For black samples, it describes human perception significantly better than the gloss value and gives better results than those which would be achieved by guessing.
Mutual Benefits from Entrepreneurship of Non-business University Graduates for Academia and Founders
(2019)
There is a trend among universities to teach entrepreneurship and support startup initiatives. In this article, the state-ofthe-
art in entrepreneurship higher education and university ecosystems of non-business schools is reviewed, and the example of the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Austria, and one of its startup show cases, Toolsense, is elaborated to understand critical success factors for non-business graduates as founders. The mutual benefits for universities and founders are discussed. In the case of Toolsense and the University of Applied Sciences, narrow band IoT as brought to the University by the startup. Implications on a universities’ innovation and portfolio management are highlighted. Concerning startups, the importance of growth financing after initial success is elaborated.
Industrial and institutional floor cleaning today relies on mechanical action combined with chemicals, which is costly and a burden to the environment. There are floor cleaning pads on the market which claim increased service time due to diamond particles contained in the nonwoven materials. In this study, it was investigated whether cleaning results can also be obtained with hard-particle-coated pads using only water. SiC, diamond and Al 2 O 3 were used with particle sizes between 5 and 125 µm. 5 g/m² of hard particles were applied to the pads in epoxy resin. Weight loss from abrasive cleaning in 500 cycles and gloss increase were measured. Diamond and silicon carbide particles were found to work with pure water, without the need for chemical cleaning agents.