Development of a tool to optimize economic and environmental feasibility of food waste chains

The Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 focuses on food and its inedible parts that exit the supply chain and thus are lost or wasted. This work addresses the food waste problem by presenting the development of a tool to design business models to reduce the production of food waste. This has been developed within the LIFE16 project iRexfo, coordinated by the University of Perugia. The tool aims at transferring the results obtained in a pilot region (Umbria, Italy) to 4 other regions in Europe. It has been coded in Python and has a graphical user interface (GUI) to insert inputs and display outputs. The GUI has been developed in FLASK and it is hosted in the website of PythonAnywhere. A case study on the application of the software is also presented, mainly based on data retrieved in the Umbria region, Italy. Together with economic analysis, also, environmental assessment is performed.

Techno–economic–environmental feasibility study of a photovoltaic system in northern part of Iran including a two-stage multi-string inverter with DC–DC ZETA converter and a modified P&O algorithm

Inverters play a significant role in the configuration of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems. The perturb-and-observe (P&O) algorithm is a common method to derive the maximum power from grid-connected inverters; however, the possibility of losing maximum power due to sudden changes in radiation is a significant drawback of this control strategy. To overcome this barrier, the two-stage multi-string inverter using the ZETA DC–DC converter and a novel P&O algorithm has been proposed to increase the efficiency of these systems. The proposed inverter has been simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK software. To investigate the performance of the proposed inverter, technical, environmental and economic feasibility studies have been performed for the construction of a 5-kW PV power plant in a northern city of Iran (Sari) using the RETScreen software developed by Natural Resources Canada. On the other hand, most feasibility studies for power-plant construction are based on the concept of inverter peak efficiency, which leads to non-optimal system design due to the short operation duration of the inverter at this value. However, the weighted European efficiency has been used in the feasibility study for more accurate computations. Moreover, the performance of the proposed inverter is compared to that of a two-stage multi-string inverter using a conventional P&O algorithm and the single-stage (central) inverter. The simulation results indicated that the proposed inverter injects 7.6 MW of power into the grid per year. Moreover, it prevents the emission of 88 tons of CO2 (over 20 years), which is equivalent to saving 1883.5 litres of gasoline per year.

Assessment of end-of-life vehicle recycling: Remanufacturing waste sheet steel into mesh sheet

The automobile industry contributes significantly to global energy use and carbon emissions. Hence, there are significant economic and environmental benefits in recovering materials from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). Here, the remanufacturing of waste steel sheet (WSS) from ELVs into useful mesh steel sheet (MSS) for metal forming applications was evaluated based on its technological, economic, and environmental feasibility. A remanufacturing plant with a dismantling capacity of over 30,171 ELV/year and a recovery capacity of 1000 m2/d of WSS was used as a case study. Remanufacturing can achieve a total reduction of ~3800 kg CO2/ELV and an economic benefit of ~775 USD/ELV compared with conventional recycling. The calculated feasibility indexes were similar to or exceeded standard feasibility thresholds, indicating that WSS remanufacturing is a viable sustainable development route and has synergistic benefits when combined with existing recycling plants, especially in developing countries as small-to-medium enterprises.

Investigations of personalized and sustainable approach of oral drug delivery systems through additive manufacturing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to print a thermolabile drug-containing tablet using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique and analyze its mechanical, pharmaceutical and environmental feasibility using a variety of tests. Design/methodology/approach Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is the thermally-sensitive drug impregnated into polyvinyl alcohol excipient using ethanol-water mixture and printed by an FDM printer by varying three parameters without using any external stabilizing agent. Afterward, Taguchi analysis has been performed on these parameters to recognize the significant factors and interactions. Besides this, a regression model has been obtained based on the dissolution data. Various thermo-mechanical and pharmaceutical tests have been carried out to confirm the feasibility. Finally, a life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis has been carried out to compare it with the existing tableting method by considering the environmental impacts. Findings The dissolution profile was found to follow the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, where the drug release occurred both by dissolution and erosion. Further, the infill percent has been found as the most significant parameter. The characterization tests and imaging outputs proved the fidelity of this attempt. Finally, the three-dimensional printed method was found to be more environmentally sustainable than the existing conventional tableting process. Originality/value LCA on a printed tablet is a one-of-a-kind attempt. Thus, this research attempt delivered another approach to print personalized tablets at a temperature lower than prescribed temperatures with required release behavior and can contribute toward the quest of sustainable personalized medication.

Implementation of Indonesia coal downstream policy in the trend of fossil energy transition

The implementation of downstream coal policies in Indonesia is regulated in Law Number 3 of 2020 to optimize coal’s domestic use and value-added. The policy is also supported by the issuance of fiscal, non-fiscal, and regional incentives. In Law Number 3 of 2020, the government of Indonesia states six types of coal downstream: coal upgrading; coal briquetting; cokes making; coal liquefaction; coal gasification; and coal slurry, yet the government has not defined which downstream coal products should be prioritized. Several parameters must be considered in implementing the downstream coal policy, those are the availability of coal and its characteristics, proven technology, economic and environmental feasibility. This study examines the mineral and coal sector regulation, taxation, coal resources and reserves, technology, and economics. In addition, to implement the commitment of reducing CO2 emissions, this study also considers applying Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology to implement downstream coal policy.

Transformation of consumer needs in the context of personality environmental culture formation and innovative development of national economy

The article is devoted to the issues of substantiation of a new ecological worldview built on the basic principles of environmental culture. It is shown that the violation of the means of maintaining balance in the system “a man-nature-society” poses a significant threat to the existence of a man as a biosocial being, determining the appropriate response of nature to destructive human activities, requiring the identification of environmental priorities for further socio-cultural development. It was found that solving problems related to the current environmental situation involves limiting human practical and transformational activities aimed at transforming nature into the introduction of “careful”, “gentle” consumption with the need to adjust the criteria of environmental feasibility, it is possible in the formation of environmental culture and deepening the field of environmental education. We have established that the innovative direction of the state’s development should be focused on the targeted satisfaction of the consumer needs.The main indicators of the labor market in 2013-2019 are analyzed as well as personnel costs of business entities. The closeness of the relationship between net income and labor costs of enterprises is established.

The Study of Land Conflict of Mining Activities in the Forest Areas in Morowali Regency

This research aims to describe the chronologies of land conflicts of mining activities in the forest (Borrow- to- Use Permit for Forest Area of PT. Mahligai Artha Sejahtera), identify the dominant factors that cause conflict, and provide an overview of conflict resolution efforts. This research was conducted by collecting information from the public, the permit holder, in this case, PT. Mahligai Artha Sejahtera and related parties. This research was a qualitative descriptive method in terms of subject and history study and facts of the field. The data of this research was collected from August to October 2020. Based on the decree of the Minister of Forestry and Plantation No. SK.757 / Kpts-II/ 1999 on September 23, about the designation map of Forest and Territorial Waters in Central Sulawesi Province, the land location of Buleleng communities was an area for other use but in 2013 (No. SK.635 / Menhut-II / 2013 on September 24, 2013) and 2014 (SK.869 / Menhut-II / 2014 on September 29, 2014) turned into Forest Areas. However, PT Mahligai Artha Sejahtera has an approval license, an environmental feasibility license, an Increase Exploration Mining Business to a Production Operation Mining Business License, and a borrow-to-use permit from the local Government and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The function change of the areas in Buleleng village has resulted in conflicts. It is necessary to resolve land disputes by revising the RTRWP/K and establishing forests. Keywords: Conflict, the Function Change of Areas, Land Conflict, Mining Activities, Forest Areas.