Carbon fiber composites application and recycling in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries

The use of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) has expanded in many industries due to superior properties compared to traditional materials. Nevertheless, their recycling is challenged by immature recycling market and poor legislative support. This study evaluates the application and disposal of CFRPs within the different industries in Kazakhstan. The study adopted a market-based analysis approach to understand the up-to-date levels of application of CFRPs across manufacturing, construction, aviation, and other relevant industries of Kazakhstan. The study also considered CFRP markets and associated recycling practices in neighboring countries such as China and Russia which have a significant impact on Kazakhstan in terms of import and export of materials and waste. The research findings indicate that the application of CFRPs varies among industries, construction being the most prominent, however, their recycling is not as organized as in other waste types such as plastic, metals, etc. Russia and China will be generating thousands of tonnes of CFRP waste originating from the wind turbine and aviation sectors in future, from which Kazakhstan may also see some benefits. The findings of the study are deemed to be useful for the government of Kazakhstan and waste recycling associated stakeholders for future considerations

A systems engineering study of integration reverse vending machines into the waste management system of Kazakhstan

This study aimed to conduct a systems engineering investigation for the integration of reverse vending machines (RVM) into the waste management system of Kazakhstan. By conducting a wide-scale survey among the general public, the study was able to identify the underlining reasons for low recycling rate, the awareness and willingness of the public to engage with RVMs, and incentives that would motivate them. Survey results also allowed identifying the customer (user) requirements and helped to design the house of quality (HoQ) for further evaluation of potential RVM functionality. The proposed system model and functional flow block diagram (FFBD) were developed for an RVM considering identified customer requirements. Finally, risk analysis of RVM integration to the waste management system was carried out, and mitigation measures were proposed

USE OF SUGAR BEET PRODUCTION WASTE IN FEED ADDITIVES

This article presents a recipe for a feed additive for dairy cows. According to the calculated recipe, experimental batches of feed additives were developed in the feed mill. The nutritional and energy value of the obtained feed additives were determined. According to the results obtained, when using beet pulp 15%, molasses 15% in place of wheat bran, the digestible protein increases by 45-50%, and good results are also obtained for other quality indicators. It has been experimentally confirmed that the use of cattle rations of sugar beet production waste contributes to the reduction of feed costs, the cost of production of a unit of production

Understanding uncertainty in recycling carbon fiber reinforced composites

Recycling of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) is a trending topic in the context of the current levels of CFRPs application in different industries and evolving environmental legislation and regulations. However, the recycling processes tend to be accompanied by various uncertainties leading to an increase of difficulties in evaluating them. This study aims to investigate the uncertainties that accompany the recycling of CFRPs by identifying, categorizing, and analysing their impacts. Four main categories such as technical (primary recycling process), recyclate pre-processing, supply chain, and market uncertainties were identified in this study and analysed in a wider context

A cost modelling system for recycling carbon fiber-reinforced composites

Cost-effective and environmentally responsible ways of carbon fiber-reinforced composite (CFRP) recycling are increasingly important, owing to the rapidly increasing use of these materials in many industries such as the aerospace, automotive and energy sectors. Product designers need to consider the costs associated with manufacturing and the end-of-life stage of such materials to make informed decisions. They also need to understand the current methods of composite recycling and disposal and their impact on the end-of-life costs. A comprehensive literature review indicated that there is no such tool to estimate CFRP recycling costs without any prior knowledge and expertise. Therefore, this research paper proposed a novel knowledge-based system for the cost modelling of recycling CFRP that does not require in-depth knowledge from a user. A prototype of a cost estimation system has been developed based on existing CFRP recycling techniques such as mechanical recycling, pyrolysis, fluidized bed, and supercritical water. The proposed system has the ability to select the appropriate recycling techniques based on a user’s needs with the help of an optimization module based on the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Estimating recycling costs has taken into consideration various factors such as different material types in different industries, transportation, and dismantling costs. The developed system can be employed to support early-stage designers and decision-making stakeholders in terms of understanding and predicting recycling costs easily and quickly

Ultralow Limit Detection of Soluble HER2 Biomarker in Serum with a Fiber-Optic Ball-Tip Resonator Assisted by a Tilted FBG

An optical-fiber biosensor has been developed for the detection of the breast cancer biomarker soluble human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (sHER2). The sensor was fabricated by combining a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) with a ball resonator, allowing us to achieve an excellent sensitivity compared to other optical-fiber-based sensors. The sensor exhibits a resonance comb excited by the TFBG and the spectral profile of the ball resonator. The detection of sHER2 at extremely low concentrations was carried out by tracking the amplitude change of selected resonances. The therapeutic anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab has been used to functionalize the biosensor with silane surface chemistry. The sensor features a sensitivity of 4034 dB/RIU with a limit of detection (LoD) in buffer and in a 1/10 diluted serum of 151.5 ag/mL and 3.7 pg/mL, respectively. At relatively high protein concentrations (64 ng/mL) binding to sHER (7.36 dB) as compared to control proteins (below 0.7 dB) attested the high specificity of sHER2 detection