Search in Publications

Found 6327 publications

The Impact of Cement Aggregates on the Fire Resistance Properties of Concrete and its Ecological Footprint

Éva Lublóy Zoltán Major János Szép Cecília Szigeti

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 337-342

Description:

The strength properties of concrete are significantly influenced by the type of binder used. In the case of cement, the use of cement-containing admixtures (CEM II) is becoming increasingly popular from a durability and environmental point of view. The first question was how cements containing different admixtures behave and how their compressive strength changes under high temperatures (fire). First, the experiments were carried out with the cement tests, and then the concrete specimens were checked for the extent to which the addition of admixtures modifies the favourable effect measured for cement. Under thermal loading, the value of the residual compressive strength of the cement paste increased with the addition of the admixture content. The results of the compressive strength test and the developed crack patterns were consistent with each other. The most severe cracking was observed in the Portland cement specimens, and the decrease in strength was also the most significant. Based on the results of the cement tests, several types of cement were used for the concrete tests. The second research question was: Which concrete recipe has the lowest specific ecological footprint? Therefore, for each formulation, the specific ecological footprint is crucially influenced by the type and amount of substitute used, as their specific CO2 emissions are typically lower than those of Portland cement. Based on our previous studies, a reduction in the specific ecological footprint of up to 10 % can be achieved by using substitutes. The novelty of our research lies in the combined use of fire resistance and ecological aspects, which helps to select a formulation with better technical properties and, at the same time, more sustainable.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107057

Detection and molecular identification of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' associated with muscari virescence of three grape hyacinth species

János Ágoston Orsolya Viczián Emese Mergenthaler József Fodor

Publication Name: Plant Protection Science

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 59

Issue: 4

Page Range: 389-393

Description:

Grape hyacinths are popular perennial, flowering bulbous plants. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, some plants of three Muscari species showed symptoms similar to those associated with phytoplasma infection in commercial ornamental gardens in Hungary. Symptoms included virescence of flowers and yellowing of leaves. Symptomatic and asymptomatic Muscari plants were sampled at two locations to detect and identify the pathogens involved. Total DNA was extracted from the plants and used as a template in polymerase chain reaction assays to amplify 16S rRNA gene sequences and housekeeping genes (tuf, secY) with phytoplasma-specific primers. The resulting PCR products from symptomatic plants were cloned and sequenced bidirectionally. Homology searching of the obtained sequences against the GenBank database indicated the presence of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' in the three Muscari species. This is the first report worldwide of C. P. asteris phytoplasma infecting M. botryoides and M. comosum, and its first identification in M. armeniacum in Hungary.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.17221/70/2023-PPS

Application of the FUCOM-FUZZY MAIRCA Model in Human Resource Management

Boris Delibašić Dragan Pamucar Darko Božanić Boglárka Eisingerné Balassa Duško Tešić Ranko Lojić

Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 20

Issue: 3

Page Range: 231-249

Description:

The paper presents the FUCOM-FMAIRCA MCDM model for application in human resource management. The proposed model allows the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders in the process of human resource selection, enhances the pool of scientific knowledge in the field of human resource management highlighting selection as a special activity, and uses modern quantitative (mathematical) decision-making methods. Based on the analysis of personality traits of teachers and literature related to this field, the necessary characteristics of teachers of the Military Academy are presented, on the basis of which the selection criteria are formed. The FUCOM method was used to define the weight coefficients of the defined criteria. In order to more precisely determine the qualitative properties and their quantification, triangular fuzzy numbers were implemented in the MAIRCA method, and by applying all the steps of this method, the ranking of alternatives was performed. Finally, in order to test the validity of the model, a sensitivity analysis was carried out.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.12700/APH.20.3.2023.3.14

Technoeconomic Assessment of Recycling Routes for Chemicals: A Case Study of n-Hexane

Gerardo Ruiz-Mercado Jean Pimentel Ferenc Friedler

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 103

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 349-354

Description:

The circular economy has become one of the most popular topics in worldwide sustainability research. The imperious necessity of reducing resource consumption and decreasing waste generation has led to reincorporating materials at the end-of-life (EoL) stage into the productive chain. Nonetheless, the presence of hazardous substances in the EoL stage materials poses a significant challenge for the transition toward the production model. The adequate transformation of these materials into feedstocks requires their correct allocation into recovery plants and final destinations. Such an allocation can be decided by resorting to optimisation by generating the best alternative networks, from where the stakeholders may decide the most suitable recycling scheme. In this work, a graph-theoretic approach is introduced to identify the best alternatives to reincorporate industrial EoL chemicals into the productive chain. This contribution presents the initial approach to this problem, demonstrated through a case study considering the data reported on the publicaccess release inventory data for n-hexane. Different recycling routes are proposed for the case study by optimising the total treatment cost, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed; moreover, their efficiency concerning the circular economy is measured by comparing the amount of recovered chemicals. By generating plausible recycling alternatives, this work contributes positively to analysing potential alternatives for circular economy and resource conservation in industry.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23103059

Consumer Acceptance and Rejection Regarding Sustainable Wine Packaging

Péter Csiba Boglárka Eisingerné Balassa Agnes Csiba-Herczeg Réka Koteczki Péter Csiba

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 559-564

Description:

The wine sector is facing a major challenge in wine packaging. The environmental impact of packaging, one of the most CO2-emitting aspects of the wine industry, needs to be addressed. In this study, we investigate how open Hungarian consumers are to buying wine in non-traditional packaging. We showed images of several alternative packaging options to a sample of domestic consumers: 1) a domestic wine bag-in-box and 2) a pouch package and (3 & 4) their internationalized equivalents. We then presented participants with a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about the following topics: Traditionality, Familiarity, Purchase Intention (PI), Product Appeal, Taste Expectations, and Uniqueness, with participant demographic questions also included. Cluster analysis was conducted for both Hungarian packaging (HP) and International wine packaging (IP) options, suggesting that different consumer groups have different attitudes toward alternative wine packaging options. Overall, consumers are slightly more accepting of Hungarian-packaged wines on average, but at the cluster level, if only those consumers most likely to accept (and purchase) alternative packaging are considered, acceptance is greater for IP wines. Generation Z wine consumers, who are self-reported to be knowledgeable about wine and have above-average incomes, were the most likely to accept international and Hungarian alternative packaging options. The innovators’ cluster group demonstrated the highest intention/willingness to purchase wine in alternative packaging of either the Hungarian or international sort. The mean value of Innovator IP is 4.84 for bag-in-box and 5.01 for pouches, making this group more accepting of pouches than bag-in-box packaging—an inversion of the preference of most other groups investigated. For both bag-in-box and pouch, the mean for the Innovator HP cluster is 5.17. For both Hungarian and international packaging options, it is clear that acceptance is lower for pouches (PI: 3.27; 3.47) than for bag-in-box (PI: 3.62; 3.88). We offer our results to decision-makers so that they may better understand the preferences of the Hungarian wine market and work to improve acceptance of non-traditional packaging options through consumer education and familiarization.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107094

"Green" Tram Tracks for the Sustainability of the Urban Environment

Zoltán Major Herta Mária Czédli Cecília Szigeti

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 289-294

Description:

Greening tram tracks has ecological, urban planning and economic impacts. Greening of the tracks supports the development of sustainable stormwater management as well as improving the visual appearance of the city. The restoration of the natural water cycle is achieved through water-sensitive design: the innovative solution used achieves both the retention of water, the reduction of run-off and the increase of the surface area available for evaporation. The literature data (Grüngleis Netzwerk, 2011) show that 50-70 % of the annual precipitation projected onto the green runway is absorbed and re-evaporated. The urban climate impact of the vegetation systems to be developed is most pronounced in the summer months. The microclimate of green track environments has a positive impact on the health of the population. Our work will investigate the effects of green vegetated areas. In this study, we analysed the ecological impact and the capacity to sequester of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by photosynthesis of grass- and crowfoot-lined tracks. The Sedum green roofs quantified carbon storage is approximately 160 gC/m2 during a two-year period (Collazo-Ortega et al., 2017). The concept of a vegetated track leads to an improvement of green space indicators in a complex system of urban environments through the correct choice of vegetation plants. Prioritising and encouraging the construction of green tracks is one of the possibilities to make the urban environment more livable. It is also necessary to encourage this at the regulatory level in cities.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107049

Examining the Evolution of Technological Conditions from the Point of View of the Application of Blockchain-based Data Management in Food Supply Chains

Károly Kacz Balázs Gyenge András Bertalan

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 517-522

Description:

A critical point in making food chains more sustainable is to find different ways to increase efficiency. These can be aimed at shortening the chain, using more sustainable raw materials, etc. Blockchain technology offers the potential for reliable data management and simplified administration and is, therefore, definitely a tool to consider if the aim is to enhance sustainability in food chains. The question arises as to whether food chain operators have the technology and knowledge needed for widespread uptake. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the technical background and knowledge for the use of cryptocurrencies can be compared with the technological background for monitoring the food chain with blockchain-based data management. If so, since data on the uptake of cryptocurrencies is already available, this analysis will provide information on the realistic scope of such an application. The research showed that there is no significant difference in the technology required for the two applications. The data clearly shows that, overall, there are 4.6 billion people who have the tools to use them. In addition, there is evidence that cryptocurrency penetration is weakly correlated with GDP or banking system development. In other words, if other conditions are right (e.g., the interest of producers), the availability of tools and knowledge should not be a barrier to uptake. Neither is the economic performance of a country or the development of its banking system. It is therefore concluded that, based on the aspects examined in this research, blockchain technology can be applied on a large scale worldwide.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107087

How the Categorisation of SDG Targets into ESG Pillars can Inform the Corporate SDG Report

Robert Rickards Bence Lukács

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 193-198

Description:

In this research, SDG standards are mapped to the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) pillars through Triple-Bottom Line (TBL) groupings based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines and accounting items, which allow SDG standards to be harmonised with the ESG pillars. Two methodologies developed in the literature for classifying SDG standards into TBL groupings were also used to create a ranking scheme. This scheme can help companies determine which SDG standards are most important for their sustainability reporting. Companies report on the steps they have taken towards sustainability and the sustainability aspects of their operations in their ESG sustainability reports. In many cases, their reporting includes information on SDGs, which, like ESG reporting, does not have a standard disclosure methodology, so announcements are made with different information, in different formats, by different companies. To make SDG reporting more consistent, harmonisation with existing ESG reporting methodologies could be identified as a forward step in this field because it would help to produce more informed, consistent SDG reporting. In addition to integrating SDGs into ESG reporting methodologies, SDGs also could be integrated into ESG scoring methodologies, which would be more relevant to stakeholders and the stock market. The paper will review ESG reporting and scoring methodologies, with a particular focus on which methodology is most appropriate for harmonisation. By defining the integration methodology, the study contributes to the public policy discussion about sustainable reporting.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107033

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISION

Tamás Vinkóczi Krisztina Galos

Publication Name: Vezetestudomany

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 54

Issue: 3

Page Range: 40-53

Description:

Migration has become a phenomenon that has risen in recent decades. The durable effects of the pandemic are hardly assessable, but the tendency is expected to continue. Diverse workplaces prompt us to address cultural differences. This work thus aims to analyse the various manifestations, interpretations and reactions of three theories associated with conflict management. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with open-ended questions and analysed by grounded theory methodology. As a result, the different conflict management strategies, related emotions, reasons and interpretations were categorised. Besides the potential outcomes, the authors also revealed relevant contextual factors; however, their weights varied across cultures. They separated several conflict management and understanding mechanisms and typified the categories that emerged. Beyond the traditional west-east opposition, the authors received a highly complex picture. Interviewees from the Middle East, Mediterranean region, Africa and Eastern-Europe possessed distinctive attitudes, but the most straightforward difference was identifiable between the Far-Eastern and the Anglo-Saxon cultures.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.14267/VEZTUD.2023.03.04