Marilyn Sarkis, James A. D. Ball, Michela La Bella
et al.
Bio-cementation uses bacterially induced calcite to bind sand grains, offering a low-carbon approach to soil stabilization. However, the 3D morphology, orientation texture, and internal strain states of individual calcite bonds remain insufficiently characterized. Here, we combine computed micro-tomography, 3D X-ray Diffraction (3DXRD), and Dark-Field X-ray Microscopy (DFXM) to nondestructively characterize grain morphology, crystallographic orientation, and both type II (intergranular) and type III (intragranular) elastic strains in calcite formed at sand-sand contacts during bio-cementation. Tomography establishes the sample morphology and the cemented contact architecture; 3DXRD provides grain-averaged orientation and strain states; and DFXM resolves sub-grain misorientations and localized strain concentrations generated during growth with 100 nm resolution. The combined results show that calcite precipitation through bio-cementation produces anisotropic internal strain and distinct sub-domain structures that can influence bond integrity and load transfer at the macroscopic scale.
In many countries, declining demand in energy-intensive industries such as cement, steel, and aluminum is leading to industrial overcapacity. Although industrial overcapacity is traditionally envisioned as problematic and resource-wasteful, it could unlock energy-intensive industries' flexibility in electricity use. Here, using China's aluminum smelting industry as a case study, we evaluate the system-level cost-benefit of retaining energy-intensive industries overcapacity for flexible electricity use in decarbonized energy systems. We find that overcapacity can enable aluminum smelters to adopt a seasonal operation paradigm, ceasing production during winter load peaks that are exacerbated by heating electrification and renewable seasonality. This seasonal operation paradigm could reduce the investment and operational costs of China's decarbonized electricity system by 23-32 billion CNY/year (11-15% of the aluminum smelting industry's product value), sufficient to offset the increased smelter maintenance and product storage costs associated with overcapacity. It may also provide an opportunity for seasonally complementary labor deployment across the aluminum smelting and thermal power generation sectors, offering a potential pathway for mitigating socio-economic disruptions caused by industrial restructuring and energy decarbonization.
Braxton Cuneo, Joanna Piper Morgan, Ilham Variansyah
et al.
Monte Carlo / Dynamic Code (MC/DC) is a portable Monte Carlo neutron transport package for rapid numerical methods exploration in heterogeneous and HPC contexts, developed under the auspices of the Center for Exascale Monte Carlo Neutron Transport (CEMeNT). To support execution on GPUs, MC/DC delegates resource and execution management to Harmonize (another CEMeNT software project). In this paper, we describe and compare the performance of the two methods that Harmonize currently provides: a stack-based method and a distributed, asynchronous method. As part of this investigation, we analyze the performance of both methods under the 3D C5G7 k-eigenvalue benchmark problem and a continuous-energy infinite pin cell problem, as run across 4 NVIDIA Tesla V100s. We find that the asynchronous method exhibits stronger early scaling compared to the stack-based method in the 3D C5G7 benchmark. We also found that the asynchronous method exhibits mixed performance relative to the stack-based method in the continuous-energy problem, depending upon tally resolution, particle count, and transport loop decomposition.
I study the impact of industrial policies on industrial development by considering an important episode during the East Asian miracle: South Korea's heavy and chemical industry (HCI) drive, 1973--1979. Based on newly assembled data, I use the introduction and termination of industrial policies to study their impacts during and after the intervention period. (1) I reveal that heavy-chemical industrial policies promoted the expansion and dynamic comparative advantage of directly targeted industries. (2) Using variation in exposure to policies through the input-output network, I demonstrate that the policy indirectly benefited downstream users of targeted intermediates. (3) The benefits of HCI persisted even after the policy ended, as some results were slower to appear. The findings suggest that the temporary drive shifted Korean manufacturing into more advanced markets and supported durable change. This study helps clarify the lessons drawn from the East Asian growth miracle. JEL Codes: L5, O14, O25, N6. Keywords: industrial policy, East Asian miracle, economic history, industrial development, Heavy-Chemical Industry Drive, Heavy and Chemical Industry Drive.
The carbon footprint associated with human activity, particularly from energy-intensive industries such as iron and steel, aluminium, cement, oil and gas, and petrochemicals, contributes significantly to global warming. These industries face unique challenges in achieving Industry 4.0 goals due to the widespread adoption of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies, which require reliable and efficient power solutions. Conventional wireless devices powered by lithium batteries have limitations, including a reduced lifespan in high-temperature environments, incompatibility with explosive atmospheres, and high maintenance costs. This paper proposes a novel approach to address these challenges by leveraging residual heat to power IIoT devices, eliminating the need for batteries and enabling autonomous operation. Based on the Seebeck effect, thermoelectric energy harvesters transduce waste heat from industrial surfaces, such as pipes or chimneys, into sufficient electrical energy to power IoT nodes for applications like the condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of rotating machinery. The methodology presented standardises the modelling and simulation of Waste Heat Recovery Systems (IoT-WHRSs), demonstrating their feasibility through statistical analysis of IoT-WHRS architectures. Furthermore, this technology has been successfully implemented in a petroleum refinery, where it benefits from the NB-IoT standard for long-range, robust, and secure communications, ensuring reliable data transmission in harsh industrial environments. The results highlight the potential of this solution to reduce costs, improve safety, and enhance efficiency in demanding industrial applications, making it a valuable tool for the energy transition.
M.A. Elazab, Abdelrahman T. Elgohr, Mohamed Bassyouni
et al.
Green hydrogen is poised to play a pivotal role in the transition to a sustainable, carbon-neutral future. This study provides a comprehensive review of the production, storage, transportation, and applications of green hydrogen. Generated through electrolysis using renewable energy sources, green hydrogen is a clean, versatile energy carrier with significant potential to decarbonize key sectors such as transportation, industry, and power generation. The decreasing costs of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, coupled with advancements in electrolysis technologies, have enhanced the economic viability of green hydrogen production. However, challenges persist, including improving efficiency, reducing costs, scaling infrastructure, and ensuring safety. The study emphasizes the necessity of addressing these barriers to enable widespread adoption. Green hydrogen offers numerous environmental benefits, such as storing surplus renewable energy, acting as a zero-emission fuel, and significantly mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Its application in hard-to-abate industries, like steel and cement manufacturing, further highlights its role in supporting global sustainability goals. This review also underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among governments, industries, and researchers to advance green hydrogen technologies. By fostering innovation and public acceptance, green hydrogen can accelerate the energy transition and contribute to long-term climate resilience. This work provides actionable insights to promote the adoption of green hydrogen, showcasing its potential to reshape energy systems and support a low-carbon economy.
The rational design of hybrid sorbents requires mechanistic understanding of how molecular interactions influence pore accessibility and CO₂ uptake. In this study, potassium amino acid–based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were prepared from K-AMALA (Potassium salt of α-methylalanine) with monoethanolamine (MEA) or tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and impregnated into zeolite 13X. Comprehensive characterization (FT-IR, DSC, EA, TGA, BET, SEM-EDS) confirmed effective impregnation without loss of zeolite crystallinity, while revealing partial pore blockage at high loadings. The optimized hybrid, AM11 13 × 25, achieved a CO₂ uptake of 0.589 mmol·g⁻¹ at 353 K under 15 vol% CO₂, representing a ∼51% improvement over pristine 13X (0.389 mmol·g⁻¹). Mechanistic analysis showed that moderate DES loading enhances chemical affinity while preserving pore accessibility, whereas excessive loading (50 wt%) causes severe blockage. TEPA-based hybrids exhibited higher intrinsic reactivity due to multiple amine sites, but viscosity and steric effects limited mass transfer. These results establish that the balance between amine density, viscosity, and pore accessibility governs capture efficiency in DES–zeolite hybrids. Demonstrating framework integrity to ≥ 773 K and operability near hot-flue-gas temperatures with careful volatile management, these materials represent promising candidates for CO₂ separation from hot flue gases in cement, steel, and power industries. Future studies on cyclic stability, regeneration energy, and impurity tolerance will be essential for industrial deployment.
Construction industry is one of the heaviest polluters due to high greenhouse gas emissions with approximately 11 % of global CO2 emissions, extensive use of virgin materials, and waste generation. Simultaneously, mining, metallurgy, energy, construction and demolition industries face a single common problem, which is constant generation of waste. Often these waste streams could find alternative applications and thus alleviate the ongoing problem of landfilling and waste management. There is one solution that would comprehend all these issues, and that is the fabrication of geopolymer composites. Geopolymers are construction materials based on alkali activation of aluminosilicate materials, matching or even surpassing the traditional cement-based materials in terms of strength and durability. This paper investigates the possible valorization of different industrial waste streams for geopolymer composite ingredients - precursor, activator, or aggregate. The investigation presents analyses of the most important material characteristics for the geopolymerization process, provided for 21 local waste streams from Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Iceland. The physical and chemical properties of analyzed wastes imply that all materials could be favorable as a geopolymer ingredient.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
High pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) are commonly used for material grinding in industries such as mineral processing, cement production, and chemical manufacturing. Comminution modelling for these devices is typically performed using either continuum-based population balance models or particle-based numerical tools such as the discrete element method (DEM). However, population balance models overlook the complex interplay of particle crushing, segregation, and mixing that occurs during comminution, limiting their effectiveness in accurately predicting device performance under varying operating conditions. Similarly, DEM models are limited by their high computational cost, which restricts their ability to track only a limited number of particles and simulate their sequential crushing. Here, we overcome the limitations of these traditional modelling approaches by exploring a novel heterarchical model for HPGR comminution. The heterarchical model captures the physics of particle crushing, segregation, and mixing while efficiently handling an arbitrarily large number of particles. Therefore, this model allows for the prediction and analysis of HPGR performance by tracking the evolving particle size distribution at any point in space and time.
Lucas B.R. Araújo, Madson L. de Souza, Abcael R.S. Melo
et al.
The construction industry has recently seen a growing demand for sustainable materials. Alkali-activated binders (AAB) have emerged as a viable alternative to Portland cement-based materials. This study investigates the influences of the composition and mixing methods on the rheological and mechanical properties of an alkali-activated concrete (AAC) based on fly ash (FA) and steel slag (SS), compared to a reference Portland cement concrete (PCC) with equivalent volume fractions of aggregate and paste. Two mixing methods were examined: a free fall mixer and a planetary mixer that also functions as a rheometer. In the fresh state, the performance of concretes was assessed, focusing on rheological parameters such as mixing energy, maximum torque, and equivalent apparent viscosity indicator. In the hardened state, compressive strength tests were conducted. Pseudoplastic rheological model effectively described AAC behavior, while the Bingham model better characterized PCC. AAC demonstrated high passing ability and extended flow time, with flow behavior significantly influenced by the mixing process. Rheological analysis revealed that AAC required five times more mixing energy and exhibited greater equivalent apparent viscosity indicator compared to PCC. Additionally, AAC achieved higher compressive strength than PCC, which presented values from 34 to 43 MPa (PCC) depending on curing conditions. Thermal curing increased compressive strength by nearly 60 % at 28 days for AAC, from 48.6 MPa to 76.8 MPa. Furthermore, the mixing procedure influenced the fresh and hardened properties of both AAC and PCC, though PCC exhibited only minor variations. Mixing methods with higher energy input led to improved compressive strength.
The cement and concrete industries are currently facing the urgent and arduous challenge of decarbonisation and material circularisation for improved resource efficiency. The pursuit of new raw materials and binders that will improve sustainability is urgent, especially as end-of-pipe carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have not yet been scaled up economically even after five decades of research and large investments. On the other hand, society is facing the colossal issue of managing mineral wastes which are produced in several Gts per year globally, posing a massive environmental and societal liability. Many of these mineral wastes have elemental and mineralogical profiles that make them good candidates for use as clinker raw feed or supplementary cementitious materials. Although the published research on the topic is extensive, it is not organised, lacking a systematic comprehensive approach, making valorisation challenging. RILEM TC UMW was developed to address this gap and create a framework for realising the potential of upcycling mineral wastes focusing on using powders as either clinker raw feed or other binder applications while excluding discussion on calcined clays and mineral carbonation.
In the context of the ATHENA X-IFU Cryogenic AntiCoincidence Detector (CryoAC) development, we have studied the thermalization properties of a 2mm x 2mm SQUID chip. The chip is glued on a front-end PCB and operated on the cold stage of a dilution refrigerator (TBASE < 20 mK). We performed thermal conductance measurements by using different materials to glue the SQUID chip on the PCB. These have been repeated in subsequent cryostat runs, to highlight degradation effects due to thermal cycles. Here, we present the results obtained by glues and greases widely used in cryogenic environments, i.e. GE 7031 Varnish Glue, Apiezon N Grease and Rubber Cement.
Rafael Zarzuela, Manuel Luna, Luis M. Carrascosa
et al.
Impregnation treatments are one of the alternatives to protect concrete-based building and monuments from weathering degradation. However, it is important to consider the chemical compatibility of the reaction products with the building material. The impregnation product studied here consists of a silica oligomer able to polymerize, by a simple sol-gel process, inside the pore structure of concrete. In this work, we investigate the ability of this impregnation treatment to produce C-S-H gel in contact with cement paste. A complete characterization of the reaction products demonstrated that the silanol groups from silica oligomers react with the portlandite present in the cement paste generating a material with the chemical, structural and morphological features of CS-H gel. Simultaneously, the 29Si NMR results indicate that the Si-O units are incorporated into the existing C-S-H, increasing its chain length. These results open the way for a simple concrete structures repairing procedure.
Rock weathering is a common phenomenon in most engineering applications, such as underground storage or geothermal energy. This work offers a discrete element modelization of the problem considering cohesive granular material and debonding effect. Oedometer conditions are applied during the weathering and the evolution of the coefficient of lateral earth pressure, a proxy of the state of stress, is tracked. Especially, the influence of the degree of cementation, the confining pressure, the initial value of k0 and the history of load are investigated. It has been emphasized that the granular media aims to reach an attractor configuration. And the grain reorganization occurring is divided into two main phenomena: the collapse of the unstable chain forces (stable only thanks to the cementation) and the softening of the grains.
David Wichner, Jeffrey Wishart, Jason Sergent
et al.
Safety Management Systems (SMSs) have been used in many safety-critical industries and are now being developed and deployed in the automated driving system (ADS)-equipped vehicle (AV) sector. Industries with decades of SMS deployment have established frameworks tailored to their specific context. Several frameworks for an AV industry SMS have been proposed or are currently under development. These frameworks borrow heavily from the aviation industry although the AV and aviation industries differ in many significant ways. In this context, there is a need to review the approach to develop an SMS that is tailored to the AV industry, building on generalized lessons learned from other safety-sensitive industries. A harmonized AV-industry SMS framework would establish a single set of SMS practices to address management of broad safety risks in an integrated manner and advance the establishment of a more mature regulatory framework. This paper outlines a proposed SMS framework for the AV industry based on robust taxonomy development and validation criteria and provides rationale for such an approach. Keywords: Safety Management System (SMS), Automated Driving System (ADS), ADS-Equipped Vehicle, Autonomous Vehicles (AV)
Sebastián Rojas-Innocenti, Enrique Baeyens, Alejandro Martín-Crespo
et al.
The increasing integration of renewable energy sources into power systems is intensifying the demand for greater flexibility among industrial electricity consumers. However, operational constraints, production requirements, and market dynamics pose significant challenges to achieving optimal flexibility. This paper presents an enhanced mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model that directly optimizes electricity consumption flexibility in manufacturing plants. Unlike previous approaches, the proposed model determines optimal transactions with both day-ahead and intraday continuous electricity markets, while ensuring production continuity and adhering to plant-specific operational constraints. The methodology is validated through annual simulations of two real world industrial configurations, cement manufacturing and steel production, using 2023 market data. Comparative results highlight that the steel plant achieved average electricity cost savings through flexibility of 0.41 euro/MWh, whereas the cement plant achieved 0.24 euro/MWh, reflecting differences in storage capacities, production rates, and operational flexibility. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis further identifies key parameters affecting flexibility potential, such as the production to demand ratio, storage capacity, and minimum operation periods. The findings offer valuable insights for industrial operators aiming to reduce energy costs, enhance operational flexibility, and support the decarbonization of electricity systems.
In light of the steel industry's rapid advancements, the availability of high-quality mineral resources is diminishing. Therefore, the recovery of iron from BOF slag is of great significance to the sustainability development. Considering the compositional characteristics of BOF slag, the transformation of the iron-containing phase into (Mn,Mg)yFe3-yO4 is the key step. Thus, a novel process for recovering iron resources by synergistic treatment of blast furnace slag (BFS) and BOF slag was proposed. This research employed FactSage thermodynamic simulation, XRD, SEM-EDS, XPS, and EPMA to analysis the impact of BFS addition (10–50 %), cooling methods (from water-cooling to furnace-cooling), and temperature (1400–1600 °C) on phase transformation and the RO oxidation mechanism, and the conditions of (Mn,Mg)yFe3-yO4 generation and enrichment was obtained. The results show that at BFS addition of 30 %, reaction temperature 1400 °C and furnace-cooling, the iron-containing phase (Ca2Fe2O5 and RO) was almost completely transformed into (Mn,Mg)yFe3-yO4. The oxidation mechanism of RO was formation of (Mn,Mg)yFe3-yO4 by cation diffusion. Under optimal conditions, the iron recovery rate and the grade reached 65.74 % and 32.07 %, respectively, which can be used as raw material for ironmaking. Meanwhile, the main phase of the tailing slag was β-Ca2SiO4, without f-CaO, which has the potential to be used in the cement and concrete industries with the advantages of both low cost and eco-friendly. Therefore, the process with green, efficient and low cost was provided, which is a feasible idea for the comprehensive utilization of industrial solid waste.
The swiftness in the speed of construction work is the present scenario's need to meet the infrastructure demand due to rise in industrialization and urbanization. Various admixtures are being used to produce mortar/concrete with acceleration in stiffening of cement composites and requisite strength at early age. However, due to industrialization, the generation and dumping of stone wastes in different forms from stone industries has become menace to the ecosystem. To overcome their ill effects, a possible solution can be reuse of these wastes into the construction sector as it can absorb huge waste. This study used stone slurry powder as cement substitution; calcium nitrate and triethanolamine as additives in different proportions individually and in combination to investigate their practicality in cement mortar. The environmental assessment of additives in mortar mixes was also carried out along with the microstructural analysis. Results demonstrated that water cured specimens had higher compressive strength and air cured specimens had higher electrical resistivity values. The stone powder was predominant among all additives in the performance enhancement in terms of strength, chemical resistance and environmental assessment of mortar mixes as compared to other additives.
In the decarbonization of the steel, cement, and chemical industry in Germany, green hydrogen is expected to play a crucial role. The utilization of green hydrogen in the production processes of said industries requires organizations to modify their business model, requiring sustainable business model innovation (SBMI). Numerous tools and frameworks that support organizations in the process of SBMI have been proposed in the literature in recent years. However, the applicability of these tools and frameworks for steel, cement, and chemical companies that intend to utilize green hydrogen to produce their goods remains unexplored. By conducting a systematic literature review on tools and frameworks for SBMI, a literature and practice review to identify and analyze existing green hydrogen projects of steel, cement, and chemical companies, and an evaluation of the identified tools and frameworks in an evaluation matrix, this paper aims to assess the suitability of SBMI tools and frameworks for steel, cement, and chemical companies that plan to use green hydrogen to produce their goods. Based on the evaluation, the Cambridge Business Model Innovation Process (CBMIP) was identified as the most suitable SBMI framework.