Journal of Engineering & Processing Management (EPM)
Not a member yet
177 research outputs found
Sort by
RESEARCH OF COSTUMER SERVICE SATISFACTION IN PHARMACEUTICAL RETAIL BY SERVQUAL MODEL
No full textNew challenges faced by the company at the beginning of the 21st century require new approaches to quality management. Customer perception of the products and service quality is considered one of the key determinants of business performance and for the survival of the organization in a competitive market, and therefore the necessity of continuous monitoring of customer satisfaction. The aim of this paper is to investigate the customer service satisfaction at the selected pharmacy chain of a private wholesaler by using SERVQUAL model. The internal consistency, validity and reliability of the SERVQUAL scale with the Cronbach’ s alfa values, and factor analysis were assessed. The results of the analysis of the gap scores between customers’ expectations and their perceptions about the service quality in pharmacies indicates that the costumers are generally satisfied of the quality service (overall mean gap was -0.32). The score of the perceived quality was highest for safety dimension, and the lowest for its reliability and responsibility dimension. The biggest gap score was registered by the tangibles dimension (the atmosphere in pharmacies, completeness of assortment and price), and the lowest gap scores by empathy dimension (to give special attention to every individual, equal treatment and understanding of the consumer’ specific needs and pharmacy business hours). Recommendations are presented for improving the service quality and increase consumer satisfaction
ACID ACTIVATION OF PRRENJAS CLAY MINERAL
Full text linkPrrenjas clay mineral is found in southeast Albania and has a high content on bentonite. The influence of the sulphuric acid activation on the composition, structure and surface properties of Prrenjas clay mineral is investigated in this study by means of elemental chemical analysis, X-Ray Diffractometry, IR Spectroscopy and gas adsorption-desorption measurement. H 2SO 4 concentrations of 0.143 M, 0.232 M, 0.371 M, 0.537 M, 0.734 M, 0.927 M and 1.456 M were used in the treatment of samples. The treatment by increasing the acid concentration brings the leaching of Al 3+, Fe 2+, Mg 2+ from the clay structure. The specific surface area and the pore volume of the clay samples increases respectively from 83 m 2/g and 0.069 cm 3/g for the untreated clay to 420 m 2/g and 0.384 cm 3 /g for the clay mineral treated with 1.456 M H 2SO 4 solution. New mesopores were created during the acid activation mainly in the range of 2 – 8 nm. For the samples treated with 0.927 M and 1.456 M solutions the increase in specific surface area and pore volume is very high. The cationic exchange capacity decreases steadily with the concentration of H 2SO 4 used for the treatment
FOOD ALLERGENS - PRESENCE, RISKS AND MANAGEMENT IN FOOD INDUSTRY
No full textFood allergy is a reaction of the body immune system to the presence of the proteins in the body introduced through food. Allergic reactions can affect the skin (hives), gastrointestinal organs (nausea, cramps, diarrhea), respiratory system (attenuation) and circulation (drop in blood pressure). In extreme cases, anaphylaxis can occur.. In this case, death can occur within minutes. Food allergens are natural proteins that are resistant to the action of heat, proteolytic enzymes, and pH change. The immune system of an individual may react in a very small amount of allergen present (the amount expressed in ppm). Different individuals have different levels of sensitivity and specific response to the presence of the same allergen. Avoiding contact with the allergen is the only way a person can prevent allergic reactions. An estimated 2-4% of the total population in Europe, 4-8% of children and 1-2% of adults in the US have food allergies. Allergic reactions to food in the United States are causing 150-200 deaths per year. Reducing the risk of food elergene faced by consumers can be mitigated by timely identification of food products that contain substances causing allergic reactions, adequate control of the manufacturing process and storage of food (GMP, HACCP) and the use of tools that can be conducted to verify the control (regulations, labeling)
INFLUENCE OF DOUBLE SOLUTION TREATMENT ON HARDNESS IN 17-4 PH STEEL
Full text linkThe investigated material is a corrosion-resistant, Cu precipitation hardened steel 17-4PH, which undergoes a macroscopic contraction, as a result of applying the following heat treatment: double solution treatment at 1028°C for 1 h (condition A), ageing at 540°C for 4 h (condition H1025). The second solution treatment at 1028°C was found to eliminate the retained austenite, being the evidence of a completely finished martensitic transformation.Indeed, the only phase identified in all samples was fcc lath martensite exhibiting a parallel striped structure. Unfortunately, this additional heat-treatment operation leads likewise to significant and irregular grain growth, which consequently causes a drop in material hardness. Moreover, the second solution annealing, caused a shift in the XRD peaks to higher 2θ angles, resulting from a lattice parameter decrease by0,25%. The two subsequent heat-treatment procedures bring the lattice parameter back to its initial value. This seemingly reversible process of decrease and increase of the lattice parameter was observed for samples subjected to all the heat treatment operations, strongly suggesting the existence of a relation between the microstructural changes and the macroscopic contraction of the steel material. In addition to the martensitic phase, in the unaged samples, a δ- ferrite phase could be identified by TEM and electron diffraction, which is favorable for ductility and toughness of the material. In all samples, non-coherent fcc-NbC precipitates identified by electron diffraction and EDX mapping having sizes up to 70 nm were found
INFLUENCE OF GLUCOSE ON SPECIFIC SURFACE AND TEXTURAL PROPERTIES OF NANO CRYSTAL MESOPOROUS ALUMINA
No full textPowders based on oxides and oxyhydroxides of aluminum, depending on their characteristics, have very diverse applications in various areas of the chemical industry. In recent years, obtaining powders with nano scale particle size, significantly expanding the possibilities for the application of this type of materials, especially in the field of so-called high technology with emphasis in the area of adsorbents. Mesoporous alumina is widely used as catalyst support and the adsorbent, and its physical properties, such as specific surface area, pore size distribution and total pore volume, has a significant impact on its efficiency in practice. Thermally activated powders of conventional intermediate γ-Al 2O 3, with a specific surface area (<300 m 2/ g), have limited catalytic application. The specific surface area of mesoporous alumina, obtained in the neutralization processes without additives, are generally in the range of 350-400 m 2 / g and have a wide distribution of pore size. Addition of glucose in these processes affect the obtaining mesoporous alumina with a large specific surface area and narrow pore distribution. For obtaining mesoporous alumina with a large specific surface area and narrow pore distribution in this work, it is used precipitation process of neutralization of aluminate ions with sulfuric acid with the addition of glucose. Powder X–ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier–transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) and low–temperature nitrogen absorption were used for characteration of transition phases and texture of synthesized and thermally activated samples
ION-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF IONS IN BIODIESEL, BIOETHANOL AND BIOGAS
No full textThe reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions and the assessment of renewable energy sources are among today’s most challenging tasks. In this context biofuels have emerged as promising alternatives. Successful commercialization and market acceptance of biofuels are dependent on the presence of ions that induce negative impact on the vehicle components and on the environment. In this context ion chromatography (IC) plays a decisive role. Besides the quantitation of cations, glycerol and antioxidants in biodiesel, a direct-injection IC method allows the determination of the chloride and sulfate content in bioethanol and has become an invaluable tool for the process control and monitoring of biogas reactor samples. This work provides an use of IC methods combined with inline sample preparation for the determination of anions and cations in organic biofuels and volatile organic acids in process solutions: Traces of anions in a gasoline/ethanol blend can be determined in the ppb range after matrix elimination; Alkali metals and water-extractable alkaline earth metals in biodiesel are determined after extraction with nitric acid and subsequent dialysis; In biogas reactor samples, low-molecular-weight organic acids stem from the biodegradation of organic matter can be determined applying ion exclusion chromatography after dialysis or ultrafiltration
USE OF FLY ASH IN ROADS BUILDING
No full textFly ash is useful for a variety of applications, because it is a plaster or silicate or aluminosilicate material which is in an isolated form and in the presence of water is combined with calcium hydroxide (from lime, portland cement or dust from furnaces) and formed mixtures with the characteristics of the binder. In this project analyzed the possibility of using fly ash in road constructions, making recipe for mixture of fly ash, stone aggregate and binder, as well as testing of mechanical and physical parametersof the mixture. The performed laboratory research as well as research in the field (in situ). Tests show that the fly ash in road construction can be used as a binder and a mineral aggregate. A mixture of ash, lime and stone aggregate (crushed stone 0-60 mm) can be used to produce lower supporting layers of pavement. The optimum composition of the mixture of ash, lime and stone aggregates are moving in the following relationships: 70% ash, 20% of the stone material and 10% lime. The project demonstrated the possibility of using ash in combination with lime and stone aggregate in various layers of roads starting from the foundation soil, then, to the lower supporting layers, provided that they are protecting the asphalt surfacing
THERMAL AGING STUDY OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER MATERIALS BY DIELECTRIC THERMAL ANALYSIS
Full text linkTwo different studies of the thermal aging of polyesters based on lactic and glycolic acids were compared. Thermal degradation of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), poly(L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLLGA) and poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PDLGA) was studied by the dielectric thermal analysis (DETA). The aging was performed at 37 0C in vacuum oven. The dielectric features i.e., dielectric permittivity,, dielectric losses,, and phase lag, tg , were determined by PL-DETA containing a parallel plate capacitance cell, from the room temperature to 80 0, 150 0, and 180 0 C, at the heating rates of 2 and 3 0 Cmin-1 . Dielectric scans were obtained at a frequency of 1 kHz and a.c. signal of 200 mV. Different behavior of PLLA, PLLGA, and PDLGA during degradation was observed. As the aging of PDLGA proceeds, dielectric losses shift to the lower temperatures, indicating existence of lower molecular weights. - T, and tg - T dependences of PLLGA, as well as those for PLLA show two simultaneous processes occurring, crystallization and degradation
BIOSORPTION OF METHYLENE BLUE BY WASTE APRICOT SHELLS FROM FOOD INDUSTRY
Full text linkIn this paper, the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution by biosorption onto apricot shellshas been investigated through batch experiments. Apricot shells were chosen as a locally available and abundant waste from fruit juice industry. Methylene blue is common pollutant of waste waters from textile industry. The influence of initial MB concentration on biosorption process has been studied. The experimental data have been analysed using Langmuir and Freundlichisotherm models. The Langmuir model better fits to experimental data, which explain monolayer adsorption. Maximum biosorption capacity is 24,31 mg/g. A comparison of the biosorption capacity of waste apricot shells with biosorption capacities of similar adsorbents previously investigated indicates that apricot shells could be a promising biosorbent for removal of MB from aqueous solution
A METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF SEPARATION PROPERTIES OF MEMBRANES
Full text linkIn this study, design of lab scale device for determination of separation properties of membranes is presented and analyzed. Device operates with different gas pressure between chambers, whereby gas streams perpendicular to the membrane. Using appropriate acquisition system and applying mathematical formulas, mechanism for gas transfer through the membrane is determinate. Polymer membranes based on zeolite are synthesized and tested by lab scale device. The membranes with various content of zeolite are tested with CO 2 gas until optimal composition of membrane components is established. Beside good mechanical and structural properties of applied membrane, suitable values of permeability with good agreement with the literature data are obtained