scholarly journals The Function of Organic Additives in Enhancing the Q-values for Peat Pellet Biofuel

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Nor Zakiah Nor Hashim ◽  
Zaidi Embong
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Attenuated Total Reflectance ◽  
Organic Additives ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Combustion Properties ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Atr Spectroscopy ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Unique Chemical ◽  
Q Values

In Malaysia, peat make up for around 7.5 % of the entire land area. The positive effect of the vast wet organic compounds accumulates over a long time has stored high content of soil’s carbon which are highly useful as fuel and biomass energy generation. Thus, this study gives an outline of peat pellet as potential biofuel energy.  The peat pellets were soaked into several kinds of flammable additives such as petrol, kerosene and diesel. The percentages of 69.41 % of carbon, 28.73% of oxygen and 0.97% of silicon were obtained using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The Fourier-Transformed Infrared (FTIR)- Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Spectroscopy was used to identify the sample.  From the spectra, it reveals that most of the additives contribute mainly functional groups with hydroxyl, alcohol and phenol groups were found leading to higher boiling and melting points. The heat combustion properties of peat pellets were evaluated using a calorimeter technique by boiling off 50 ml and 100 ml of water. The pellet with diesel has the highest Q-values and combustion rate due to larger number of carbons in rigid molecular structure. The high amount of unique chemical compound found naturally in diesel known as cetane, ignites effortlessly when heated gives diesel additional advantages in shorter ignition delays as well as longer duration of combustion.

Using Self-report to Study How Application affect Motivation of Behavior Change (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Yin ◽  
Yurong Yu
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Group Method ◽  
Behavior Changes ◽  
Technology Design ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Positive Effect

BACKGROUND Currently, changing behaviors with the assistance of mobile applications has been popularized. However, most of the participants are unable to persist in participating in behavior-changing activities for a long time. Some researchers have studied what factors motivate people to maintain behaviors-changing actions. There has been controversy about whether the commonly used triggers, negative results or competitions, could motivate behavior changes. In the meantime, the main methodology these researchers have been using is to conduct experiments, from which data was collected from subjects’ recalling previous behavior changing. The experiments are time-consuming, and the results can be unreliable. To resolve this problem, the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) was developed to record real-time feedback. However, the EMA unavoidably increases the workload of the subjects. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the factors affecting behavior change, especially from the motivation aspect. Additionally, this paper attempted to identify a way to record human behavior changes without increasing the subjects’ workload. METHODS The methodology of “self-report” was adopted to report how people’s views regarding the behavior-changing intervention. To achieve a balance between workload and being timely, the self-reporting data was recorded once a day. After the 28-day “self-report” experiment, the “focus group” method was used to gather people’s feedback on behavior changing process. RESULTS This paper identified 9 factors: cooperation, competition, award, understandable graphic, reminder and alarm, trust and willing, gender, relation with disease and environmental factors). These factors could affect motivation of behavior changing. Besides, we found that negative results could be a motivation for behavior changing. In the experiment, we also found that a small number of subjects tended to cheat for a more “beautiful” result. The last part of the paper has presented possible implications for technology design to facilitate behavior-changing. CONCLUSIONS In particular, (i) the research promoted the possibility of cheating when recording data which is ignored by existing research and will make the digital applications less useful; (ii) the results show that not all cooperation is needed to lead to a positive effect; (iii) the research identified the negative results caused by over-competition in behavior change. Finally, the paper proposes technology design directions should focus on giving motivation through keeping dairy, negative results feedback and avoid cheating.

scholarly journals Electrospun Membranes Based on Polycaprolactone, Nano-Hydroxyapatite and Metronidazole

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Ioana-Codruţa Mirică ◽  
Gabriel Furtos ◽  
Ondine Lucaciu ◽  
Petru Pascuta ◽  
Mihaela Vlassa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Diameter ◽  
Maximum Load ◽  
Guided Bone Regeneration ◽  
Attenuated Total Reflectance ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Total Reflectance ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Electrospun Membranes

The aim of this research was to develop new electrospun membranes (EMs) based on polycaprolactone (PCL) with or without metronidazole (MET)/nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) content. New nHAP with a mean diameter of 34 nm in length was synthesized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) were used for structural characterization of precursors and EMs. The highest mechanical properties (the force at maximum load, Young’s modulus and tensile strength) were found for the PCL membranes, and these properties decreased for the other samples in the following order: 95% PCL + 5% nHAP > 80% PCL + 20% MET > 75% PCL + 5% nHAP + 20% MET. The stiffness increased with the addition of 5 wt.% nHAP. The SEM images of EMs showed randomly oriented bead-free fibers that generated a porous structure with interconnected macropores. The fiber diameter showed values between 2 and 16 µm. The fiber diameter increased with the addition of nHAP filler and decreased when MET was added. New EMs with nHAP and MET could be promising materials for guided bone regeneration or tissue engineering.

scholarly journals Synthesis of magnesium carbonate hydrate from natural talc

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 951-961
Author(s):  
Qiuju Chen ◽  
Tao Hui ◽  
Hongjuan Sun ◽  
Tongjiang Peng ◽  
Wenjin Ding
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
Crystal Growth ◽  
Crystal Morphology ◽  
Magnesium Carbonate ◽  
Organic Additives ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Morphological Transformation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Carbonation Process

AbstractVarious morphologies of magnesium carbonate hydrate had been synthesized without using any organic additives by carefully adjusting the reaction temperature and time during the talc carbonation process. At lower temperatures, magnesium carbonate hydrate was prone to display needle-like morphology. With the further increase of the carbonation temperature, the sheet-like crystallites became the preferred morphology, and at higher aging temperatures, these crystallites tended to assemble into layer-like structures with diverse morphologies, such as rose-like particles and nest-like structure. The reaction time had no effect on the crystal morphology, but it affected the particle size and situation of the crystal growth. X-Ray diffraction results showed that these various morphologies were closely related to their crystal structure and compositions. The needle-like magnesium carbonate hydrate had a formula of MgCO3·3H2O, whereas with the morphological transformation from needle-like to sheet-like, rose-like, and nest-like structure, their corresponding compositions also changed from MgCO3·3H2O to 4MgCO3·Mg(OH)2·8H2O, 4MgCO3·Mg(OH)2·5H2O, and 4MgCO3·Mg(OH)2·4H2O.

scholarly journals How Does Inter-Organizational Cooperation Impact Organizations’ Scientific Knowledge Generation? Evidence from the Biomass Energy Field

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Liu Li ◽  
Chaoying Tang
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Degree Centrality ◽  
Technical Knowledge ◽  
Technical Cooperation ◽  
Scientific Cooperation ◽  
Structural Holes ◽  
Cooperation Network ◽  
Positive Effect

Previous studies have demonstrated that accessing external knowledge is important for organizations’ knowledge generation. The main purpose of this study is to investigate how the diversity and amount of organizations’ external scientific knowledge influence their scientific knowledge generation. We also consider the moderating effect of the redundant industrial scientific knowledge and the amount of technical knowledge from external technical cooperators. The social network analysis method is used to establish both ego- and industrial-scientific cooperation network, and ego-technical cooperation network in order to analyze the external scientific knowledge and technical knowledge. The empirical analysis is based on patent and article data of 106 organizations in the biomass energy industry (including firms, universities and research institutes), and the results show that organizations’ structural holes and degree centrality of scientific cooperation network have positive effects on their scientific knowledge generation. In addition, organizations’ degree centrality of technical cooperation network positively moderates the relationship between their degree centrality of scientific cooperation network and scientific knowledge generation. Furthermore, density of industrial scientific cooperation network decreases the positive effect of organizations’ structural holes on their scientific knowledge generation, while it strengthens the positive effect of degree centrality of scientific cooperation network on their scientific knowledge generation. Academic contributions and practical suggestions are discussed.

scholarly journals Effects of Interfacial Charge on the DC Dielectric Properties of Nanocomposites

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaming Yang ◽  
Congji Liu ◽  
Changji Zheng ◽  
Hong Zhao ◽  
Xuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Properties ◽  
Breakdown Strength ◽  
Interface Layer ◽  
Low Density Polyethylene ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Scattering ◽  
Scattering Effects ◽  
Dielectric Performance ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Interfacial Charge

The interfacial charge phenomenon of MgO/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and SiO2/LDPE nanocomposites was measured by synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering. Based on the Porod theory, the Porod curve of SiO2/LDPE nanocomposite shows negative divergence but the LDPE and MgO/LDPE do not, which reveals that interfacial charge may exist in the SiO2/LDPE nanocomposite. The DC dielectric properties of the nanocomposites are closely related to the interfacial charge. Experimental results show that the SiO2/LDPE nanocomposite has lower DC conductivity, less space charge, and higher DC breakdown strength than the MgO/LDPE nanocomposite. It is thought that the interfacial charge has a positive effect on the DC dielectric performance of nanocomposites, and the mechanism could be attributed to the scattering effects of the interfacial charge on the carrier migration. There is no obvious interfacial charge in the MgO/LDPE nanocomposite, but it still has excellent DC dielectric properties compared with LDPE, which indicates that the interfacial charge is not the only factor affecting the dielectric properties; the dipole interface layer and the reduction of free volume can also inhibit the migration of carriers and decrease electrons free path, improving the dielectric performance.

Evaluation on Combustion Properties of Nanoparticle as Fuel Additive

2011 ◽  
Vol 335-336 ◽  
pp. 1516-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Qiang Ren ◽  
Zhi Ning Huang ◽  
Yan Fu
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Paraffin ◽  
Fuel Additive ◽  
Average Particle ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Paraffin Oil ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Combustion Properties ◽  
Fuel Oils ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
Similar Crystal Structure

To improve combustion properties of fuel oils, save energy and reduce pollution, the metal nanoparticles modified by fatty acids have been prepared. The dispersion capacities of these modified nanoparticles in liquid paraffin oil were examined, and were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) . The results show they possess similar crystal structure as organic shell, and average particle diameters, which are in agreement with their excellent oil-solubilities. Moreover, the properties of the modified nanoparticles additives in boiler fuel were evaluated by means of oxygen bomb relative method as regards energy saving and residual products lowering. The results show that the efficiency of combustion and decrement of residual products for fuels were improved to different degree. Therefore, notable economic and social benefits are brought.

scholarly journals PENGARUH LITERASI KEUANGAN, PENDAPATAN SERTA MASA BEKERJA TERHADAP PERILAKU KEPUTUSAN INVESTASI

2018 ◽  
pp. 1867 ◽  
Author(s):  
IGA MERTHA DEWI ◽  
Ida Bagus Anom Purbawangsa
Keyword(s):  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Decision Behavior ◽  
Financial Conditions ◽  
New Employee ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Positive Effect

Research respondents are employees of PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Bali Branch Renon with a sample of 76 people. Sampling technique in this research use random sampling. Data were analyzed by using Multiple Linear Regression Analysis. The result of this indicate that financial literacy, income has a positive effect on investment decision behavior, but the work period positively has no effect on investment decision behavior. This is because in the banking industry, the entire new employee and who have been working long time get the training and obtain informations about financial developments and financial conditions that occur at this time. In the other words the undertanding of financial literacy and employee behavior is almost the same. Based on the results of statistical data, financial literacy variables have the most influence in determining the behavior of investment decisions compared to income. This explains that a good understanding of finance is a major factor in determining an invesment decisions.

Improved Enzymatic Depolymerization of Chitosan by Ionic Liquid Pretreatment and the Effect of Oligo-Chitosan on Intestinal Flora In Vitro

2011 ◽  
Vol 391-392 ◽  
pp. 1319-1323
Author(s):  
Cui Zheng ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Hao Pang ◽  
Zhao Mei Wang ◽  
Na Li
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Liquid ◽  
Hydrogen Bonds ◽  
Molecular Hydrogen ◽  
Intestinal Flora ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hydrolysis Of ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Enzymatic Depolymerization

It still remains challenging for effective hydrolysis of chitosan into chitosan oligomers. In this work, a pretreatment was conducted on chitosan by an ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl), aiming at improving enzymatic depolymerization of chitosan. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds within chitosan molecules were broken by [C4mim]Cl and the crystalline was destroyed. The oligo-chitosan hydrolyzed from IL-pretreated chitosan, coded as COS-IL, showed a DP of 3~5, in contrast to DP 5~8 with oligo-chitosan obtained from untreated chitosan(coded as COS-UN). COS-IL was more effective than COS-UN in inhibiting intestinal spoilage bacterials growth and it has positive effect on the growth of intestinal probiotic bacterials.

scholarly journals Titania powder activation and rutile ceramics structure formation

2009 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.R. Ziganshin ◽  
S.E. Porozova ◽  
A.E. Stolina ◽  
M.F. Torsunov
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Porous Materials ◽  
Optical Microscopy ◽  
Aqueous Medium ◽  
Structure Formation ◽  
Mechanochemical Activation ◽  
Organic Additives ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Titania Powder

Impact of mechanochemical activation (MCA) in aqueous medium with various organic additives on commercial titania powder and products made of it has been investigated by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Agar-agar additive has been shown to offer promise for activation of titania powders used in obtaining both dense and porous materials.

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