Systematic design of an extractive distillation for maximum-boiling azeotropes with heavy entrainers

Extractive distillation is one of the most attractive approaches for separating azeotropic mixtures. Few contributions have been reported to design an extractive distillation for separating maximum-boiling azeotropes and no systematic approaches for entrainer screening have been presented. A systematic approach to design of two-column extractive distillation for separating azeotropes with heavy entrainers has been proposed. A thermodynamic feasibility analysis for azeotropes with potential heavy entrainers was first conducted. Then, five important properties are selected for entrainer evaluation. Fuzzy logic and develop membership functions to calculate attribute values of selected properties have been used. An overall indicator for entrainer evaluation is proposed and a ranking list is generated. Finally, the top five entrainers from the ranking list have been selected and use process optimization techniques to further evaluate selected entrainers and generate an optimal design. The capability of the proposed method is illustrated using the separation of acetone–chloroform azeotropes with five potential entrainers

International law and global sustainable energy production and consumption

INTRODUCTION Over the past fifty years, the intergovernmental consultation process under the umbrella and the framework of the United Nations, its General Assembly, and its various subsidiary organs and commissions has produced a large number of international conventions and protocols under which nations have committed themselves to agreed principles of international law and global standards. While conventions and protocols form the core of binding international law, the world community has always recognized the value of achieving consensus in the formulation of nonbinding principles and universal policy guidelines through which policy issues of international concern can be addressed. Growing recognition of the need to achieve an ecologically more sustainable socioeconomic development has clearly marked the international development debate throughout the past decade. In the same context, the need to urgently address energy-environment related issues and to work toward a sustainable energy future for all humankind has been widely recognized. In spite of the increased global concerns for greater environmental protection and greater integration of environmental concerns into energy sector and economic decision making, and in spite of a considerable potential for international consensus on global policy guidelines in this field, no universal “code of conduct,” “guideline,” “action plan,” or other form of “soft law” has yet been established. This chapter seeks to remedy this omission and propose draft guidelines on sustainable energy production and consumption applicable to both developed and developing countries

Public acceptance of default nudges to promote healthy and sustainable food choices

Abstract Background Default nudges are an increasingly prominent tool for promoting healthy and sustainable food choices; however, questions of acceptance remain. While default nudges are more acceptable to the public than traditionally paternalistic tools that aim to restrict choice, they are also the least acceptable amongst nudging strategies. Little research has investigated the aspects of default nudge design that can be leveraged to better uphold freedom of choice, increase public acceptance, and therefore heighten legitimacy of default nudges. Consequently, this study examines public acceptance of five food choice default nudges with demonstrated precedent of effectiveness, as drawn from research studies and/or real-world policies, along with a design variation of each anticipated to increase acceptance. Three drivers of acceptance – perceived intrusiveness, perceived effectiveness, and own behavior – are examined. Methods An online survey was administered in Germany (N = 451) to a sample representative of the adult population on quotas of age, gender and income. Acceptance and drivers were measured using seven-point Likert scales. Significant differences in median acceptance of the nudge were determined and displayed graphically. Ten proportional odds ordered logit models were applied and estimated using a maximum likelihood approach to investigate the mechanisms of nudge acceptance. Results Examined changes in nudge design, particularly decreasing costliness of opting out and increasing transparency, increased the acceptance of three of the five nudges (N2.2: p = 0.000; N3.2: p = 0.000; N4.2: p = 0.008). Perceived intrusiveness emerged as the most prominent driver of acceptance (negative relationship), followed by perceived effectiveness (positive relationship). Own engagement in the target behavior of the nudge and socio-demographic variables demonstrated negligible impact on acceptance. Conclusions Mitigating the costliness of opting out and improving nudge transparency emerge as key opportunities for choice architects to improve public acceptance, and thereby potentially identify ‘sweet spots’ in designing default nudges that are both effective and acceptable. The protection of individual freedom of choice and effectiveness are key aspects for choice architects to communicate to increase acceptance

Public acceptance of default nudges to promote healthy and sustainable food choices

Background: Default nudges are an increasingly prominent tool for promoting healthy and sustainable food choices; however, questions of acceptance remain. While default nudges are more acceptable to the public than traditionally paternalistic tools that aim to restrict choice, they are also the least acceptable amongst nudging strategies. Little research has investigated the aspects of default nudge design that can be leveraged to better uphold freedom of choice, increase public acceptance, and therefore heighten legitimacy of default nudges. Consequently, this study examines public acceptance of five food choice default nudges with demonstrated precedent of effectiveness, as drawn from research studies and/or real-world policies, along with a design variation of each anticipated to increase acceptance. Three drivers of acceptance – perceived intrusiveness, perceived effectiveness, and own behavior – are examined. Methods: An online survey was administered in Germany (N= 451) to a sample representative of the adult population on quotas of age, gender and income. Acceptance and drivers were measured using seven-point Likert scales. Significant differences in median acceptance of the nudge were determined and displayed graphically. Ten proportional odds ordered logit models were applied and estimated using a maximum likelihood approach to investigate the mechanisms of nudge acceptance. Results: Examined changes in nudge design, particularly decreasing costliness of opting out and increasing transparency, increased the acceptance of three of the five nudges (N2.2: p = 0.000; N3.2: p = 0.000; N4.2: p = 0.008). Perceived intrusiveness emerged as the most prominent driver of acceptance (negative relationship), followed by perceived effectiveness (positive relationship). Own engagement in the target behavior of the nudge and socio-demographic variables demonstrated negligible impact on acceptance. Conclusions: Mitigating the costliness of opting out and improving nudge transparency emerge as key opportunities for choice architects to improve public acceptance, and thereby potentially identify 'sweet spots' in designing default nudges that are both effective and acceptable. The protection of individual freedom of choice and effectiveness are key aspects for choice architects to communicate to increase acceptance