sustainability and the environment

Buoyancy-induced convection of water-based nanofluids in differentially-heated horizontal Semi-Annuli

A two-phase model based on the double-diffusive approach is used to perform a numerical study on natural convection of water-based nanofluids in differentially- heated horizontal semi-annuli, assuming that Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis are the only slip mechanisms by which the solid phase can develop a significant relative velocity with respect to the liquid phase.

High efficiency and lightweight wireless charging system for drone batteries

A high power and high efficiency Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system based on magnetic resonant coupling is proposed to automatically recharge the battery of a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) (a remotely controlled drone). The drone is equipped with a WPT receiving (Rx) circular coil with an electronic system to control the battery charging process, while the WPT transmitting (Tx) circular coil is placed on a ground station and connected to the electric power feeding system.

Magnetic field generated by a 22 kW-85 kHz wireless power transfer system for an EV

A study is presented on the magnetic field produced by a wireless power transfer (WPT) system installed in an electric vehicle (EV). The considered WPT charging system operates at the frequency of 85 kHz with an output power of 22 kW. The magnetic field levels are numerically calculated. In the simulations the presence of the conductive bodyshell of the vehicle is taken into account.

Azetidinium lead iodide: synthesis, structural and physico-chemical characterization

The synthesis of an azetidinium lead iodide perovskite (CH2)3NH2PbI3(AzPbI3), and its extensive characterization are reported. The compound was synthesized through a simple approach based on the reaction between an azetidine aqueous solution and lead acetate dissolved in an excess of hot concentrated aqueous HI. The compound was recrystallized by the vapor diffusion method. Since the synthesized AzPbI3crystals consistently turned out to be twinned and disordered, the structure determination was performed by using powder X-ray diffraction data analysis procedures.

Design of a heterogeneous enzymatic catalyst on chitosan: investigation of the role of conjugation chemistry in the catalytic activity of a laccase from trametes versicolor

BACKGROUND: Three protocols are presented in order to immobilise a laccase (EC 1.10.3.2) from Trametes versicolor on chitosan. In particular, chitosan is functionalized with glutaraldehyde and epichlorohydrin to explore to what extent the conjugation of the enzyme is affected by a carbonyl- or epoxy-modified surface, respectively. In addition, an oxidation procedure is tested to modify, for the first time, the carbohydrate moiety of the enzyme and exploit it for linking with the amine group of chitosan.

Saving soil for sustainable land use

This paper experiments with some costs-benefit analyses, seeking a balance between soil-take and buildability due to land policy and management. The activities have been carried out inside the MITO lab (Lab for Multimedia Information for Territorial Objects) of the Polytechnic University of Bari. Reports have been produced about the Southern Italian Apulia Region, which is rich in farmland and coastline, often invaded by construction, with a severe loss of nature, a degradation of the soil, landscape, and ecosystem services.

Temperature effects on sputtered ITO

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is widely used in solar cell devices for its excellent electrical and optical characteristics, such as high transparency in the Ultraviolet-Visible range and good conductivity (around 104W-1cm-1). In this work we have compared thin (70-150 nm) ITO layers deposited by Direct Current or Radio Frequency sputtering. We have used different substrate temperatures during film growthand have afterwards thermally annealed the samples at different temperatures up to 300 °C to investigate the effects on the electrical and optical properties of the material.

Shortcut Biological Nitrogen Removal (SBNR) in an MFC anode chamber under microaerobic conditions. The effect of C/N ratio and kinetic study

In this work, the feasibility of the Shortcut Biological Nitrogen Removal (SBNR) in the anodic chamber of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) was investigated. Thirty day experiments were carried out using synthetic wastewaters with a Total Organic Carbon vs. nitrogen ratio (TOC/N) ranging from 0.1 to 1. Ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and TOC were daily monitored. Results showed that microaerobic conditions in the anodic chamber favored the development of nitritation reaction, due to oxygen transfer from the cathodic chamber through the membrane.

Artichoke waste as a source of phenolic antioxidants and bioenergy

The thermal properties of artichoke waste, a relatively rich source of phenolic antioxidants, were investigated before and after phenolic recovery in order to assess its suitability as a source of bioproducts and bioenergy. The two main fractions of the waste, the bracts and the stems, were submitted to solvent extraction with aqueous ethanol (0, 50, 100% v/v) and the resulting extracts were assayed for total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The polyphenol content of stems was 51.10 ± 0.74 mg GAE/g and that of bracts was 24.58 ± 0.57 mg GAE/g.

Social approaches to energy transition cases in rural Italy, Indonesia and Australia: Iterative methodologies and participatory epistemologies

Energy transition is often described as the shift from deterritorialised models developed in tandem with the rise of capitalism towards a paradigm based on small-scale infrastructures and short supply chains. In this new paradigm the local dimension is pivotal. This paper takes a self-reflective stance on situated research conducted with local communities in Italy, Indonesia and Australia.

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