Influence Of Production Conditions Research Articles

A novel uncertainty analysis method to improve the accuracy of agricultural grey water footprint evaluation considering the influence of production conditions

Agricultural grey water footprint (GWF) is an important index for quantitatively describing the impact of agricultural production on water environment, which can help evaluate regional water pollution risk (WPR). However, changes in agricultural production conditions lead to strong uncertainties in agricultural GWF. Therefore, advanced methods to deal with these uncertainties for improving the accuracy of regional WPR assessment are required. By combining min–max/max-max programming models with a GWF assessment framework, an integrated uncertainty analysis method for agricultural GWF affected by production conditions was proposed in this study. Based on the method, extreme scenarios of GWF evaluation were established to obtain lower and upper bounds of agricultural GWF. The proposed method was applied in the Guangdong Province in South China, and the following results were obtained. Agricultural GWFs in the Guangdong Province were [124.67, 237.37], [110.63, 204.90], and [104.04, 178.01] Gm3 in 2005, 2010, and 2015, respectively. Different contributing factors of agricultural GWF were shown in the minimum and maximum GWF scenarios. For crop planting, the contribution of dryland and paddy fields to GWF was larger than that of garden land in the minimum GWF scenario, whereas the contribution of garden land was greatest in the maximum GWF scenario. For livestock and poultry breeding, the contribution of livestock raised under dry cleaning condition to the GWF was larger than that under flushing condition in the minimum GWF scenario, whereas the opposite situation was observed in the maximum GWF scenario. Based on the interval values of agricultural GWF, the WPR of the cities of Zhanjiang, Maoming, Yunfu, Chaozhou, Foshan, and Dongguan were identified as unacceptable. By identifying the uncertainties within agricultural GWF evaluation induced by the variability of production conditions, the proposed method can provide helpful information for agricultural planning in the context of sustainable agricultural development.

Influence of Production Conditions on the Quality of Coal Tar

Influence of Production Conditions on the Quality of Coal Tar

The influence of production conditions on the electrophysical parameters of piezoceramics for different applications

The conditions for the preparation of ceramic piezomaterials with low temperatures of synthesis and sintering have been studied. It is obtained that the materials based on the double system0.2Pb(Nb2/3Zn1/3)O3-0.8Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3, alloyed with gallium and manganese ions and the triple system 0.41Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.23PbZrO3-0.36PbTiO3, alloyed with zinc and copper ions can be used in multilayer devices. It is shown that the lead-free ceramic material of the composition. (Na0.5Bi0.5)0.91Сd0.09TiO3can be used in sensors and actuators.

Influence of temperature and residence time on characteristics of biochars derived from agricultural residues: A comprehensive evaluation

In this study, the influence of production conditions (i.e., pyrolysis temperature and residence time) on the fundamental properties and the nutritional traits of biochars derived from different feedstocks (corn stalk, rape straw, wheat stalk, and peanut shell) were investigated. The results showed that pyrolysis temperature was a critical parameter affecting biochar properties, whereas the influences of residence time and feedstock were comparatively weaker. Biochar properties, including the pH, ash content, electrical conductivity (EC), oxidation stability, and the ability to retain nutrients, were positively related with increasing temperature and prolonged residence time. However, the water-extractable organic matter and available nutrients were negatively related with temperature and residence time. There was a minimal release of NH4+-N, NO3−-N, and PO43−-P from the generated biochars, and their concentrations were reduced through carbonization. By comparison, the water-soluble K+ content steadily increased with pyrolysis. Generally, the biochars showed a limited capacity for sorbing PO43− and NO3−, although the removal efficiencies were enhanced by pyrolysis. By comparison, higher NH4+ removal was achieved by biochars, and particularly for biochars with a higher pH. These findings suggest that the application of agricultural residue-derived biochars might not provide plants with sufficient nutrients (except for K). Additionally, the biochars generated at 500°C for a duration of 1h demonstrated higher potential for carbon sequestration.

The Influence of Synthesis Conditions on the Phase Composition, Structure, and Properties of the High-Entropy Ti–Cr–Fe–Ni–Cu Alloy

The influence of production conditions on the structure, phase composition, and properties of the high-entropy Ti–Cr–Fe–Ni–Cu alloy has been studied. The starting materials were Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ti powders in the equiatomic ratio. To prepare the starting charge, the powders were mixed and mechanically alloyed in a planetary-ball mill. The compacted billets were hot-forged and then annealed at 1000, 1100, and 1200°C. The phase composition of the hot-forged and annealed alloys is mainly represented by FCC structure. There are few peaks of BCC structures, intermetallides, and titanium. Mechanical synthesis leads to significant distortion of crystalline lattices of all elements in the powder mixture, which is evidenced by substantial broadening of interference lines. The hardness and lattice distortion of the hot-forged samples decrease after annealing with increasing temperature. The materials made of the starting mixtures subjected to preliminary mechanical alloying show higher hardness. The hardness increases with grinding time for both unannealed samples and those annealed at all temperatures concerned.

Using vortex layer devices to accelerate chemical reactions in low-speed systems

This work shows the effectiveness of applying vortex layer devices to accelerate chemical reactions in low-speed systems, using the production of dioctylphthalate as an example. The influence of production conditions on the product properties is evaluated.

Single crystalline YAG:Ce phosphor for powerful solid-state sources of white light. The influence of production conditions on luminescence properties and lighting characteristics

It is shown that the spectral properties and spatial distribution of LED radiation with a YAG:Ce single crystalline luminescent converter significantly depend on the morphology of the converter surface. The variation of surface roughness enables one to obtain a light source with a wide range of color characteristics. As a result of optimization of converter parameters we demonstrate a possibility of creating a white light LED with correlated color temperature Т CC ~ 5000–6500 K and color rendering index CRI ≈ 60–70.

Structure and Dynamics of Veiled Virgin Olive Oil: Influence of Production Conditions and Relation to its Antioxidant Capacity

Structure and dynamics of the colloidal dispersions in veiled virgin olive oil (VVOO), the fresh olive juice, were for the first time investigated with different scattering techniques and related to the extraction conditions applied by the olive oil producers. VVOO samples were produced with either the three-phase extraction procedure (oil/externally added water) at different malaxation times, or by the dual-phase extraction procedure (no externally added water). Static light scattering (Small angle light scattering apparatus SALSA), dynamic light scattering, based on a 3D cross-correlation system, a flat cell and a red HeNe-Laser with 632,8 nm wavelength (3D-DLS), classical dynamic light scattering using a goniometer with cylindrical cells and a green laser with 532 nm wavelength, (Green-DLS), and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), are the scattering techniques that were used for the analysis of the samples. In addition, samples of VVOO were analyzed with a confocal microscope. SAXS technique gave almost the same results for all the samples of VVOO indicating comparable nano-structure due to the triglyceride backbone. When 3D-DLS and Green DLS were applied to the VVOO samples, quite different results were obtained. In addition, from the microscopic study of the VVOO samples discrete droplets but no anisotropic crystals could be observed. Finally, radical scavenging activity measurements applying Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy showed that the antioxidant capacity of the veiled VVO was higher than the one of the filtered oils. Between the two oil extraction systems the dual phase one seems to be more appropriate for the production of stable and rich in minor constituents olive oils.

Influence of production conditions on the yield and environmental stability of biochar

Biochar, a solid product of biomass pyrolysis, is a promising concept for climate change mitigation and adaptation, as it can sequester atmospheric CO2 while improving quality of soil where it is stored. However, for this potential to be realised, it is necessary for biochar to have high environmental stability, i.e., resist various decomposition processes over long time. The main objective of this work has been to relate biochar production conditions to the yield, and properties of biochar, particularly its long-term stability. We used our lab-scale pyrolysis facilities to produce biochar at three temperatures between 350°C and 550°C, from selected feedstock (pine, mixed larch and spruce chips, softwood pellets). We measured the yield of biochar and then used an accelerated ageing assay to obtain information on the stability of biochar. Such information is very important for the assessment of the climate change mitigation potential of biochar, as it has not yet been clearly defined what proportion of biochar actually remains “permanently” sequestered and how much is released back to the atmosphere in the short to medium term. The results of this work showed that despite increase in the stability of biochar with increasing pyrolysis temperature, the yield of stable biochar fraction is nearly independent of the temperature. These findings are essential for the optimisation of pyrolysis conditions for production of biochar with selected properties, as well as for modelling biochar systems and their climate change mitigation potential as compared to other uses of biomass, such as bioenergy, biofuels and/or chemicals.

Variability in oxidative degradation of charcoal: Influence of production conditions and environmental exposure

Charcoal is a key component of the Black Carbon (BC) continuum, where BC is characterized as a recalcitrant, fire-derived, polyaromatic material. Charcoal is an important source of palaeoenvironmental data, and of great interest as a potential carbon sink, due to its high apparent environmental stability. However, at least some forms of charcoal are clearly susceptible to environmental alteration and degradation over relatively short timescales. Although these processes have importance for the role of charcoal in global biogeochemistry, they remain poorly understood. Here we present results of an investigation into the susceptibility of a range of charcoal samples to oxidative degradation in acidified potassium dichromate. The study examines both freshly-produced charcoal, and charcoal exposed to environmental conditions for up to 50,000 years. We compare the proportion of carbon present in different forms between the samples, specifically with respect to the relative chemical resistance of these forms. This was undertaken in order to improve understanding of the post-depositional diagenetic changes affecting charcoal within environmental deposits. A wide range in chemical compositions are apparent both within and between the sample groups. In freshly-produced charcoal, material produced at 300 °C contains carbon with more labile forms than charcoal produced at ⩾400 °C, signifying a key chemical change over the 300–400 °C temperature range. Charcoal exposed to environmental depositional conditions is frequently composed of a highly carboxylated aromatic structure and contains a range of carbon fractions of varying oxidative resistance. These findings suggest that a significant number of the environmental charcoals have undergone post-depositional diagenetic alteration. Further, the data highlight the potential for the use of controlled progressive oxidative degradation as a method to characterize chemical differences between individual charcoal samples.

Prediction of Potential Compressive Strength of Portland Clinker from Production Conditions in Cement Kiln

Abstract Statistical models for prediction of potential compressive strength up to 28 days of Portland clinker from production conditions in a cement kiln have been evaluated. The potential compressive strength of clinker was predicted from the mineralogy part of the microstructure of cement. The mineralogy of the clinker was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRDA) and the potential compressive strength was predicted from XRD-patterns of two selected 2θ ranges. The statistical method applied for evaluating the prediction models was partial least square regression (PLS). The influence of the production variables was examined by sensitivity analysis using simulation by optimization of variation, and prediction. Significant minimum and maximum strength at 1 and 28 days, respectively, was achieved by optimizing the production condition. The influence of production conditions alone on the strength at 28 days was higher than on the strength at 1 day. The methodology demonstrated is not limited to strength (which is easily measured directly), but it is also applicable to other more difficult/expensive achievable performance parameters that may beneficially be optimized via prediction from cement characteristics before actually documenting it for the most promising final products.

Study on Very High Cycle Fatigue Fracture of High Strength Steel with CFB/M Complex Microstructure

The influence of production conditions and Nb microalloy on the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) behaviors of different Carbide-free bainite/martensite (CFB/M) steels was studied, which include steels produced in laboratory and steelworks. Results show the Nb-microalloy can strengthen the microstructure including the soft bainite plate and improve the VHCF property evidently. In addition, the high purity of steels can avoid inclusion induced crack initiation, but can not improve the VHCF property unless the microstructure possesses favorable uniformity. The critical inclusion size is suggested to be 10-15μm and the CFB/M complex microstructure may be less sensitive to inclusions than other high strength steels.

Advances for the Topographic Characterisation of SMC Materials

For a comprehensive study of Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC) surfaces, topographical data obtained by a contact-free optical method (chromatic aberration confocal imaging) were systematically acquired to characterise these surfaces with regard to their statistical, functional and volumetrical properties. Optimal sampling conditions (cut-off length and resolution) were obtained by a topographical-statistical procedure proposed in the present work. By using different length scales specific morphologies due to the influence of moulding conditions, metallic mould topography, glass fibre content and glass fibre orientation can be characterized. The aim of this study is to suggest a systematic topographical characterization procedure for composite materials in order to study and recognize the influence of production conditions on their surface quality.

Wasserglas als Bindemittel für Holzfaserdämmstoffe

Water glass as adhesive for insulation material from regrowing raw materials. Properties of potassium water glass and its ability as adhesive for insulation material from regrowing raw materials are described. The influence of production conditions on the chemical and physical behavior of water glass was investigated within the scope of the author's doctoral thesis.

Influence of production conditions on the densification of zirconia powders obtained from acetates

Tetragonal yttrium-stabilized zirconia samples were obtained by pyrolysis of amorphous acetates containing both metals, at 950 °C in air. The dilatometric behaviour of samples indicates a dedensification when pyrolysis is carried out with a non-linear heating rate causing an absence of fine open porosity. A destabilization when cooling is observed for samples exhibiting a wide granulometry with agglomerate sizes reaching 100 μm. Even when neither one, nor the other phenomenon is noticed, an important aggregation state of the starting powders limits the densification and leads to poor sintered densities.

Iron species in fusion-cast, glassy-phase-containing corundum materials; EPR and susceptibility analyses

By means of EPR, susceptibility, EMP, light-microscopic, thermal and chemical methods the influence of production conditions and subsequent treatments on glassy-phase-containing corundum materials were studied. Melting of the system (Al2O3, SiO2, Na2O, Fe3O4) under reductive conditions leads to a reduction of Fe3+ species contained to Fe2+ and even to Fe0 clusters with ferromagnetic behaviour. Both species markedly influence the mechanical properties of the material by increase of their volumes in consequence of oxidation in subsequent thermal processes. The following model with regard to the localization of the iron species in the system ensues: Fe(III) in corundum, Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and (scarcely) in the glassy phase; Fe(II) in the glassy phase, FeAl2O4 (hercynite) as a solid solution in corundum, and Fe3O4; (Fe0) clusters in corundum. It is therefore not surprising that grinding of the compact material considerably alters the magnetic properties of the samples.

Influence of Production Conditions on the Bacteriological Quality of Refrigerated Farm Bulk Tank Milk—A Review

Influence of Production Conditions on the Bacteriological Quality of Refrigerated Farm Bulk Tank Milk—A Review