Center for Innovation in Industrial Engineering and Technology

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Thermogravimetric analysis of high-density cork granules using isoconversional methods

Publication . Ribeiro, A.M.; Ramalho, Elisa; Pimenta, Maria Paula; Pilão, Rosa Maria

In the present work thermogravimetric techniques were used to study the thermal degradation of high-density cork granules. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out for four heating ramps (10, 15, 20 and 25 °C.min−1), using nitrogen as the carrier gas. From the differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves it was seen that degradation mainly occurs from 220 °C to 525 °C for the main components of cork (suberin, lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose). It was also observed that for temperatures higher than 525 °C and up to 900 °C, lignin continued to decompose. Activation energies were calculated using the data obtained and the two isoconversional methods Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO). For the KAS method, and for degrees of conversion between 0.10 and 0.85, the activation energies varied between 232.2 and 353.0 kJ.mol−1. Using the FWO method and for the same degrees of conversion, the activation energies were in the range of 230.0 to 346.6 kJ.mol−1. These values agree with data provided by other authors, for different lignocellulosic biomass.

2022Conference object

Open access

Didactical use of a remote: a qualitative reflection of a teacher

Publication . Lima, Natércia; Viegas, Clara; Garcia-Peñalvo, Francisco

This work describes the teacher reflection reflections about a didactical implementation usin g a remote laboratory and their impact on his practice. These reflections are analyzed from three different perspectives: how the literature review influenced the design of the didactical implementation (namely the first); how his reflection upon his practice influenced its modifications; how his research activ ity impacted and affected his teaching practices in the subsequent implementations and guided the modification modifications made . The remote lab was introduced in a Physics Course in an Engineering degree and was intended to be a learning space where students had the opportunity to practice before the lab class, supporting the development of experimental competences, fundamental in an engineer profile. After the first implementation in 2016/17 academic year it has undergone two subsequent editions with adjustments and modifications. Some features previously reported in literature such as: teacher’s experience with VISIR, the importance of an introductory activity and defining VISIR tasks objectives, were corroborated by the teacher during his practice and research. Others, such as the difficulty some students have in understanding the difference between simulation and remote labs appeared directly from his practice and were pursued in his research in order to deeply understand its implications.

2019Conference object

Open access

Sustainable development in higher education: Different teaching & learning approaches

Publication . Caetano, Nídia; Felgueiras, Carlos

Linking the economic, social and environmental aspects of any plan, project or activity is fundamental to act according to the sustainable development goals. These three dimensions are interrelated and interconnected in such a way that it is sometimes very hard to discriminate what their individual effects are, or on the contrary, how their joint effects are synergistic. And if this is generically a difficult task, when it comes to education the difficulty becomes even more significant, as one must be very careful defining concepts in an absolutely clear and undoubtful way. While the specialization is required to educate professionals able to accurately project and build these projects, it is now mandatory that everyone is also able to understand the causes and effects of their actions, towards sustainable development. In this Track, different teaching & learning approaches have been presented and discussed, aiming to use Higher Education as a highway to educate the professionals of the near future as strategic partners for the development of different mindsets, able to tackle the real problems.

2019Journal article

Open access