Marine non-native species threaten economic and environmental health, making it crucial to understand factors that make them successful. Research on these species, therefore, allows for greater preparedness and informed management of biological invasions and increases understanding of elements structuring biological communities. Among the marine non-native species, and particularly the fouling community, non-native ascidians are a taxon of particular concern because they can crowd out native benthic species and smother mariculture products. This thesis addresses management for ascidians and other fouling organisms and includes research on the invasiveness of this taxon in addition to the invasibility of recipient fouling communities. On the West Coast of the U.S., limited efforts have been made to coordinate biofouling management across states, despite the myriad vectors increasing propagule pressure over time along coastal states. Building on recent state and local efforts, I developed a Pacific Regional Biofouling Plan for the states of Oregon and Washington to help start a consensus-driven process by which these states could create a forum for more comprehensive coordination efforts, following California's lead. As states address authority gaps, the biofouling management framework I've written is meant to be used to guide the conversation between managers as various stages of coastal management are realized. To better inform the scope and efficacy of management and regulatory efforts, the study of invasions ecology asks and aims to answer questions regarding recipient community interactions and characteristics of the non-native species themselves. Studies that identify characteristics that make ascidians successful (invasiveness) and determine the influence native communities have on their success (invasibility) are important for assessing overall risk of establishment and spread from non-native ascidians. Therefore, I aimed to: 1) explore the hypothesis that fouling communities on suspended, artificial structures are more invasible than benthic habitats; and 2) identify characteristics influencing predation patterns on the native Distaplia occidentalis versus non-native ascidian species using mensurative and experimental studies in Charleston Marina, Oregon. I conducted a series of feeding assays, surveys, and a caloric content analysis. Feeding assays were conducted with a suite of predators. The flatworm predator (Eurylepta leoparda) was found to be highly selective on the native ascidian Distaplia occidentalis, and only preyed on whole colony samples. Feeding assay data suggest that test (tunic) structure or thickness may be an influential factor affecting nudibranch (Hermissenda crassicornis) predation rates on native versus non-native ascidians, with greater predation on the native ascidian species. Non-native ascidians may escape predation in floating but not benthic environments on the Oregon coast due to their palatability characteristics, likely tunic structure and low caloric content. In this case, this suite of predators may indirectly facilitate the invasion of docks but provide at least partial resistance to the invasion of natural benthic areas. The chapters herein address gaps in management and scientific knowledge regarding non-native species of the marine fouling community. Future work enhanced by my efforts could include the development of the coastal biofouling management plan, coordinated by the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species Coastal Committee, and broadening the geographic and taxonomic scope of my research with a more comprehensive study of predator-prey interactions involving non-native ascidians and a diverse suite of predators. These interactions may be an important factor in explaining the success of ascidians and other fouling organisms on floating structures and lack of success on nearby benthic substrata.

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: At the Mondi Kraft paper mill in Piet Retief, paper machine effluent is pre-treated by means of dissolved air flotation (DAF) and a mierostrainer prior to ultrafiltration (UF). Despite the rigorous pre-treatment of the effluent, severe fouling of the UF membranes still persisted, resulting in a sharp decrease in operational flux. In an attempt to improve the flux performance of the UF membranes an investigation was launched into the possible causes of membrane fouling. The study yielded the following results: Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometric analyses of varIOUS effluent samples collected from different locations at the mill indicated the presence of aromatic compounds. Lignosulphonate appeared to be the main constituent in all the samples analysed. UV-Vis spectrophotometry was also performed on fouling extracted from membranes In order to evaluate the different approaches attempted to reduce membrane fouling. Most of the UV-Vis spectra obtained did not show the absorbance maxima below 210 nm that were seen for the paper machine effluent, DAF product, lignosulphonate and mierostrainer product. This indicated that the compounds with absorbance at lower wavelengths did not foul the membranes to the same extent as the aromatic substances with absorbance maxima between 230 and 400 nm. The influence of pH on the absorption of the various effluent samples was also investigated. An increase in pH resulted in (1) a "shift" in the wavelength scans from a lower to a higher wavelength, suggesting ionisation (deprotonation) with a subsequent delocalization of electrons and (2) an increase in the turbidity. The increase in turbidity which accompanied the Increase in pH could be explained by complex formation between the carboxylate ions, phenolic groups and divalent metal ions present in the effluent. Inductively coupled plasma analyses of several effluent samples with pH values 7 and 13 indicated the presence of significant amounts of Ca2+ ions in the effluent. There was a significant decrease in the Ca2+ levels with an increase in pH, which supported the hypothesis that Ca2+ might contribute to complex formation. This resulted in a decrease in solubility and an increase in turbidity. The addition of a chelating agent (ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid disodium salt) to an effluent solution at pH 13 redissolved the precipitate and considerably reduced the turbidity. The subsequent addition of CaCh again induced precipitation and increased turbidity, confirming the role of Ca2+ in complex formation. Gel permeation chromatographic analyses of mierostrainer product at pH 13 showed the formation of high molecular mass organo-calcium complexes. The exact molecular mass of the complexes present in the mierostrainer product could not be determined by electro spray mass spectrometry because of their poor ionisation ability. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed distinct differences in the membrane surface texture before and after fouling. Furthermore, SEM images of the UF membranes exposed the limited ability of the 30 urn microstrainer, installed downstream from the DAF unit, to remove residual fibres from the DAF product. Static fouling experiments performed on all the flocculants and coagulants used In the paper-making process at the mill showed that none of these substances fouled the UF membranes. Cleaning of the UF membranes with Triton XIOO®, a nOn-IOnIC surfactant, caused a temporary increase in the operating flux to values higher than that of the initial flux. Mechanical cleaning of the UF membrane surface with spongebalIs proved to be one of the most effective and successful methods to prevent flux loss caused by fouling. Pre-coating of the UF membranes with Plutonic" FI08, another non-ionic surfactant, did not promote membrane productivity. Evaluation of various types of membranes indicated that hydrophilic or negatively charged membranes withstood membrane fouling more effectively than hydrophobic UF membranes under the same operating conditions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: By Mondi Kraft se papier meule in Piet Retief word afloopwater vanaf die papiermasjiene vir hergebruik met behulp van ultrafiltrasie (UF) behandel. Opgeloste lugflotasie (OLF) en mikrosiwwing word as voorbehandeling vir die UF membraanproses ingespan. Ondanks die intensiewe voorafbehandeling wat toegepas word, vind daar geweldige aanvuiling van die UF membrane plaas wat tot die vinnige verlaging in bedryfsfluks aanleiding gee. 'n Ondersoek na die moontlike oorsake van membraan-aanvuiling het die volgende bevindinge opgelewer: Ultraviolet-sigbare (UV-Vis) spektroskopie van water monsters wat by die meule versamel is, het die teenwoordigheid van aromatiese komponente aangetoon, met lignosulfonaat die hoofkomponent in al die monsters wat ontleed is. Ekstrakte afkomstig van aangevuilde membrane is ook met behulp van UV-Vis-spektroskopie geanaliseer om verskeie benaderings te evalueer om 'n afname in membraan-aanvuiling te bewerkstellig. Die oorgrootte meerderheid spektra het nie die absorpsie maksima onder 210 nm aangetoon wat teenwoordig was in monsters van die papier masjien afloopwater, OLF uitvloeisel, lignosulfonaat en mikrosif produkwater nie. Dit het aangedui dat die komponente wat by laer golflengte absorbeer nie die UF membrane in dieselfde mate aanvuil as daardie komponente wat by hoër golflengtes (tussen 230 en 400 nm) absorbeer nie. Die invloed wat pH op die absorpsie van komponente teenwoordig in die onderskeie afloopwatermonsters het, is ook ondersoek. 'n Toename in pH het bygedra tot (1) 'n verskuiwing in die spektra vanaf 'n lae na 'n hoër golflengte vanweë ionisasie (deprotonering) met gevolglike delokalisasie van elektrone en (2) 'n toename in turbiditeit. Die toename in turbiditeit wat verband hou met die toename in pH was verduidelik aan die hand van kompleksvorming tussen die karboksilaat ione, fenoliese groepe en divalente metaal ione in die afloopwater. Induktief gekoppelde plasma analise van verskeie water monsters by pH 7 en 13 het die teenwoordigheid van 'n groot hoeveelheid Ca2+ aangetoon. 'n Verlaging in die vlakke van opgeloste Ca2+ het met die toename in pH verband gehou. Dit het die moontlike verbintenis tussen Ca2+ en kompleksvorming ondersteun wat bygedra het tot die afname in oplosbaarheid en toename in turbiditeit. Die byvoeging van etileendiamientetra-asynsuur-dinatriumsout, 'n kelerings reagens by afloopwater (pH 13) het die presipitaat weer in oplossing gebring en die turbiditeit merkwaardig verlaag. Die byvoeging van CaCh het weer presipitasie geïnduseer, met 'n gevolglike toename in turbiditeit. Hiermee is Ca2+ se rol in kompleksvorming bevestig. Gelpermeasie-chromatografiese analise van die mikrosif produk (pH 13) het die vorming van hoë molekulêre massa organo-kalsium komplekse bevestig. Dit was egter nie moontlik om met behulp van massaspektrometrie die korrekte molekulêre massa van die komplekse te bepaal nie vanweë hul onvermoë om te ioniseer. Atomiese krag mikroskopie en skandeer elektron mikroskopie (SEM) het duidelik die voor en na verskil getoon wat aanvuiling op die membraantekstuur gehad het. 'n SEM foto van die aangevuilde UF membraan het die onvermoë van die mikrosif blootgelê om oorblywende vesels vanuit die OLF produkwater te verwyder. Resultate bekom gedurende passiewe aanvuilingseksperimente het aangetoon dat al die in-proses flokkulante en koagulante wat gebruik word by die papier meule geen bydrae tot die aanvuiling van die UF membrane maak nie. Skoonmaak van die UF membrane met Triton XIOO® bring 'n verhoging in bedryfsvloed teweeg, maar die verhoging, wat hoër as die oorspronklike vloed is, is kortstondig. Meganiese skoonmaak van die buismembrane met behulp van sponsballe blyk die mees effektiewe skoonmaakmetode te wees. Voorafbehandeling van die UF membrane met Plutonic" F 108 het nie die membraanproduktiwiteit verhoog nie. Daar is ook bevind dat hidrofiliese of negatief gelaaide membrane groter weerstand bied teen aanvuiling in vergelyking met hidrofobiese UF membrane onder dieselfde bedryfstoestande.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Among many seawater desalination processes, the multistage flash (MSF) desalination process is a major source of fresh water around the world. The most costly design and operation problem in seawater desalination is due to scale formation and corrosion problems. Fouling factor is one of the many important parameters that affect the operation of MSF processes. This thesis therefore focuses on determining the optimal design and operation strategy of MSF desalinations processes under fouling which will meet variable demand of freshwater. First, a steady state model of MSF is developed based on the basic laws of mass balance, energy balance, and heat transfer equations with supporting correlations for physical properties. gPROMS software is used to develop the model which is validated against the results reported in the literature. The model is then used in further investigations. Based on actual plant data, a simple dynamic fouling factor profile is developed which allows calculation of fouling factor at different time (season of the year). The role of changing brine heater fouling factor with varying seawater temperatures (during the year) on the plant performance and the monthly operating costs for fixed water demand and fixed top brine temperature are then studied. The total monthly operation cost of the process are minimised while the operating parameters such as make up, brine recycle flow rate and steam temperature are optimised. It was found that the seasonal variation in seawater temperature and brine heater fouling factor results in significant variations in the operating parameters and operating costs. The design and operation of the MSF process are optimized in order to meet variable demands of freshwater with changing seawater temperature throughout the day and throughout the year. On the basis of actual data, the neural network (NN) technique has been used to develop a correlation for calculating dynamic freshwater demand/consumption profiles at different times of the day and season. Also, a simple polynomial based dynamic seawater temperature correlation is developed based on actual data. An intermediate storage tank between the plant and the client is considered. The MSF process model developed earlier is coupled with the dynamic model for the storage tank and is incorporated into the optimization framework within gPROMS. Four main seasons are considered in a year and for each season, with variable freshwater demand and seawater temperature, the operating parameters are optimized at discrete time intervals, while minimizing the total daily costs. The intermediate storage tank adds flexible scheduling and maintenance opportunity of individual flash stages and makes it possible to meet variable freshwater demand with varying seawater temperatures without interrupting or fully shutting down the plant at any-time during the day and for any season. Finally, the purity of freshwater coming from MSF desalination plants is very important when the water is used for industrial services such as feed of boiler to produce steam. In this work, for fixed water demand and top brine temperature, the effect of separation efficiency of demister with seasonal variation of seawater temperatures on the final purity of freshwater for both cleaned and fouled demister conditions is studied. It was found that the purity of freshwater is affected by the total number of stages. Also to maintain the purity of freshwater product, comparatively large number of flash stage is required for fouled demister.

The exploitation of lignocellulosic materials with the aim of producing high value-added products will potentially counteract concerns related to the depletion of fossil resources or exponential population growth. Bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic agriculture residue exhibits promising alternative to the petroleum-based fossil fuel which reduces net emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). But, due to certain technological barriers, the large scale production of lignocellulosic bioethanol has not been successfully commercialized. In this thesis, membrane filtration as an energy efficient separation process with low environmental impact was chosen with a possibility of improvement. Interconnected multi-staged microfiltration submerged membrane bioreactors (MBRs) set-up has been applied in order to separate suspended solids, obtain high concentration of yeast inside the bioreactor, and recover particle-free ethanol stream in a continuous high productivity process. The MBRs were effectively optimized comparing to different constant permeate fluxes of 21.9 LMH, 36.4 LMH, and 51 LMH. Moreover, membrane bioreactor performed effectively at low flux 21.9 LMH up to 262 h comparing to other applied fluxes. During continuous hydrolysis, membrane showed the capability of lignin recovery nearly 70% of medium SS content in all applied flux. Although the conversion rate of total sugars by concentrated cells were similar, yeast cells proved the capability of inhibitor tolerance, and to co-utilize 100% of glucose and up to 89% of xylose, resulted in bioethanol volumetric productivity of 0.78 g ethanol/l per hour 1.3 g ethanol/l per hour and 1.8 g ethanol/l per hour for 21.9 LMH, 36.4 LMH, and 51 LMH respectively. Moreover, the effect of different factors such as filtration flux, medium quality and backwashing on fouling and cake-layer formation in submerged MBRs during continuous filtration was thoroughly studied.

A pasteurização é um processo térmico para inativar micro-organismos patogênicos e deterioradores em alimentos líquidos. O controle do processo é fundamental para a manutenção da temperatura de pasteurização, de forma que a modelagem dinâmica se torna útil no desenvolvimento, nos testes de controladores e nos procedimentos de operação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o desenvolvimento e a validação experimental da modelagem dinâmica de um pasteurizador a placas com três seções de troca térmica para estudar sua operação em regime transiente. A modelagem consiste em balanços diferenciais de energia entre canais e placas do trocador, perda de calor para o ambiente do tubo de retenção e conexões e as respectivas condições iniciais e de contorno. Os coeficientes de troca térmica do equipamento foram determinados experimentalmente. Na simulação foram adotados métodos de diferenças finitas e a resolução matemática foi realizada através do software gPROMS. O modelo foi aplicado para representar o comportamento de um pasteurizador a placas de escala laboratorial (Armfield FT43A), operando em duas condições: sem e com a influência da incrustação na seção de aquecimento do trocador. Para a validação do modelo foram realizados ensaios experimentais da partida e de perturbação das vazões de alimentação do processo. Foram inseridos termopares em diversos pontos do equipamento e as temperaturas foram registradas com um sistema de aquisição de dados. Para estudar a influência da incrustação na pasteurização, foram realizados ensaios experimentais com dois tipos de leite para se ter alta e baixa incrustação. As placas do trocador foram pesadas e fotografadas antes e depois dos ensaios de incrustação para avaliar o depósito formado. Foram utilizados modelos genéricos de incrustação para a simulação desse efeito sobre o processo de pasteurização. Através da comparação dos resultados experimentais e simulados foi verificada que a modelagem matemática para a operação transiente do processo de pasteurização analisado foi muito satisfatória. / Pasteurization is a thermal process used to inactivate pathogenic and deteriorative microorganisms in liquid foods. Process control is essential for the temperature maintenance of pasteurization, so that the dynamic model is an important tool in the development, controller tests, and also in the procedure of operation. The aim of this work was the development and experimental validation of the dynamic model of a plate pasteurizer with three sections of heat exchange studying the transient state operation. The model consists of differential equations of thermal energy balance between channels and plates of heat exchanger, heat loss to the environment of the holding tube and connections and their respective initial and boundary conditions. The heat transfer coefficients of plate heat exchanger and tubes were determined experimentally. In the simulation, finite difference methods were adopted and the math solving was performed using the gPROMS software. The model was applied to represent the behavior of a plate pasteurizer in laboratory scale (Armfield FT43A), operating in two conditions: free of fouling and with fouling influence on the heating section of the heat exchanger. Experimental tests of the start-up and of disturbances in flow rates of the process were performed for the model validation. Thermocouples were inserted at various points of the equipment and the temperatures were recorded with a data acquisition system. In order to study the influence of the fouling, experimental tests were performed with two kinds of milk to obtain high and low fouling. Plates of the heat exchanger were weighed and photographed before and after of the fouling tests for evaluate the deposit formed. Generic models of fouling were used to simulate the effect of fouling on the pasteurization process. Through the comparison of experimental and simulated results, it was verified that the mathematical modeling for the transient operation of the pasteurization process was very satisfactory.

A proposta desta pesquisa consistiu na avaliação da microfiltração tangencial para o tratamento avançado de efluente gerado em sistema de tratamento de esgoto sanitário constituído de reator UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) seguido de tanque de aeração. Neste trabalho foram avaliados métodos de limpeza física (retrolavagem com ar comprimido) e química (ácida e básica) das membranas, bem como análise comparativa da colmatação e do desempenho de membranas de tamanhos de poro de 0,2 e 1,0 'mü'm, quando aplicadas ao pós-tratamento de efluentes do tanque de aeração em diferentes concentrações de SST. Foram contemplados ainda estudos de desinfecção de efluentes da microfiltração por radiação UV e aplicação do processo de coagulação antecedendo a microfiltração tangencial. Os experimentos foram realizados em unidade piloto com membranas tubulares de polipropileno com área efetiva de filtração de 0,036 'M POT.2'. Constatou-se que a limpeza física foi essencial para obtenção de maiores valores de fluxo de permeado na unidade de microfiltração. A limpeza química das membranas por solução básica foi mais eficiente quando comparada a limpeza ácida. Foram obtidos melhores resultados com a membrana de 0,2 'mü'm, quando comparada a membrana de 1 'mü'm, a qual apresentou intensa colmatação interna de seus poros. Para membrana de 0,2 'mü'm obteve-se permeado de excelente qualidade microbiológica (E.Coli < 1 UFC/100 mL e Colifagos < 16 UFP/100 mL), bem como valores de turbidez inferiores a 1,46 uT e remoção praticamente completa de SST. A prévia coagulação das amostras de licor misto do tanque de aeração contribuiu para obtenção de maiores taxas e melhor remoção de P-'PO IND.4'POT.3-' e DQOt na unidade de microfiltração. Para dosagem de 40 mg/L de cloreto férrico obteve-se a maior taxa média (139,7 L/'M POT.2'.h), concentrações residuais de P-'PO IND.4'POT.3-' inferiores a 1,4 mgP/L e DQOt menor que 33 mg/L. A radiação UV permitiu inativação completa de E.Coli e Colifagos das amostras de permeado. Concluiu-se que a microfiltração tangencial apresentou grande potencialidade para ser aplicada no tratamento avançado de efluente gerado em sistema de tratamento de esgoto sanitário constituído de reator UASB (Upflow Anerobic Sludge Blanket) seguido de tanque de aeração. / The proposal of this research was to evaluate the crossflow microfiltration as an alternative for an advanced treatment of effluent generated in a system of sewage treatment composed by a UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor followed by an aeration tank. This work aimed to evaluate the membranes physical cleaning methods (backwashing with compressed air) and the chemical ones (acid and basic), as well as the comparative analysis between the fouling event and the 0,2 and 1,0 'mü'm pore size membranes performance, when applied to the aeration tank effluents in a post-treatment stage at TSS different concentrations. Studies for microfiltration effluents disinfection by UV radiation and the application of the coagulation process preceding the crossflow microfiltration were also developed. The experiments were performed in a pilot unit with polypropylene tubular membranes with 0.036 'M POT.2' of effective filtration area. It was verified that the physical cleaning was essential to the attainment of higher permeate flux values in the microfiltration unit. The chemical cleaning of the membranes through basic solution was more efficient when compared to their acid cleaning. Better results were attained when the 0,2 'mü'm membrane was employed in comparison with the 1 'mü'm membrane, which presented intense internal blocking of its pores. It was attained an excellent microbiological quality (E.Coli < 1 FCU/100 mL and Coliphages < 16 FPU/100 mL) for the 0,2 'mü'm membrane, as well as turbidity levels under 1,46 uT and almost total removal of TSS. The previous mixed liquor samples coagulation of the aeration tank contributed to the attainment of higher rates and better removal of P-'PO IND.4'POT.3-' and CODt in the microfiltration unit. It was attained, for the ferric chloride 40 mg/L dosage, the higher mean rate (139,7 L/'M POT.2'.h), P-'PO IND.4'POT.3-' remaining concentrations under 1,4 mgP/L and CODt lesser than 33 mg/L. The UV radiation allowed the complete inactivation of E.Coli and Coliphages from the permeate samples. It was concluded that the crossflow microfiltration presents great possibilities of application in the advanced treatment of effluent generated in a system of sewage treatment composed by a UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor followed by an aeration tank.

This thesis is centered around the computional program PASGO. PASGO is used for calculations for making performance monitoring of the steam generators in Ringhals reactor 3 and 4, especially concerning fouling of the steam generator tubes. The main goal of this thesis project was to convert the program code from the programming language Turbo Pascal 6.0 into a more modern language that works with the current Windows operative systems. Apart from a straight conversion of the code, a function to make automatic input from an Excel-file to the program was also requested. The thesis also includes analyzing the correlations used for heat transfer in PASGO, to determine if these can be replaced with more exact correlations. The Dittus-Boelter correlation was used in the original program, and while it was not a bad correlation, studies show that the more modern Gnielinski correlation has a smaller margin of error. The program code was converted successfully into C++ in Visual Studio, which was the programming language of choice. A function to enable automatic input of data from Excel-files was successfully implemented as well. This function allows the user to run performance calculations regarding tube fouling and pressure correction values for hundreds of performance tests at the same time. Versions of PASGO using the Gnielinski correlation were also created. These versions are recommended for future tests, while the version using the Dittus Boelter correlation is recommended for tests which will be compared to studies made white the previous version of PASGO.

This thesis focuses on the challenges that arise from the scheduling of heat exchanger network maintenance problems which undergo fouling and run continuously over time. The original contributions of the current research consist of the development of novel optimisation methodologies for the scheduling of cleaning actions in heat exchanger network problems, the application of the novel solution methodology developed to other general maintenance scheduling problems, the development of a stochastic programming formulation using this optimisation technique and its application to these scheduling problems with parametric uncertainty. The work presented in this thesis can be divided into three areas. To efficiently solve this non-convex heat exchanger network maintenance scheduling problem, new optimisation strategies are developed. The resulting contributions are outlined below. In the first area, a novel methodology is developed for the solution of the heat exchanger network maintenance scheduling problems, which is attributed towards a key discovery in which it is observed that these problems exhibit bang-bang behaviour. This indicates that when integrality on the binary decision variables is relaxed, the solution will tend to either the lower or the upper bound specified, obviating the need for integer programming solution techniques. Therefore, these problems are in ac- tuality optimal control problems. To suitably solve these problems, a feasible path sequential mixed integer optimal control approach is proposed. This methodology is coupled with a simple heuristic approach and applied to a range of heat exchanger network case studies from crude oil refinery preheat trains. The demonstrated meth- odology is shown to be robust, reliable and efficient. In the second area of this thesis, the aforementioned novel technique is applied to the scheduling of the regeneration of membranes in reverse osmosis networks which undergo fouling and are located in desalination plants. The results show that the developed solution methodology can be generalised to other maintenance scheduling problems with decaying performance characteristics. In the third and final area of this thesis, a stochastic programming version of the feasible path mixed integer optimal control problem technique is established. This is based upon a multiple scenario approach and is applied to two heat exchanger network case studies of varying size and complexity. Results show that this methodology runs automatically with ease without any failures in convergence. More importantly due to the significant impact on economics, it is vital that uncertainty in data is taken into account in the heat exchanger network maintenance scheduling problem, as well as other general maintenance scheduling problems when there is a level of uncertainty in parameter values.