Yes / A mass transfer model was developed for CO2 capture from a binary gas mixture of N2/CO2 in hollow fibre membrane contactors under laminar flow conditions. The axial and radial diffusions through membrane and convection in tube and shell sides with chemical reaction were investigated. COMSOL software was used to numerically solve a system of non-linear equations with boundary conditions by use of the finite element method. Three different amine solutions of monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA) and n-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) were chosen as absorbent in lumen to consider the mass transfer rate of CO2 and compare their removal efficiency. The modelling results were compared with experimental data available in the literature and a good agreement was observed. The CFD results revealed that MEA had the best performance for CO2 removal as compared to DEA and MDEA under various operating conditions due to the different CO2 loading factor of absorbents. Furthermore, efficiency of CO2 removal was highly dependent on the absorbent concentration and its flow rate, increasing of the gas flow rate caused a reduction in gas residence time in the shell and consequently declined CO2 mass transfer. The modelling results showed the influence of the absorbent concentration on the CO2 mass transfer has improved due to availability of absorbent reactants at the gas-liquid interface.

For this thesis, smart spraying robot was designed, constructed and tested to validate the concept of smart pest control. Electrostatic charging of sprayed pesticide was realized in a spray nozzle design that improved plant coverage and reduced wasted pesticide as well as soil pollution. A thorough investigation into electrostatic spraying was conducted, which was accompanied by extensive simulations and experimentation. The results obtained from the simulation experimentation on industry standard electrostatic spray system (ESS) nozzles along with laboratory testing of these nozzles, detecting spray coverage using water sensitive paper and additional optical spray visualization methods gave the necessary insight and experience required to develop a new spray nozzle. Additional COMSOL simulation and experimentation were carried out on a Fan Hydraulic Spray Nozzle (FHSN), the results of which allowed for the effective addition of electrostatic induction capabilities, thereby transforming the (FHSN) into Electrostatic Induction Spray Nozzle (EISN) which is one of the prime parts of the smart spraying system. SOLIDWORKS software was used in the designing parts of this nozzle which were then manufactured using a 3D printer. An AL05D robotic manipulator and a TTRK tracked platform from Lynxmotion ™ were the mini mobile robot components selected for the feasibility study of the smart electrostatic crop spraying system. This mobile robot was equipped with a CCD digital camera, a range detector, and path mark detector to provide the necessary sensors required by the smart electrostatic spray system. A Windows™ based mobile computer in addition to an ARDUINO™ based orksmicrocontroller system were chosen to provide the computational power required by the system. These were arranged in a master – slave configuration, with the main processing for images and motion being conducted inside the master computer using programs created by Matlab smart ™ software. The execution of motion commands and the operation of the range and path mark detection along with operating the spray nozzle were performed on the slave computer using C as the programming language. The manufactured smart electrostatic spray system moves along cotton crop rows with a camera that scans the selected plant for pest infestation on the upper and lower surfaces of plant leaves. When a pest is detected, the spray nozzle is targeted on it at the appropriate distance, and a burst of pesticide destroys it. The results of experiments have shown that using the electrostatic induction system improves coverage 3 to 4 fold and reduces soil contamination by 2 to 4 fold. The system has plenty of room for performance improvement, and future development will make it adaptable for application to other crops and applications.

<p dir="ltr">Nature has been shown to build environments to drive specific reactivity across boundaries; multiphase systems, for example, have been shown to drive reactions that would otherwise not occur in bulk, continuous phases. Within this work, we show how multiphase environments are essential in driving specific reactivity at phase boundaries and offer unique physicochemical and electrochemical opportunities that are usually inaccessible in continuous phases alone. Here, we present several diverse approaches toward harnessing observed interfacial phenomena to study and take advantage of three-phase systems. Firstly, we demonstrate precise manipulation of nucleation at the water|1,2-dichloroethane (DCE)|electrode interface through electrode geometry adjustment, resulting in selective precipitation of ferrocenemethanol (FcMeOH). Cyclic voltammetry and numerical simulations elucidate this phenomenon's physico-chemical foundations, enabling localized precipitation and reactivity control. Secondly, we introduce a novel mechanism for emulsion formation driven by interfacial solute flux induced via phase transfer agents. Systematically exploring phase combinations and ion interactions, we elucidate the microscopic mechanisms governing droplet formation and propose design principles for tailored emulsion synthesis. Furthermore, leveraging current-driven ion flux, we achieve emulsification across oil|water interfaces, offering control over droplet size and charge. This low-energy, robust method presents an efficient alternative to traditional emulsification techniques. Additionally, we demonstrate facile electrodeposition of gold nanorings at water|oil interfaces, enabled by spontaneous emulsification facilitated by quaternary ammonium salts. We further demonstrate deposition parameters for control over nanoring array characteristics, offering a streamlined approach to nanoring fabrication. Finally, we introduce biphasic electrodeposition as a versatile method for fabricating ultra-high aspect ratio gold nanowires. By manipulating antagonistic metal salt interactions at liquid|liquid interfaces, we achieve precise control over nanowire geometry and positioning, opening new avenues for nanowire synthesis with enhanced simplicity and versatility.</p>