Seznam abstraktů 2025: POSTEROVÁ SEKCE F

The transition to a circular economy is accelerating as a key approach to tackling environmental sustainability challenges, particularly issues related to waste management and resource depletion. In this context, innovative waste recycling technologies are playing a crucial role in converting waste into valuable resources, thereby closing the loop in production and consumption cycles. The traditional linear model of "take, make, dispose" is being replaced by advanced technologies designed to minimize waste generation, extend product lifespans, and recover materials from end-of-life products. This paper examines the contribution of emerging waste recycling technologies to the circular economy. It explores key methods such as pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, chemical recycling, and biotechnological processes, assessing their effectiveness in processing various waste streams, including plastics, electronic waste, and organic materials. Each technology is analyzed for its capacity to transform waste into valuable secondary raw materials such as fuels, chemicals, and bioplastics while reducing environmental impact. Additionally, the paper discusses how integrating these technologies within a circular economy framework can help decrease dependence on virgin resources, minimize landfill waste, and lower carbon emissions. Case studies illustrate the successful industrial applications of novel recycling methods, highlighting their scalability, economic feasibility, and environmental advantages.
In conclusion, advanced waste recycling technologies are essential for realizing the goals of a circular economy, providing sustainable and resource-efficient solutions. However, further advancements in research, policy support, and technological innovation are necessary to address challenges such as economic viability, regulatory constraints, and scalability, ensuring these solutions can be effectively implemented in global waste management systems.

Pyrolysis technology represents a viable strategy for the conversion of waste into valuable fuels and products, which remains a core tenet of the circular economy. Notably, higher temperatures, corrosive environment, and mechanical stresses warrant careful material selection in constructing reactors in order to ensure operational efficiency and durability. This work presents a comparison of four candidate high-performance steel alloys: Stainless Steel 310S, Inconel 625, 253 MA and AISI 321 (also known as 321 SS) in relation to their applicability for commercial scale pyrolysis reactors. Each alloy has been assessed based on a set of criteria including thermal stability, corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and suitability for thermal processing of a variety of feedstocks (plastics, biomass, and organic waste). Results suggest that the best alloy, in terms of mechanical strength and resistance to high temperatures and/or chemical degradation, is Inconel 625, making it favourable for a reactor employed in the pyrolysis of plastics and other synthetic waste. A favourable alloy for continuous, high-temperature operation with good oxidation resistance and strength is 253 MA. The cost-effective option for comparative purposes is Stainless Steel 310S, which could find a niche in a variety of applications in pyrolysis. Lastly, an alloy with titanium stabilization, AISI 321 is suitable for reactor processing biomass and organic waste. The importance of materials selection permitting maximum performance while minimizing maintenance costs and impacting the long-term sustainability of pyrolysis technology is an important contribution of this study. Exploration of alloy modification through the addition of elements or surface coating, applicable for developing future pyrolysis technology research, is in line with emerging research and a useful consideration for commercial pyrolysis applications.

The purpose of the study was to present the model for analyzing (identifying and evaluating) the internal conditions and factors that most influence the competitiveness of foundry companies. The evaluation of the foundry is carried out taking into account the basic principles underlying the Toyota quality system, focusing on the variables determining the development concept. The model is based on a modification of the BOST method. The practical implications of the method were tested. Analyzing the results made it possible to acquire helpful knowledge for effectively managing resources and maintaining a leading market position. The results of the model's implication identified the leading planes and the need to develop the company in the technological area (increasing the degree of automation, constant quality of products) and brand recognition (taking care of customer relations). The analysis results can assist the company's management build a development strategy that increases operational efficiency and reduces unnecessary expenditure. Further research directions will be related to the extension of the model with a detailed analysis of the areas that, in addition to technological advancement, trust, and brand recognition, influence the growth of competitiveness and enable market success in the foundry industry.

The metallurgical industry plays a fundamental role in the development of the economy, being the foundation of many branches of industry. It is a dynamically developing industry that supports the profitability of companies while ensuring market stability and development opportunities for companies. The metallurgical industry combines traditional methods with modern technologies in response to growing customer requirements and the demand for innovative products. The modern metallurgical industry takes into account the ideas of sustainable development. When improving the products of this industry, methods are sought to rationalize these activities. One such solution may be using an analysis that simultaneously considers environmental and cost criteria for newly designed products. Therefore, the study aims to create an aggregated method with cost-environmental analysis. The novelty of the proposed analysis is that it creates a ranking list of the most advantageous prototype solutions that meet contemporary expectations regarding products from the metallurgical industry. Therefore, the study may be helpful for managers in improving metallurgical products in modern times.

Quantifying the emissions intensity of production at the product level is essential for assessing the environmental profile of high value-added steel products and supporting strategic decarbonization in the industry. A modular and systematic methodology enables CO₂ emissions calculation across Scope 1 and Scope 2 within a closed-loop BF-BOF (blast furnace - basic oxygen furnace) production cycle. The methodology breaks down the production process into individual technological steps, with each step evaluated based on its specific energy, fuel, and material inputs. Emission factors and technological constants are used to quantify both direct and indirect emissions. Consistency and reliability are maintained through real-data validation, energy balance control, and automated correction of deviations. The model allows transparent tracking of emissions per process step and final product, while supporting compliance with environmental reporting standards. The outlined methodology serves as a foundation for adaptable emissions accounting in primary steelmaking environments.

This study explores aluminum casting processes' efficiency, focusing on comparing automated and semi-automated systems. Key factors such as productivity, quality, cost, and flexibility are examined to highlight the strengths and limitations of each approach. Automated processes generally offer higher efficiency due to their ability to operate continuously, ensuring better product consistency and reduced variability. In contrast, while more affordable initially, semi-automated systems may result in higher operational costs over time and require more human involvement, increasing the likelihood of errors. The decision to use automation or semi-automation largely depends on production needs: semi-automation is more suitable for small-batch production with frequent product changes, whereas full automation is more cost-effective for large-scale production with stringent quality control. Other considerations, such as production cycle time, material consumption, machine downtime, and environmental impact, are critical when assessing these processes. Additionally, the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metric is employed to evaluate the efficiency of both automated and semi-automated processes, identifying potential areas for improvement in terms of availability, performance, and quality. This analysis provides valuable insights into optimizing aluminum casting processes to enhance production efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure high-quality output in the foundry industry.

In the current socio-economic context, where demographics, public policies, internationalization, and other factors have brought major changes to higher education institutions, these institutions must increasingly adopt concepts and practices from the business environment to position themselves competitively in the market. Mergers between educational and research institutions thus represent an effective method for creating stronger entities and increasing regional influence by diversifying activities and gaining access to new resources and/or technologies that can provide competitive advantages. Such mergers are also complex processes that involve aligning and integrating different management systems and organizational cultures. Evaluating and correlating these systems are essential to ensuring the success and efficiency of the merger. In this study, a series of surveys were conducted across universities and research centres from Romania that have undergone or are about to undergo a merger process, focusing on a target group of professors, administrative staff, and students from the field of materials science and engineering, in order to evaluate the management systems, how they have been correlated and implemented, and to identify key factors contributing to the success or failure of these mergers. This case study was conducted, focusing on the largest technical university in Romania, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, which in 2023 became the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest. Through the analysis of the institutions involved, the evaluation of the management systems, and the assessment of the impact of the merger on metallurgical and materials science field of study, a model and a set of recommendations were proposed for evaluating and correlating management systems in the case of mergers in higher education and research institutions.