Synthesis of BaCO 3 particles tailored by carboxylated cellulose fibers

The present work deals with the use of carboxylated cellulose fibers, thereafter called Cellulose Nano Fibers (CNF), as eco-friendly materials and sustainable resources for remediation and valuation, of metal ions present in contaminated water. Barium divalent cation (Ba2+) is among the most common heavy metal pollutants found in water such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and mercury. Thus, CNFs containing carboxylate groups were first prepared by the oxidation of the cellulose fibers using the NaOCl-NaBr-TEMPO system, and thereafter, they were used as adsorbent for Ba2+ ions removal from BaCl2 aqueous solutions. Such Ba2+ removal was evidenced by the decrease of both the CNF surface charge and the CNF absorbance, upon the addition of the metal divalent cation, BaCl2 to the CNF aqueous dispersions. It is shown that the interaction occurring between the fiber carboxylic groups and the positively charged metal ions, Ba2+, occurs via electrostatic interactions and leads to the CNFs –Ba2+ complex formation. In the second part of this work, we investigated the effect of the CNFs on the crystallogenesis of barium carbonate particles, BaCO3. Thus, the CNFs aqueous solution was first added to barium chloride BaCl2 solution, and the mixture was stirred for a period of time (complexation time), prior the addition of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solution. The precipitation of barium carbonate particles in the presence of CNFs occurred at ambient temperature, in a water-jacketed Pyrex glass vessel. Finally, the resulting Barium carbonate-CNFs composites were examined by various methods such as Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction. From the SEM data, two BaCO3 morphologies were observed, dendritic and bent or rods particles, respectively, in the absence and in the presence of the CNFs

Influence of halloysite nanotubes on physical and mechanical properties of cellulose fibres reinforced vinyl ester composites

Natural fibres are generally added to polymer matrix composites to produce materials with the desirable mechanical properties of higher specific strength and higher specific modulus while at the same time to maintain a low density and low cost. The physical and mechanical properties of polymer composites can be enhanced through the addition of nanofillers such as halloysite nanotubes. This article describes the fabrication of vinyl ester eco-composites and eco-nanocomposites and characterizes these samples in terms of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties. Weight gain test and Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated that 5% halloysite nanotube addition gave favourable reduction in the water absorption and increased the fibre–matrix adhesion leading to improved strength properties in the eco-nanocomposites. However, halloysite nanotube addition resulted in reduced toughness but improved thermal stability

The importance of service quality in British Muslim’s choice of an Islamic or non-Islamic bank account

Using an extended SERVQUAL model, this study identifies and compares the importance of service quality to Muslim consumers with an Islamic or non-Islamic bank account in a non-Muslim country, Britain. Eight group discussions and survey with 300 Muslims were conducted. Five dimensions of service quality were identified, i.e. Responsiveness, Credibility, Islamic Tangibles, Accessibility and Reputation. These differ in structure and content from the original SERVQUAL developed in the west and the subsequent CARTER model constructed in a Muslim country. In addition, significant differences were found in the importance rating of items by respondents holding an account with an Islamic bank compared to those with a non-Islamic bank account. This study is one of the first to identify and compare the importance of service quality between Islamic and non-Islamic bank account holders in a western non-Muslim country. The results advance our understanding of the impact of culture on SERVQUAL. The study provides insight into Muslims’ bank choice and helps bank managers of both Islamic and non-Islamic banks to focus their attention on the service quality dimensions that matter most to Muslim customers

How handwriting reduces negative online ratings

This research investigates whether handwriting during the tourism experience reduces subsequent negative and extreme online rating scores. We portray that handwriting, due to a more deeply rooted elaboration of information, activates emotional empathy. Study 1, a field experiment in the hospitality context, suggests that handwriting reduces the extremeness of subsequent online rating scores. Study 2 compares handwritten vs. typed comments and complements the initial findings by clarifying the mediating role of emotional empathy on this relationship. We discuss the boundary conditions for the effect and offer practical implications on how to nudge tourists to reduce negative online rating scores. Hotel operators should use their enhanced emotional bonding with tourists when competing with peer-to-peer operators

Brand Suicide? Memory and Liking of Negative Brand Names

Negative brand names are surprisingly common in the marketplace (e.g., Poison perfume; Hell pizza, and Monster energy drink), yet their effects on consumer behavior are currently unknown. Three studies investigated the effects of negative brand name valence on brand name memory and liking of a branded product. Study 1 demonstrates that relative to nonnegative brand names, negative brand names and their associated logos are better recognised. Studies 2 and 3 demonstrate that negative valence of a brand name tends to have a detrimental influence on product evaluation with evaluations worsening as negative valence increases. However, evaluation is also dependent on brand name arousal, with high arousal brand names resulting in more positive evaluations, such that moderately negative brand names are equally as attractive as some non-negative brand names. Study 3 shows evidence for affective habituation, whereby the effects of negative valence reduce with repeated exposures to some classes of negative brand name