19,549 research outputs found
Economic Evaluation of New Technologies and Promotions in the Australian Sheep and Wool Industries
No full textKnowledge about the size and distribution of returns from alternative broad types of R&D and promotion investments permit strategic-level decisions about resource allocation, both within and across research programs. The Australian sheep meat and wool industries are characterised by strong cross-commodity relationships due to the joint product nature of the industries. An equilibrium displacement model of the Australian sheep meat and wool industries was developed to account for these relationships and any indirect benefits and costs arising from spill-over and feedback effects between the industries as a result of research-induced innovation or promotion. The potential annual returns and their distribution among the various industry sectors were estimated from different hypothetical investment scenarios to demonstrate the model's relevance to R&D and promotion policy and decision-making.Australian sheep and wool industries, equilibrium displacement model, cross-commodity relationships, R&D and promotion evaluation, Livestock Production/Industries,
Design principles of noble metal-free electrocatalysts for hydrogen production in alkaline media: combining theory and experiment
No full textWater electrolysis is a promising solution to convert renewable energy sources to hydrogen as a high-energy-density energy carrier. Although alkaline conditions extend the scope of electrocatalysts beyond precious metal-based materials to earth-abundant materials, the sluggish kinetics of cathodic and anodic reactions (hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, respectively) impede the development of practical electrocatalysts that do not use precious metals. This review discusses the rational design of efficient electrocatalysts by exploiting the understanding of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction mechanisms and of the electron structure–activity relationship, as achieved by combining experimental and computational approaches. The enhancement of water splitting not only deals with intrinsic catalytic activity but also includes the aspect of electrical conductivity and stability. Future perspectives to increase the synergy between theory and experiment are also proposed.
Water electrolysis is a promising solution to convert renewable energy sources to hydrogen as a high-energy-density energy carrier. Although alkaline conditions extend the scope of electrocatalysts beyond precious metal-based materials to earth-abundant materials, the sluggish kinetics of cathodic and anodic reactions (hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, respectively) impede the development of practical electrocatalysts that do not use precious metals. This review discusses the rational design of efficient electrocatalysts by exploiting the understanding of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction mechanisms and of the electron structure–activity relationship, as achieved by combining experimental and computational approaches. The enhancement of water splitting not only deals with intrinsic catalytic activity but also includes the aspect of electrical conductivity and stability. Future perspectives to increase the synergy between theory and experiment are also proposed.11Ysciescopu
A review of the effects of Australian wool marketing initiatives on the associations between selected variables in the global wool market
No full text"Wool, one of the oldest textile fibers, remains an important textile fiber today. However, wool has been in relative decline for more than 100 years, in the process, shifting from a commodity to a luxury good. Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since the last two significant studies on wool consumption were published - Tisdell's (1977) review of the global wool market and Kirby and Dardis's (1992) analysis of demand for textile fibers in the United States textile industry. There is a need to expand and update the literature. In particular, research is needed that tests the association of a broader array of demand and supply-side variables with fiber consumption. This research employs independent variable analysis and odds ratio analysis techniques to build upon previous studies' explorations of the associations between key independent variables and changes in global mill consumption of Australian wool from 1981 to 2001. Results suggest that fiber prices have the strongest association with Australian wool consumption. Findings also suggest that the associations between the variables reviewed and Australian wool consumption vary greatly across changing periods of wool marketing programs."--Abstract from author supplied metadata
Structural Effect of Nitrogen/Carbon on the Stability of Anchored Ru Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Formate
No full textCO2 hydrogenation to formic acid/formate is regarded as a promising strategy for achieving a sustainable circular-carbon economy. Herein, we report the catalytic behavior of nitrogen-doped carbon (NC)-immobilized ruthenium (RuCl3) catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to formate. The NC supports were prepared at various temperatures by a facile one-step ionothermal carbonization process. The total N content and pyrrolic-N structures decreased with increasing carbonization temperature, whereas the graphitic-N structures increased. The optimized 2Ru/NC750 catalyst showed excellent turnover numbers of 4468 in a 2 h and 18,212 in a 12 h reaction at 120 °C and 8.0 MPa, and good stability, maintaining its original characteristics when recycled. The HRSTEM and XPS analyses revealed that ruthenium existed as highly dispersed atomic-scale Ru3+ species on the NC supports. Deactivation of the catalysts was attributed to (1) loss of Ru3+, (2) migration of Ru3+, and (3) reduction of Ru3+ to Ru0. It is induced that the origin of deactivation can be closely related to the binding of Ru on NC supports. DFT simulations showed that the pyrrolic-N structure was the most stable RuCl3 binding site, corresponding to experimental results. Thus, the superior performance of the 2Ru/NC750 catalyst was attributed to the strong binding of Ru to pyrrolic-N.11Nsciescopu
Do wool carpets ‘clean’ the air or not? A study on the sorption effects of wool carpets by sensory evaluation
No full textIndoor air quality (IAQ) is an important aspect of maintaining human health and well-being, particularly since people spend most of their time indoors. Carpets, with their large surface area and dense fibre piles, have the potential to significantly impact IAQ by emitting and absorbing volatile organic compounds (VOC) from building materials and human activities. The cleaning effect of wool carpets regarding the sorption of odours from two sources of pollution: hardboard and sweaty underwear (as a proxy for bio-effluents), was investigated with an untrained panel of subjects assessing the odour intensity and the acceptability. Tests were performed in three different test environments, including a sniffing table, CLIMPAQs, and full-scale test chambers. The outcome showed that wool carpets can potentially clean the air of odours in small-scale environments, where the wool carpet covers the floor and walls of the test environment, and the odour sources are in contact with the wool carpet. However, the results were less conclusive in on scale scenarios where wool carpets only covered the floor. Overall, wool carpets have the potential to ad(b)sorb odorous emissions, but only when these emissions are near the wool carpet, and thus can have the opportunity to be ad(b)sorbed.Environmental & Climate DesignUrban Data Scienc
Wool Dyeing Instructions, MSS.2643
No full textAbstract: Wool dyeing instructions from an unknown author in Paisley, Scotland, detail recipes and instructions for black, blue, red, and yellow wool dyes.Scope and Content Note: Wool dyeing instructions from Paisley, Scotland, detail recipes and instructions for black, blue, red, and yellow wool dyes. Instructions allow for different hues of each color. Instructions appear to be taped together and are very fragile.Biographical/Historical Note: Unknown author in Paisley, Scotland
Phosphate Removal from Wastewater by Mineral Wool Filters
No full textAccording to the United Nations, eutrophication is the most prevalent water quality problem. Developing countries especially are struggling to manage the increasing volume of untreated wastewater. A preliminary study of a Dutch-Indian partnership, developing universal watermanagement (LOTUSHR), has shown some indication of ortho-phosphate removal by mineral wool. The objective of this research is to understand the ortho-phosphate removal mechanism of mineral wool used for wastewater treatment. It was hypothesized that mineral wool dissociates ions due to biologically mediated pH changes, which subsequently interact with ortho-phosphate, forming minerals and removing ortho-phosphate from wastewater. First of all, the chemical composition of mineral wool was determined. Secondly, the dissolution of mineral wool was quantified by batch experiments at different pH and phosphate concentrations. Furthermore, geochemical modeling with PHREEQC was used to analyze the thermodynamic potential of wastewaters to precipitation, not containing mineral wool. Additionally, the phosphate removal rates of a flow-through experiment, using mimicked Indian Drain Water and mineral wool, was compared with PHREEQC simulations. Results showed that based on chemical analysis mineral wool contains: 188.0 g/kg silicon, 187.6 g/kg calcium, 79.3 g/kg aluminum, 43.1 g/kg iron, among other elements. The mineral wool showed no significant dissolution of ions under different pH and phosphate concentrations. Therefore, the hypothesis was rejected, as the mineral wool did not release ions when stressed with different pH. Consequently, biological conversion will not facilitate ion release from the mineral wool either. The mineral wool did show a self-buffering effect, due to its alkaline properties. Furthermore, with use of PHREEQC, amorphous tricalcium phosphate was characterized as the major mineral phase. In conclusion, the hypothesis formulated was rejected. This research performed did not lead to the identification of the removal mechanism responsible for the ortho-phosphate removal from wastewater by mineral wool filters.LOTUS-HRCivil Engineering | Environmental Engineerin
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