An integrated process for the valorization of corn stover promoted by NaCl in GVL/H2O system

An integrated green process for the valorization of corn stover promoted by NaCl in GVL/H2O was developed. With the addition of NaCl in 25% GVL/H2O at 170 °C for 2...

The role of green process innovation translating green entrepreneurial orientation and proactive sustainability strategy into environmental performance

PurposeThis paper analyzes the mediating role of green process innovation in the relationships of green entrepreneurial orientation and proactive sustainability strategy with environmental performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze data from 81 Brazilian agriculture technology startups (AgTechs) using partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).FindingsThe results show that the green process innovation assumes an important role in AgTechs, promoting full mediations between green entrepreneurial orientation and proactive sustainability strategy with environmental performance. There are two ways for AgTechs to achieve high environmental performance. In both, green process innovation is a central condition, while green entrepreneurial orientation or proactive sustainability strategy is a complementary condition.Research limitations/implicationsThis study demonstrates how internal elements (green entrepreneurial orientation, proactive sustainability strategy and green process innovation) improve environmental performance. This answers calls to explore which elements translate green entrepreneurial orientation and proactive sustainability strategies into environmental performance, by highlighting the mediating role of green process innovation.Practical implicationsThe findings are useful for founders and managers of AgTechs to find ways to manage sustainable technological advancement and cleaner production in agribusiness.Originality/valueThis study analyses the interface between sustainable entrepreneurship, strategy and innovation in promoting environmental performance of AgTechs from an emerging economy country.

Achieving green product and process innovation through green leadership and creative engagement in manufacturing

PurposeThe aims of this study were three-fold: to determine the impact of green transformational leadership on creative process engagement, green product innovation and green process innovation; to examine the association of creative process engagement with green product and process innovation and to identify the mediating influence of creative process engagement in the association between green transformational leadership and green process and product innovation.Design/methodology/approachData was collected through a survey questionnaire from 291 middle- and lower-level managers and employees through simple random sampling in four high-tech manufacturing industries situated in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen in China. We examined the data through structural equation modeling using partial least squares to test the study hypotheses.FindingsThe findings unveiled that green transformational leadership and creative process engagement positively influence green product innovation and green process innovation. Similarly, green transformational leadership is positively linked with creative process engagement. The findings further revealed that creative process engagement mediates the impact of green transformational leadership on green process and product innovation. Hence, our findings provide strong support for the role of green transformational leadership and creative process engagement in improving green process and product innovation.Research limitations/implicationsOur sample is limited to China and collected from high-tech manufacturing industries.Practical implicationsDrawing on the componential theory of creativity, the authors suggest that organizational leaders, specifically those who practice green transformational leadership, should increase creative process engagement among subordinates, as it is a crucial intangible resource for green process and product innovation.Social implicationsWe suggest that a combination of green transformational leadership and creative process engagement improves green process and product innovation as well as the environmental performance of a business by eliminating all forms of hazardous material and waste.Originality/valueThis work is one of the earliest empirical studies to evaluate the influence of green transformational leadership on fostering green product and process innovation and the mediating impact of creative process engagement on the linkage among green transformational leadership, green product and process innovation within the manufacturing context.

Green synthesis of MIL-100(Fe) metal-organic frameworks as a carrier for chloroquine delivery

The metal-organic framework MIL-100(Fe) was synthesized by the green process using the ultrasonic method and water. By using this approach, the energy consumption was reduced by 100 times compared to the hydrothermal method. The prepared MIL-100(Fe) was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET surface area measurements. The XRD pattern showed characteristic peaks of MIL-100 (Fe) with the main peaks at 6.3o, 10.3o, 11.1o, and 20.1o. The prepared MIL-100(Fe) was of particle size in a range of from 100 nm to 200 nm, and surface area of 950 m2/g with a pore volume of 0.52 cm3/g. The obtained MIL-100 (Fe) showed a high loading capacity for the chloroquine drug with a maximal capacity of 555 mg/g.

Preparation of MoB2 Nanoparticles by Electrolysis of MoS2/B Mixture in Molten NaCl-KCl at 700 oC

MoB2 is synthesized by the electrochemical reduction of solid MoS2/B mixture in molten NaCl-KCl at 700 oC. Unlike the traditional methods, the electrolysis method employs the low-cost MoS2 feedstock and the boronization reaction happens at a low temperature of 700 oC. The electrochemically induced boronization involves two steps: the electrochemical desulfurization to generate Mo and the reaction of Mo with B to form MoB2. The S2- released from the reduction of MoS2 transfers to the carbon anode and is oxidized to sulfur gas, realizing a green synthetic process. In addition, the influences of molar ratio of MoS2 and amorphous boron and electrolysis cell voltage on the phase composition and morphology of electrolytic products were studied. The obtained MoB2 particles possess a uniform nodular morphology. Overall, this paper provides a straightforward and green process to prepare MoB2 nanoparticles using economically affordable raw materials at low temperature, and this method can be extended to prepare other borides.

Transparent Cellulose-Based Films Prepared from Used Disposable Paper Cups via an Ionic Liquid

Paper cups are widely employed in daily life with many advantages, but most of the used paper cups are incinerated or landfilled, due to the great challenge of separating the thin inner polyethylene (PE) coating, causing the waste of energy and the pollution of our environment. Therefore, recycling and converting the used paper cups into high-value materials is meaningful and important. In this work, transparent cellulose-based films were successfully prepared from the used paper cups via 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid after simple pretreatment. Additionally, the difference in properties and structures of cellulose-based films regenerated in different coagulation baths (water or ethanol) was also explored. It was found that the cellulose-based film possessed good thermal property and displayed better hydrophobicity than the traditional pure cellulose film. Moreover, they also demonstrated good mechanical property and the tensile strength of cellulose-based film regenerated in water can reach 31.5 Mpa, higher than those of cellulose-based film regenerated in ethanol (25.5 Mpa) and non-degradable polyethylene film (9–12 MPa), indicating their great potential as the packaging materials. Consequently, valorization of the low cost used paper cups and preparation of high-valve cellulose-based films were realized simultaneously by a facile and green process.

Four-step eco-friendly energy efficient recycling of contaminated Nd2Fe14B sludge and coercivity enhancement by reducing oxygen content

Complete recycling of Nd2Fe14B sludge by chemical methods has gained significance in recent years, however, it is not easy to recycle highly contaminant sludge and obtain product with good magnetic properties. Herein we report a simple four-step process to recycle the Nd2Fe14B sludge containing ~ 10% of contaminants. Sludge was leached in H2SO4 and selectively co-precipitated in two steps. In the first co-precipitation, Al3+ and Cu2+ were removed at pH 6. Thereafter, in the second co-precipitation Fe2+ and RE3+ sulfates were converted to the Fe and RE hydroxides. By annealing at 800 °C RE and Fe hydroxides precipitates were converted to the oxides and residual carbon was oxidized to CO2. After the addition of boric acid, Fe and RE oxides were reduced and diffused to the (Nd-RE)2Fe14B by calciothermic reduction diffusion. Removal of CaO by washing with D.I. water in glove box reduced the oxygen content (~ 0.7%), improved crystallinity and enhanced the magnetic properties significantly. Coercivity increased more than three times (from 242.71 to 800.55 kA/m) and Mr value was also enhanced up to more than 20% (from 0.481 to 0.605 T). In this green process Na2SO4 and Ca(OH)2 were produced as by-product those are non-hazardous and were removed conveniently.