Techno-economic analysis of production of octane booster components derived from lignin

In this study, a comprehensive process for production of an environmentally friendly octane booster (acetophenone) from lignin is presented, along with a detailed techno-economic analysis. Recognizing that much of the prior research on octane boosters has been confined to experimental lab-level investigations, this study develops comprehensive process design to unravel the intricacies of large-scale acetophenone production. The acetophenone production process involves catalytic hydrogenolysis, which also yields phenol as a valuable side product. Based on the process flow diagram, mass and energy balances were developed, revealing significantly improved yields and purity of acetophenone compared to industry standards, reaching 0.74 kg acetophenone per kg of lignin and 99 wt%. In the techno-economic analysis, calculations involving fixed capital investment (FCI), operating costs, and working capital were conducted based on a feed of 100 kg/h of dry lignin. The results indicate FCI at 2.72 million USD, operating costs at 1.09 million USD per year, and working capital at 0.57 million USD. Assuming a 20-year operational lifespan, the payback period is estimated at 6.09 years, as depicted by the cumulative cash flow diagram. Moreover, techno-economic analysis demonstrates a net present value (NPV) of 3.24 million USD at a 10% discount rate, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 22.73%, and a return on investment (ROI) of 34.39%. These positive outcomes underscore the robust profitability of the proposed acetophenone production plant derived from lignin. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis on the IRR indicates that increasing the production capacity could further enhance profitability, reaffirming the feasibility of the plant’s operation. Crucially, this study highlights the potential for sustainable and economically viable production of acetophenone, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to toxic octane boosters and advancing the development of sustainable fuel additives. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

National Culture and Paternalistic Leadership: Indonesian Business Context

Examining the generalizability of leadership theories that are mainly developed in Western countries in different cultural contexts is an important inquiry in the cross-culture leadership field. A study of 198 subordinates in leading telecommunication and banking companies confirms the applicability of paternalistic leadership in Indonesian context. Result also finds that significant differences are not found among participating companies

Leadership behavior and organizational citizenship behavior: the role of paternalism, climate regarding ethics, and cultural orientations

This study attempts to explain how leadership behavior can advance follower organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Several hypotheses were developed and tested, aiming to examine the potential mediators and moderators that could explain and influence the link between leadership behavior and OCB. This study was conducted among 711 full-time employees working in the top 45 high-performing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). Of the various theories of leadership, transformational leadership and servant leadership were this study’s interest. Therefore two conceptual models (i.e., the Transformational Leadership-OCB Model and Servant Leadership-OCB Model) were examined to investigate the relationship. One hundred and twenty-three leader-follower dyads participated in the surveys. In the first model, the relationship between transformational leadership and OCB mediated by paternalism was examined. In addition, in-group and institutional collectivism orientations were hypothesized to moderate the relationship between transformational leadership and paternalism. Results suggested that transformational leadership influenced OCB through paternalism, and that collectivism orientations moderated the link between transformational leadership and paternalism. The second model hypothesized and examined the relationship between servant leadership and OCB directed toward the individual (OCBI) and the organization (OCBO) as mediated by climate regarding ethics, and moderated by cultural orientations. Results of tested structural models suggested that climate regarding ethics mediated the influence that servant leaders have on followers’ OCBI and OCBO. This study also revealed that the effects of servant leadership on OCBI and OCBO were moderated by power distance orientation. Additional contextual data and descriptive analyses were also presented. In-depth interviews with fifteen executives revealed expected behavior of highly effective leaders. Inspirational, visionary, performance orientation, people orientation, role modeling, and personal integrity were key features of effective leadership in the context of Indonesia. In addition, drawing on sample of 450 full-time subordinates who participated in the self-reported surveys, data implied that (a) transformational and servant leadership might be generalizable to the context, and (b) variations on cultural orientations existed among surveyed organizations. In summary, this study addressed the gaps in the leadership and OCB literatures by revealing additional mediational mechanisms that would link transformational leadership and OCB as well as servant leadership and OCB. This study has joined earlier studies in recognizing that the relationship between leadership behavior and follower OCB could be indirect. It also has advanced the examination of transformational leadership and servant leadership theories to broader contexts, as recommended by the literature. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study findings for research on leadership and OCB domain, and future research directions are discussed in the general discussion chapter

Leadership behavior and organizational citizenship behavior: the role of paternalism, climate regarding ethics, and cultural orientations

This study attempts to explain how leadership behavior can advance follower organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Several hypotheses were developed and tested, aiming to examine the potential mediators and moderators that could explain and influence the link between leadership behavior and OCB. This study was conducted among 711 full-time employees working in the top 45 high-performing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). Of the various theories of leadership, transformational leadership and servant leadership were this study’s interest. Therefore two conceptual models (i.e., the Transformational Leadership-OCB Model and Servant Leadership-OCB Model) were examined to investigate the relationship. One hundred and twenty-three leader-follower dyads participated in the surveys. In the first model, the relationship between transformational leadership and OCB mediated by paternalism was examined. In addition, in-group and institutional collectivism orientations were hypothesized to moderate the relationship between transformational leadership and paternalism. Results suggested that transformational leadership influenced OCB through paternalism, and that collectivism orientations moderated the link between transformational leadership and paternalism. The second model hypothesized and examined the relationship between servant leadership and OCB directed toward the individual (OCBI) and the organization (OCBO) as mediated by climate regarding ethics, and moderated by cultural orientations. Results of tested structural models suggested that climate regarding ethics mediated the influence that servant leaders have on followers’ OCBI and OCBO. This study also revealed that the effects of servant leadership on OCBI and OCBO were moderated by power distance orientation. Additional contextual data and descriptive analyses were also presented. In-depth interviews with fifteen executives revealed expected behavior of highly effective leaders. Inspirational, visionary, performance orientation, people orientation, role modeling, and personal integrity were key features of effective leadership in the context of Indonesia. In addition, drawing on sample of 450 full-time subordinates who participated in the self-reported surveys, data implied that (a) transformational and servant leadership might be generalizable to the context, and (b) variations on cultural orientations existed among surveyed organizations. In summary, this study addressed the gaps in the leadership and OCB literatures by revealing additional mediational mechanisms that would link transformational leadership and OCB as well as servant leadership and OCB. This study has joined earlier studies in recognizing that the relationship between leadership behavior and follower OCB could be indirect. It also has advanced the examination of transformational leadership and servant leadership theories to broader contexts, as recommended by the literature. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study findings for research on leadership and OCB domain, and future research directions are discussed in the general discussion chapter

The importance of stability in the midst of change: the benefits of consistent values to strategic implementation

Many hurdles, such as inadequate resources, impede the execution of strategies in organizations. These problems could partly be ascribed to the tendency of individuals to feel, in the midst of change, their identity could shift dramatically. Their activities now, therefore, may not seem meaningful to their future. In this state, people become more concerned about their immediate needs, withholding the effort needed to affect future change. Leaders who promote stable, consistent values over time might redress this concern. To assess this possibility, 208 senior managers completed a questionnaire that assesses consistency of values over time, a sense of meaning at work, hurdles that impede the execution of strategy, and firm performance. Consistent with the hypotheses, consistent values over time were positively associated with firm performance, and these relationships were mediated by meaning at work and hurdles that impede strategy. A qualitative study showed that managers utilize many approaches to foster this consistency of values. Specifically, they communicate their strategic plan regularly, redress misalignments between values and practice, encourage the participation of all departments equally, and seek the active support of senior management-all intended to show how perturbations in the organization align to an overarching, enduring vision

Leadership and Strategy: The Vital but Evasive Role of Cooperation and Clarity of Expectations during Strategic Change

Strategic change evokes a shift in the distribution of power and, therefore, often impairs cooperation and obscures the standards that employees must achieve. Yet, unless employees perceive the work environment as cooperative and their responsibilities as unambiguous, they tend to feel too unsafe to embrace the uncertainty that change entails. To examine the significance of this cooperation and clarity of standards, in Study 1,223 executives assessed workplace cooperation, clarity of standards, meaning at work, impediments to strategic change, and firm performance. Workplace cooperation and clarity of standards were inversely related to impediments to change – a relationship that was mediated by meaning at work. To clarify how organizations cultivate this workplace cooperation and clarity of standards in the midst of change, 35 executives were interviewed. Thematic analyses revealed that leaders should first inculcate a vivid, shared vision but then gradually encourage individuals to assume distinct responsibilities that match their preferences

Process design and life cycle assessment of furfural and glucose co-production derived from palm oil empty fruit bunches

In light of environmental issues, lignocellulosic empty fruit bunch (EFB) biomass is promoted as a carbon–neutral, environmentally friendly, and renewable alternative feedstock. A comprehensive environmental assessment of EFB biorefineries is critical for determining their sustainability in parallel with the bioeconomy policy. Nonetheless, no life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed on co-producing food and biochemicals (furfural and glucose) derived from EFB biomass. This research is the first to evaluate the environmental performance of the furfural and glucose co-production processes from EFB biomass. Environmental analysis is conducted using a prospective gate-to-gate LCA for four impact categories, including global warming potential (GWP), acidification (ADP), eutrophication (EP), and human toxicity (HT). Aspen Plus is used to simulate the co-production process of furfural and glucose as well as generate mass and energy balances for LCA inventory data usage. The findings suggest that the environmental footprint in respect of GWP, ADP, EP, and HT is 4846.85 kg CO2 equivalent per ton EFB, 7.24 kg SO2 equivalent per ton EFB, 1.52 kg PO4 equivalent per ton EFB, and 2.62E-05 kg 1,4-DB equivalent per ton EFB, respectively. The normalized overall impact scores for GWP, ADP, EP, and HT are 1.16E-10, 2.28E-11, 6.12E-10, and 2.18E-17 years/ton of EFB, respectively. In summary, the proposed integrated plant is not only economically profitable but also environmentally sustainable. In the attempt to enhance the Malaysian economic sector based on the EFB, this study has the potential to serve as an indicator of the environmental sustainability of the palm oil industry

Process design, simulation, and techno-economic analysis of integrated production of furfural and glucose derived from palm oil empty fruit bunches

This study aims to propose a new process design, simulation, and techno-economic analysis of an integrated process plant that produces glucose and furfural from palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFB). In this work, an Aspen Plus-based simulation has been established to develop a process flow diagram of co-production of glucose and furfural along with the mass and energy balances. The plant’s economics are analyzed by calculating the fixed capital income (FCI), operating costs, and working capital. In contrast, profitability is determined using cumulative cash flow (CCF), net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR). The findings show that the production capacity of 10 kilotons per year (ktpy) of glucose and 4.96 ktpy of furfural with a purity of 98.21 and 99.54%—weight, respectively, was achieved in this study. The FCI is calculated as United States Dollar (USD) 20.80 million, while the working and operating expenses are calculated as USD 3.74 million and USD 16.93 million, respectively. This project achieves USD 7.65 million NPV with a positive IRR of 14.25% and a return on investment (ROI) of 22.06%. The present work successfully develops a profitable integrated process plant that is established with future upscaling parameters and key cost drivers. The findings provided in this work offer a platform and motivation for future research on integrated plants in the food, environment, and energy nexus with the co-location principle