Design principles in housing for people with complex physical and cognitive disability: towards an integrated framework for practice

To develop a research-based environmental framework to guide the design and construction of suitable residential dwellings for individuals with complex disability. An environmental approach to housing design and development recognises that there are physical, psychological and social components relating to housing design, dwelling location and the neighbourhood context, and that these elements interact to affect the physical, psychological, and social wellness of individuals. Following theoretical review and synthesis, a comprehensive set of design features that are conducive to residents’ wellness and quality of life are described. It is clear that housing design and development for people with complex disability ought to consider the physical, social, natural, symbolic, and care environment in relation to housing design, dwelling location, and the neighbourhood context for improved housing outcomes. An integrated housing design and development framework is presented. It is hoped this practical matrix/evaluative tool will inform future inclusive housing design and development decisions in Australia and internationally. The application of this framework is especially relevant to political climates striving to achieve design innovation to increase housing choice for people with complex disability

Investigation of Reaction Mechanism and the Effects of Process Parameters on Ionic Liquid–Based Delignification of Sugarcane Straw

The delignification of sugarcane straw (SCS) was investigated using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, [Emim][OAc], varying three process parameters such as temperature, residence time, and stirring rate. The maximum degree of delignification was around 63.9% at 90 °C for a stirring rate of 1400 rpm and a residence time of 5 h. The 23 full factorial statistical model was well-fitted with the experimental results. Among the 26 solid-liquid reaction mechanisms studied in this study, Zhuravlev, Lesokhin, and Templeman diffusion (i.e., shrinking core/product layer) model was found to be the most suitable model for describing the delignification mechanism of SCS using [Emim][OAc]. When compared with other process parameters, higher temperatures produced low crystalline and low thermally stable recovered cellulose-rich material with high porosity and BET surface area due to higher degree of crystalline cellulose I to amorphous cellulose II transformation. The recovered lignin was of low molecular structure with high content of phenolic OH− groups and syringyl units. The recovery of [Emim][OAc] was > 85% with no structural changes. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Investigations into distribution and characterisation of products formed during hydrothermal carbonisation of paunch waste

Paunch waste is the wet waste generated from the cattle/sheep yard, paunch material, skin-shed, boning rooms, blood stream and rendering plant in an abattoir. It contains around 3% solids. It mainly consists of grass, grain, grease, fat, protein, blood, intestinal content, manure and cleaning products. In this study, paunch waste was treated under hydrothermal carbonisation conditions at different temperatures (160 to 240°C), residence time (5-150 min) and initial N2 pressure (10-30 bar) in a laboratory scale 600 mL Parr reactor system. The main objective of this study was to quantify the product distribution and further characterise the products produced from the hydrothermal carbonisation of paunch waste. The product distribution results reveal that higher bio-oil yield was obtained at relatively mild hydrothermal carbonisation conditions which is mainly attributed to fragile nature of paunch waste, higher water, volatile matter and carbohydrate content, and lower lignin and ash content. The resultant hydrochar was found to have higher HHV (∼24.48 MJ kg-1) and BET surface area (68.1 m2g-1) which demonstrates their suitability as a coal substitute (in energy generation processes) or a porous medium (in soil conditioning, remediation or catalysts applications). Biodiesel-like compounds were found in the heavy bio-oil with the HHV of around 38 MJ kg-1. Higher bio-oil production and excellent physico-chemical properties of hydrochar at milder hydrothermal carbonisation conditions have demonstrated significant improvement in the commercial viability of hydrothermal carbonisation of the paunch waste

Research progress on levoglucosan production via pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and its effective recovery from bio-oil

Production of high value biochemicals from lignocellulose biomass via pyrolysis, particularly levoglucosan (LG) has received immense attention in recent years. LG production via fast pyrolysis has recorded a continuous development over the past years, which demands a state-of-the-art review, covering the LG recovery methods and commercial feasibility analysis of the process. This paper provides an in-depth review of the progress and current status of bio-LG production with a focus on formation mechanisms, influential variables, recovery methods and techno-economic prospects. Based on the experimental findings of the previous studies, this review concluded that the LG yield from biomass via pyrolysis could be proposed as a function of biomass structural properties, cellulose content, inorganic minerals content as well as pyrolysis process conditions. An essential aspect of maximising the overall efficiency of LG production process is the adoption of efficient in-situ or post-pyrolysis LG extraction techniques, which has been critically reviewed for the first time. The paper also summarises the techno-commercial assessment studies of LG facility, highlighting the limiting factors towards the economic attractiveness of the process. Finally, the review highlights the knowledge gaps and provides future recommendations, which will be helpful for the improvement of productivity and economic feasibility of bio-LG production process

Conversion of pyrolytic non-condensable gases from polypropylene co-polymer into bamboo-type carbon nanotubes and high-quality oil using biochar as catalyst

The conversion of low-value plastic waste into high-value products such as carbon nanomaterial is of recent interest. In the current study, the non-condensable pyrolysis gases, produced from Polypropylene Copolymer (PPC) feedstock, was converted into bamboo-type carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) through catalytic chemical vapour deposition using biochar. Experiments were conducted in a three-zone furnace fixed bed reactor, where PPC was pyrolysed in the second zone and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) growth was eventuated in the third zone. The effects of different growth temperatures (500, 700, 900 °C) and biochar particle sizes (nanoparticle as well as 0–100 and 100–300 μm) were investigated to optimise the production of hydrogen and the yield of carbon nanotubes on the biochar surface. Biochar samples used in the synthesis of CNTs were obtained from the pyrolysis of saw dust at 700 °C in a muffle furnace. Analyses performed by using Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy techniques suggested that the best crystalline structure of CNTs were obtained at 900 °C with nano-sized biochar as a catalyst. The strong gas-solid contact and void fraction of nano-sized particles enhances the diffusion–precipitation mechanism, leading to the growth of CNTs. The nano-sized biochar increased hydrogen production at 900 °C and reduced the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content in oil to only 1%, which is advantageous for further utilisation. Therefore, the production of high-value CNTs from waste plastic using low-cost biochar catalyst can be a sustainable approach in the management of waste plastic while participating in the circular economy

A critical literature review on biosolids to biochar: an alternative biosolids management option

The biosolids management is becoming an increased concern for the wastewater sector in recent times due to production of large volume of biosolids, their higher processing costs and the presence of emerging contaminants. The pyrolysis of biosolids is gaining significant interest in the industry sector as well as research community over the last decade due to its ability to reduce biosolids volume, produce high-value biochar product and minimise the risk associated with contaminants. This paper aims to critically review the literature on biosolids management techniques and their current challenges, biosolids characteristics and its suitability for pyrolysis, pyrolysis product characterisation from different reactor designs and biochar application as a soil amendment, adsorbent and catalyst. The efforts have also been made to critically summarise studies on the process modelling activities and techno-economic assessments including some key pilot-scale demonstrations of recent time. The review concludes that biosolids to biochar can be an effective alternative to biosolids management; however, its commercial viability is limited in the current scenario. In the end, efforts have been made to highlight current challenges including research gaps and future perspectives in improving its commercial viability