Customized and Value-added High Quality Alfalfa Products: A New Concept

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): Customized and Value-added High Quality Alfalfa Products: A New Concept. Manuscript FP 07 003. Vol. IX. June, 2007

Supercritical water (SCW): a new medium to generate novel materials for solar energy applications

Paper presented to the 3rd Southern African Solar Energy Conference, South Africa, 11-13 May, 2015.We present here developments and results from a multidisciplinary experimental program focused on the use of supercritical water (SCW) for energy applications and hydrothermal processing. We highlight our findings from investigating the interaction of organic and inorganic materials with SCW, and also comment on progress with advanced measurement systems. Supercritical water (SCW) possesses unique properties, which have prompted investigation into its usage in a plethora of energy and chemical applications. Beyond its critical point (374 °C and 22.1 MPa), water exhibits unconventional solubility and heat transfer characteristics, which are potentially advantageous. In this paper, we present an overview of our progress in experimental studies of the interaction of SCW with a variety of materials, both organic and inorganic. Our most notable progress has been in the development of several novel materials, designs and experimental techniques for small-scale research, and the use of these designs and techniques for detailed experimental study. The work shown highlights the potential of SCW as a useful medium for solar energy applications, and identifies some intriguing features of SCW research.cf201

Development of improved iron Fischer-Tropsch catalysts

The objective of proposed research is development of catalysts with enhanced slurry phase activity and better selectivity to fuel range products, through a more detailed understanding and systematic studies of the effects of pretreatment procedures and promoters/binders (silica) on catalyst performance

Structural and optical properties of RF magnetron sputtered aluminum nitride films without external substrate heating

We report structural and optical properties of aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering. A ceramic AlN target was used to sputter deposit AlN films without external substrate heating in Ar–N2 (1:1) ambient. The X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy results revealed that the films were preferentially oriented along c-axis. Cross-sectional imaging revealed columnar growth perpendicular to the substrate. The secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis confirmed that aluminum and nitrogen distribution was uniform within the thickness of the film. The optical band gap of 5.3 eV was evaluated by UV–vis spectroscopy. Photo-luminescence broad band was observed in the range of 420–600 nm with two maxima, centered at 433 nm and 466 nm wavelengths related to the energy states originated during the film growth. A structural property correlation has been carried out to explore the possible application of such important well oriented nano-structured two-dimensional semiconducting objects

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Not AvailableThe comprehensive impacts of different nitrogen management and crop establishment on greenhouse(GHG) fluxes are not well documented. GHG emissions from rice paddies under different nitrogen man-agement and crop establishment merit attention because nitrogen fertilizer is indiscriminately used forthe intensification of rice cultivation. Field trials were conducted to assess methane (CH4), nitrous oxide(N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, labile C pools, microbial population and enzymatic activitiesin rice soil under different crop establishment and nitrogen (N) management practices. The crop estab-lishment methods included aerobic rice (AR) that involved dry direct seeding under non puddled andnon-flooded situation and puddled transplanted rice (PTR) under flooded condition. Nitrogen manage-ment practices were control, 100 kg N ha−1as prilled urea (PU) and applied conventionally, 100 kg N ha−1as neem coated urea (NCU), applied conventionally, 100 kg N ha−1as PU, applied on the basis of cus-tomized leaf colour chart (CLCC) recommendation, 100 kg N ha−1as NCU, applied on the basis of CLCCrecommendation, 100 kg N ha−1as PU and farm yard manure (FYM) in 1:1 ratio, applied conventionally.Cumulative seasonal CH4emission was 73–75% less in AR as compared to PTR. But seasonal N2O and CO2emissions from soils were significantly higher in AR. Global warming potential of AR was comparativelyless than PTR but yield loss in AR caused greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) of AR to be at par with that ofPTR. Inclusion of FYM along with PU reduced N2O emission and maintained significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05)microbial biomass carbon concentration, nitrifiers, Azotobacter and Azospirillum population and dehydro-genase, -glucosidase and urease activities in soils of AR and PTR. Real time N application according toleaf colour chart and use of slow release N fertilizers can reduce N2O emission, minimize yield loss andlower GHGI of AR.ICA