Engineering of a monodisperse core-shell magnetic Ti-O-Si oxidation nanocatalyst

There has been limited development in catalyst carriers for magnetic separations where superparamagnetic nanoparticles of a high saturation magnetization with no coercivity are required to isolate expensive catalyst reagent that are subjected to repeated magnetic cycles. By using simple stepwise layer-by-layer nanochemistry techniques, we show that an fee FePt nanomagnet can be created inside each silica particle with tailored dimensions to great precision. Subsequent engineering of the external surface with Ti-O-Si species in an optimum structure to create a unique interface gives high activity and excellent selectivity of the composite material for the trans-stilbene oxidation to the corresponding epoxide in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Thus, a new magnetic separable epoxidation catalyst is described. This work clearly demonstrates the significance of nanoengineering of a single catalyst particle by a bottom-up construction approach in modern catalyst design, which could lead to new catalytic. properties.

Engineering Pt in ceria for a maximum metal-support interaction in catalysis

Conventional supported metal catalysts are metal nanoparticles deposited on high surface area oxide supports with a poorly defined metal−support interface. Typically, the traditionally prepared Pt/ceria catalyzes both methanation (H2/CO to CH4) and water−gas shift (CO/H2O to CO2/H2) reactions. By using simple nanochemistry techniques, we show for the first time that Pt or PtAu metal can be created inside each CeO2 particle with tailored dimensions. The encapsulated metal is shown to interact with the thin CeO2 overlayer in each single particle in an optimum geometry to create a unique interface, giving high activity and excellent selectivity for the water−gas shift reaction, but is totally inert for methanation. Thus, this work clearly demonstrates the significance of nanoengineering of a single catalyst particle by a bottom-up construction approach in modern catalyst design which could enable exploitation of catalyst site differentiation, leading to new catalytic properties.

Performance evaluation of wall mounted convector for pre-heating naturally ventilated spaces

This paper presents the results of performance monitoring under real winter weather conditions, controlled laboratory testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of a wall mounted ventilation air inlet heat convector. For real winter weather monitoring, the wall-mounted convector was installed in a laboratory room of the Engineering Building of the School of Construction Management and Engineering. Air and hot water temperatures and air speeds were measured at the entrance to the convector and in the room. The hot water temperature was controlled at 40, 60 and 80 °C. The monitoring results were later used as boundary conditions for a CFD simulation to investigate the air movement in the room. Controlled laboratory testing was conducted in laboratories at the University of Reading, UK and at Wetterstad Consultancy, Sweden. The results of the performance investigation showed that the system contributed greatly to the room heating, particularly at a water temperature of 80 °C. Also adequate fresh air was supplied to the room. Such a system is able to provide an energy efficient method of eliminating problems associated with cold winter draughts.

Re-engineering construction: going against the grain

An overtly critical perspective on 're-engineering construction' is presented. It is contended that re-engineering is impossible to define in terms of its substantive content and is best understood as a rhetorical label. In recent years, the language of re-engineering has heavily shaped the construction research agenda. The declared goals are to lower costs and improve value for the customer. The discourse is persuasive because it reflects the ideology of the 'enterprise culture' and the associated rhetoric of customer responsiveness. Re-engineering is especially attractive to the construction industry because it reflects and reinforces the existing dominant way of thinking. The overriding tendency is to reduce organizational complexities to a mechanistic quest for efficiency. Labour is treated as a commodity. Within this context, the objectives of re-engineering become 'common sense'. Knowledge becomes subordinate to the dominant ideology of neo-liberalism. The accepted research agenda for re-engineering construction exacerbates the industry's problems and directly contributes to the casualization of the workforce. The continued adherence to machine metaphors by the construction industry's top management has directly contributed to the 'bad attitudes' and 'adversarial culture' that they repeatedly decry. Supposedly neutral topics such as pre-assembly, partnering, supply chain management and lean thinking serve only to justify the shift towards bogus labour-only subcontracting and the associated reduction of employment rights. The continued casualization of the workforce raises real questions about the industry's future capacity to deliver high-quality construction. In order to appear 'relevant' to the needs of industry, it seems that the research community is doomed to perpetuate this regressive cycle.