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Climate change as a matter had little attention of public debate, especially in developing countries, until the recent floods caused by the dragon storms in the Middle East and the forest fires in the Mediterranean. Egypt, being strategically crucial in Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arab world, with strong connections to other countries, aimed to go from promises to action and to discover real answers to climate change by building on past COPs. The administration assumed a more prominent role by coordinating the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). People started to realize that this is not something only happening elsewhere in the world. Egypt took the initiative; Challenges have been assessed to reach suitable mitigation approaches, and Egypt's first NDC has been issued to meet the global agenda. Egypt's vision was to accelerate global climate action at the UNFCCC 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) through emissions reduction, advanced adaptation, and enhanced flow of appropriate finance, prioritizing developing countries worldwide.

Abstract Nickel nanoparticles supported by commercial carbon paper (CP) are prepared by pulsed laser deposition with deposition time of 3, 6, and 12 min as a catalyst for urea electro-oxidation. The surface conditions and the morphologies of the prepared electrodes have been characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Urea electro-oxidation reaction in KOH solution on the Ni/CP electrodes is investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results show that the electrode with less Ni nanoparticle agglomeration shows higher peak current density, which was achieved in the 3 min deposition samples when normalized by electroactive surface areas. However, the highest current normalized by the area of the carbon paper was achieved in the 6 min deposition sample due to the larger quantity of Ni nanoparticles. All the samples show good stability. Our results suggest that the low density, low cost, and environmental friendly CP can be used as support for Ni nanoparticle as a catalyst for urea electro-oxidation. It thus has great potential for many applications involving urea oxidation, such as wastewater treatments.

The paper industry is a high-carbon emission and energy-intensive industry. From the perspective of low-carbon trade and carbon neutrality, its energy conservation and emission reduction are worthy of attention. This study used the input-output model to calculate the embodied carbon emissions of China’s paper industry’s export trade to the United States from 2006 to 2020 and used the logarithmic mean division index (LMDI) method to analyze influencing factors of the change of embodied carbon emissions. The study found that the embodied carbon emissions of China’s paper industry’s export trade to the United States generally shows a stable downward trend after reaching the peak with the increase of export trade scale; scale effect is the main factor that causes the embodied carbon emissions, while technological progress, policy support, and environmental regulations are important driving forces to promote carbon emission reduction. The research results of this paper not only can test and guide China’s paper industry trade policies and industrial policies, but they can also provide decision-making reference for China and the United States to promote the carbon emission reduction of the paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the feasibility of district heating in a small town adjacent to a Kraft pulp mill in eastern Canada. A detailed heat demand analysis is performed for all buildings using a geographical information system and archived data provided by the municipality. The study shows that the entire space heating requirement of the town can be supplied by steam from the mill, even during exceptional peak demands. A screening test based on load density indicators, however, reveals that a district heating serving the entire town would probably not be economically viable. An economic analysis of partial districts show that a district covering about half of the town can be economically viable with a proper balance between the price of the steam sold by the mill to the district operator and the cost of the energy sold to customers. (Contains 10 tables, 6 figures, and 1 note.)

Carbon is a wonder material and has served the mankind since the inception of civilization in a variety of ways. Among its different forms, carbon fibers are especially known for their conductivity and favorable strength to weight ratio. Here the development of PAN based carbon fibers embedded in a matrix material followed by pyrolysis to form a fibrous C/C composite has been discussed. The processing of carbon paper has been divided into four steps, with the product of each stage used separately for different energy applications. (1) Carbon fiber preform has been used as a filler to achieve high strength in bipolar plates for PEM Fuel cells (energy conversion). Flexural strength of nearly 80 MPa has been achieved as compared to 40 MPa of the commercially available Schunk plate, Germany. (2) Resin impregnated preform, i.e. the Green composite paper has been employed as an energy efficient heating element (energy conservation). This has been further fabricated as a room heater, which works at 500 cycles). The (4) Graphitized carbon paper has proved to be an excellent electrode (anode and cathode) backing material for PEM Fuel cell. 25% hike in the peak power density of unit PEM FC has been achieved while employing CNT incorporated NPL carbon paper as compared to while using Toray carbon paper of Japan and tested under similar conditions. This in turn is attributed to the unique properties acquired by the material with subsequent processing at each stage which has been discussed in detail. Keywords: Carbon fiber, Porosity, Microstructure, Fuel cell, Li-ion battery, Heating element

Abstract This study aims at to make a heuristic analysis of energy efficiency performance of Indian paper industry in a non-parametric production theoretic approach. Using the data for 2004–05 to 2013–14, radial and non-radial variants of DEA were employed to estimate energy saving potential and identify the relative position of paper industry across the states. Preliminary analysis in terms of energy intensity scores showed declining trends of energy intensity over the period of analysis for most of the states except states like Assam, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Punjab where it does not decline much. Assuming a variable returns to scale (VRS) technology under the conditions of inherent heterogeneity and market imperfection, the slack-based measure (SBM) reported a much higher energy saving potential than reported by other measures in the study. Further by taking scale efficiency into account, the study documented the higher contribution of pure energy inefficiency in explaining the total energy inefficiency within the paper industry relative to scale inefficiency. Finally, the study recommends the propagation of energy efficiency program through a market-based and regulatory mechanism along with consolidation and technological advancement of individual units, in order to tap vast energy saving potential and thereby ensure the growth and environmental sustainability. Highlights • The paper examined the energy efficiency performance of Indian paper industry. • Both radial (BCC) and the non-radial (SBM) measures of energy efficiency, were applied. • BCC measure reported an energy saving potential of 16%. • SBM measure reported an energy saving potential of 24%, higher than BCC measure. • Scale efficiency implied the relatively higher contribution of pure energy inefficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The learning process through forecasting patent information based on technology can provide the direction in which technology is needed, especially supporting developments into the future. Technology mapping through patent information in the market becomes leverage development of products. Foresight technology in a patent is a tool to predict advanced technology that brings a competitive product to the market needs. This paper discusses patent information that becomes useful for developing technology through emerging market segmentation through a portfolio, innovation, and emerging market based on the WIPO database. This paper used a qualitative method with descriptive analysis and study literature using Innography software to see related information utilization of bioethanol from sorghum plants. This paper aims to obtain information technology from the patent analysis in bioethanol from sorghum plants to develop foresight products. The results show 310 patents registered in WIPO fields from 2006-2021 with dominant IP Class dominate from sectors C and A, also economic value range held by the Republic of Korea. Foresight technology through patent analysis provides information for industry and stakeholders who need the impact of the implementation of the latest technology and the appropriate level of competition in the commercialization of bioethanol products from sorghum plants.

Purpose: This paper aims to present insights on the governance of sustainability transitions in higher education in Africa. The authors interrogate the research literatures on the governance of socio-technical transitions in water, electricity, transport and waste management, and identify barriers and enabling factors that enhance transformative practices in universities. Design/methodology/approach: The analytical framework proposed in this paper combines the elements of governance network theory (GNT) and transition topology. The framework of this study is grounded in an actor-centric approach using GNT to understand networks conducive to sustainability transitions. Events and governance networks were mapped on a transition topology to visualise organisational and institutional changes over time. The study engaged students, management, academic and administrative staff in building a community of practice towards sustainability. This research is based on qualitative content analysis grounded in interview data, focus group discussions, workshops, webinars and secondary data analysis. Findings: The findings show that the university has consolidated a sustainability vision and targets, but several factors prevent the community from achieving these targets, including hierarchical decision-making processes, a multitude of disjointed committees and fragmentation in the campus community. Originality/value: This research adds to an emerging body of literature in the field of sustainability in higher education with two contributions. Firstly, the study presents a novel perspective(s) on the governance of sustainability transitions by combining the literatures on governance and sustainability transitions using a new methodological approach of transition topology to show organisational and institutional changes. Secondly, the study presents new empirical evidence for improving the governance of sustainability transitions in a diverse and highly unequal African university community in the process of (de)colonisation of knowledge and governance.

Abstract In this study, three-type paper supercapacitors based on the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/phosphoric acid (H3PO4) gel electrolytes and graphite nanoparticles (GNPs) electrodes have been fabricated. The gel electrolytes and electrodes films have been coated on the paper using push coating and then characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In two types of the paper supercapacitors, on the PVDF gel electrolyte film, a layer of PVA/water and BaTiO3 as a gel separator film has been coated. The specific capacitance of the paper supercapacitors using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic (charge–discharge) methods at the scan rates 20 and 150 mV s−1 have been investigated. The paper supercapacitor based on the BaTiO3 separator film showed higher specific capacitance (312 F g−1) compared to other samples. Also, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the Nyquist and Bode curves of paper supercapacitors have been measured. For the paper supercapacitors based on the PVDF gel electrolyte film and BaTiO3 separator film using the Nyquist curves, the equivalent series resistance (ESR) was 306 Ω and 125 Ω, respectively. The paper supercapacitor based on BaTiO3 gel separator structure represents a new type of flexible supercapacitor with high performance that can be applied to electronic devices.

China's paper production accounted for nearly a quarter of the world's total paper production in 2010. In this study, 23 energy saving technologies applicable to the pulping and papermaking process in China are identified and analyzed. The conservation supply curve (CSC) method is employed to assess the technical and economic aspects of energy conservation. The fuel CSC for Chinese pulp and paper industry shows the cost-effective and technical fuel conservation potential is 180 PJ and 254 PJ, accounting for 27% and 38% of total fuel used in 2010, respectively. The CO 2 mitigation potential related to the cost-effective fuel efficiency is 17 Mt CO 2 and the technical potential is 24 Mt CO 2 . The electricity CSC shows the technical electricity conservation potential is 2316 GWh, representing 4% of total electricity consumption. All of the electricity efficiency measures are shown to be cost-effective in this study. The CO 2 mitigation resulted from electricity efficiency is around 2 Mt CO 2 . In addition, sensitivity analyses for the parameters of penetration rate, discount rate, and energy price are conducted to assess their influence on the final results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there is no reliable method in use that unequivocally describes paper industry material flows and makes it possible to compare geographical regions with each other. A functioning paper industry Material Flow Account (MFA) that uses uniform terminology and standard definitions for terms and structures is necessary. Many of the presently used general level MFAs, which are called frameworks in this article, stress the importance of input and output flows but do not provide a uniform picture of material recycling. Paper industry is an example of a field in which recycling plays a key role. Additionally, terms related to paper industry recycling, such as collection rate, recycling rate, and utilization rate, are not defined uniformly across regions and time. Thus, reliably comparing material recycling activity between geographical regions or calculating any regional summaries is difficult or even impossible. The objective of this study is to give a partial solution to the problem of not having a reliable method in use that unequivocally describes paper industry material flows. This is done by introducing a new material flow framework for paper industry in which the flow and stage structure supports the use of uniform definitions for terms related to paper recycling. This new framework is termed the Detailed Wheel of Fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the surging energy price and environmental concerns, measures to improve energy efficiency have attracted increasing concerns of the manufacture sector, especially energy-intensive manufacturing industries such as tissue paper mills. Energy-efficiency scheduling, as a novel energy-efficient method, has attracted the attention of an increasing number of researchers in recent years. Drying process is the most energy-intensive production process in tissue paper mills, which has a great energy-saving potential. This paper aims to reduce the energy costs for the tissue paper mill, consisting of processing energy cost and set-up energy cost, through integrating drying process optimization with energy-efficient scheduling. First, the energy cost model and the scheduling model were built. Then, the energy cost of the drying process of every job in a given scheduling problem was optimized using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Afterwards, the energy cost was further optimized using energy-efficiency scheduling. In addition, a hybrid non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) was utilized to solve the energy-efficiency scheduling problem. Finally, several real scheduling problems from a real tissue paper mill were addressed using the proposed approach to demonstrate its effectiveness in energy saving. The experiment result showed that there is a great energy-saving potential in the drying process, accounting for up to 12.53% of the total energy consumption. Moreover, the maximum energy saving ratio of the proposed approach could reach 9.03%. On the whole, the proposed approach can provide a new energy-saving method for tissue paper mills or other manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper an original and exhaustive mathematical modelling of air impingement drying systems for the production of tissue paper in the Yankee-hoods configurations is reported, which offers the possibility to optimize its energy performance. The model takes into account many detailed operative parameters of the overall drying process with the aim to execute its energy and mass balance and to evaluate its energy performances. The validity of the mathematical model has been assessed by comparison with actual data from an existing tissue paper mill. Finally, the energy performances of two different layouts of the air system have been evaluated and compared. Changing the operative parameters of the drying process, such as air jet temperature and speed and moisture content of the extraction air, it is possible to obtain the same paper production with an energy saving of about 4.5%. In average, the layout with two parallel air circuits assure an energy saving of about 1% with respect to the layout with a single air circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]