Technical support through co-creation of value in automotive paint processes and activities is essential to the success of paint manufacturing companies. This study aimed to explore the impact of technical support on customer satisfaction through value-in-use in the automotive paint market. A quantitative questionnaire survey involving a convenience sample of 169 respondents was used for data collection. The questionnaire design bore on the SERVPERF instrument with embedded value-in-use attributes. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 21 statistical methods exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple regression analysis (MRA). The findings of this study revealed that the key value-in-use attributes were relationship quality (trust), knowledge required for providing help in getting maximum product benefits, sharing of knowledge, and a range of product and service offerings that satisfy customer needs. Trust had the greatest impact on customer satisfaction. The results also revealed that service quality dimension assurance exerted the greatest positive impact on customer satisfaction.

The goal of this research was to examine exploitation properties of Ni-Pd/Al2O3 catalyst supported on α-Al2O3 based foam in the dry methane reforming. The catalyst was prepared by using aerosol method. Chloride precursors for Ni and Pd were reduced by hydrogen at low temperature of 533 K, without previous calcination. The reforming experiment was performed for 3 h, with standing time of 1 h for each of the following temperatures: 873, 973 and 1023 K. Conclusions on selectivity, catalytic activity and stability were made on the basis of CO and H2 yields.

This paper describes the synthesis of tungsten disulfide (WS2) powder by the sulfurization of tungsten trioxide (WO3) particles in the presence of additive potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in nitrogen (N2) atmosphere, first at lower temperature (200 °C) and followed by reduction at higher temperature (900 °C). In addition, the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of ammonium meta-tungstate hydrate (AMT) was used for the production of WO3 particles at 650 °C in air. The HSC Chemistry® software package 9.0 was used for the analysis of chemistry and thermodynamic parameters of the processes for WS2 powder synthesis. The crystalline structure and phase composition of all synthesized powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The morphology and chemical composition of these samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX).

This paper presents an experimentally-proved hydrometallurgical process for selective metals recovery from the waste-printed circuit boards (WPCBs) using a combination of conventional and time-saving methods: leaching, cementation, precipitation, reduction and electrowinning. According to the results obtained in the laboratory tests, 92.4% Cu, 98.5% Pb, 96.8% Ag and over 99% Au could be selectively leached and recovered using mineral acids: sulfuric, nitric and aqua regia. Problematic tin recovery was addressed with comprehensive theoretical and experimental work, so 55.4% of Sn could be recovered through the novel physical method, which consists of two-step phase separation. Based on the results, an integral hydrometallurgical route for selective base and precious metals recovery though consecutive steps, (i) Cu, (ii) Sn, (iii) Pb and Ag, and (iv) Au, was developed. The route was tested at scaled-up laboratory level, confirming feasibility of the process and efficiencies of metals recovery. According to the obtained results, the proposed hydrometallurgical route represents an innovative and promising method for selective metals recovery from WPCBs, particularly applicable in small scale hydrometallurgical environments, focused on medium and high grade WPCBs recycling.

Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) from discarded mobile phones and smartphones are considerably heterogeneous materials with a high gold content (approx. 490 grams per ton). The aim of our chemical analysis of samples of WPCBs was to determine the amounts of gold using open acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry (HR CS AAS). The test samples designated for chemical analysis must genuinely represent the bulk WPCBs from which they are taken. This study aimed to develop a correct sampling procedure to analyze the heterogeneous materials from printed circuit boards; explicitly concerning the influence of particle size on the precision of chemical analysis of WPCBs from discarded mobile phones. Chemical analysis of the representative sample of WPCBs with a grain size fraction of d ≤ 200 μm determined that the gold content was 475 g∙t-1 with a low variation coefficient and low dispersion which indicates very high accuracy of the designed sampling procedure.