Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and its onset is highly incident in the lungs, with very low long-term survival rates. Chemotherapy plays a significant role for lung cancer treatment, and pulmonary delivery may be a potential route for anticancer drug delivery to treat lung tumors. Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is a poorly-water soluble compound that is being investigated for the treatment of carcinomas. In this work, we hypothesize that formulations of CoQ10 may be developed for pulmonary delivery with a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile that will have the potential to improve a pharmacodynamic response when treating lung malignancies. The formulation design was to use a vibrating-mesh nebulizer to aerosolize aqueous dispersions of CoQ₁₀ stabilized by phospholipids physiologically found in the lungs. In the first study, a method was developed to measure the surface tension of liquids, a physicochemical property that has been shown to influence the aerosol output characteristics from vibrating-mesh nebulizers. Subsequently, this method was used, together with analysis of particle size distribution, zeta potential, and rheology, to further evaluate the factors influencing the capability of this nebulizer system to continuously and steadily aerosolize formulations of CoQ₁₀ prepared with high pressure homogenization. The aerosolization profile (nebulization performance and in vitro drug deposition of nebulized droplets) of formulations prepared with soybean lecithin, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) were evaluated. The rheological behavior of these dispersions was found to be the factor that may be indicative of the aerosolization output profile. Finally, the pulmonary deposition and systemic distribution of CoQ₁₀ prepared as DMPC, DPPC, and DSPC dispersions were investigated in vivo in mice. It was found that high drug amounts were deposited and retained in the mouse lungs for at least 48 hours post nebulization. Systemic distribution was not observed and deposition in the nasal cavity occurred at a lower scale than in the lungs. This body of work provides evidence that CoQ₁₀ may be successfully formulated as dispersions to be aerosolized using vibrating-mesh nebulizers and achieve high drug deposition in the lungs during inhalation.

Biomass burning started to attract attention since the last decade because of its impacts on the atmosphere and the environmental air quality, as well as significant potential effects on human health and global climate change. Knowledge of particle emission characteristics from biomass burning is crucially important for the quantitative assessment of the potential impacts. This thesis presents the results of study aimed towards comprehensive characterization of particle emissions from biomass burning. The study was conducted both under controlled laboratory conditions, to quantify the particle size distribution and emission factors by taking into account various factors which may affect the particle characteristics, and in the field, to investigate biomass burning processes in the real life situations and to examine vertical profile of particles in the atmosphere. To simulate different environmental conditions, a new technique has been developed for investigating particle emissions from biomass burning in the laboratory. As biomass burning may occur in a field at various wind speeds and burning rates, the technique was designed to allow adjustment of the flow rates of the air introduced into the chamber, in order to control burning under different conditions. In addition, the technique design has enabled alteration of the high particle concentrations, allowing conducting measurements with the instrumentations that had the upper concentration limits exciding the concentrations characteristic to the biomass burning. The technique was applied to characterize particle emissions from burning of several tree species common to Australian forests. The aerosol particles were characterized in terms of size distribution and emission factors, such as PM2.5 particle mass emission factor and particle number emission factor, under various burning conditions. The characteristics of particles over a range of burning phases (e.g., ignition, flaming, and smoldering) were also investigated. The results showed that particle characteristics depend on the type of tree, part of tree, and the burning rate. In particular, fast burning of the wood samples produced particles with the CMD of 60 nm during the ignition phase and 30 nm for the rest of the burning process. Slow burning of the wood samples produced large particles with the CMD of 120 nm, 60 nm and 40 nm for the ignition, flaming and smoldering phases, respectively. The CMD of particles emitted by burning the leaves and branches was found to be 50 nm for the flaming phase and 30 nm for the smoldering phase, under fast burning conditions. Under slow burning conditions, the CMD of particles was found to be between 100 to 200 nm for the ignition and flaming phase, and 50 nm for the smoldering phase. For fast burning, the average particle number emission factors were between 3.3 to 5.7 x 1015 particles/kg for wood and 0.5 to 6.9 x 1015 particles/kg for leaves and branches. The PM2.5 emission factors were between 140 to 210 mg/kg for wood and 450 to 4700 mg/kg for leaves and branches. For slow burning conditions, the average particle number emission factors were between 2.8 to 44.8 x 1013 particles/kg for wood and 0.5 to 9.3 x 1013 particles/kg for leaves and branches, and the PM2.5 emissions factors were between 120 to 480 mg/kg for wood and 3300 to 4900 mg/kg for leaves and branches. The field measurements were conducted to investigate particle emissions from biomass burning in the Northern Territory of Australia over dry seasons. The results of field studies revealed that diameters of particles in ambient air emissions were within the size range observed during laboratory investigations. The laboratory measurements found that the particles released during the controlled burning were of a diameter between 30 and 210 nm, depending on the burning conditions. Under fast burning conditions, smaller particles were produced with a diameter in the range of 30 to 60 nm, whilst larger particles, with a diameter between 60 nm and 210 nm, were produced during slow burning. The airborne field measurements of biomass particles found that most of the particles measured under the boundary layer had a CMD of (83 ± 13) nm during the early dry season (EDS), and (127 ± 6) nm during the late dry season (LDS). The characteristics of ambient particles were found to be significantly different at the EDS and the LDS due to several factors including moisture content of vegetation, location of fires related to the flight paths, intensity of fires, and burned areas. Specifically, the investigations of the vertical profiles of particles in the atmosphere have revealed significant differences in the particle properties during early dry season and late dry season. The characteristics of particle size distribution played a significant role in these differences.

Motor vehicles are a major source of gaseous and particulate matter pollution in urban areas, particularly of ultrafine sized particles (diameters < 0.1 µm). Exposure to particulate matter has been found to be associated with serious health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Particle emissions generated by motor vehicles span a very broad size range (from around 0.003-10 µm) and are measured as different subsets of particle mass concentrations or particle number count. However, there exist scientific challenges in analysing and interpreting the large data sets on motor vehicle emission factors, and no understanding is available of the application of different particle metrics as a basis for air quality regulation. To date a comprehensive inventory covering the broad size range of particles emitted by motor vehicles, and which includes particle number, does not exist anywhere in the world. This thesis covers research related to four important and interrelated aspects pertaining to particulate matter generated by motor vehicle fleets. These include the derivation of suitable particle emission factors for use in transport modelling and health impact assessments; quantification of motor vehicle particle emission inventories; investigation of the particle characteristic modality within particle size distributions as a potential for developing air quality regulation; and review and synthesis of current knowledge on ultrafine particles as it relates to motor vehicles; and the application of these aspects to the quantification, control and management of motor vehicle particle emissions. In order to quantify emissions in terms of a comprehensive inventory, which covers the full size range of particles emitted by motor vehicle fleets, it was necessary to derive a suitable set of particle emission factors for different vehicle and road type combinations for particle number, particle volume, PM1, PM2.5 and PM1 (mass concentration of particles with aerodynamic diameters < 1 µm, < 2.5 µm and < 10 µm respectively). The very large data set of emission factors analysed in this study were sourced from measurement studies conducted in developed countries, and hence the derived set of emission factors are suitable for preparing inventories in other urban regions of the developed world. These emission factors are particularly useful for regions with a lack of measurement data to derive emission factors, or where experimental data are available but are of insufficient scope. The comprehensive particle emissions inventory presented in this thesis is the first published inventory of tailpipe particle emissions prepared for a motor vehicle fleet, and included the quantification of particle emissions covering the full size range of particles emitted by vehicles, based on measurement data. The inventory quantified particle emissions measured in terms of particle number and different particle mass size fractions. It was developed for the urban South-East Queensland fleet in Australia, and included testing the particle emission implications of future scenarios for different passenger and freight travel demand. The thesis also presents evidence of the usefulness of examining modality within particle size distributions as a basis for developing air quality regulations; and finds evidence to support the relevance of introducing a new PM1 mass ambient air quality standard for the majority of environments worldwide. The study found that a combination of PM1 and PM10 standards are likely to be a more discerning and suitable set of ambient air quality standards for controlling particles emitted from combustion and mechanically-generated sources, such as motor vehicles, than the current mass standards of PM2.5 and PM10. The study also reviewed and synthesized existing knowledge on ultrafine particles, with a specific focus on those originating from motor vehicles. It found that motor vehicles are significant contributors to both air pollution and ultrafine particles in urban areas, and that a standardized measurement procedure is not currently available for ultrafine particles. The review found discrepancies exist between outcomes of instrumentation used to measure ultrafine particles; that few data is available on ultrafine particle chemistry and composition, long term monitoring; characterization of their spatial and temporal distribution in urban areas; and that no inventories for particle number are available for motor vehicle fleets. This knowledge is critical for epidemiological studies and exposure-response assessment. Conclusions from this review included the recommendation that ultrafine particles in populated urban areas be considered a likely target for future air quality regulation based on particle number, due to their potential impacts on the environment. The research in this PhD thesis successfully integrated the elements needed to quantify and manage motor vehicle fleet emissions, and its novelty relates to the combining of expertise from two distinctly separate disciplines - from aerosol science and transport modelling. The new knowledge and concepts developed in this PhD research provide never before available data and methods which can be used to develop comprehensive, size-resolved inventories of motor vehicle particle emissions, and air quality regulations to control particle emissions to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations.

[Truncated abstract] Self-filtration is here defined as particle detachment and re-deposition causing re-arrangement of the particles and therefore pore space which affects water flow in soil by decreasing hydraulic conductivity. This is of particular important in soils which are susceptible to structural breakdown. The objective of this thesis was to examine the dynamics of the self-filtration process in sodic sandy soils as affected by ionic strength and soil solution composition. The temporal changes of hydraulic conductivity and the elution of fine particles from soil columns were used as the main criteria to assess selffiltration. Two porous media exhibiting significantly different structural cohesion were examined, one a loamy sand (Balkuling soil) from agricultural land use and the second a mining residue from mineral sands operations . . . The effects of the composition of mixed calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) ions in solution (sodium adsorption ratio (SAR)) on the exchange behaviour and saturated hydraulic conductivity were examined by carrying out batch binary exchange and saturated column transport experiments. A strong preference for Ca2+ ions in the exchange complex was observed for both soils. Generally K/Ko was found to decrease with increasing sodium adsorption ratio with the more structured Balkuling soil maintaining K/Ko for SARs 3 and 5 at an electrolyte concentration of 100 mmol/L. However measurements at the critical threshold and turbidity concentrations at a SAR of 15 revealed structural breakdown of the pore matrix system attributed to various extents of slaking, swelling, dispersion and decreases of pore radii as a result of selffiltration during leaching. These experiments illustrate the wide range of complex interactions involving clay mineralogy, solution composition and structural factors which can influence the extent of mobilization, transport and re-deposition of colloidal particles during the leaching process in soil profiles.

Ce travail de recherche traite le problème inverse d’estimation de la distribution de tailles de particules (DTP) à partir des données de la diffusion dynamique de lumière (DLS). Les méthodes actuelles d’estimation souffrent de la mauvaise répétabilité des résultats d’estimation et de la faible capacité à séparer les composantes d’un échantillon multimodal de particules. L’objectif de cette thèse est de développer de nouvelles méthodes plus performantes basées sur les techniques d’inférence bayésienne et cela en exploitant la diversité angulaire des données de la DLS. Nous avons proposé tout d’abord une méthode non paramétrique utilisant un modèle « free-form » mais qui nécessite une connaissance a priori du support de la DTP. Pour éviter ce problème, nous avons ensuite proposé une méthode paramétrique fondée sur la modélisation de la DTP en utilisant un modèle de mélange de distributions gaussiennes. Les deux méthodes bayésiennes proposées utilisent des algorithmes de simulation de Monte-Carlo par chaînes de Markov. Les résultats d’analyse de données simulées et réelles montrent la capacité des méthodes proposées à estimer des DTPs multimodales avec une haute résolution et une très bonne répétabilité. Nous avons aussi calculé les bornes de Cramér-Rao du modèle de mélange de distributions gaussiennes. Les résultats montrent qu’il existe des valeurs d’angles privilégiées garantissant des erreurs minimales sur l’estimation de la DTP. / This research work treats the inverse problem of particle size distribution (PSD) estimation from dynamic light scattering (DLS) data. The current DLS data analysis methods have bad estimation results repeatability and poor ability to separate the components (resolution) of a multimodal sample of particles. This thesis aims to develop new and more efficient estimation methods based on Bayesian inference techniques by taking advantage of the angular diversity of the DLS data. First, we proposed a non-parametric method based on a free-form model with the disadvantage of requiring a priori knowledge of the PSD support. To avoid this problem, we then proposed a parametric method based on modelling the PSD using a Gaussian mixture model. The two proposed Bayesian methods use Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation algorithms. The obtained results, on simulated and real DLS data, show the capability of the proposed methods to estimate multimodal PSDs with high resolution and better repeatability. We also computed the Cramér-Rao bounds of the Gaussian mixture model. The results show that there are preferred angle values ensuring minimum error on the PSD estimation.

The tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in the South African community. Most hydroponic tomato growers in South Africa are using sawdust as a growing medium due to its availability and affordability. However, there is little or no information on how particle sizes of sawdust influence tomato yield and quality. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the particle size of sawdust on plant growth, yield and quality of tomato. Six treatments of different particle sizes of sawdust i.e. fine (F), medium (M), coarse (C) and 50:50 ratio of F: M, C: M, and C: F extracted from pine tree were used for the experiment. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The size of the sawdust particles did not have a significant effect on plant height, stem diameter, leaf length and width, shelf-life, marketable yield, total yield and unmarketable yield. A tendency to increase marketable and total yield was observed when tomato plants were grown at a 50:50 C: F ratio. Fruit and leaf mineral content were not affected by sawdust particle size. After completion of the experiment, air- filled porosity was significantly high on particle size C, M, and C: M while the water holding capacity was significantly high on F followed by M. The study showed that the suitable growth medium for production of tomatoes under the hydroponics system used was the CF particle substrate. Generally, the experimental crop performed better under the CF particle substrate in terms of growth parameters, and fruit quality, thus leading to the conclusion that the CF growth medium is ideal for hydroponically grown tomato under a non-environmentally controlled polytunne / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

L'objectif de ce travail est d'optimiser le prétraitement de boues par des ultrasons de puissance (US) à basses fréquences, et en particulier d‘étudier pour la première fois des améliorations possibles en modifiant la pression hydrostatique, et la fréquence jusqu’à l’audible. Après un examen préliminaire des conditions du procédé (conditionnement des boues, type de boues, alcalinisation préalable, contrôle de la température), les effets des paramètres ultrasonores (puissance, intensité, énergie spécifique, fréquence) et de la pression hydrostatique ont été spécifiquement étudiés, séparément et simultanément, d’abord à température constante (28°C), puis sans refroidissement. On a ainsi vérifié que l’énergie spécifique joue un rôle clé dans la désintégration des boues sous US (i.e. solubilisation de la matière organique) et que l'élévation de température pendant la sonication adiabatique est bénéfique grâce aux effets combinés d’hydrolyse thermique et de cavitation. Pour une énergie spécifique donnée, une faible fréquence (12 kHz contre 20 kHz) et une haute puissance améliorent la solubilisation de la matière organique grâce à une cavitation plus violente, tandis qu’on observe un optimum de pression hydrostatique en raison de ses effets opposés sur le seuil et l'intensité de la cavitation. Un résultat important est que la pression optimale dépend de l’intensité ultrasonore et du profil de température, mais pas de l’énergie spécifique, ni de la fréquence, ni du type de boues. Après avoir fixé les conditions les plus favorables (soit 12 kHz, 360 W, 28 gTS/L et conditions adiabatiques), l‘optimisation finale a fourni la pression de travail (3,25 bar) et les paramètres du mode séquentiel (US ON/OFF, permettant d‘éviter de hautes températures qui amortissement l‘intensité de la cavitation et peuvent endommager le transducteur). Ces conditions ont permis d‘atteindre un rendement d’extraction de la DCO très élevé, mais n’améliorent que faiblement le rendement ultérieur de méthanisation. / The objective of this work is to optimize high-power low-frequency sonication (US) pretreatment of sludge, and especially to investigate for the first time possible improvements by higher pressure and audible frequency. After a preliminary examination of regular process conditions (sludge conditioning, sludge type, prior alkalization, temperature control, etc.), effects of US parameters (power -PUS, intensity -IUS, specific energy input -ES, frequency -FS, etc.) and of hydrostatic pressure (Ph) were specifically looked into, separately and in combination, first under cooling at constant temperature (28°C), then under the progressive temperature rise provoked by sonication. First, it was confirmed that specific energy input (ES) plays a key role in sludge US disintegration (i.e. solubilisation of organic matter) and that temperature rise during adiabatic-like sonication is beneficial through additional effects of thermal hydrolysis and cavitation. At a given ES value, low FS (12 kHz vs. 20 kHz) and high PUS enhance soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) due to more violent cavitation, while hydrostatic pressure gives rise to an optimum value due to its opposite effects on cavitation threshold and intensity. One major result is that optimal pressure depends on IUS (PUS) as well as temperature profile, but not on ES, FS, nor sludge type. Setting the other parameters at the most favorable conditions expected, i.e. 12 kHz, 360 W , 28 gTS/L, and adiabatic conditions, final optimization was achieved by searching for this pressure optimum and examining sequential procedure to avoid too high temperature dampening cavitation intensity and damaging the transducer. Such conditions with sequential mode and Ph of 3.25 bar being selected succeeded in achieving very high SCOD, but only marginally improved subsequent methanization yield.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Susceptibility to soil degradation is a function of disturbance intensity and structure resistance, which is usually described by mesoscale properties. However, soil mechanical strength in the microscale (micromechanical) evaluated by rheology is not well known. The objective was to evaluate the micromechanical resistance of soils of Rio Grande do Sul through amplitude sweep tests under oscillatory shear, to know the variables that influence this resistance and to evaluate its relationship with physical and mechanical properties in mesoscale. Surface and subsurface horizons of eight soils, Oxisol (4), Ultisol (2), Alfisol (1) and Vertisol (1), were characterized for particle size, mineralogy, chemical, physical and mechanical in micro and mesoscale. The micromechanical resistance of soils was evaluated by rheological curves and parameters, and the influence of water content on rheological parameters was evaluated by regression analysis. The influence of soil composition on rheological parameters and the relationship between rheological parameters and physical and mechanical properties were evaluated by correlation analysis and principal component analysis. There was great variation between soils and horizons according its constitution of particle size, mineralogy and chemistry, where sand, clay, total carbon and presence of 2:1 clay minerals were the most influential factors on rheological behavior of the soils. Soil matric potential also had a strong influence on micromechanics resistance of soils. There were correlations of rheological parameters with physical properties (bulk density and soil porosity), but few correlations with mesomechanical properties (uniaxial compressibility and direct shear). The higher silt and clay content increased the microstructural resistance of the soil, where higher sand content decreased this resistance. The predominance of smectite in clay fraction increased the microstructural elasticity; the increased of kaolinite decreased the elasticity and the increased of iron oxides raised the microstructural stiffness (shear stress) of the soils. Increased water pressure increased micromechanical resistance of most soils due to meniscus force, occurring reduction in micromechanics stiffness at 10 kPa pressure due to presence of pseudosand associated with low bulk density. The increase of carbon content increased soil elasticity, but decreased soil rigidity; and cations content correlated only indirectly with rheological parameters. The larger correlation between rheological parameters and physical properties is probably due to aggregation factors being the same in both scales, such as particle size, mineralogy and their interactions. On the other hand, the low relation of soil mechanical resistance in micro and mesoscale seem influenced by different factors related to soil composition and structure. / A suscetibilidade do solo à degradação é função da intensidade da perturbação e da resistência da estrutura, a qual é normalmente descrita por propriedades em mesoescala. Entretanto, a resistência mecânica do solo em microescala (micromecânica) avaliada por meio da reologia é pouco conhecida. O objetivo foi avaliar a resistência micromecânica de solos do Rio Grande do Sul com o uso de testes de varredura de amplitude por cisalhamento oscilatório, conhecer as variáveis que influenciam essa resistência e avaliar sua relação com propriedades físicas e mecânicas em mesoescala. Os horizontes superficial e subsuperficial de oito solos das ordens Latossolo (4), Argissolo (2), Planossolo (1) e Vertissolo (1) foram caracterizados quanto à granulometria, mineralogia, propriedades químicas, físicas e mecânicas em micro e mesoescala. A resistência micromecânica dos solos foi avaliada por curvas e parâmetros reológicos e a influência do conteúdo de água sobre parâmetros reológicos foi avaliada por análise de regressão. A influência da composição do solo nos parâmetros reológicos e a relação entre parâmetros reológicos e propriedades físicas e mesomecânicas foram avaliadas por análise de correlação e análise de componentes principais. Houve grande variação entre os solos e horizontes quanto à sua constituição granulométrica, mineralógica e química, sendo areia, argila, carbono e presença de argilominerais 2:1 os fatores que mais influenciaram o comportamento reológico dos solos. A tensão de água também teve forte influência na resistência micromecânica dos solos. Foram verificadas correlações de parâmetros reológicos com propriedades físicas (densidade e porosidade do solo), mas poucas correlações com propriedades mesomecânicas (compressibilidade uniaxial e cisalhamento direto). O aumento dos teores de silte e argila aumentou a resistência micromecânica do solo, enquanto maiores teores de areia diminuíram essa resistência. O predomínio de esmectita na fração argila aumentou a elasticidade microestrutural; a caulinita diminuiu a elasticidade; e o aumento de óxidos de ferro aumentou a rigidez (tensão de cisalhamento) microestrutural dos solos. O aumento da drenagem aumentou a resistência micromecânica da maioria dos solos devido ao aumento das forças de meniscos, ocorrendo redução da rigidez micromecânica na tensão de água de 10 kPa em horizontes com presença de pseudoareia associada com baixa densidade do solo. O incremento dos teores de carbono aumentou a elasticidade do solo, mas diminuiu sua rigidez; e os teores de cátions correlacionaram-se indiretamente com parâmetros reológicos. A maior relação entre parâmetros reológicos e propriedades físicas decorre, provavelmente, dos fatores de agregação serem os mesmos em ambas as escalas, como a granulometria, a mineralogia e suas interações. Por outro lado, a relação da resistência mecânica do solo em micro e mesoescala foi pequena, pois parecem influenciadas por diferentes fatores relacionados à composição e estrutura do solo.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:08:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AliDGK_DISSERT.pdf: 1533034 bytes, checksum: 5570fc0acd3b2b8bab1dc04b3e8c619f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-29 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Modeling transport of particulate suspensions in porous media is essential for understanding various processes of industrial and scientific interest. During these processes, particles are retained due to mechanisms like size exclusion (straining), adsorption, sedimentation and diffusion. In this thesis, a mathematical model is proposed and analytical solutions are obtained. The obtained analytic solutions for the proposed model, which takes pore and particle size distributions into account, were applied to predict the particle retention, pore blocking and permeability reduction during dead-end microfiltration in membranes. Various scenarios, considering different particle and pore size distributions were studied. The obtained results showed that pore blocking and permeability reduction are highly influenced by the initial pore and particle size distributions. This feature was observed even when different initial pore and particle size distributions with the same average pore size and injected particle size were considered. Finally, a mathematical model for predicting equivalent permeability in porous media during particle retention (and pore blocking) is proposed and the obtained solutions were applied to study permeability decline in different scenarios / A modelagem do transporte de suspens?es em meios porosos ? essencial para o entendimento de diversos processos de interesse industrial e cient?fico. Durante esses processos as part?culas podem ser retidas devido a diferentes mecanismos, dos quais citamos: exclus?o pelo tamanho, adsor??o, sedimenta??o e difus?o. Neste trabalho, um modelo matem?tico para o mecanismo de exclus?o pelo tamanho foi proposto e solu??es anal?ticas foram encontradas. As solu??es anal?ticas para o modelo proposto, que incorpora as distribui??es de tamanho de poros e de part?culas, foram utilizadas para prever a reten??o de part?culas, o bloqueio de poros e a redu??o de permeabilidade durante a microfiltra??o direta (dead-end microfiltration) em membranas. Foram analisados diversos cen?rios, considerando diferentes distribui??es de tamanho de poros e de part?culas. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o processo de bloqueio de poros e redu??o de permeabilidade ? fortemente influenciado pelas distribui??es iniciais de tamanho de poros e de part?culas. Esta caracter?stica foi observada mesmo quando diferentes distribui??es iniciais de tamanho de poros e de part?culas com um mesmo tamanho m?dio de part?culas e de poros foi considerado. Finalmente, um modelo matem?tico para a previs?o da permeabilidade equivalente em meios porosos durante a reten??o de part?culas (e bloqueio de poros) foi proposto e as solu??es obtidas foram aplicadas para o estudo do decl?nio da permeabilidade em diferentes cen?rios / 2020-01-01

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 UlissesCOF.pdf: 4000133 bytes, checksum: 2f1689ba64508ae157f48710d758ba50 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-11-01 / This work presents a spray-dryer designed to oxalate-niobate precursors and suitable for the production of Niobium Carbide. The dryer was intended to produce powders of controlled particle size. First, the precursor is dissolved in water to produce a solution of known concentration and then it is atomized on the spray-dryer to produce the powder. This equipment consists of a 304 stainless steel chamber, 0.48 m x 1.9 m (diameter x length), with a conical shape at the lower portion, which is assembled on a vertical platform. The chamber is heated by three 4 kW electrical resistances. In this process, drying air is heated as it flows inside a serpentine surrounding the chamber, in contrary to more traditional processes in which the hot drying air is used to heat the component. The air enters the chamber at the same temperature of the chamber, thus avoiding adherence of particles on the internal surface. The low speed flow is concurrent, directed from the top to the bottom portion of the chamber. Powders are deposited on a 0.4 m diameter tray, which separates the cylindrical portion from the conical portion of the chamber. The humid air is discharged though a plug placed underneath the collecting tray. A factorial experimental planning was prepared to study the influence of five parameters (concentration, input flow, operation temperature, drying air flow and spray air flow) on the characteristics of the powders produced. Particle size distribution and shape were measured by laser granulometry and scanning electronic microscopy. Then, the powders are submitted to reaction in a CH4 / H2 atmosphere to compare the characteristics of spray-dried powders with powders synthetizided by conventional methods / O presente trabalho consiste em projetar e construir um secador spray com a finalidade de secar precursores do tipo oxalato-niobato de am?nia para obten??o de p?s com granulometria controlada e adequados ? produ??o de carbetos de Ni?bio policristalino. Este precursor ? atualmente obtido com granulometria dispersa, e morfologia n?o uniforme. A secagem em spray pode uniformizar as propriedades de materiais que s?o dissolvidos em ?gua, gerando uma solu??o de concentra??o conhecida que ? ent?o, atomizada no secador spray visando ? obten??o do material na forma de p?. O secador ? constitu?do por uma c?mara de secagem em a?o inox 304 medindo 0,48 m de di?metro por 1,90 m de comprimento, montado em uma plataforma vertical e com formato tronco c?nico na sua parte inferior. A c?mara ? aquecida por tr?s cintas de resist?ncias eletricas com pot?ncia total de 4 kW e o ar ? aquecido ao passar por serpentinas constru?das ao redor da c?mara de secagem. O sistema foi projetado de maneira n?o convencional tendo como objetivo principal a produ??o de p?s de precursores com granulometria fina e com uma boa distribui??o do tamanho das part?culas. Foi realizado um planejamento fatorial experimental visando ? an?lise da influ?ncia de cinco par?metros (concentra??o, vaz?o da alimenta??o, temperatura de opera??o, vaz?o do ar de secagem e vaz?o do ar do atomizador) sobre as caracter?sticas dos p?s obtidos usando-se solu??es de bicarbonato de s?dio. As Caracter?sticas f?sicas foram avaliadas a partir de an?lise de ?rea superficial, DRX, tamanho e forma das part?culas, granulometria a laser e microscopia eletr?nica de varredura. Em seguida foi realizada a secagem do precursor e, os p?s obtidos foram submetidos a rea??es com CH4 / H2 com o objetivo de comparar as caracter?sticas dos p?s oriundos do secador spray e aqueles que n?o tiveram esse tratamento. Os resultados mostraram que o equipamento produziu part?culas de bicarbonato de s?dio com di?metros m?dios de 2,4 a 52,4 &#956;m, conforme as temperatura e vaz?es de alimenta??o, e se mostrou capaz de secar precursores do tipo oxalato-niobato de am?nia sem perda de suas caracter?sticas