Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 154 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-122).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Göttingen, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis describes the results of the analytical effort dealing with the products from the preliminary experimental runs using the Advanced Extruder Feeder Biomass Liquefaction Facility in the period from August 1985 to December 1986. Results of the analyses show that a low-oxygen crude wood oil could be produced over a wide range of temperatures, pressures, with or without carbon monoxide and with or without a sodium carbonate catalyst. The analytical procedures have been adapted to evaluate the crude wood oil by standard investigative procedures, including elemental analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography.

In the past 15 years, finding fuelwood has become a physical and economic burden to Sahelians inhabiting both rural areas and urban centers. This has led to a poor man's energy crisis, the scope of which is reviewed. Increasing demands on fuelwood have had negative socioeconomic effects. Non-commercial substitutes of fuelwood, though widely used, are not keeping up with demands. Commercial energy sources are not affordable due to their high cost. Overall, it is concluded that the substitute for wood is wood. So far, fuelwood plantation projects in the Sahel have suffered from a noticeable lack of economic and financial analysis. Popular investment decision criteria in forestry management are presented and evaluated. Given a eucalyptus growth function, current market prices, production costs, and interest rates, a model has been developed to solve for the optimal rotation age. The results showed that fuelwood plantations could be financially feasible. Site quality and interest rates are important in determining the size of the optimum criterion as evidenced by the sensitivity analysis performed. The paper surveyed a few econometric studies dealing with wood products. Based on the linear and double-log static models, consumption functions for fuelwood demand projections have been derived for seven countries of the Sahel. Based on these equations and different statistical tests, it was found that population is the single most important factor determining fuelwood consumption in the Sahel. Another significant variable is the woodland area. Income as represented by GNP did not have any effect on fuelwood demand. On the basis of these findings and the overall study, the following measures are recommended: (1) Population control should be implemented as a high priority to help curb the increased and increasing fuelwood demands; (2) More plantations should be undertaken to increase the exhausted supplies. Meanwhile, the management of existing natural forests along with the introduction of affordable fuelwood substitutes should be implemented. (3) More leadership is needed to involve the local people into development projects.

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This work contains problems of using wood as a construction material nowadays, mainly in the Czech Republic. In the work are mentioned several factors, which are affecting people´s decision for using wood as a structural material from the point of views like: economical, ecological, fire resistance, durability, load carrying, thermal insulating, architectonical, etc. There affecting factors are desribed and fulfilled with examples. The necessary information to complete this work was gathered from boos, websites, cooperation and communication with companies and teachers from various schools.

The purpose of work was to show properties of concrete modified with wooden fibres and to compare whem with unmodified concrete in order to show influence of these wooden fibres on chosen properties and to check if using of these types of admixtures is benificial in economical and technical point of view.

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