Going downstream in a project-based firm: Integration of distributors in the delivery of complex systems

Research on the integration of different actors in project business has centered on the upstream value chain and a project-based firm's relationship with suppliers. The downstream delivery chain also includes an integration challenge as some project-based firms use distributors to sell and deliver systems. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of integrating with distributors in the delivery of complex systems. A qualitative case study was conducted in one project-based firm. Different distributor capabilities were identified and grouped into business, relational, marketing, and delivery capabilities. Different integration mechanisms were mapped at business and project levels, and divided into control-, cooperation-, and development-oriented mechanisms. The findings show that distributor capabilities related to complex system delivery develop through repetitive collaboration across projects. The stable position of distributors in the downstream value chain facilitate the use of integration mechanisms at the business level and development-oriented integration approach at the project level.     

Efficient and Mild Synthesis of Novel Diazo Dyes through Coupling Reaction of Schiff Base Diazonium Salts with β-naphthol

In this study, efficient and mild method for synthesis of some novel diazo dyes containing Schiff bases has been reported. All of the intermediates and final products were obtained in good to high yields and appropriate reaction times. The structures of desired products were determined using physical and spectroscopy data such as; IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectra, and C.H.N. analyses. The worldwide availability, larger scale synthesis, high yields, and short reaction times are the advantages of the present method.     

Rare earth elements distribution in marine sediments of Malaysia coasts

In the east coast Peninsular Malaysia region,sediments are transported by several rivers from the east Malaysia into the South China Sea estuary.In the vicinity of the five river estuaries core sediments were collected in order to investigate rare earth elements(REEs) profile.Core sediments were divided into strata of between 2 to 4 cm intervals and prepared for analyzing by ICP-AES.REE concentrations of 54.3 μg/gr at 24-26 cm in EC4 increased to 114.1 μg/gr at 20-22 cm in EC5.The measured concentration of ...     

Utilizing DE optimization approach to boost hydrogen and octane number in a novel radial-flow assisted membrane naphtha reactor

Hydrogen is a valuable raw material for chemical and petrochemical industry. In this regard, the operating conditions of a radial-flow tubular membrane reactor (RF-TMR) are optimized via Differential Evolution (DE) method to boost the hydrogen and aromatic yields in catalytic naphtha reforming process. In this novel configuration, the radial-flow pattern of the naphtha feed and the sweeping gas is considered in the tube and the shell sides to solve the pressure drop problem. Furthermore, the cross-section area of the tubular reactor is divided into some subsections and the gaps' wall between subsections are coated by the Pd–Ag membrane layer. The steady state and dynamic optimizations are carried out and twenty-nine decision variables such as operating pressure, membrane thickness, sweeping gas distribution and the ratio of length to diameter (LOD) are considered during the optimization process. The optimization results show 27 and 8.3 kmol h^?1 increase in the hydrogen and aromatic yields in optimized RF-TMR compared with conventional tubular reactor (CTR). Moreover, the new configuration is capable to be used in the radial-flow moving bed reactors, which are widely installed in refineries.     

Preparation and characterization of polymer/multiwall carbon nanotube/nanoparticle nanocomposites and preparation of their metal complexes

Carbon nanotube‐polymer nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized successfully. In this work, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were opened using HNO₃/H₂SO₄ mixture and filled by metal nanoparticles such as silver nanoparticles through wet‐chemistry method. The oxidized MWCNT were reacted subsequently with thionyl chloride, 1,6‐diaminohexane, producing MWNT‐amine functionalized. Then the MWCNT containing metal nanoparticles were used as a monomer with different weight percentages in melt polymerization with An and CNCl separately. Furthermore, the polyamide and polytriazine modified MWCNT were used for the preparation of metal ion complexes such as Fe⁺² and La⁺³. The structures and properties of nanocomposites were evaluated by TEM, DSC, TGA, and FT‐IR methods. The chelating behavior and sorption capacities of prepared nanocomposites were carried out by using some metal ions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

S-arylation of 2-mercaptobenzazoles: a comprehensive review

In recent years 2-arylthio-benzazoles (benzothiazoles, benzoxazoles, and benzimidazoles) have attracted more and more attention due to their diverse biological and pharmacological properties. Consequently, great efforts have been devoted to exploiting efficient strategies towards the synthesis of titled compounds. Among the different methods reported for the synthesis of 2-arylthio-benzazoles, the most general and applicable one consists of the C–S cross-coupling of corresponding 2-mercaptobenzazoles with various electrophilic coupling partners. This protocol has advantages of the easily accessible starting materials, satisfactory yield of products, broad substrate scope, and high generality which makes it a useful and attractive method for the construction of various 2-arylthio-benzazoles. In this review, we highlight the significant advances achieved in this field from 1987 to 2017, with special emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of the reactions.     

Crystal and morphology development in immiscible nonpolar polymer blend nanocomposite based on low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene in presence of clay and compatibilizer

In this work, polyolefin-blend/clay nanocomposites based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and organically modified clay (OC) were prepared by melt extrusion. Various grades of maleic anhydride (MA) grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) were used and examined as compatibilizers in these nanocomposites. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that OC and compatibilizer affect the crystallization behavior of LDPE/LLDPE with different mechanisms. Thermodynamic calculations of wetting coefficient based on interfacial energy between OC, LD, and LL, Morphological characterization based on field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, small angles X-ray scattering, and dynamic rheology measurements revealed that the compatibilizer and OC were localized at the interface of LDPE and LLDPE phases with a preferred tendency toward one phase. Results demonstrated that at a specific amount of OC, there is an optimum compatibilizer concentration to achieve nanodispersed OC and beyond that the compatibilizer causes a structural change in the polymer crystalline morphology. It was also found that the tensile property enhancement of LDPE/LLDPE/OC nanocomposites is closely related to the crystalline structure development made by incorporation of both OC and compatibilizer.     

Catalytic ozonation process using PAC/γ-Fe2O3 to Alizarin Red S degradation from aqueous solutions: a batch study

In the catalytic ozonation process used in this study, adsorption and chemical reactions were performed at the catalyst surface. This process can increase the efficiency of plain ozonation. The main aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the catalytic ozonation process in removing Alizarin Red S dye from colored water by Fe₂O₃ coated on PAC. In this work, activated carbon powder/γ-Fe₂O₃ nano-composite was modified. The BET results showed that the surface area in PAC and PAC-γ-Fe₂O₃ nano-composite was 654 and 450?m² g^?1, respectively. In this study, the best pH for removal of ARS was found to be 9. At a higher pH, the efficiency of the process decreased gradually. According to studies, catalysts increase surface area and active sites for more ozone degradation. Also, the characterization of the catalyst will play a very important role in the COP. Also, the maximum removal efficiency was observed in catalyst dose 1.1?g l^?1. The study results showed that the highest mineralization rate in ARS degradation was related to O₃/PAC/γ-Fe₂O₃. The amount of mineralization in the SOP, O₃-PAC, and O₃/PAC/γ-Fe₂O₃ was 13, 25, and 40%, respectively. The finding of mineralization of ARS using the SOP reflected the low power of the ozonation process for the mineralization of pollutants.     

Assessment of supercapacitive performance of europium tungstate nanoparticles prepared via hydrothermal method

Nano-sized europium tungstate particles were prepared by reacting europium nitrate hexahydrate and sodium tungstate solutions, and the structures, morphology and optical properties of the product were evaluated by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and UV–Visible techniques. The Eu₂(WO₄)₃ nanoparticles were evaluated as potential materials for constructing supercapacitor electrodes using the results of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the electrodes were found to have a specific capacitance (SC) value of 347 F g^?1 in a 2.0 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte at a scan rate of 2 mV s^?1. The electrodes were further studied at the GCD at a current density of 1 A g^?1, and the SC of the building material was found to be 282 F g^?1. The cycling durability of the electrodes was also found to be excellent. After 4000 cycles the SC values of the electrodes were found to reach 129%. The preparation method and the resulting nano-particles, were hence found to be promising for high performance energy applications.