Synthesis and characterization of a novel Ca-alginate-biochar composite as efficient zinc (Zn2+) adsorbent: Thermodynamics,process design,mass transfer and isotherm modeling

In this present work, Ca-alginate-biochar adsorbent has been synthesized, characterized and tested its effectiveness in the removal of aqueous phase Zn²⁺ metal. The removal efficiency was studied under various physicochemical process parameters. External mass transfer model, intraparticle diffusion model and pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to fit the experimental Zn²⁺ adoption kinetic results and to identify the mechanism of adsorption. The desorption studies indicate the possibilities of ion-exchange and physical–chemical adsorption of Zn^2+. The adsorption was best described by Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption process becomes spontaneous, endothermic and irreversible in nature.     

Multiple Comparisons with the Best for Process Selection for Linear Profiles with One‐sided Specifications

In this study, we propose the multiple comparisons with the best method based on the yield index to compare the process yields of K (K ≥ 2) suppliers for linear profiles with one‐sided specifications. The performance analysis of the proposed method is conducted. The numbers of profiles required for different power levels are also provided. A simulated data set from a leather dyeing process is presented to illustrate the applicability of the proposed method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Process Yield for Multivariate Linear Profiles with One‐sided Specification Limits

The new investigation of profile monitoring is focused mainly on a process with multiple quality characteristics. Process yield has been used widely in the manufacturing industry, as an index for measuring process capability. In this study, we present two indices and to measure the process capability for multivariate linear profiles with one‐sided specification limits under mutually independent normality. Additionally, two indices and are proposed to measure the process capability for multivariate linear profiles with one‐sided specification limits under multivariate normality. These indices can provide an exact measure of the process yield. The approximate normal distributions for and are constructed. A simulation study is conducted to assess the performance of the proposed approach. The simulation results show that the estimated value of performs better as the number of profiles increases. Two illustrative examples are used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Drawing a Pencil‐Trace Cathode for a High‐Performance Polymer‐Based Li–CO2 Battery with Redox Mediator

Lithium–carbon dioxide (Li–CO₂) batteries have received wide attention due to their high theoretical energy density and CO₂ capture capability. However, this system still faces poor cycling performance and huge overpotential, which stems from the leakage/volatilization of liquid electrolyte and instability of the cathode. A gel polymer electrolyte (GPE)‐based Li–CO₂ battery by using a novel pencil‐trace cathode and 0.0025 mol L^?1 (M) binuclear cobalt phthalocyanine (Bi‐CoPc)‐containing GPE (Bi‐CoPc‐GPE) is developed here. The cathode, which is prepared by pencil drawing on carbon paper, is stable because of its typical limited‐layered graphitic structure without any binder. In addition, Bi‐CoPc‐GPE, which consists of polymer matrix filled with liquid electrolyte, exhibits excellent ion conductivity (0.86 mS cm^?1), effective protection for Li anode, and superior leakproof property. Moreover, Bi‐CoPc acts as a redox mediator to promote the decomposition of discharge products at low charge potential. Interestingly, different from polymer‐shaped discharge products formed in liquid electrolyte–based Li–CO₂ batteries, the morphology of products in Li–CO₂ batteries using Bi‐CoPc‐GPE is film‐like. Hence, this polymer‐based Li–CO₂ battery shows super‐high discharge capacity, low overpotential, and even steadily runs for 120 cycles. This study may pave a new way to develop high‐performance Li–CO₂ batteries.     

Regulating Intercalation of Layered Compounds for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Electrocatalysis

Layered materials have received extensive attention for widespread applications such as energy storage and conversion, catalysis, and ion transport owing to their fast ion diffusion, exfoliative feature, superior mechanical flexibility, tunable bandgap structure, etc. The presence of large interlayer space between each layer enhances intercalation of the guest ion or molecule, which is beneficial for fast ion diffusion and charge transport along the channels. This intercalation reaction of layered compounds with guest species results in material with improved mechanical and electronic properties for efficient energy storage and conversion, catalysis, ion transport, and other applications. This review extensively discusses the intercalation of guest ionic or molecular species into layered materials used for various types of applications. It assesses the intercalation strategies, mechanism of ionic or molecular intercalation reactions, and highlights recent advancements. The electrochemical performances of several typical intercalated materials in batteries, supercapacitors, and electrocatalytic systems have been thoroughly discussed. Moreover, the challenges in the design and intercalation of layered materials, as well as prospects of future development are highlighted.     

A Highly Reversible Long‐Life Li–CO2 Battery with a RuP2‐Based Catalytic Cathode

Rechargeable Li–CO₂ batteries have attracted worldwide attention due to the capability of CO₂ capture and superhigh energy density. However, they still suffer from poor cycling performance and huge overpotential. Thus, it is essential to explore highly efficient catalysts to improve the electrochemical performance of Li–CO₂ batteries. Here, phytic acid (PA)‐cross‐linked ruthenium complexes and melamine are used as precursors to design and synthesize RuP₂ nanoparticles highly dispersed on N, P dual‐doped carbon films (RuP₂‐NPCFs), and the obtained RuP₂‐NPCF is further applied as the catalytic cathode for Li–CO₂ batteries. RuP₂ nanoparticles that are uniformly deposited on the surface of NPCF show enhanced catalytic activity to decompose Li₂CO₃ at low charge overpotential. In addition, the NPCF its with porous structure in RuP₂‐NPCF provides superior electrical conductivity, high electrochemical stability, and enough ion/electron and space for the reversible reaction in Li–CO₂ batteries. Hence, the RuP₂‐NPCF cathode delivers a superior reversible discharge capacity of 11951 mAh g^?1, and achieves excellent cyclability for more than 200 cycles with low overpotentials (<1.3 V) at the fixed capacity of 1000 mAh g^?1. This work paves a new way to design more effective catalysts for Li–CO₂ batteries.     

Process Yield Analysis for Linear Within‐Profile Autocorrelation

In many industrial applications, the quality of a process or product can be characterized by a function or profile. Owing to spatial autocorrelation or time collapse, the assumption of the observations within each profile that are uncorrelated is violated. This paper aims at evaluating the process yield for linear within‐profile autocorrelation. We present an approximate lower confidence bound for S_pkA when the observations within each profile follow a first‐order autoregressive AR(1) model. A simulation study is conducted to assess the performance of the proposed method. The simulation results confirm that the proposed method performs well for the bias, the standard deviation, and the coverage rate. One real example is used to demonstrate the applications of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sampling Plan based on the Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Yield Index for Autocorrelation within Linear Profiles

Recently, the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) statistic has been applied to acceptance sampling plans. The advantage of EWMA statistic is to consider the quality of the current lot and the preceding lots. As the smoothing parameter value equals to one, the sampling plan based on the EWMA statistic becomes a single sampling plan. In this study, we propose a sampling plan based on the EWMA yield index for lot sentencing for autocorrelation within linear profiles. The plan parameters are determined by considering the acceptable quality level at the producer's risk and the lot tolerance percent defective at the consumer's risk. The plan parameters are tabulated for various combinations of the smoothing constant of EWMA statistic and the acceptable quality level and lot tolerance percent defective at two risks. An example is provided for illustrating the proposed plan. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple comparisons with the best for supplier selection with linear profiles

In some manufacturing processes, the quality of a process or product is characterised by a linear profile. Comparing the process yield of multiple suppliers with linear profiles is an important task in supplier evaluation. In this study, we consider linear profiles with two-sided specifications and present the multiple comparisons with the best method based on the process yield index to select the best supplier. A subset contains the best supplier determined from the confidence interval of the difference between the process yield indices of the unknown best supplier and all of the suppliers. A simulation study is used to conduct the statistical power analysis. The results confirm that the larger the number of levels or the number of profiles, the larger the power of test. The simulation results indicate that our proposed method can effectively identify the best supplier. Two real examples are used to illustrate the applications of our proposed method.