Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are extensively employed in concrete technology due to their exceptional mechanical strength and durability.  They serve a dual purpose, not only reinforcing damaged elements but also supporting heavier service loads and addressing long-term concerns in new infrastructure projects. Consequently, the objective of this review is to establish a comprehensive research database that focuses on evaluating the strengthening behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints (BCJ) under earthquake loads through diverse types and application methods of FRP composites. The efficacy of these strengthening techniques is assessed by considering factors such as the loading capacity and dissipated energy of RC BCJ versus the joint confinement index provided by the fibre in the joint area. Through this state-of-the-art review, it becomes evident that FRP composites effectively enhanced the normalized load of specimens up to 27 kN/?MPa and enhanced the dissipated energy until 558.6 kN-mm for the case of specimens with a lower confinement index, less than 0.3. Additionally, the specimen strengthened with the deep embedment (DE) method resulted in a moderate normalized load and dissipated energy compared to those strengthened with the external bonded (EB) method. The test results indicated that the average normalized load and dissipated energy of the DE-strengthening method was 93% and 28.5% compared to that of the EB-strengthening method. These findings reveal that FRP composites offer distinct advantages in terms of load capacity and dissipated energy when used for strengthening earthquake-affected RC BCJ. Finally, based on the compilation of the previous works, this research proposes several techniques for utilizing FRP composites to enhance RC BCJ subjected to earthquake load.

Energy router is being investigated to replace conventional transformer in the electric grid. Improvement so far observed in use of converter makes possible the intelligent integration between systems with different characteristics’ in terms of frequency and voltage levels as well as exploitation of generation sources and storage systems typically operating in DC. Consequently, it is believed that Energy Router is able to interconnect different portions of electrical networks and at different voltage levels and types. The Energy Router is an assembly of converters isolated by a medium or high frequency transformer. In its design, different voltage levels and types are made available to achieve high results in terms of system integration, efficiency and flexibility. This paper evaluates the main potentials of this technology if widely introduced in the main power system. Starting from the single component description, a couple of possible applications are presented and discussed.

Portland cement is one of the most manufactured materials in the world. The worldwide cement industry accounts for at least 5-8% of the anthropogenic CO₂ emissions and therefore is an important sector for CO₂-emission mitigation strategies to limit global warming. One of the strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry is replace traditional Portland cement with other solid wastes. In the present study, the influence of the application of flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGD gypsum) generated from coal-fired power plant in construction mortar was investigated. Cylindrical specimens were molded with Portland cement type CPII-F 32, sand and 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% amounts of FGD gypsum. After curing time of 1, 3, 7, 28 and 91 days, the cementitious materials were characterized mechanically by axial compressive strength, setting time and slump. The pastes in the age of 28 days were further characterized by X-ray diffraction with Rietveld analysis. Results showed that FGD gypsum can be used as a substitute for cement as a setting retarder in an amount of up to 25%, and as an accelerator in an amount of 75%, being necessary dosage of the specific traces of the materials depending on the purpose of its use.

Bioethanol is a renewable energy source that can replace fossil fuels. The advantages in terms of economy and its impact on the environment make bioethanol was chosen as a biofuel. Bioethanol can be produced from various types of biomasses with the help of microorganisms, namely yeast, for the fermentation process. In manufacturing, factors including temperature, concentration, pH, fermentation time, and stirring speed influence the fermentation process. Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD) package can be applied to observe the procedures in a fermenter. CFD simulates fluid movement, energy transport, chemical reactions, and other phenomena with the aim of clarifying their impact on the overall effectiveness of bioethanol production. In this journal, a review of the fermentation process with CFD modeling was made to look at the parameters and phenomena during the bioethanol production process. The analysis commences with an examination of the processes involved in bioethanol production and underscores the crucial role of fermentation in transforming renewable resources into bioethanol. Subsequently, it delves into the foundational principles of CFD and how they are incorporated into the modeling of bioethanol fermenters. Furthermore, the review highlights key advancements and innovations in CFD modeling techniques, such as multiphase models, turbulence modeling, and coupled simulations, aiming to capture the intricate interplay of physical and biological phenomena within fermentors. Insights into the impact of operating conditions, reactor design, and microbial behavior on bioethanol yield and quality are discussed, providing a comprehensive understanding of the complex system dynamics.

Hydrocarbon-impeded soil (HIS) is solid waste from spills or leaks during industrial activities that negatively impact the environment. This study aims to utilize HIS as catalyst support on MnO₂ to degrade RhB (RhB) solution using Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and to determine the optimum conditions for the catalyst to degrade RhB. The catalyst was synthesized by reacting HIS, calcined with KMnO4 with various catalyst supports with high and low Total contain Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH). The process degradation of Rhodamine Solution was carried out with various catalysts, PMS, and RhB concentrations. The catalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen gas adsorption-desorption (BET), and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Disperse Spectroscope (SEM-EDX). In this study,  the best catalyst performance was MnO₂@H-TPH, which could activate PMS to degrade RhB with dye removal of 98% in about 180 min, at conditions 10 g/L RhB, 0.1 g/L catalyst, and 3 g/L PMS with the activation energy of 16.3 kJ/mol.