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During the last decades, there has been growing debate about Islam in Europe, in which multiculturalism is presented as an obstacle to the integration of Muslim minorities and to the emancipation of Muslim women in particular. Margaretha A. van Es explores how women with a Muslim background have experienced this multiculturalism backlash, and how it has affected their efforts for women’s empowerment. Focusing on two secular and three Islamic women’s organisations in the Netherlands, she reveals how critics of Islam such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Geert Wilders have unintentionally contributed to the rise of Islamic feminism among Dutch Muslim women, while they have also made it more difficult for women in secular organisations to formulate constructive criticism against conservative religious attitudes.

We report new GALLEX solar neutrino results from 15 runs covering 406 days (live time) within the exposure period 19 August 1992–13 October 1993 (“GALLEX II”). With counting data considered until 4 January 1994, the new result is [78±13 (stat.) ±5 (stat.)] SNU (1σ). It confirms our previous result for the 15 initial runs (“GALLEX I”) of [81±17( stat .)±9( syst .)] SNU. After two years of recording the solar neutrino flux with the GALLEX detector the combined result from 30 solar runs (GALLEX I + GALLEX II) is [79±10( stat .)±6( syst .)] SNU (1 σ ). In addition, 19 “blank” runs gave the expected null result. GALLEX neutrino experiments are continuing.

We report the first GNO solar neutrino results for the measuring period GNOI, solar exposure time May 20, 1998 till January 12, 2000. In the present analysis, counting results for solar runs SR1 - SR19 were used till April 4, 2000. With counting completed for all but the last 3 runs (SR17 - SR19), the GNO I result is [65.8 +10.2 -9.6 (stat.) +3.4 -3.6 (syst.)]SNU (1sigma) or [65.8 + 10.7 -10.2 (incl. syst.)]SNU (1sigma) with errors combined. This may be compared to the result for Gallex(I-IV), which is [77.5 +7.6 -7.8 (incl. syst.)] SNU (1sigma). A combined result from both GNOI and Gallex(I-IV) together is [74.1 + 6.7 -6.8 (incl. syst.)] SNU (1sigma)., submitted to Physics Letters B, June 2000. PACS: 26.65. +t ; 14.60 Pq. Corresponding author: till.kirsten@mpi-hd.mpg.de ; bellotti@mi.infn.it

The aim of this study is to model and assess different biomass-to-liquid (BtL) pathways for the production of fuels and chemicals via dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis as well as via Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, such as residual wood or straw, to synthetic fuels and chemicals is currently under development at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Within the considered bioliq® concept, so-called slurry is produced by multiple decentralized fast pyrolysis plants and is then processed in a single centralized pressurized entrained flow gasifier. The resulting syngas has to be conditioned and cleaned before it is converted in a DME or FT synthesis in order to complete the biomass-to-liquid (BtL) production. This two-stage concept allows the economic transportation of biomass over long distances, due to the relatively high energy density of the slurry produced in the first stage. In addition, reductions in specific investments and costs for further processing in the second stage are enabled by economies of scale. This study addresses possibilities for further process development and presents an outlook for a commercial implementation of biomass-derived fuels and chemicals., Proceedings of the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 June 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 1975-1983

Background: Biofuels may play a significant role in regard to carbon emission reduction in the transportation sector. Therefore, a thermochemical process for biomass conversion into synthetic chemicals and fuels is being developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) by producing process energy to achieve a desirable high carbon dioxide reduction potential. Methods: In the bioliq process, lignocellulosic biomass is first liquefied by fast pyrolysis in distributed regional plants to produce an energy-dense intermediate suitable for economic transport over long distances. Slurries of pyrolysis condensates and char, also referred to as biosyncrude, are transported to a large central gasification and synthesis plant. The bioslurry is preheated and pumped into a pressurized entrained flow gasifier, atomized with technical oxygen, and converted at > 1,200°C to an almost tar-free, low-methane syngas. Results: Syngas - a mixture of CO and H2 - is a well-known versatile intermediate for the selectively catalyzed production of various base chemicals or synthetic fuels. At KIT, a pilot plant has been constructed together with industrial partners to demonstrate the process chain in representative scale. The process data obtained will allow for process scale-up and reliable cost estimates. In addition, practical experience is gained. Conclusions: The paper describes the background, principal technical concepts, and actual development status of the bioliq process. It is considered to have the potential for worldwide application in large scale since any kind of dry biomass can be used as feedstock. Thus, a significant contribution to a sustainable future energy supply could be achieved.

This assessment focuses on the gasification process step which converts a biomass-derived intermediate called slurry into synthesis gas (syngas) for subsequent synthesis of fuel and chemicals. The slurry is produced by fast pyrolysis plants and is processed in a pressurized entrained flow gasifier. The resulting syngas is conditioned and cleaned before it is converted in a Fischer-Tropsch or dimethyl ether synthesis in order to complete a biomass-to-liquid (BtL) production such as the considered bioliq® concept which is currently under development at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). This two-stage concept allows economic transportation of biomass over long distances due to the relatively high energy density of the slurry produced in multiple decentralized plants and economies of scale in the centralized gasification and synthesis stage. Different process configurations regarding operating pressure, gasification agent, syngas conditioning and feedstock composition of a commercial scale gasification plant for the production of clean syngas are analyzed from an energetic and economic point of view., Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 942-947

The status of the GALLEX solar neutrino experiment is presented. Emphasis is given on error treatment and on blank runs

Recording of sub-MeV solar neutrinos ( ν pp , ν Be7 ) in the Gallium Neutrino Observatory (GNO) is essential in further defining the neutrino oscillation parameters (masses, mixings). Continued error reduction is crucial in this context. The data set GNO H is now completed. The result from 43 runs (May 1998 through January 2002) is 65 ± 7 SNU. The total record is now 108 runs (65 Gallex, 43 GNO [19 GNOI, 24 GNO II]), the combined result is 71 ± 6 SNU. The systematical error in GNO is reduced to ± 3.0 SNU. This substantial error reduction has been achieved mainly through internal counter calibrations, an improved Rn-correction, and the introduction of neural network data analysis. The physics potential of future sub-MeV neutrino studies demands further efforts. Work is underway towards even better 71 Ge counting efficiency by application of cryotechnics and towards a new and more precise 51 Cr neutrino source experiment (>2.5 MCi) for an improved determination of the cross section for ν-capture on 71 Ga.

GNO is the Gran Sasso experiment devoted to the measurement of the solar neutrino interaction rate in Gallium. It started to take solar data in 1998. Characteristics of the experimental apparatus are reported. The GNO I result from solar runs SR1-SR19 (corresponding to the period May 20, 1998 to January 12, 200) at 1 σ level is 65.8 −9.6 +10.2 ( stat. ) −3.6 +3.4 ( syst. ) or 65.8 −10.2 +10.7 SNU (with errors combined in quadrature). Future plans are also briefly presented.

Der partielle und selektive Abbrand von Pyrolysekoksen in einem Wirbelbett mit Steinkohlekoks als Bettmaterial könnte die benötigte Wärme erzeugen, um in demselben Reaktor endotherme Pyrolyse- und Vergasungsreaktionen zur Behandlung organischer Reststoffe durchzuführen. Zur Messung der Reaktivitätsunterschiede der Kokse bezüglich Sauerstoff wurde an zwei Laborapparaturen (Thermowaage, Sandwirbelschicht) das Abbrandverhalten von Wirbelschicht-Pyrolysekoksen und Kohlekoksen im chemisch kontrollierten Temperaturbereich untersucht. Zur Bestimmung der formalkinetischen Parameter Aktivierungsenergie EA und Stoßfaktor k0 wurde im Falle der Thermowaage die Massenverlustkurve bei isothermer Reaktionführung ausgewertet. Im Falle der Wirbelschicht wurde der zeitliche CO/ CO2\- Verlauf im Abgas in eine Massenverlustkurve an Kohlenstoff umgerechnet und anschließend analog zur Thermowaage ausgewertet. Zur Beschreibung der Kinetik wurde ein massenbezogener Ansatz erster Ordnung bezüglich der Kohlenstoffmasse und -ter Ordnung bezüglich der Sauerstoffkonzentration verwendet. Die an der Thermowaage bestimmten Reaktivitäten der Kokse werden vergleichend in einem Arrhenius-Diagramm (T=250-600°C) dargestellt. Nach steigender Reaktivität geordnet lautet die Reihenfolge der untersuchten Kokse: Steinkohlenkoks < Braunkohlenkoks < DSD-Koks < Holzkoks < Strohkoks. Durch die an der Thermowaage bestimmten Reaktivitätsunterschiede zwischen Pyrolysekoksen und Bettmaterial ist ein selektiver Abbrand der Pyrolysekokse beim Betrieb einer kontinuierlichen Kokswirbelschicht zu erwarten.