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Assessing digital technology adoption in enhancing tax compliance in South Africa: a scoping review.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Tax compliance prior to digital technology advancements in tax was a complex and labourintensive process, which relied on paper-based systems and extensive manual tax administration. Streamlined processes and faster transactions enabled by digital technology, make it simple for taxpayers to become tax compliant. With a specific focus on understanding how these technologies enhance tax compliance, this research investigated the adoption of digital technologies within tax administration in South Africa. The intent of the study was to provide a comprehensive literature review to assess the determinants influencing the adopting of digital technologies by exploring what drives their successful adoption in tax administration and examining the potential challenges and barriers that may hinder their adoption. The research utilised academic literature from sources like Google Scholar and ResearchGate to map the extent of digital technology adoption and its impact on tax compliance in South Africa by drawing from scoping review methodology that Arksey & O'Malley (2005) endorsed. Selected studies in the review spanned from 2019 to 2024. During this period, the South African tax authority enhanced online tax filing features. These improvements marked a major step forward in using digital technology for tax compliance. The insights gained from the review revealed that digital technology adoption is impactful on taxpayer compliance in South Africa. Among the determinants identified are the availability of robust digital infrastructure like network signal availability and access to a continuous and uninterrupted electrical power, government and tax policy support, taxpayer education and ease of use of digital platforms. The research also identified possible adversities affecting the technology adoption such as taxpayer behaviour, inequality in access to digital technology for example limited availability of digital devices in rural regions and complexity of the tax system. The study recommends that the government implements digital literacy and tax education programs, increases transparency in tax revenue usage and addresses digital technology access inequalities to further enhance the adoption process. Future researchers may explore how specific digital infrastructure components such as internet speed and reliability, mobile network quality, and electricity availability impact the adoption of digital tax technologies by using primary data analysis
Ucwaningo ngokufundiswa kwekhono lokubhala esiZulwini ulimi lwesibili emabangeni asukela kwelesi-4 kuya kwelesi-6 esiyingini-UGU.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Ukufundiswa kwesiZulu uLimi lwesiBili eNingizimu Afrika kuhlobene nokusetshenziswa kwendlela yokuxuba izilimi phakathi kolimi lwesiZulu nolimi lwesiNgisi ezikoleni ezazilandela inqubo yokufundiswa kwezilimi zamaKoloni kuphela phambilini. Inkolelo yothisha ukuthi ulimi lwesiNgisi olusezingeni likazwelonke lwenza abafundi baluqonde kangcono ulwazi abafundiswa lona esiZulwini uLimi lwesiBili. Ucwaningo lubheka ukufundiswa kwekhono lokubhala esiZulwini uLimi lwesiBili emabangeni asukela kwelesi-4 kuya kwelesi-6. Ucwaningo luhlose ukuthola ulwazi nokuqonda othisha abanakho, luphinde luphenye ngenqubo othisha abayilandelayo ekilasini kanye nezizathu abasekela ngazo inqubo abayilandelayo ekufundiseni ikhono lokubhala esiZulwini uLimi lwesiBili emabangeni asukela kwelesi-4 kuya kwelesi-6. Ucwaningo ngilwenze esikoleni esisodwa esasilandela inqubo yokufundiswa kwezilimi zamaKoloni kuphela phambilini esitholakala esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natal esiYingini-uGu edolobheni laseSayidi. I-Ekukhanyeni Primary School okuyisikole ekucwaningelwe kusona yakhelwe imiphakathi yabantu bobuhlanga obungafani abakhuluma izilimi ezingafani, sinothisha kanjalo nabafundi bobuhlanga obungafani abakhuluma izilimi ezingafani. Imininingo engiyikhiqizile e-Ekukhanyeni PS ihlaziywe ngesibuko senjulalwazi kaKrashen (1981), i-Second Language Acquision Theory eyethula iziHlawumbiselo ezinhlanu mayelana nokuthola uLimi lwesiBili.
Lolu wucwaningo lwegaqa ngoba lubheka inqubo eyodwa ebumbene. Ocwaningweni kulandelwe indlelakubuka yomhumusho ngenhloso yokuthola ulwazi olungamaqiniso ngisebenza ngothisha bekunzikandaweni wasesikoleni. Ocwaningweni kulandelwe nendlelande yocwaningo lobunjalo botho ngenhloso yokubheka ukuxhumana kwezimo ezenzekayo ngokwemvelo ekilasini uma kufundiswa ikhono lokubhala esiZulwini uLimi lwesiBili emabangeni 4-6. Kukhiqizwe imininingo yocwaningo ngezindlela ezihlobene nendlelande yocwaningo lobunjalo botho ezibandakanya inhlololwazi esakuhleleka eyenziwe kothisha abane abafundisa isiZulu uLimi lwesiBili emabangeni asukela kwelesi-4 kuya kwelesi-6 e-Ekukhanyeni PS. Kusetshenziswe nendlela yemibuzo evulekile enhlololwazini esakuhleleka eyenziwa kothisha. Imininingo yocwaningo ikhiqizwe nangokubukela izifundo zothisha kanye nangokuhlaziya imiqulumbhalo. Kuphinde kwabuyekezwa nolwazi olwethulwa yimibhalo yocwaningo eshicilelwe mayelana nokufundiswa kwekhono lokubhala oLimini lwesiBili. Izingqinamba ezitholakele ocwaningweni zibandakanya ukungasetshenziswa kwamasu nezindlela ezibhekelela wonke umfundi ekilasini ukuba athole ikhono lokubhala ngokuphumelela. Lokho kungenxa yokufundiswa koLimi lwesiBili emabangeni asukela kwelesi-4 kuya kwelesi-6 okwenziwa othisha abangakuqeqeshelwanga ukufundisa uLimi lwesiBili futhi nabangakuqeqeshelwanga ukufundisa amabanga (4-6). Enye imbangela ubuningi bolwazi lokuqukethwe okuhlelwe isikhathi esincane ukuba kufundiswe ekilasini esifundweni sesiZulu uLimi lwesiBili emabangeni (4-6). Okungaba yisisombululo ukuthi othisha baqinisekise ukuhlela nokusebenzisa uhlelo lwesifundo oluqondene ngqo nesifundo sosuku esiZulwini uLimi lwesiBili ukuze bethule isifundo ngendlela ehlosiwe futhi ehlolisisiwe. Inhloso yocwaningo ukuba ulwazi lweziphakamiso lube usizo nakwabanye othisha kwabanye onzikandaweni.Thesis written in isiZulu
An assessment of incubatee selection criteria and its role on National Construction Incubator performance.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Governments worldwide have pinned the hopes of economic recovery on the Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) that face the daunting challenge of survival. It is widely recognized that business incubators have been promoted as a solution for lowering the failure rate of these SMMEs. As a result, the number of business incubators has increased globally, including in South Africa to assist with professional business development services for SMMEs. Consequently, significant time has been devoted to researching business incubators and their role in SMME success. However, the effectiveness of these incubators is still in question, thus a study of an assessment of the selection criteria and its impact on the National Construction Incubator's performance. This study is premised up two fundamental objectives and these include to explore the association between selection criteria and the business incubator performance and to explore the role of the incubatee selection process on the performance of the incubator. To address these research objectives, a qualitative approach was followed, where interviews were conducted with a sample of incubatees to assess the incubatee selection criteria and its effect on National Construction Incubator performance. The selection process involved advertising opportunities on digital platforms and newspapers, interested entrepreneurs applied, and shortlisted candidates were called for interviews. The study used thematic analysis of interviews with fifteen incubates and three support managers who sat in the selection process of the incubatees. The findings provide significant insights into how the selection of incubatees, and the criteria used during this process can influence various performance outcomes of the incubator, such as the success rate of incubated businesses, resource optimization, and the incubator’s overall sustainability. Considering these findings, the study recommended modern business incubators must maintain a clearly understood selection process and criteria for prospective incubatees to ensure that the right candidates are reached and eventually selected. The calibre of management of the incubator is also critical in the performance of the incubatees and the incubator as such it is important that this be central in the process
Economic analysis of conservation and sustainable use of indigenous medicinal plants by smallholder farmers.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The agricultural sector is a lucrative pillar of survival for smallholder farmers worldwide for its determination to produce commodities that are key components in survival such as food. Farming is ideally one of the best means that has kept a significant number of smallholder farmers from poverty, malnourishment and food insecurity. African agriculture contributes
merely 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with smallholder farmers producing approximately 80% of the food from farms that are less than 2 hectares each. Smallholder farmers are involved in numerous direct and indirect methods of sustaining livelihoods such as passive income received from remittances from family, income from formal employment, and
income from social grants. Medicinal plants have existed indigenously within the environments where smallholder farmers live for time immemorial. They have been great contributors to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers starting from health benefits greatly in bringing monetary value to household income through the development of trade arrangements of medicinal plants.
There is a big market for medicinal plant products from people seeking traditional healthcare for themselves, livestock health and potential trade of high-value medicinal plants with pharmaceutical mega companies. However, smallholder farmers are faced with various impediments in the production of medicinal plants. Limited resources that are necessary for housing and sanitation, basic education, basic healthcare and crime prevention prohibit
sustainable progress in the husbandry of and maintainable use of medicinal plants. Furthermore, the overharvesting of lucrative medicinal plant species without the desired amounts of propagation is depleting valuable species from existence and poses a threat to ecology and species diversity. The study investigates the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous medicinal plants by smallholder farmers of the Eastern Cape Province of South
Africa. It seeks to identify and profile challenges faced by different indigenous smallholder farmers, establish the determinants of profitability for high-value medicinal plants, assess the effective production of household welfare, and examine conservation strategies of indigenous medicinal. A sample size of 150 smallholder farmers actively involved in medicinal plant
extraction and trade was used to achieve the objectives of the study. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were utilized to analyse the relationship between social demographics, economic factors, institutional, profitability and conservational factors of smallholder medicinal plant farmers. The Tobit regression model was used to identify and profile different
challenges faced by different indigenous medicinal plant farmers. The results portrayed an adverse relationship between challenges in adopting medicinal plant farming, age, gender and education. The knowledge about indigenous medicinal plants is vested with the old generation of the community that has little or no education, who are mostly females, therefore they are most eligible to reap economic benefits. The profitability and determinants of high-value medicinal plant farmers were established using the budgetary technique and multiple regression. The statistical evidence suggests that variable costs impact significantly on the level of profitability of a farmer. In the case of the study, analyses revealed that the cost of production
is relatively low due to the abundance of valuable medicinal species in the wild and most of the farmers, extract for themselves without needing to hire labour. Moreover, the factors influencing the production output were measured with a Multiple regression model. The variable costs influence the gross value of the production level at a 1% significance. The effects
of producing medicinal plants were measured using the Propensity Score Matching technique. The econometric results showed that the production of medicinal plants has strong conservational outcomes, income generation opportunities, livelihood enhancement and poverty alleviation. The conservation strategies of indigenous medicinal plants were generated
using a Likert scale and were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results depicted that there is a negative relationship between over-exploitation and the conservation of medicinal plants. Furthermore, evidence showed that more smallholder farmers are in the habit of harvesting medicinal plant material without proper intentions to propagate. Given that the medicinal plant market is promising to be booming, smallholder farmers should be encouraged to participate and share written knowledge with each other such that information is not lost. The increased profitability of the enterprise impacts positively on the livelihoods, social welfare of smallholder farmers and food security. However, if farmers are not courteous about
maintaining the species diversity they may face an endangerment problem in future. This will need conservational experts and extension officers to be directly involved in imparting knowledge and foreseeing that order is maintained accordingly
Catholic social teaching and the critique of Zambia as a Christian state: from 1991 to 2001.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study delves into the complex relationship between Catholic social teaching and Zambia's declaration as a Christian state. It underscores the importance of maintaining the separation of church and state relations while advocating for constructive dialogue, respect for religious freedom, human dignity: the common good: human rights: participation in economic, political, social an cultural life of society: promotion of peace: solidarity and subsidiarity. The research draws on key encyclicals, such as Mater et Magistra, Pacem in Terris, Dignitatis Humanae (a conciliar document), Populorum Progressio, Octogesima Adveniens, and Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, as essential references for critiquing and engaging with the Christian state declaration. These encyclicals address a wide range of religious, social, political, and ethical issues and offer valuable guidance for the Catholic Church.
The research methodology employed is characterized by a case study approach, which is well- suited for exploring the 'how' and 'why' questions and is ideal for interpretive paradigm of investigations. This approach allows for a deep examination of the intricate dynamics at play in the interaction between the Catholic social teaching and Christian state declaration.
The study's findings emphasize the necessity of fostering a robust dialogue and debate regarding the Christian state declaration. It stresses the significance of maintaining a clear division between the church and the state relations, while encouraging the church to provide constructive criticism and engage with governance processes. This dialogue is crucial for safeguarding religious freedom, human rights, social justice, and the right to participate in governance.
Furthermore, the study highlights the profound influence of the Catholic social teaching on various aspects, including the Christian state declaration, church-state relations, governance, and democratic practices in Zambia. To analyze these findings, a conceptual framework was utilized, incorporating philosophical hermeneutical concepts such as the "Fusion of Horizons" and Wirkungsgeschichte (Effect of History) by Gadamer, as well as the hermeneutical foundation of the "Normativity of the Future" by Bieringer and the "Emphatic Dialogue of Church-State models." These conceptual tools are essential components of the interpretive paradigm, which employs specific criteria, like theme categorization, to evaluate research findings.
The interpretive assessment method was employed to thoroughly analyze the literature and data collected. This interpretative paradigm aims to understand phenomena from the participants' perspective rather than that of an objective observer, giving precedence to a subjective viewpoint in comprehending the data. On an axiological level, the interpretive paradigm prioritizes relevance over strict rigor.
In conclusion, this study offers valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between religion, governance, and societal harmony within the context of Zambia. It underscores the potential for the Catholic social teaching to serve as a guiding influence in the country's democratic practices and emphasizes the importance of respectful and constructive interactions between the church and the state to address contemporary challenges. These findings provide a foundational understanding for scholars and advocates interested in the ongoing discourse regarding the Catholic social
teaching and its implications for Christian state declaration, church-state relations and democratic governance in Zambia
Metal plasmonic as a mechanism to improve the performance of thin film polymer solar cell : device fabrication and characterization = I-Metal plasmonic njengendlela yokuthuthukisa ukusebenza kwe-thin film polymer solar cell: ukwenziwa kwedivayisi nokuyihlonza.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This thesis discusses the results of the investigations on the use of plasmon metal nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance the performance of polymer solar cells, which are promising alternative solar energy converters to silicon-based solar cells. Polymer solar cells offer a cost-effective, flexible solar panel using a solution processing method for the generation of power from solar sources. Several key factors are considered to achieve this goal, including optical absorption, nano-morphology, and charge carrier mobility. The thesis focuses on investigating the potential of various dopants, such as solvent additives, thermal annealing, and metal nanoparticles (NPs), to improve the performance of thin-film organic solar cells (TFOSCs) by enhancing the charge transport processes. This research employed conventional device architectures to study the effectiveness of the active and buffer layers on charge transport and stability. The results have already been published in several internationally referred journals. In this thesis, the synthesized metal NPs were employed as mechanisms to improve the performance of TFOSC incorporated with poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) as the donor material and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) as the acceptor material. The popular metal NPs such as nickel, (Ni), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and cobalt (Co) were used to synthesize various bimetallic composites. Bimetallic nanoparticles such as nickel-doped with zinc bimetallic (Ni/Zn), silver-doped with calcium (Ag/Ca), silver-doped with cobalt (Ag/Co), and silver-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS/Ag) were employed at different functional layers of solar cell structure. Hence, the study employed various spectrometers such as high-resolution transmission and scanning electron microscopy (HRTEM and HRSEM), X-ray diffraction, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy to investigate the size, morphology, elemental mapping, and optical properties of synthesized metal NPs. HRTEM is indeed a powerful technique for characterizing nanoscale materials, and it can provide valuable insights for confirming the presence of core-shell structures in NPs. Compared to the pristine reference, the blend of metal NPs with active and buffer layers at different concentrations plays a crucial role in augmenting the optical and electrical properties in TFOSC devices. Such increment of optical and electrical properties in this thesis is due to improved short-circuit current (Jsc), fill factors (FFs), and charge carrier mobility, which are significant to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) values in the polymer solar cells. These prominent improvements are due to the presence of localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect of TFOSCs. Finally, this thesis provides a series of experimental works fabricated with several metal NPs in TFOSCs at different concentrations.
Iqoqa.
Lo mbhalo weziqu zobudokotela uxoxa ngemiphumela yophenyo ngokusetshenziswa kwe-plasmon metal nanoparticles (NPs) ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza kwamaseli elanga e-polymer, athembisa ezinye iziguquli zamandla elanga kumaseli elanga asekelwe ku-silicon. Amaseli elanga e-polymer anikeza iphaneli yelanga engabizi kakhulu, eguquguqukayo esebenzisa indlela yokucubungula isisombululo sokukhiqiza amandla avela emithonjeni yelanga. Kucatshangelwa izici ezimbalwa ezibalulekile ukufeza lo mgomo, okuhlanganisa ukumuncwa kwe-optical, i-nano-morphology, kanye nokuhamba kwenkampani yenethiwekhi. Lo mbhalo weziqu zobudokotela ugxile ekuphenyeni amandla ama-dopant ahlukahlukene, njengezithasiselo ezincibilikayo, i-thermal annealing, nama-NPs ensimbi, ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukusebenza kwamaseli elanga aphilayo (TFOSCs) amafilimu amancane ngokuthuthukisa izinqubo zokuthutha zokushaja. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise izakhiwo ezijwayelekile zedivayisi ukuze kufundwe ukusebenza kahle kwezingqimba ezisebenzayo kanye nebhafa ekuthuthweni kokushaja nokuzinza. Imiphumela isivele ishicilelwe kumajenali amaningana okukhulunywa ngawo emhlabeni jikelele.
Lo mbhalo weziqu zobudokotela, ama-NP ensimbi ahlanganisiwe aqashwe njengezindlela zokuthuthukisa ukusebenza kwe-TFOSC ehlanganiswe ne-poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) njengento yokunikela kanye ne-[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) njengento eyamukelayo. Ama-NP ensimbi adumile afana ne-nickel, (Ni), i-zinc (Zn), isiliva (Ag), i-calcium (Ca), isulfure (S), ne-cobalt (Co) asetshenziselwa ukuhlanganisa izinhlanganisela ezihlukahlukene ze-bimetallic. Ama-nanoparticles e-Bimetallic afana ne-nickel-doped ne-zinc bimetallic (Ni/Zn), i-silver-doped ene-calcium (Ag/Ca), i-silver-doped ne-cobalt (Ag/Co), kanye ne-silver-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS/Ag) asetshenziswa izendlalelo ezahlukene zokusebenza zesakhiwo samaseli elanga. Ngakho-ke, ucwaningo lusebenzise ama-spectrometer ahlukahlukene afana ne-high-resolution transmission kanye ne-scanning electron microscopy (HRTEM kanye ne-HRSEM), i-X-ray diffraction, i-Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy ukuze kuphenywe usayizi, i-morphology, i-elemental mapping, kanye nezakhiwo zamehlo. yama-NP ensimbi ahlanganisiwe. I-HRTEM iyindlela enamandla ngempela yokuhlukanisa izinto ze-nanoscale, futhi inganikeza imininingwane ebalulekile yokuqinisekisa ubukhona bezakhiwo zamagobolondo ayinhloko kuma-NP.
Uma kuqhathaniswa nereferensi emsulwa, inhlanganisela yama-NPs ensimbi anezendlalelo ezisebenzayo kanye nebhafa ezindaweni ezigxilile idlala indima ebalulekile ekwandiseni izici zokubona nezikagesi kumadivayisi e-TFOSC. Lokhu kuthuthukiswa okuvelele kungenxa yobukhona bomphumela wendawo we-plasmonic resonance (LSPR) wama-TFOSC
The challenges and benefits of documenting Bakoni tangible heritage and perceptions thereof using Photovoice.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This thesis explores the existing official and scholarly interpretations of the Bakoni heritage stonewall settlement sites in Mpumalanga, Mashishing. It also studies the contemporary narratives that exist within the Mashishing local and Indigenous communities concerning Bakoni heritage. This study simultaneously explores the benefits and challenges of using Photovoice as a method of documenting heritage and in particular intangible heritage. This research is conducted using Participatory Action Research, which produces knowledge in a democratic manner while pursuing development objectives. It highlights the knowledge produced by local and Indigenous community members with the aim of valorising their narratives and opinions regarding the Bakoni heritage and Photovoice methodology. The participants’ narratives are explored and studied in relation to already existing scholarly and official interpretations of the Bakoni heritage. Their opinions of the Photovoice methodology are explored with the intention to contribute towards the understanding of Photovoice as a data collection tool. This thesis produces visual depictions of the Bakoni stonewalls as photographed by the participants to document and store the Bakoni heritage. This approach is mobilised to include Bakoni knowledge produced by local and Indigenous communities in the public domain
Lactic acid production from Kraft waste-pretreated corn cobs in dairy wastewater using Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917: process modelling and preliminary scale-up.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added bioproducts like lactic acid (LA) is sustainable yet resource-intensive, characterized by low yields and costly operations. This study focused on the development of lignocellulosic LA bioprocesses through the valorization of agricultural, Kraft and dairy industrial waste. These wastes are low-cost, sustainable and discarded in abundance during raw material processing. Two complete wastebased pretreatment strategies: (1) steam-assisted combined GLD and PWW (SGLD-PWW), and (2) microwave-assisted combined GLD and PWW (MGLD-PWW) were developed and optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to enhance sugar release from corn cob waste (CCW). The CCW is non-food based, rich in carbohydrates, and geographically widespread. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were developed to predict glucose responses using experimental data from the Kraft waste pretreatment, followed by sensitivity analysis and comparative assessment with a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) model like ChatGPT. Following pretreatment optimization, the Kraft waste pretreated CCW and supplemented dairy wastewater-based simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (sDWW-SSF) was modelled and optimized using the RSM for LA concentration and conversion. The logistic and modified Gompertz models assessed the Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 cell growth and LA production kinetics for the: (1) supplemented DWW under SSF-microaerophilic (sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic), (2) supplemented DWW under SSF-anaerobic (sDWW-SSFanaerobic), and (3) De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe medium modified with SGLD-PWW pretreated CCW instead of pure glucose under SSF-microaerophilic (mMRS-SSFmicroaerophilic). Prior to scale-up, various buffer agents, pH changes, micronutrient supplementation and bioprocess types were evaluated for enhanced LA production and sugar utilization. Optimized conditions for LA production were assessed at 0.5 L with specific vii mixing criteria: constant impeller tip speed (Vtip) and constant power input per unit volume (P/V), guiding subsequent scale-up to 5 L with kinetic analysis. For the CCW pretreatment optimization, the SGLD-PWW (49.89% GLD, 118°C, 5 min) strategy resulted in a 32% and 40% higher reducing sugar and glucose yield, respectively, compared to the MGLD-PWW (48.70% GLD, 800 W, 9 min) strategy. The SGLD-PWW technology was thereafter selected for the SSF process optimization towards LA production. The developed steam- and microwave-assisted ANN models showed high coefficient of determination (R2 ) scores >0.95 for the observed and predicted glucose responses. Sensitivity analysis revealed high susceptibility to the stepwise variation in GLD concentration from 0% to 50% (>3.3-fold increase) and power intensity from 100 W to 900 W (>2.6-fold increase) in relation to its baseline value. Furthermore, the GAI model provided key insights that coincided with the study’s contextual interpretations. These models offer a promising avenue to expedite labour-intensive wet lab experiments and enhance lignocellulosic pretreatment. The optimized sDWW-SSF (25g/L CSL, 2 mL/L Tween 80 and 10% SL) process gave a LA concentration and conversion of 11.15±0.42 g/L and 18.90±0.75%, respectively. For the kinetic studies, the sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic system observed slightly lower maximum specific growth rate (μmax) (0.35 h-1 ) and maximum potential LA concentration (Pm) (13.01 g/L g/L) values than the mMRS-SSFmicroaerophilic (μmax= 0.64 h-1 , Pm= 14.01 g/L), but higher values than sDWW-SSFanaerobic (μmax= 0.34 h-1 , Pm= 12.01 g/L). The negligible variations in the Pm values achieved for the sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic system highlights its economic and resource-efficient attributes, mitigating reliance on complex media, freshwater and anaerobic conditions. The SSF with CaCO3 and MnO nanoparticle (sDWW-SSFCaCO3(30)+MnO, pH5.5) achieved 31.12 g/L LA concentration and up to 46.27% sugar utilization at flask-scale. This contributed to a 64.17% (>2.7-fold) increase in LA concentration when paralleled to the sDWW-SSF system
Microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added bioproducts like lactic acid (LA) is sustainable yet resource-intensive, characterized by low yields and costly operations. This study focused on the development of lignocellulosic LA bioprocesses through the valorization of agricultural, Kraft and dairy industrial waste. These wastes are low-cost, sustainable and discarded in abundance during raw material processing. Two complete wastebased pretreatment strategies: (1) steam-assisted combined GLD and PWW (SGLD-PWW), and (2) microwave-assisted combined GLD and PWW (MGLD-PWW) were developed and optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to enhance sugar release from corn cob waste (CCW). The CCW is non-food based, rich in carbohydrates, and geographically widespread. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were developed to predict glucose responses using experimental data from the Kraft waste pretreatment, followed by sensitivity analysis and comparative assessment with a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) model like ChatGPT. Following pretreatment optimization, the Kraft waste pretreated CCW and supplemented dairy wastewater-based simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (sDWW-SSF) was modelled and optimized using the RSM for LA concentration and conversion. The logistic and modified Gompertz models assessed the Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 cell growth and LA production kinetics for the: (1) supplemented DWW under SSF-microaerophilic (sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic), (2) supplemented DWW under SSF-anaerobic (sDWW-SSFanaerobic), and (3) De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe medium modified with SGLD-PWW pretreated CCW instead of pure glucose under SSF-microaerophilic (mMRS-SSFmicroaerophilic). Prior to scale-up, various buffer agents, pH changes, micronutrient supplementation and bioprocess types were evaluated for enhanced LA production and sugar utilization. Optimized conditions for LA production were assessed at 0.5 L with specific mixing criteria: constant impeller tip speed (Vtip) and constant power input per unit volume (P/V), guiding subsequent scale-up to 5 L with kinetic analysis. For the CCW pretreatment optimization, the SGLD-PWW (49.89% GLD, 118°C, 5 min) strategy resulted in a 32% and 40% higher reducing sugar and glucose yield, respectively, compared to the MGLD-PWW (48.70% GLD, 800 W, 9 min) strategy. The SGLD-PWW technology was thereafter selected for the SSF process optimization towards LA production. The developed steam- and microwave-assisted ANN models showed high coefficient of determination (R2 ) scores >0.95 for the observed and predicted glucose responses. Sensitivity analysis revealed high susceptibility to the stepwise variation in GLD concentration from 0% to 50% (>3.3-fold increase) and power intensity from 100 W to 900 W (>2.6-fold increase) in relation to its baseline value. Furthermore, the GAI model provided key insights that coincided with the study’s contextual interpretations. These models offer a promising avenue to expedite labour-intensive wet lab experiments and enhance lignocellulosic pretreatment. The optimized sDWW-SSF (25g/L CSL, 2 mL/L Tween 80 and 10% SL) process gave a LA concentration and conversion of 11.15±0.42 g/L and 18.90±0.75%, respectively. For the kinetic studies, the sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic system observed slightly lower maximum specific growth rate (μmax) (0.35 h-1 ) and maximum potential LA concentration (Pm) (13.01 g/L g/L) values than the mMRS-SSFmicroaerophilic (μmax= 0.64 h-1 , Pm= 14.01 g/L), but higher values than sDWW-SSFanaerobic (μmax= 0.34 h-1 , Pm= 12.01 g/L). The negligible variations in the Pm values achieved for the sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic system highlights its economic and resource-efficient attributes, mitigating reliance on complex media, freshwater and anaerobic conditions. The SSF with CaCO3 and MnO nanoparticle (sDWW-SSFCaCO3(30)+MnO, pH5.5) achieved 31.12 g/L LA concentration and up to 46.27% sugar utilization at flask-scale. This contributed to a 64.17% (>2.7-fold) increase in LA concentration when paralleled to the sDWW-SSF system. The 0.5 L bioreactor revealed 18.25% higher LA concentration and 40% reduced production time for constant P/V, conferring enhanced mixing efficiency in comparison to the constant Vtip. At 5 L scale with constant P/V, LA concentration peaked at 31.43 g/L with up to 43.55% sugar utilization, corresponding to 0.26 h-1 μmax and 35.11 g/L Pm. The major findings of this study underscore that leveraging waste residues from agricultural, Kraft, and dairy industries fosters interdisciplinary co-operation among these stakeholders for the comprehensive valorization of waste into high-value commodities. This strategy coincides with global sustainable development goals and effectively contributes to optimizing the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus. Thus, it reflects a tangible step towards achieving a circular bioeconomy and integrated framework for lignocellulosic bioprocesses, promoting environmentally friendly processes and economic viability.
Iqoqa.
Ukuguquka kokuncu okubonakala ngesibonakhulu sesiphehlimandla samakhafilithi elignini, ilignocelllulosic kokwemikhiqizo yokuphilayo okwengeziwe njenge-esidi yokusabisi, ilactic acid (LA) egcinekayo kodwa ibe inezinsizasidingo ezinkulu, ebonakala ngemiphumela ephansi nokusebenza okubizayo. Lolu cwaningo lugxile ekukhuleni kokwamakhafilithi ilignocellulosic, i-LA yokwenza umshanguzo wokuphilayo ngokuqinisekisa kwezolimo, ngokweKraft nemfucuza yezimboni zokusabisi. Le mfucuza eyenani eliphansi, egcinekayo nelahlwa ngobuningi ngoba ingasadingeki ngenkathi kunohlelomsebenzi lwesiqalisimkhiqizo. Amasu amabili aphelele ohlelokwelapha olwandulelayo olugxile emfucuzeni: (1) Okusizwa isitimu okwakuhlanganisa i-GLD ne-PWW (SGLD-PWW), kanye (2) nokusizwa yimayikhroweyvu okwakuhlanganisa i-GLD ne-PWW (MGLD-PWW) kwakhuliswa kwaba ngokweqophelo eliphezulu kusetshenziswa Indlelakwenza Yendawo Yempendulo, iResponse Surface Methodology (RSM) ukuthuthukisa ukuphuma kukashukela emfucuzeni yehleza lommbila, icorn cob waste (CCW). I-CCW igxile kokungekona ukudla, okunezikhuthazimandla eziningi, futhi okusabalele ezindaweni eziningi. Imifanekisomumo yoHleloxhumano Lwemizwa Lokuzakhela, i-Artificial Neural Network (ANN) yakhuliswa ukubikezela izimpendulo zikashukela kusetshenziswa imininingo esahlolwa esuka kuhlelokwelapha olwandulelayo lwemfucuza yeKraft, ilandelwa uhlaziyo olunokuzwela nokuhlola okuqhathanisayo, iComparative assessment ngesifanekisomumo seGenerative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) njenge-ChatGPT. Kulandelwa uhlelo lokwelapha olwandulelayo lweqophelo eliphezulu, imfucuza yeKraft yokwelapha okwandulelayo i-CCW nokugxile emanzinimfucuza yokusabisi okuchibiyelelwe ngaso leso sikhathi kwaboniswa uhlelokusebenza lokugaywa kwamakhabhohaydrethi abe ushukela, isaccharification nokubilisa, ifermentation (sDWW-SSF) kwaba ngokweqophelo eliphezulu kusetshenziswa i-RSM yenguquko nesilinganisobungako se-LA. Inqubokusebenza nemifanekisomumo kaGompertz yahlola ukukhula kwenhlayiya kweLactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 ne-LA yohlelobumbanozithako olukhiqiza: (1) i-DWW echitshiyelwe phansi kwe-SSF-microaerophilic (sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic), (2) echitshiyelwe phansi kwe-DWW ephansi kwe-SSF-anaerobic (sDWW-SSFanaerobic), (3) neDe Man, iRogosa neSharpe eguqulwe ngokumaphakathi nge-SGLD-PWW ukukwelapha okwandulelayo nge-CCW esikhundleni sikashukela ocolekile phansi kwe-SSF-microaerophilic (mMRS-SSFmicroaerophilic). Ngaphambi kokukhula kwesilinganisozinga, iziguquli zokungaguquki ezahlukene, izinguquko zezingabumuncu, i-pH, ukuthasiselwa kwesondlamzimba esincu esibonakala ngesibonakhulu nezihlobo zokwenza umshanguzo ngokuphilayo kwahlolwa ukuze kwenziwe ngcono ukukhiqizwa kwe-LA nokusetshenziswa kukashukela. Izimo zeqophelo eliphezulu zokukhiqizwa kwe-LA kwahlolwa ngokwama-0.5 L ngendlelakuqoka exube ngokucacile: isivinini se-impeller tip esingaquki (Vtip) nobungako obungaguquki besilinganiso samandla angenayo (P/V), okuqondisa ukulandelana kwesilinganisozinga esikhula ngama-5 L ngohlaziyo lohlolobumbanozithako. Ngokweqophelo eliphezulu lokwelapha okwandulelayo lwe-CCW, lwamasu e-SGLD-PWW (49.89% GLD, 118°C, 5 min) lwaba nomphumela ongama- 32% nangama-40% aphezulu ehlisa ushukela nomphumela kashukela, iglukhosi, uma kuqhathaniswa namasu e-MGLD-PWW (48.70% GLD, 800 W, 9 min). Ubuchwepheshe be-SGLD-PWW emuva kwalokho kwaqokelwa ukusetshenzwa kweqophelo eliphezulu kwe-SSF mayelana nokukhiqizwa kwe-LA. Umusi owakhuliswa nemifanekisomumo ye-ANN yokusiza ngemayikhroweyvu yakhombisa ivariyebuli ephezulu yokunquma (R2) izibalo ezi- >0.95 yokuqaphiwe noma yezimpendulo zikashukela ezabikezelwa. Uhlaziyo olunokuzwela lwaveza ukuba sengcupheni okuphezulu ngokwehluka kwesigaba sesilinganisobungako se-GLD ukusuka ku-0% kuya kumaphesenti angama- 50% (>3.3-ukukhula kwenanisiqhathaniso) nomfutho wamandla ukusuka e-100 W kuya ema-900 W (>2.6-ukukhula kwenanisiqhathaniso) kuhlobana nenani lesisekelo esiphansi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isifanekosomumo i-GAI sanikezela ngamehlokujula asemqoka enzeka ndawonye nezihumusho zengqikithi yocwaningo. Lezi zifanekisomumo zinika izindlela zokusheshisa amalingasenzo elabhorethri elingemsulwa yomsebenzi odinga amandla amakhulu nokukhulisa ukwelapha okuyisandulelo sokwamakhafilithi elignini, iignocellulosic. I-sDWW-SSF yeqophelo eliphezulu (25g/L CSL, 2 mL/L Iwele lama-80 nayi-10% SL) indlelakwenza yanikeza isilinganisobungako se-LA nenguquko ye-11.15±0.42 g/L ne-18.90±0.75%, ngokulandelana. Ngokocwaningo lohlolobumbanozithako, uhlelo lwe-tsDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic lwaqaphela izingabungako lokukhula elicacile lesilinganiso esiphezulu eliphansi kancane elingu-(μmax) (0.35 h-1) namandla ayisilinganiso esiphezulu sesilinganisobungako se-LA esinesilinganiso esingu-(Pm) (13.01 g/L g/L) kune-mMRS-SSFmicroaerophilic (μmax= 0.64 h-1, Pm= 14.01 g/L), kodwa isilinganiso esiphezulu kune-sDWW-SSFanaerobic (μmax= 0.34 h-1, Pm= 12.01 g/L). Izinguquko ezinganakiwe zesilinganiso esiku-Pm esazuzwa ohlelweni lwe-sDWW-SSFmicroaerophilic zagqamisa umnotho nezimo zaso zezinsizakusebenza ezanele, zinciphisa ukwethembela kwezokuxhumana ezingxube, amanzi ahlanzekile nezimo zokudinga umoyampilo. Inhlayiya ye-SSF ne-CaCO3 kanye ne-MnO ye-(sDWW-SSFCaCO3(30)+MnO, pH5.5) yazuza ngama- 31.12 g/L esilinganisobungako se-LA futhi kuze kube ngama- 46.27% okusetshenziswa kukashukela kusikali seflaski. Lokhu kwanikela ngamaphesenti angama-64.17% (>2.7-inanisiqhathaniso) kuyakhula kusilinganisobungako se-LA ngenkathi kunokuhambisana nezinhlelo ze-sDWW-SSF. Amalitha angu-0.5 L enguqulo yokuphilayo aveza amaphesenti angama-18.25% aphezulu esilinganisobungako se-LA namaphesenti angama-40% ehlisa isikhathi sokukhiqiza kwe-P/V okuyinhlalanjalo, ukunikezela ngokwenzangcono kokwenzeka kokuxuba kuqhathaniswa nokuyinhlalanjalo kwe-Vtip. Esikalini esingamalitha ayi- 5 L esinokuyinhlalanjalo kwe-P/V, isilinganisobungako se-LA sanyukela kuma-31.43 g/L kunamaphesenti angama-43.55% okusetshenziswa kukashukela, kunokuhlobana no- 0.26 h-1 μmax nama-35.11 g/L Pm. Okukhulu okwatholwa yilolu ucwaningo kwagcizelela ukungasebenzisi kahle izinsalela zemfucuza ezisuka kwezolimo, iKraft, nezimboni zokusabisi kwakhuthaza ukubambisana phakathi kwemikhakha eyahlukene ngenxa yesola, ivalorization ehlanganise konke phakathi kwalokhu bonke abathintekayo abahlanganisa konke okwesola, okwevalorization yemfucuza yezimpahla zenani eliphezulu. Leli lisu lihlangana nezinhloso zokuthuthukisa okusimamisekayo komhlaba lokho kwasebenza kakhulu ekutholeni okweqophelo eliphezulu lenexus yokudla-amandla-amanzi (FEW). Kanjalo, kwakhombisa izigaba eziphathekayo ezimayelana nokuzuza umnotho wokuphilayo okujikelezayo nohlaka olungxube lohlelokusebenza lokuphilayo lokwamakhafilithi elignini, ilignocellulosic, ukukhuthaza izinhlelokusebenza ezivumelana nendawo nokomnotho okusesimeni sokwenzeka
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