The starting point for this paper is Jerrold Levinson's taxonomy of perceptual beauty. Despite the ambiguity of the concept, we think we can recognize beauty in different shapes and contexts, which suggests that the different manifestations of beauty have a common feature or a common underlying nature. My claims are 1) that there are good reasons to believe that there are different species of beauty, 2) that everyday scenes can accommodate real cases of beauty that Levinson does not capture in his framework, and 3) that the essay's examples of an everyday scene - Laura and the clothesline - do not fit into Levinson's seven main categories. The conclusion is that we need a new category to accommodate this instance of prosaic beauty. The multiplicity of beauty is greater than we usually assume and that says something about the importance of beauty in human life.

This project focuses on the design of interfaces that promote sustainable purchases of laundry appliances (washing machines, and dryers) in Scandinavian countries through raising the consumer’s knowledge about the short and long-term value of sustainable products. The research part is accomplished in collaboration with IKEA and three other master students with business and design backgrounds. The project part started with interviewing house owners in Scandinavia who have  laundry appliances in their house to find out the factors affecting their decision while purchasing laundry appliances. The solution was developed by understanding house owners' laundry habits. The idea is done by applying UX design principles to bring the knowledge and information for the user while purchasing laundry appliances through an online platform.

In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, the creation of sustainable communication and marketing becomes crucial. Generally, young consumers are environmentally conscious and seek sustainable products while remaining wary of greenwashing and deceptive claims. However, they are likely to be heavily influenced by social media and peers, which makes them a receptive target for advertisers’ deceptive strategies. To achieve success, advertisements must be trustworthy and appeal to the target audience either emotionally or rationally. Sustainability labels like the EU Eco-label fosters consumer trust. Hence, our research will focus on the impact of sustainability message appeals on deceptiveness in laundry detergents and the influence of certifications in product advertising on customer deceptiveness.The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of sustainability messages on perceived deceptiveness of laundry detergents. Moreover, it explores the relationship between emotional and rational appeals and consumer behaviour, with a focus on trust, deceptiveness and purchasing intentions. Accordingly, the study was conducted on consumers to see how theyperceive emotional and rational advertisement. The findings will guide managers and entrepreneurs to effectively market cleaning products for enhanced sustainability perception and transparency. The study has employed a deductive approach, utilising a quantitative research design. Data was collected through a survey from 299 participants, aged 18-30, representing diverse European backgrounds. The collected data was analysed by using a moderated mediation approach, allowing for a comprehensive examination of the relationships between sustainability message appeals, deceptiveness, and the influence of certifications in product advertising. The research showed that consumers may be misled by emotional sustainability appeals in laundry detergent advertising, hence the intention to purchase decreases. Nevertheless, it was revealed that rational appeals and third-party certifications such as EU Ecolabel positively influenced perceived sustainability and purchase intention. The study also found that gender had no significant moderating impact, while sustainability awareness moderated the relationship between deception and purchase intention in emotional appeals.

No description available.

No description available.

This master thesis studies environmental effects of a detergents' compactation project. The theoretical part describes negative environmental effects of detergents' use and foreign initiatives having successfully led to decrease of these effects. The analytical part evaluates the information campaign focused on customer behavior and detergent dosage through a market survey. Lower detergent consumption is a prerequisite of a decreased negative environmental impact. Market data showing real detergent consumption are compared to expected development. Results of the market survey and the market data analysis show that a change in consumer behavior was not sufficient; and therefore, the compactation project was not successful.

Doctoral thesis deals with professional laundry care process and reduction of energy intensity and use of other operational commodities used in the process. Professional laundry care process is a specific energy intensive process; its purpose is to re-establish original properties of the now dirty laundry so that it may fulfil its functions again. This is basically a recycling and regeneration process comprising many sub-operations. Key operation is washing of the laundry in a washing bath, which removes impurities from the laundry. This thesis describes the most common technology of impurities removal, which is washing in a hot washing bath in cooperation with mechanical work and detergents. However, all of the described procedures may also be applied on alternative technologies, such as ozone washing, washing with low-temperature enzymes and ultrasound. Water is applied in all these technologies as a soaking agent. Water must have appropriate properties and must be removed from the laundry after the washing process in subsequent operations (drying, ironing, and pressing). Theoretical introduction of the thesis describes professional laundry care process in detail, and continues with mathematical modelling of the process and its main sub-operations (washing, drying) using mass and heat balance, and data acquisition and their application in research and development. Thesis further describes design of information system on the basis of relational database controlled by web application. This system enables to organize data and information from various sources – measured experimental data, data concerning measurement devices, operational records of machines, etc. Thesis further proposes how to evaluate and reduce energy intensity of a process. Descriptions are validated by examples and case studies. Key section of the thesis is a chapter describing experimental infrastructure. This infrastructure integrates several instalments of laundry equipment and is a fully functional operation of industrial laundry facility with 500kg/shift capacity, which serves as a model of energy intensive process. Sophisticated infrastructure and data acquisition system allows measuring wide spectrum of physical entities and examining factors influencing energy intensity of processes, and relationships between these factors as well as effectiveness of various savings measures in real life facilities.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a influência do tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) na remoção do surfactante aniônico, alquilbenzeno linear sulfonado (LAS), de água residuária de lavanderia, em dois reatores de leito fluidificado (RLF) operados em TDH de 8 horas (RLF1) e 12 horas (RLF2). Os reatores foram inoculados com biomassa de lodos ativados e foi investigado a influência da adição de nitrato e etanol na degradação do LAS e seus impactos na comunidade microbiana. Para tal fim, o trabalho foi desenvolvido nas fases que se seguem: caracterização da água residuária de lavanderia comercial, ensaio de degradação desnitrificante de LAS, operação dos reatores de leito fluidificado, planejamento experimental de condições ótimas de degradação de surfactante em reatores em batelada e caracterização microbiana do consórcio microbiano do RLF1 e RLF2 por meio do Illumina MiSeq. Verificou-se considerável remoção de LAS (77%) no ensaio de degradação sob condição desnitrificante nos reatores em batelada com 21 mgLAS/L e adição de 100 mgNO3-/L. Ao longo de 436 dias de operação, verificou-se elevada remoção de LAS em RLF1 e RLF2, todavia, observou-se diferença significativa; ou seja, maior remoção global de LAS (99±3%) para 22,5±5,9 mg /L afluente em RLF2. A adição de etanol influenciou, notadamente, a remoção de LAS em RLF1, por outro lado a adição de nitrato exerceu influência na remoção de LAS em ambos os reatores. Na realização do planejamento experimental, em reatores em batelada, pode-se obter condições ótimas de degradação de LAS, verificando-se os valores críticos para etanol de 97,5 mg /L, e de 87,5 mg /L para nitrato. Para as seis etapas de operação foram identificados gêneros relacionados à desnitrificação e a degradação de LAS. Para Etapa I, foram identificadas bactérias relacionadas com a redução de nitrato, dentre eles Flavobacterium, Sphingobium e Xanthobacter. Para as etapas com adição de surfactante (II, III, IV, V e VI) identificou-se Dechloromonas, Zoogloea, Novosphingobium, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter e Desulfobulbus, provavelmente relacionadas à degradação de LAS. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT ) on anionic surfactant; linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS) from laundry wastewater in two fluidized bed reactors (FBR) operated in HRT of 8 hours (FBR1) and 12 hours (FBR2). The reactors were inoculated with activated sludge and the influence of nitrate and ethanol addition on LAS removal was studied with subsequent impact on microbial diversity. The study was conducted in following phases; laundry wastewater characterization, denitrifying degradation potential of LAS, fluidized bed reactor operation under specified conditions, central composite design, and determination of microbial shift between biofilm of FBR1 and FBR2 through Mi-Seq Illumima®. Higher LAS removal (77%) was verified in denitrifying potential degrading of LAS using batch reactors feed with 21 mg LAS /L and 150mg NO3-/L. Great LAS removal efficiency was observed for 436 days, however significant notice was observed for global LAS removal between FBR1 and FBR2, i.e. greater LAS removal in FBR2 (99±3% for 22,5 ±5,9 mg LAS/L) than FBR1 (93 ±12% for 20,6 ±4,4 mg LAS /L). The ethanol addition significantly influenced FBR1 efficiency while nitrate addition improves LAS removal in both reactors. Central composite design resulted into optimal values for LAS removal (94%) in addition to 97,5 mg/L ethanol and 87,5 mg/L nitrate. Microbial shift showed genus abundance related to denitrification and LAS degradation. In Step I denitrifying bacteria Flavobacterium, Shingobium and Xanthobacter were identified. For Steps with laundry wastewater addition, Dechloromonas, Zoogloea, Novosphingobium, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Desulfobulbus, were identified, probably, related to LAS degradation.

Os efluentes de lavanderia hospitalar representam uma mistura complexa de produtos químicos, matéria orgânica, medicamentos e seus metabólitos e microrganismos patogênicos. Para tanto, a inadequação no tratamento ou a falta de tratamento deste efluente acarreta risco potencial à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente. Neste contexto, surgem os chamados Processos Oxidativos Avançados (POAs), que são métodos eficientes para a degradação de compostos orgânicos. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho de pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a potencialidade da combinação dos processos de ozonização catalítica e Fenton na degradação de poluentes do efluente de lavanderia hospitalar proveniente da indústria Lavebras Higienização de Têxteis S/A. A caracterização do efluente de lavanderia hospitalar in natura foi realizada empregando-se métodos consolidados como DQO, COT, DBO5, surfactantes aniônicos, fenol, peróxido de hidrogênio, Sólidos (ST, STV e STF), entre outros. Para a otimização das variáveis e dos respectivos níveis dos processos oxidativos foi realizado o planejamento estatístico completo do tipo 23, sendo determinado as melhores condições entre as concentrações catalíticas de Fe+2 e do agente oxidante de H2O2, além das condições de pH do meio reacional, tendo como variáveis resposta os percentuais de redução de DQO e COT. Os resultados obtidos mostraram-se promissores, sendo que a redução média de COT com 95,24 % e de DQO com 95,00 % para os ensaios com as variáveis da reação otimizada, com o custo no valor de R$ 0,09 / L de efluente. Após o processo de ozonização e Fenton, a amostra do melhor experimento: concentração de Fe2+ 2,0 g L-1, concentração de H2O2 5,0 g L-1 e pH 4,0; foi tratado por um processo biológico - Sistema Lodo Ativado (SLA), a fim de verificar a eficiência de degradação da matéria orgânica do efluente estudado através do sistema conjugado (POA - SLA). Neste teste combinado POA - SLA foi possível atender às características de águas para fins de reuso. / Hospital laundry wastewater represent a complex mixture of chemicals, organic matter, drugs and their metabolites and pathogenic microorganisms. To this end, inadequate treatment or lack of treatment of this effluent carries potential risk to human health and the environment. In this context, the so called advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) arise, which are extremely effective methods for degrading organic compounds. In this sense, this research was to evaluate the potential of the combination of catalytic ozonization processes and Fenton in pollutant degradation of hospital laundry effluent from the Lavebras Hygiene industry Textiles S/A. The characterization of the hospital laundry efluente in natura was performed by using optimized methods such as COD, TOC, BOD5, anionic surfactants, oils and grease, phenol, hydrogen peroxide, Solid (TS, FTS and VTS), among others. For the optimization of the variables and respective levels of the oxidative processes was performed complete statistical design of the type 23, it is determined the best conditions of the catalytic concentration of Fe+2 and of the oxidizing agente H2O2, in addition to the pH condictions of the reaction medium, with a response factor of COD and COT reduction. The results obtained were promising, with the average reduction of 95.24% COT and COD with 95.00% for the tests with the optimized reaction variables, with a cost of R $ 0.09 / L of effluent. After the ozone and Fenton processes, the best experiment sample: concentration of Fe2+ 2.0 g L-1, concentration of H2O2 5.0 g L-1 and pH 4.0; was treated by a biological process - Activated Sludge System (ASS), in order to verify the degradation efficiency of the organic matter of the studied effluent through the conjugated system (APO - ASS). In this combined APO - ASS test it was possible to meet the water characteristics for reuse purposes.

Os efluentes de lavanderia hospitalar representam uma mistura complexa de produtos químicos, matéria orgânica, medicamentos e seus metabólitos e microrganismos patogênicos. Para tanto, a inadequação no tratamento ou a falta de tratamento deste efluente acarreta risco potencial à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente. Neste contexto, surgem os chamados Processos Oxidativos Avançados (POAs), que são métodos eficientes para a degradação de compostos orgânicos. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho de pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a potencialidade da combinação dos processos de ozonização catalítica e Fenton na degradação de poluentes do efluente de lavanderia hospitalar proveniente da indústria Lavebras Higienização de Têxteis S/A. A caracterização do efluente de lavanderia hospitalar in natura foi realizada empregando-se métodos consolidados como DQO, COT, DBO5, surfactantes aniônicos, fenol, peróxido de hidrogênio, Sólidos (ST, STV e STF), entre outros. Para a otimização das variáveis e dos respectivos níveis dos processos oxidativos foi realizado o planejamento estatístico completo do tipo 23, sendo determinado as melhores condições entre as concentrações catalíticas de Fe+2 e do agente oxidante de H2O2, além das condições de pH do meio reacional, tendo como variáveis resposta os percentuais de redução de DQO e COT. Os resultados obtidos mostraram-se promissores, sendo que a redução média de COT com 95,24 % e de DQO com 95,00 % para os ensaios com as variáveis da reação otimizada, com o custo no valor de R$ 0,09 / L de efluente. Após o processo de ozonização e Fenton, a amostra do melhor experimento: concentração de Fe2+ 2,0 g L-1, concentração de H2O2 5,0 g L-1 e pH 4,0; foi tratado por um processo biológico - Sistema Lodo Ativado (SLA), a fim de verificar a eficiência de degradação da matéria orgânica do efluente estudado através do sistema conjugado (POA - SLA). Neste teste combinado POA - SLA foi possível atender às características de águas para fins de reuso. / Hospital laundry wastewater represent a complex mixture of chemicals, organic matter, drugs and their metabolites and pathogenic microorganisms. To this end, inadequate treatment or lack of treatment of this effluent carries potential risk to human health and the environment. In this context, the so called advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) arise, which are extremely effective methods for degrading organic compounds. In this sense, this research was to evaluate the potential of the combination of catalytic ozonization processes and Fenton in pollutant degradation of hospital laundry effluent from the Lavebras Hygiene industry Textiles S/A. The characterization of the hospital laundry efluente in natura was performed by using optimized methods such as COD, TOC, BOD5, anionic surfactants, oils and grease, phenol, hydrogen peroxide, Solid (TS, FTS and VTS), among others. For the optimization of the variables and respective levels of the oxidative processes was performed complete statistical design of the type 23, it is determined the best conditions of the catalytic concentration of Fe+2 and of the oxidizing agente H2O2, in addition to the pH condictions of the reaction medium, with a response factor of COD and COT reduction. The results obtained were promising, with the average reduction of 95.24% COT and COD with 95.00% for the tests with the optimized reaction variables, with a cost of R $ 0.09 / L of effluent. After the ozone and Fenton processes, the best experiment sample: concentration of Fe2+ 2.0 g L-1, concentration of H2O2 5.0 g L-1 and pH 4.0; was treated by a biological process - Activated Sludge System (ASS), in order to verify the degradation efficiency of the organic matter of the studied effluent through the conjugated system (APO - ASS). In this combined APO - ASS test it was possible to meet the water characteristics for reuse purposes.