The goal of this project was to research and propose the implementation of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling plant. The recommended process is recycling PET flakes into its base polymers and monomers via a hydrolase enzyme biocatalyst. The current design with supporting utilities and operations has an estimated total capital investment of $54.68 million dollars. The team recommends selling terephthalic acid (rTPA) at $2.21 per kilogram to reach a net present value of $0 after 10 years. This price is not yet competitive with the current market of virgin TPA, which historically has been between $1.00 and $1.50 per kilogram. This process also produces liquid ethylene glycol (EG) and sodium sulfate salt (SS) that can be sold as co-products. The return on investment (ROI) is 24.4% and the venture profit is $1.34 million. Future work includes further optimization of rTPA pricing, on-site wastewater treatment, unit operation modification, and further lab development and research regarding the biocatalyst enzyme
University of Cincinnati (USA) and Chongqing University (China) established the first cooperation education based dual-degree undergraduate program in 2013 called Joint Co-op Institute. This strategic partnership involves librarians from both universities to work with students from orientation to graduation. Through collaborative efforts from multiple dimensions in academic and student affairs, librarians’ work is one of the key factors to the successful enrollment and retention rate. This poster highlights eight years of work between global services librarians from two institutions. It highlights the collaboration of two librarians conducting the first online orientation during the pandemic despite the challenges of technology, time difference and students’ anxiety.