Search results

This study aims to investigate the effect of reactor temperature on softwood and hardwood pyrolysis. Experiments are performed at six temperature levels ranging from 300 to 800°C under N₂ atmosphere. The weights of char, tar and gas yields produced were measured and recorded in percentage of initial weight of the pyrolyzed samples. Results of the study showed that hardwood produces maximum char, tar and gas yields of 41.02 per cent at 300°C,44.10 per cent at 300°C and 56.86 per cent at 800°C, respectively, whereas softwood produces maximum yields of 30.10 per cent at 300°C, 28.25 per cent at 300°C and 68.73 per cent at 800°C, respectively. Proximate analysis shows that volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content and moisture content of hardwood are 74.83, 14.28, 2.81 and 8.08 per cent, respectively, and that of softwood are 79.76, 12.65, 0.98 and 6.61 per cent, respectively. Result of the elemental analysis results shows that the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur contents for hardwood are 52.20, 6.45, 0.68, 39.64 and 1.03 per cent, respectively, and that of softwood are 45.95, 4.57, 0.56, 48.13 and 0.79 per cent, respectively. The higher heating value of hardwood and softwood are 21.76 and 16.50 kJ/g respectively. This study shows that char and tar yields decrease with increase pyrolysis temperature, whereas gas yield increases as pyrolysis temperature increases for the wood samples considered. At all temperatures considered in this study, gas yields are higher than tar and char yields for softwood, whereas for hardwood, tar yield decreases with increase in temperature with accompanying increase in gas yield.

Experiments are performed at six temperature levels ranging from 300 to 800°C under N₂ atmosphere.

At all temperatures considered in this study, gas yields are higher than tar and char yields for softwood, whereas for hardwood, tar yield decreases with increase in temperature with accompanying increase in gas yield.

Results of the study showed that hardwood produces maximum char, tar and gas yields of 41.02 per cent at 300°C,44.10 per cent at 300°C and 56.86 per cent at 800°C, respectively, whereas softwood produces maximum yields of 30.10 per cent at 300°C, 28.25 per cent at 300°C and 68.73 per cent at 800°C, respectively.

The purpose of this paper is to examine why firms governed by the same environmental management standards within an industry exhibit contrasting responses, with some adhering to the letter and others achieving the spirit behind the standards.

Using Arena et al. (2010) as an analytical schema to examine the institutional dynamics behind such contrasting responses, the paper analyses archival and interview data relating to firm strategy, control technology and human expertise in two contrasting Australian forestry firms.

The embedding and decoupling of environmental standards with a firm’s environmental management practices is influenced, first, by the extent to which founder directors and senior management integrate environmental responsibility with the underlying business motives and, second, by the use of organisational beliefs and values systems to institutionalise the integrated strategic rationality throughout the firm. Finally, informed by the institutionalised strategic rationality, the participation and expertise of actors across the organisational hierarchy determine the level to which the design and execution of the eco-control technologies move beyond merely monitoring compliance, and act to facilitate continuous improvement, knowledge integration and organisational learning at the operational level.

This paper responds to institutional theorists’ call for a holistic explanation that considers the interactions among several intra-organisational factors to explain the dynamics behind why some firms decouple while others do not, even though the firms exist in the same social and regulatory context.

Disputes about Canadian exports of softwood lumber to the U.S. have persisted for more than a century. In this paper the roots of the disputes and the prospects for their resolution are examined. The focus is on the following key factors: (1) the nature of supply and demand; (2) the normative differences underlying the systems of timber management in the two countries and differences about what constitutes a “level playing field”; (3) rent seeking by stakeholders; and (4) weakness in bilateral and multilateral trade dispute resolution institutions. The paper concludes that there are good reasons to expect short term solution to the current dispute but persistence of the disputes in the long run.

The paper extends the robust political economy framework to analyze the impact of tariffs on the entrepreneurial market process. It proposes that the unintended consequences of using trade policy to bolster a nation's economy will inevitably prevent an economy from allocating its resources to their highest-valued use. The study aims to expand the robust political economy literature to international trade.

The paper develops a robust analysis of trade policy and illustrates it with two case studies of trade wars: The Chicken War (1963) and the US–Canada softwood lumber disputes (1982-present).

The paper provides theoretical insights into how the entrepreneurial market process is distorted by trade barriers. The case studies show that the theoretical insights have real-world implications that should not be ignored when planning trade policy.

This paper applies a robust political economy framework to international trade.

This paper discusses the concept of “monitoring” moisture content (MC) as a surveying aid in connection with appraisal of buildings and when assessing the drying out of buildings, for example, after flooding damage. It also presents the findings of testing of various instruments to record the drying out of brick, timber and cement screed specimens. Conclusions are drawn on the most appropriate methods for the surveyor to use when monitoring the MC of construction materials.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the issues in the US‐Canada trade dispute over lumber trade, to analyze the US and Canada's claims and positions in this dispute, and make projections of future possibilities regarding this dispute.

The research method is to review published studies dealing with this dispute and gather public and private data pertaining to issues involved in this dispute.

The paper finds that the US lumber industry's claims of unfair trade by Canada's lumber industry are not supported. Canada is in compliance with World Trade Organization policies and North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)'s agreement. US antidumping and countervailing tariffs on imported Canadian lumber violate NAFTA's rules. Past and current resolutions to this dispute are temporary.

This paper explores the real reasons behind the dispute and evaluates the merits of the interim solutions.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the impacts of impregnation with Imersol Aqua to red colour tone (RCT) of some softwood materials and varnishes.

For this purpose, test samples prepared from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris Lipsky), Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis Link) and Uludağ fir (Abies Bornmülleriana Mattf.), which met the requirements of ASTM D 358, were impregnated with Imersol Aqua by short‐term, medium‐term and long‐term immersion techniques in accordance with ASTM D 1413 and producer's definition. After impregnation, surfaces were coated by synthetic, acrylic, water‐based and polyurathane varnishes in accordance with ASTM D 3023 standards. RCT values of samples after varnishing process were determined in accordance with ASTM D 2244.

It was found that RCT was the highest in Scots pine, long‐term dipping and synthetic varnish, and the lowest in Uludağ fir, short‐term dipping and water‐borne varnish. Considering the interaction of wood type, period of impregnation and type of varnish, RCT was the highest in pine, short term of dipping and acrylic varnish and the lowest in Oriental spruce, short term of dipping and synthetic varnish. So, impregnation process, impregnation period and varnishes applied during tests showed increasing impact for RCT value of Scots pine, Oriental spruce and Uludağ fir woods. This result must be taken into care in manufacture of wooden furniture and construction elements where RCT is important.

The endurance of the protective coating (such as varnish) to external effects is limited and the lifetime of the coating is determined by the type and the severity of the effects to which it is exposed.

The impact of varnish type, wood material type and impregnation chemical on RCT can determine the usefulness of the massive wood materials where RCT values are important.

It is conjectured that especially for the manufacturers and consumers in the furniture, construction and decoration sector, the data obtained in this study will contribute to the making up of the deficiencies in the understanding of the subject.

Discusses the considerations to be made when specifying timber for building purposes, particularly BS classification and hardwood/softwood use. Considers the main factors in detail: strength, quality, sizes, moisture content, durability and preservation, fire resistance, and species. Concludes that, contrary to popular belief, timber is ecologically benign, and its use should be encouraged.

Reports on a study investigating the ways in which companies organise their sales forces and research. Outlines one particular area of interest — the potential use to be made of information provided by the representatives to sales managers. Discusses differences between selling and marketing and how companies have attempted to incorporate this fact into their thinking and organisational frameworks, and welcomes this approach. Investigates the salesman's role and how it has altered in the last 20 years. Gives an example of types of salesman and what companies look for in candidates for sales jobs, these include: maintaining good relations with established customers and encouraging source loyalty; cold calls by commando salesmen whose role is to search out and establish new accounts; and specialist salesmen to handle distinctive requirements of various classes of customers. States also that in UK companies' sales structures it is apparent that salesmen are usually deployed on a geographical territory basis. Examines a case example of a hypothetical firm in the softwood timber importing and distribution business, and discusses this in detail, using an analysis sheet for explanation. Concludes that although the case study relates only to a single firm in one industry there is good reason to suspect there are many firms in a similar position, some of who are particularly liable to experience the problems discussed.