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1 – 10 of 373The present study addresses the mutual relationship between pollution and corrosion in the context of the petroleum refining industry. The rate of galvanic corrosion of steel…
Abstract
The present study addresses the mutual relationship between pollution and corrosion in the context of the petroleum refining industry. The rate of galvanic corrosion of steel coupled with copper when immersed in oil refinery wastewater was studied by the weight‐loss technique. The variables studied were: MgCl2 concentration, the ratio between the cathode area and the anode area of the galvanic couple, and operating temperature. It was found that the rate of galvanic corrosion of steel coupled with copper increased with increasing MgCl2 up to a certain concentration and then remained almost constant with further increase in concentration. Increasing the cathode/anode area ratio also increased the rate of corrosion. The rate of corrosion increased with temperature at an activation energy of 8.4 kcal/mol, which denotes that galvanic corrosion of steel in MgCl2 solution is a diffusion‐controlled reaction.
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Bukar Zanna Waziri, Aminu Hassan and Reza Kouhy
Net energy importing countries (NEICs) pursue strategic policies to reduce the consumption of energy from conventional sources and increase that of renewable energy to attain…
Abstract
Purpose
Net energy importing countries (NEICs) pursue strategic policies to reduce the consumption of energy from conventional sources and increase that of renewable energy to attain energy security and sustainable development. However, net energy exporting countries (NEECs) rely substantially on the proceeds realised from oil and gas exports to mainly NEICs to finance government activities. This paper aims to investigate the effect of increased consumption of renewable energy in developed NEICs on the Nigeria’s oil and gas exports.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was undertaken by analysing macro-economic annual time-series data set (1980-2014) using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach.
Findings
Both the short-run and the long-run results of the ARDL modelling reveal that renewable energy consumption in developed NEICs is affecting Nigeria’s oil and gas exports negatively, thereby causing significant decrease in the amounts of revenue being generated therefrom.
Research limitations/implications
Like most empirical studies, the conduct of this research has encountered some challenges. Thus, the use of rather small sample in terms of period covered (1980-2014), annual frequency of data and focus on one NEEC (Nigeria) are the key limitations of this paper. While the first two challenges were dealt with by using ARDL, future research can focus on other NEECs to extend the study.
Practical implications
The findings have several policy implications, including the need for Nigeria to focus on developing internal market trajectories to increase domestic utilisation of its conventional energy rather than depending on external markets. The results also suggest the need for public policymakers to develop a strategic plan that will effectively address the external economic threat arising from the influence of global energy transition.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper represents the first effort to empirically examine the effect of renewable energy consumption by developed NEICs on the Nigeria’s oil and gas exports. The paper contributes to the literature by providing insight into and documenting evidence that the world is taking transitioning to cleaner energy sources very seriously.
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S.O. Jekayinfa, M.A. Waheed, K.A. Adebiyi and F.T. Adebiyi
The cheapest and most rapidly available metal for agro‐processing equipment fabrication in Nigeria is plain carbon steel. However, there are some aggressive ions present in raw…
Abstract
Purpose
The cheapest and most rapidly available metal for agro‐processing equipment fabrication in Nigeria is plain carbon steel. However, there are some aggressive ions present in raw agricultural and food products, which may attack the steel components of these processing machinery, resulting in their untimely failure in service. The present study investigates the effect of fluid squeezed from cassava tuber on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel.
Design/methodology/approach
The investigation involved periodic weight loss measurements of 0.8 per cent carbon and 0.36 per cent carbon steel rods as they were exposed to cassava fluid. The relationships between loss in weight of the exposed samples and exposure period were determined. Models were developed to relate corrosion rate in each environment with total surface area and exposure period.
Findings
The results show that 0.36 per cent carbon steel was less affected by corrosion than 0.18 per cent carbon steel, with corrosion intensity in both cases, increasing with duration of immersion. Generally, there was low level of corrosion resistance (high corrosion rate) by the two steel materials. The correlation coefficient between the experimental values of corrosion rates and predicted values (using the developed models) was high.
Originality/value
In food and agricultural industries, product quality, health and sanitation issues are the major concerns. The industries cannot tolerate corrosion deposits in the manufactured products. Hence, material selection for machinery fabrication is essential. In line with this, the results of this study indicate that mild steel materials are unsuitable for use in cassava processing without some forms of surface treatment.
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Chhotu Ram, Chhaya Sharma and A K Singh
– This paper aims to report on corrosivity of secondary-stage paper mill effluent and corrosion performance of stainless steels.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report on corrosivity of secondary-stage paper mill effluent and corrosion performance of stainless steels.
Design/methodology/approach
For this purpose, immersion test and electrochemical polarization tests were conducted in mill and synthetic effluent to evaluate the uniform and localized corrosion.
Findings
Corrosivity of mill effluent has been compared with synthetic and primary-stage effluent of the same mill. It is observed that anions present in them, viz. SO4−, PO34−, NO2− and NO3−, impart inhibition, whereas Cl− and chlorophenols enhance the corrosivity of the effluent. The overall effect of various components was reduction in corrosivity of secondary mill effluent.
Originality/value
These observations can be useful for material selection and helpful in corrosion mitigation in paper mill effluent treatment plants.
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Mehdi Golverdi, Amir Hossein Soleimani Naeini, Mohammad Shaker Ardakani and Mohammad Sadegh Sharifirad
Nosiness is an annoying behavior at the workplace that can lead to negative consequences. It is characterized by being overly curious about other people’s affairs. Specifically…
Abstract
Purpose
Nosiness is an annoying behavior at the workplace that can lead to negative consequences. It is characterized by being overly curious about other people’s affairs. Specifically, this study aims to identify the factors contributing to nosiness among nurses.
Design/methodology/approach
We conducted an exploratory qualitative interview study involving 38 nurses in Iran. The participants were selected by purposive sampling.
Findings
We identified nine themes as the antecedents of nosiness among nurses: defamation motive, the need for certainty, the need for power, recreational motive, empathy, social comparison, the allure of the subject for the individual, having an employee-friendly workplace, and work environment and workload.
Originality/value
Understanding the antecedents of nosiness can help healthcare organizations curtail this phenomenon and foster a positive work environment, particularly in nursing where empathy, compassion, and attention to detail make them susceptible to nosiness.
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Moosa Es’haghi, Amirhossein Amjad, Sorayya Asghari and Ali Lotfi
Corrosion inhibitors most commonly are used in the acid pickling, cleaning and etching solutions. Plant extracts as rich and cheap resources are among the eco-friendly inhibitors…
Abstract
Purpose
Corrosion inhibitors most commonly are used in the acid pickling, cleaning and etching solutions. Plant extracts as rich and cheap resources are among the eco-friendly inhibitors. This study aims to investigate the inhibition effect of plantain extract on mild steel corrosion.
Design/methodology/approach
The inhibition influence of plantain extract on mild steel corrosion was investigated through Tafel polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and weight loss techniques in 1 M HCl solution. Furthermore, the sample surface morphology was verified by scanning electron microscopy.
Findings
The inhibition effect of the plantain extract was increased with the increase in the inhibitor concentration due to its adsorption on the surface of samples. The adsorption mechanism of the plantain extract on mild steel is physical adsorption and follows Langmuir isotherm.
Originality/value
The results obtained from different methods showed that the plantain extract has good inhibition performance on corrosion mild steel in 1 M HCl solution as a green inhibitor.
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The paper seeks to investigate whether the demographic and socio‐economic characteristics of complainers in a monopolistic market are different from those in a competitive market.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to investigate whether the demographic and socio‐economic characteristics of complainers in a monopolistic market are different from those in a competitive market.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review is undertaken, with particular emphasis on the socio‐economic characteristics of complainers. An empirical study is then presented. The empirical study consists of a large survey of satisfaction among consumers of the Norwegian Office for Social Insurance – a monopolistic governmental service provider.
Findings
The study reveals that complainers in this monopolistic market belong to lower socio‐economic groups. They typically have low incomes, are outside the labour market, have a modest standard of accommodation, and live alone.
Research limitations/implications
The study analyses only one type of monopolistic institution in only one country. The generalisability of the findings might, therefore, be limited. The study demonstrates that consumer complaint behaviour in this monopolistic market differs from behaviour reported in competitive markets. Moreover, the study indicates that complainers in this monopolistic market are confronted with different complaint barriers when exit is closed.
Practical implications
The findings of the study suggest that a monopolistic institution should encourage dissatisfied consumers to complain, and should make internal switching possibilities known to consumers.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to study complainer characteristics in a monopolistic market structure empirically. The paper questions previous assumptions that complainers necessarily belong to upper socio‐economic groups.
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Costanza Nosi, Lamberto Zollo, Riccardo Rialti and Cristiano Ciappei
Using an enhanced version of the theory of reasoned action (TRA), this study investigates the antecedents of organic quinoa-based food buying intention. In addition to attitude…
Abstract
Purpose
Using an enhanced version of the theory of reasoned action (TRA), this study investigates the antecedents of organic quinoa-based food buying intention. In addition to attitude toward this behavioral intention, the proposed model examines the influence that ecological welfare, political values, and consumer-perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the point of sale exert on consumer willingness to purchase organic quinoa-based food.
Design/methodology/approach
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data collected through an intercept survey conducted at specialized organic stores on a convenience sample of 158 individuals in Italy.
Findings
Although ecological welfare and a retailer's CSR image positively influence consumer attitude toward buying organic quinoa-based food, political values negatively affect this attitude. Furthermore, consumer attitude is found to be a crucial predictor of behavioral intention.
Research implications
At the theoretical level, the results are useful for demonstrating that other variables, in addition to those used in the traditional TRA, can further explain consumers' organic food buying intention. Additionally, the findings might be useful for both quinoa producers and retailers in creating and executing their marketing and communication strategies.
Originality/value
In addition to contributing to the stream of literature that investigates possible variables that might increase the predictive power of the TRA, this study sheds some light on organic food purchasing consumer behavior.
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Examines the nature of journalism and the ways of becoming a journalist. Details the development and training available, paying particular attention to the role of the National…
Abstract
Examines the nature of journalism and the ways of becoming a journalist. Details the development and training available, paying particular attention to the role of the National Council for the Training of Journalists and spelling out the courses available at the University of Central Lancashire. Highlights the characteristics of a good journalist.
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