Combined effect of organosolv delignification/polymerization on the set recovery of densified poplar wood

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products - According to recent literature, delignification could be a new approach to enhance mechanical properties of densified wood. In the present study, the...     

Socio-spatial interactions of a cluster-house concept apartment in mehr als wohnen project in Zurich,Switzerland

This article explores the socio-spatial interactions of a micro-community in a cluster-house concept apartment. The apartment has been designed for retreat and co-living by mehr als wohnen housing cooperative in Zurich, Switzerland. The methodology of investigation is a qualitative case study, through which housing narratives of three residents as representatives of this communal household are analyzed. In addition, on-site visits and observations, document analyses, and desktop studies are conducted. The originality of the research is in its approach of examining a micro-society through the residential community's authentic stories, which are in the context of normal times and the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that the social bonds of the studied cluster cohousing community are significantly maintained through the intermediate zones of the cluster-house arrangement. This socio-spatial interaction has activated the potentials of social innovation and housing resilience in an urban context. The research also highlights points of conflicts and insights for future cluster-concept apartment developments.     

An overview of the methanol reforming process: Comparison of fuels,catalysts, reformers,and systems

One of the main challenges facing power generation by fuel cells involves the difficulties related to hydrogen storage. Several methods have been suggested and studied by researchers to overcome this problem. Among these methods, using fuel reformers as a component of the fuel cell system is a practical and promising alternative to hydrogen storage. Among many hydrogen carrier fuels used in reformers, methanol is one of the most attractive ones because of its distinctive properties. To design and improve of the methanol reformate gas fuel cell systems, different aspects such as promising market applications for reformate gas–fueled fuel cell systems, and catalysts for methanol reforming should be considered. Therefore, our goal in this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview on the past and recent studies regarding methanol reforming technologies, while considering different aspects of this topic. Firstly, different fuel reforming processes are briefly explained in the first section of the paper. Then properties of various fuels and reforming of these fuels are compared, and the characteristics of commercial reformate gas–fueled systems are presented. The main objective of the first section of the paper is to give information about studies and market applications related to reformation of various fuels to understand advantages and disadvantages of using various fuels for different practical applications. In the next sections of the paper, advancements in the methanol reforming technology are explained. The methanol reforming catalysts and reaction kinetics studies by various researchers are reviewed, and the advantages and disadvantages of each catalyst are discussed, followed by presenting the studies accomplished on different types of reformers. The effects of operating parameters on methanol reforming are also discussed. In the last section of this paper, methanol reformate gas–fueled fuel cell systems are reviewed. Overall, this review paper provides insight to researchers on what has been accomplished so far in the field of methanol reforming for fuel cell power generation applications to better plan the next stage of studies in this field.     

Structural,Morphological and Antibacterial Characterization of CuO Nanowires

Silicon - The present research focuses on the synthesis, characterization and antibacterial effect of copper oxide (CuO) nanowires. CuO nanowires were produced in situ on a copper (Cu) foil by a...     

Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Functionalized Ni and Cu Nano Catalysts and Their Application in Oxidation,Oxidative Coupling and Various Multi-Component Reactions

Catalysis Letters - Two magnetic nano catalysts of nickel and copper, Fe3O4@SiO2@DOP-BenPyr-M(II), (M=Ni and Cu) have been synthesized. These catalysts were applied as recoverable, efficient and...     

Improvement of light olefins production over the Co-Ni-Mn nano-catalyst: modeling and optimization of process by RSM

The co-precipitated Co-Ni-Mn nano-catalysts were evaluated for carbon monoxide hydrogenation. The influence of Al₂O₃, SiO₂, Zeolite, Active carbon, MgO supports and then the effect of best chosen support loading on the catalytic behavior and structure of ternary Co-Ni-Mn nano-catalysts were studied. The Co-Ni-Mn/20 wt%SiO₂ sample has shown highest selectivity toward light olefins production. Furthermore the influence of process conditions was investigated. Evaluation tests were performed under process conditions of P = 1–10 bar, T = 523-623 K, and H₂/CO = 0.67–3. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) method was used for modeling and optimization process and the best conditions for catalyst evaluation were determined (T = 598.16 K, P = 1 atm and H₂/CO = 2.19). Under these conditions the highest selectivity of light olefins, higher CO conversion % and lower selectivity toward methane were achieved. Catalysts characteristics were investigated using XRD, BET, TEM, TGA, DSC, SEM, XPS, and TPR techniques. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).     

A novel ZrB2-based composite manufactured with Ti3AlC2 additive

A novel ZrB₂–Ti₃AlC₂ composite was densified using spark plasma sintering at 1900 °C under pressure of 30 MPa for 7 min. The effect of Ti₃AlC₂ MAX phase on the densification behavior, microstructural evolutions, phase arrangement, and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. The phase analysis and microstructural studies revealed the decomposition of the MAX phase at the initial steps of the SPS process. The structural characteristics and surface morphology of the in-situ synthesized reinforcements were verified using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The formation mechanism of each reinforcement phase was also investigated using thermodynamical assessments. The prepared ZrB₂–Ti₃AlC₂ composite not only possessed a near fully-dense characteristic having an excellent hardness of 31 GPa, but also unexpectedly presented high fracture toughness. The indentation fracture toughness of the composite was calculated as 7.8 MPa m^1/2, which is unprecedented compared with the same class of hard ZrB₂-based composites. Indeed, the superior mechanical properties of the composite achieved in this study was obtained by the homogenous distribution of Al-based reinforcements, formation of hard interfacial ZrC grains, and solid solutions provided by Ti-based phases. The correlations between the phase arrangement, microstructure, and the attained mechanical properties of the composite were comprehensively discussed.     

Microscopic techniques for characterization and authentication of oil-yielding seeds

Investigation of alternative energy sources is need of current time due to growing power crisis and associated environmental issues. Biodiesel is considered as sustainable power source and promising alternative to fossil fuels. Therefore, our current investigation aimed to identify micromorphological characters of 10 novel nonedible oil-yielding seeds through scanning electron microscopy. It was revealed from light microscopic study that there is variation in seed size from 3 to 15 mm in length and 2 to 11 mm in width. Likewise, a huge variation in color was observed such as light green, greenish yellow, blackish brown, and various shades of brown. Presence and absence of Hilum was observed, and compression of seeds varied from depressed, lateral, and dorsoventral. Seed's shape differs from ovate, clavate, triangular ovate, cuneiform, ovoid, and elliptical shape. Seed oil content fall in range of 18–58% (wt/wt). Free fatty acid content of the seeds varies from 0.3 to 3.1 mg KOH/g. Ultrastructure of seeds exhibited huge variation in shape, size, periclinal wall, anticlinal wall, and surface ornamentation. Nonedible seeds varied in wall structure from angular, wavy, dentate entire, irregular, puzzled, elongated, even, and polygonal. The periclinal wall arrangements show alteration from flat, looped, raised, depressed, lofty, even, pentagonal, polygonal, and undulate seed margins. Outcomes of this investigation recommended that scanning electron microscopy could act as a helpful tool in disclosing the hidden micromorphological characters among nonedible oil-yielding seeds and subsequently helping in correct, authentic seed identification and classification as potential feedstock for biodiesel.