Este trabalho teve como objetivo geral a caracterização de um sistema de tratamento biológico de remoção de fenol em reator anaeróbio de leito fluidificado utilizando o nitrato como aceptor final de elétrons. O reator foi construído em acrílico transparente, com dimensões equivalentes a 190 cm de altura e 5,3 cm de diâmetro interno, totalizando um volume de 4192 cm³, dos quais cerca de 44% (1831 cm³) foram ocupados pelo meio suporte, na situação de leito fixo. Para imobilização da biomassa foram utilizadas partículas de poliestireno, que foram previamente ativadas através de ataque ácido, com o intuito de aumentar a rugosidade e a porosidade da superfície do material, facilitando a aderência da biomassa ao meio suporte. O reator foi inoculado com lodo proveniente de reator UASB, responsável pelo tratamento de despejos de suinocultura. A realização do experimento foi dividida em cinco fases, que foram alteradas de acordo com o desempenho e a estabilidade do sistema diante do aumento das concentrações de fenol e nitrato. As concentrações médias de fenol afluente estudadas foram de 52, 107, 201, 335 e 518 mg/L, de maneira que não foi detectada presença de fenol no efluente para concentrações de até 335 mg/L. A eficiência de remoção reduziu-se para aproximadamente 70%, quando foi operado com concentrações de fenol afluente superiores a 500 mg/L. A relação entre carbono (proveniente exclusivamente do fenol) e N - \'NO IND. 3\' foi aproximadamente 1, portanto, as concentrações médias afluentes de N - \'NO IND. 3\' testadas foram equivalentes a 45, 79, 157, 260 e 362 mg/L, cujas eficiências de remoção de nitrogênio foram de 94%, 89%, 86%, 79% e 51%, respectivamente. O pH efluente variou entre 7,64 e 8,35, estando de acordo com sistemas que realizam o processo de desnitrificação. Em geral, cerca de 3,8 g DQO foi consumido por grama de N - \'NO IND. 3\' removido. Não foi observado acúmulo de nitrito no sistema, considerando que o valor médio da concentração efluente foi de 1,5 mg/L de N - \'NO IND. 2\' para todo período de operação. O experimento teve duração de 162 dias, nos quais o sistema mostrou resultados satisfatórios para redução de carbono e nitrogênio, mesmo quando operado com elevadas concentrações de fenol e nitrato. / This work aimed the general characterization of a phenol removal biological treatment system in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor using nitrate as the final electron acceptor. The reactor was built in transparent acrylic, with equivalent dimensions of 190 cm height and 5.3 cm intern diameter, resulting in 4,192 cm³ volume, which 44% were occupied by the support medium in a fix bed situation. Polystyrene particles were used to immobilize biomass, these particles were previously activated through acid attack, in order to increase materials roughness and superficial porosity, facilitating biomass adherence to the support medium. The reactor was inoculated with sludge from UASB reactor, responsible for swine culture effluent treatment. The experiment was divided in five phases, which were modified according to system performance and stability under the increase of phenol and nitrate concentrations. The mean phenol affluent concentrations studied were: 52, 107, 201, 335 and 518 mg/L, so that no phenol was detected in effluent in concentrations bellow 335 mg/L. The removal efficiency decreased to about 70% for affluent phenol concentrations over 500 mg/L. Carbon (exclusively from phenol) and N -\'NO IND. 3\' ratio was nearly 1, therefore the N \'NO IND. 3\' mean affluent concentrations tested were equivalent to 45, 79, 157, 260 e 362 mg/L, whose nitrogen removal efficiency were 94%, 89%, 86%, 79% e 51%, respectively. Effluent pH varied between 7.64 and 8.35, in agreement with denitrification process systems. In general, around 3.8 g DQO were consumed per gram of removed N \'NO IND. 3\'. No nitrite accumulation was observed in the system, considering that the mean effluent concentration was 1.5 mg/L de N - \'NO IND. 2\' to all operation period. Experiment lasted 162 days, during this time the system showed satisfactory results for carbon and nitrogen reduction, even when operated with high phenol and nitrate concentrations.

Remoções quase totais de clorofenóis, por processos anaeróbios, já foram atingidas mediante elevada concentração de matéria orgânica e um número considerável de fontes de carbono. Porém, é necessário que se investigue o desempenho dos reatores submetidos a condições menos idealizadas. Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para avaliar um reator anaeróbio de leito fluidificado (RALF) como etapa de pré-tratamento de substrato sintético contendo pentaclorofenol (PCP). Para isso, foram adotadas as seguintes condições experimentais: fonte única de carbono; concentração reduzida de matéria orgânica; biomassa não previamente adaptada, e menores tempos de detenção hidráulica. Para cumprir o objetivo citado, foram desenvolvidos dois reatores, com 2,2 e 16 litros, respectivamente, e foram realizadas etapas de avaliação de materiais suporte, estudo de diversas interações (partícula/fluido, partículas fluido, biopartícula/fluido e biopartículas/fluido), e análise do desempenho do RALF sem PCP e com PCP. Os materiais suporte escolhidos foram a alumina, o basalto e o carvão ativado granular, todos com diâmetros próximos a 3 mm. Eles foram avaliados em ensaios de caracterização física, de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, de fluidodinâmica e de análise de imagens. O carvão apresentou os melhores resultados e foi escolhido para a continuidade do trabalho. As interações foram analisadas através de ensaios fluidodinâmicos, isotermas de adsorção, dentre outros. Nas condições experimentais utilizadas, a biomassa aumentou a densidade da partícula, fato que foi comprovado pelos ensaios para determinação da velocidade mínima de fluidificação, de expansão e porosidade do leito, e também de velocidade terminal da partícula isolada. As isotermas de adsorção demonstraram que a presença de matéria orgânica diminuiu em 9% a adsorção do PCP. O RALF apresentou um comportamento satisfatório no período de operação sem PCP. Nos 105 dias de operação, a eficiência média de remoção de DQO ficou quase sempre superior a 90%, e os outros parâmetros de monitoramento de desempenho apresentaram valores típicos, indicando estabilidade no processo. A presença de PCP no sistema, nas concentrações utilizadas, não alterou a qualidade da biomassa presente, e nem os parâmetros de monitoramento de desempenho, como DQO, alcalinidade, pH e ácidos voláteis. Mesmo sob condições menos idealizadas, foi observado um desempenho satisfatório do reator na remoção do PCP. Em concentrações variando de 1 a 6 mg/L, foram observadas eficiências médias de remoção de 93% e 70%, respectivamente, para os 80 dias de operação nessas condições. Diante dos resultados obtidos, foi possível concluir que a remoção de PCP em um RALF pode ser atingida mediante condições operacionais mais simples. / The almost total removal of chlorophenols by anaerobic processes has been achieved under high concentrations of organic matter and a considerably large number of carbon sources. However, it is necessary to investigate the performance of such reactors under less idealized conditions. The present work shows the development of a new methodology for evaluating the use of an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) in the pretreatment step of a synthetic substrate containing pentachlorophenol (PCP). In order to do that, the following experimental conditions were used: a single source of carbon; reduced concentrations of organic matter; non-previously adapted biomass, and smaller hydraulic retention times. To achieve the main objective, two reactors, one having a volume of 2.2 L and the other one, 16 L, were especially designed; evaluation steps of support material and the study of several interactions (particle/fluid, particles/fluid, bioparticle/fluid, bioparticles/fluid) were carried out, and the performance of the AFBR with and without PCP was analyzed. The three support materials employed were alumina, basalt and granular activated carbon, all having average diameters of 3 mm. These materials were evaluated through physical characterization methods, microscopy, hydrodynamic and image analyses. The activated coal showed the best results and was exclusively employed in the remainder of the work. The interactions were analyzed by hydrodynamics and adsorption isotherms, to name but a few. Under the experimental conditions employed, the biomass made the particle density increase, a fact that was verified in the determination of the minimum fluidization velocity, the bed porosity and expansion as well as the terminal velocity of isolated particles. The adsorption isotherms showed a decrease of 9% in PCP absorption due to the existence of organic matter. The AFBR showed satisfactory results during the operation without PCP. In the 105 days of operation, the average efficiency of COD removal remained almost always over 90%, while the other performance monitoring parameters remained at typical values, indicating the process stability. The presence of PCP under the concentrations used in the system did not seem to affect neither the quality of the biomass nor the performance monitoring parameters, like COD, alkalinity, pH and volatile acids. Even under less idealized conditions, the reactor showed good performance in removing PCP. The average efficiencies of removal attained around 93% and 70% for concentrations of 1 to 6 mg/L respectively. These concentration levels were kept during 80 days. In view of the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that reasonably good efficiency of PCP removal in AFBR can be attained under simpler operational conditions.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produção de H2 a partir de diferentes substratos orgânicos da indústria sucroalcooleira, como caldo, melaço e vinhaça da cana-de-açúcar, incluindo a sacarose como uma fonte de carbono sintética. Foram utilizados quatro reatores anaeróbios de leito fluidificado, sendo reator mesofílico caldo (RMC), reator mesofílico melaço (RMM), reator mesofílico sacarose (RMS) e reator mesofílico vinhaça (RMV) mantidos em condição mesofílica (30 ºC) e em concentrações iniciais no substrato de alimentação de 5 gDQO. L-1. O pH do reatores foi mantido entre 4 e 5, os tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) empregados foram de 8, 6, 4, 2 e 1 h e a inoculação foi através de um lodo proveniente de um abatedouro de aves, que sofreu tratamento térmico. Em RMC o rendimento de H2 (HY) máximo obtido foi de 1,2 mol H2. mol sacarose-1, ocorrido no TDH de 8 h. O reator (RMM) apresentou um melhor consumo de substrato atingindo um HY de 1,4 mol H2. mol sacarose-1, observado no TDH de 4 h. RMS apresentou o melhor HY em relação aos demais reatores atingindo 3,3 mol H2. mol sacarose-1 no TDH de 6 h. A melhor produção volumétrica de H2 (PVH) obtida foi observada no RMS, onde no TDH de 2 h o reator atingiu 11 L H2. L-1. D-1. RMV, que utilizou vinhaça que passou por tratamento físico-químico através da adição de óxido de cálcio, não apresentou produção de H2. Dentre os principais produtos metabólitos solúveis observados nos reatores durante a operação houve predominância nas concentrações de ácido acético, butírico, isobutírico, propiônico, e succínico, em RMM. No RMC observaram-se maiores concentrações de ácido acético, butírico, lático e propiônico. RMV apresentou predominância de ácido acético, succínico, propiônico e butírico. Em RMS as maiores concentrações foram de ácido propiônico, acético, isobutírico, butírico e etanol. / This study aimed to evaluate the production of H2 from different organic substrates sugar industry, like juice, molasses and vinasse from cane sugar, including sucrose as a source of synthetic carbon. four anaerobic fluidized bed were used, mesophilic broth reactor (RMC), mesophilic molasses reactor (RMM), reactor mesophilic sucrose RMS) and reactor mesophilic vinasse (RMV) maintained at mesophilic condition (30ºC) and at initial concentrations feed substrate 5 gCOD. L-1. The pH of the reactor was kept between 4 and 5, the hydraulic detention time (HDT) used were 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 h and the inoculation through a sludge from a poultry slaughterhouse, which underwent heat treatment. In MRC H2 yield (HY) maximum obtained was 1.2 mol H2. mol sucrose-1, occurred in HRT of 8 h. The reactor (RMM) showed a better substrate consumption reaching a HY 1.4 mol H2. mol-1 sucrose, HDT observed in 4 h. RMS presented the best HY compared to other reactors reaching 3.3 mol H2. mol-1 sucrose in HRT of 6 h. The best volumetric H2 production (PVH) obtained was observed in the RMS where the TDH 2 h the reactor reached 11 L H2. L-1. D-1. RMV that used vinasse which has undergone physical-chemical treatment by adding calcium oxide, showed no H2 production. Among the main products soluble metabolites observed in the reactors during operation predominated in acetic acid concentrations, butyric, isobutyric, propionic, and succinic in RMM. In MRC were observed higher concentrations of acetic, butyric, lactic and propionic acid. RMV showed predominantly acetic, succinic, propionic and butyric acid. RMS higher concentrations were propionic acid, acetic, isobutyric, butyric acid and ethanol.

Orientador: Milton Mori / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T06:39:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GonzalezSilva_German_D.pdf: 4427269 bytes, checksum: bb45c122c3faad0613f060ad4cbd3b61 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O objetivo principal desta tese é propor uma metodologia para aplicar simulação de grandes escalas (LES) em uma unidade de craqueamento catalítico industrial. Para atingir este objetivo, iniciou-se propondo uma metodologia para a construção da malha, sendo uma malha quase-uniforme. As malhas propostas foram implementadas para minimizar o esforço computacional e procedimento para a refinação uniforme no domínio do sistema. Inicialmente, foi estudada a fluidodinâmica de um leito fluidizado gás-sólido na escala de laboratório sem reação química, utilizando Simulação de Grandes Escalas. Com base nos resultados numéricos obtidos a partir de resultados da escala de laboratório foi aplicado o modelo cinético de 4 lump em uma simulação CFD tridimensional para um reator industrial FCC, utilizando LES para a fase gasosa, e considerando o catalisador como uma fase contínua (Euleriana). Os pacotes de simulação utilizados foram Ansys ICEM versão 13 para a construção da malha e Ansys CFX versão 13 para o pós-processamento dos resultados. No pós-processamento dos resultados foi proposta uma metodologia para determinar as médias azimutais das variáveis em planos perpendiculares ao escoamento e finalmente foram validadas as simulações com dados reportados na literatura. As principais conclusões do trabalho foram que foi possível diminuir o tamanho da malha e o tempo de processamento. Notou-se também que, ao usar malhas com discretização quase-uniforme não foi necessário fazer um refinamento de malha elevado, nem refinar perto da parede para o sistema gás-sólido / Abstract: The main objective of this thesis is to propose a methodology in how to apply Large Eddy Simulation (LES) on a unit of catalytic cracking. In order to achieve this, it was proposed an alternative way of constructing the computational mesh, by using quasi-uniform meshes. The proposed meshes were implemented to minimize the computational effort and procedure for refining them in the entire domain of the system. Initially it was studied the fluid dynamics of a lab scale gas-solid system without chemical reaction, using Large Eddy Simulation. Based on the numerical results obtained from lab scale results it was implemented the 4 lump kinetic model in a three dimensional CFD simulation of an FCC industrial reactor, using LES for the gas phase and considering the catalyst as a continuous phase (Eulerian). The simulation packages used were Ansys ICEM, version 13 for mesh construction and Ansys CFX 13 for computation and post-processing of the results. In the data post-processing it was proposed a methodology for calculating average values of fluctuating variables between two circular sections in the azimuthal direction. The results were compared with data reported in literature. The main conclusions of the results showed that it was possible to decrease the mesh size and the computational time. It was also noticed that by using quasi-uniform discretization it was not necessary to make a high mesh refinement near the wall for a gas-solid system / Doutorado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Químicos / Doutor em Engenharia Química

[pt] O dissulfeto de ferro pode ser aplicado em sistemas de elevado grau tecnológico, por exemplo, componentes em coletores de energia solar, anodo despolarizador para a produção de hidrogênio e material catódico em baterias e pilhas de alta densidade de energia. O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo termodinâmico e cinético da reação de síntese de dissulfeto de ferro em um reator de leito fluidizado para temperaturas variando entre 400ºC e 500ºC, em regime de leito borbulhante. O rendimento da reação de síntese depende fortemente dos valores estabelecidos para as variáveis de processo: vazão de gás de arraste, temperatura, pressão parcial de enxofre gasoso, natureza das matérias-primas e tempo de reação. Em condições mais favoráveis de reação - 60 min e 500ºC - obteve-se conversão em FeS2 acima de 95%, partículas agregadas com distribuição de tamanhos na faixa de 100um a 200 um, de morfologia uniforme e esferoidal. A desagregação manual do FeS2 aglomerado conduz as partículas a tamanhos médios de 1,5um, tamanho considerado ideal para aplicações em fontes eletroquímicas. A quantificação do FeS2 foi realizada através do Método de Rietvelt associado à análise de DRX. Os resultados mostraram que é possível através de uma rota pirometalúrgica inovadora, partindo-se de reagentes relativamente baratos - Fe2O3 e S, obter o FeS2 para aplicação em catodos de pilhas e baterias. / [en] Iron disulfide can be used as an alternative material in high technological systems, as an example, solar energy collectors and cathodic component in primary and secondary batteries. The present work studies the kinetics and thermodynamics of the iron disulfide synthesis in a fluidized bed reactor for temperatures varying from 400ºC to 500ºC, operating in the bubble fluidized bed regime. It was observed that the synthesis conversion is much dependent on control variables: inert gas flow, temperature, sulfur gas partial pressure, nature of raw materials and reaction time. In favorable experimental conditions, that is 60 minute time reaction and 500ºC temperature, it was achieved more than 95% iron oxide conversion in iron disulfide, generating particle aggregates with distribution size between 100Âum and 200Âum, uniform morphology with ellipsoidal appearance. Manual desagragation leads to small iron disulfide particles with 1,4 Âum average size, ideal for electrochemical use. The iron disulfide phase quantification was performanced by the Rietvelt method associated with Powder Difraction technique. The results showed that it is possible, within a pyrometallurgy route, to synthesize iron disulfide for electrochemical applications, from cheap and easy obtainable reagents such as iron oxide and elemental sulphur.

La polymérisation de l'éthylène en phase gaz en présence d'un système catalytique supporté en réacteurs à lit fluidisés reste le procédé le plus utilisé pour la production de polyéthylène à basse densité linéaire. De plus, dans le cas du polyéthylène à haute densité, celui-ci représente également une part non négligeable des plants de production à travers le monde. Le procédé en phase gaz offre de nombreux avantages dont un coût d'exploitations inférieures et une flexibilité supérieure en termes de production des différents types de polymères comparé aux autres procédés conventionnels. Cependant, au regard de la nature exothermique de la réaction de polymérisation, la vitesse de la production du polymère dans ces réacteurs est limitée par la vitesse à laquelle la chaleur produite par la réaction peut être évacuée. Si le réacteur ne permet pas l'évacuation de cette chaleur, l'augmentation de la vitesse de production résulterait en une croissance dramatique de la température au sein du réacteur et, par conséquent, à la fusion et l'agglomération du polymère, et finalement à l'arrêt du réacteur. Dans ce cas, dans le but d'avoir une vitesse de production plus importante, il est possible d'utiliser le réacteur susnommé en tant que mode d'opération condensé. Dans le cas de ce mode d'opération, le flux d'alimentation de la phase gaz du réacteur contient non seulement de l'éthylène, de l'azote, de l'hydrogène, et éventuellement un comonomère, mais également un agent condensant inerte (ACI) tels que le pentane ou l'hexane. Dans cette configuration, le flux d'alimentation est en partie liquéfié dans un échangeur de chaleur externe en le refroidissant sous le point de rosée du gaz. Par vaporisation de la phase liquide dans le réacteur, une quantité plus importante de chaleur peut être retirée de l'environnement du réacteur grâce à la chaleur latente associée à la vaporisation. Cela permet d'obtenir un rendement plus élevé de l'espace pour ce réacteur et par conséquent une vitesse de production supérieure / In the current thesis study it is intended to investigate the potential effect of the inert condensing agent (ICA) of n-hexane used in condensed mode operation on the solubility of ethylene in produced polyethylene (PE) and consequently the quality and rate of gas phase ethylene polymerization on supported catalyst under reactive conditions. This is the first time for such a study. Performing the set of designed polymerization reaction experiments using a lab-scale stirred-bed gas phase reactor, it is observed that the instantaneous rate of ethylene polymerization increases in the presence of n-hexane, thus supporting the initial speculation of the effect of n-hexane on the enhancement of the ethylene solubility in polymer known as “cosolubility” phenomenon. In order to have a better picture and understanding, the averaged instantaneous rate of polymerization in presence of n-hexane is normalized with the one without any n-hexane. Consequently, this helps to see that while the effect of n-hexane increases proportionally to its partial pressure in the gas phase composition, this effect is more pronounced at the initial steps during the course of polymerization. In the current thesis study for the first time, the Sanchez-Lacombe EOS as one of the most widely applied thermodynamic models in polymer industry is adapted and developed in order to study not only the solubility but also concentration of ethylene in polyethylene in the absence and presence of an inert condensing agent in order to quantify the speculated cosorption phenomenon under the reactive polymerization condition. By incorporating this thermodynamic model to describe the solubility of ethylene in polymer into a single particle model like Polymer Flow Model (PFM) to estimate the concentration and temperature gradient through a growing polymer particle, it is ultimately attempted to predict the effect of change in the process operating condition by addition of n-hexane as the ICA to the gas phase composition. Finally in the current thesis study, it is demonstrated how the thermal effect associated with the heat of sorption of ICAs can have a positive effect in terms of avoiding particle over-heating under certain circumstances like its temporary exposition to the defluidized regions inside a fluidized reactor (FBR) as a possible undesirable operating condition for this type of reactor set-ups

The aim of this master thesis is study of possibilities of processing energy by-products, especially coal fly ash and fluidized bed ash, by hydrothermal treatment. Thanks to hydrothermal conditions and proper alkali activation of ashes we can obtain zeolites. Zeolites are microporous crystalline aluminosilicates which are use in many industrial sectors as catalysts, adsorbents and very good ion exchangers. The results of hydrothermal synthesis are influenced by many variable factors. This thesis mainly focused on influence of chosen alkali activator and the concentration of the activator together with a temperature of hydrothermal process. Other factor that is studied is choice of starting materials and solution/ash ratio. Phase composition of prepared samples was characterized by XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also cation exchange capacity of prepared samples was determined.

Parmi les technologies de gazéification de la biomasse, le gazéifieur à lit fluidisé double permet la production d’un gaz de synthèse contenant du méthane. L’étude des processus physicochimiques impliqués dans le gazéifieur est rendue difficile par le fait qu’ils se produisent simultanément. Dans cette thèse, les principales réactions chimiques sont étudiées de manière découplée, indépendamment les unes des autres à l’aide de dispositifs de laboratoire originaux et dans des conditions thermiques semblables à celles du gazéifieur. Les processus intraparticulaires contrôlant la pyrolyse de la biomasse ainsi que les réactions gaz/solide (vapogazéification du charbon et craquage thermique et catalytique des vapeurs sur olivine) sont étudiées au moyen d’un four à image. Les expériences de craquage thermique homogène des vapeurs sont réalisées dans un réacteur parfaitement auto-agité par jets gazeux. Tous les produits formés par les réactions sont recueillis et analysés. Les bilans de matière bouclent de façon très satisfaisante. Le régime de chaque réaction est discuté sur la base d’une analyse de temps caractéristiques. Les paramètres cinétiques des réactions sont déterminés par modélisation des processus et optimisation à partir des résultats expérimentaux. Les mécanismes possibles de formation et de consommation du méthane sont identifiés et discutés. Le gazéifieur est modélisé sur la base d’un modèle de grains (réactions primaires de pyrolyse), des réactions secondaires, de l’hydrodynamique des phases solides et gazeuse et des transferts. La méthodologie de découplage est enfin validée par comparaison des résultats du modèle avec des mesures réalisées sur le gazéifieur de 8 MW de Güssing (Autriche) / Among the biomass gasification technologies, the dual fluidized bed gasifier may be used to produce a methane-rich syngas. Analysis of all the physicochemical phenomena involved inside the gasifier is difficult because they all occur simultaneously. In this thesis, the main chemical reactions are decoupled and studied independently one of each other at the scale of original laboratory facilities in thermal conditions close to those encountered in the gasifier. Intraparticular reactions of biomass pyrolysis and gas/solid reactions (char-steam gasification and catalytic thermal cracking of vapors on olivine) are carried out with an image furnace. Experiments related to gas-phase vapors thermal cracking are performed inside a continuous self stirred tank reactor. All the products formed by the reactions are recovered and analyzed. Mass balance closures are achieved accurately. Controlling steps of each reaction are discussed on the basis of a characteristic times analysis. Kinetic parameters are determined according to both processes modelings and optimizations from the experimental results. Different ways of possible methane formation and consumption mechanisms are identified and discussed. The gasifier is modelled by considering a single-particle model (primary pyrolysis reactions), secondary reactions, solids and gas-phase hydrodynamics and transfers. Finally, the decoupling methodology is validated from the comparison of model results with measurements performed at the 8 MW Güssing gasifier (Austria)

La nécessité de nouveaux modes de suppléance hépatique se fait clairement ressentir pour maintenir en vie les patients en attente d’une greffe. Des traitements, basés sur l’utilisation de cellules cultivées dans un environnement adéquat, pourraient même permettre le rétablissement de certains patients en insuffisance hépatique sévère et ainsi éviter la greffe et les traitements immunosuppresseurs associés. Une suppléance hépatique efficace pourrait aussi servir au rétablissement des patients récemment greffés ou ayant subi une hépatectomie. L’objectif de cette thèse a été de développer, créer et valider un nouveau foie bioartificiel avec une prise en compte des contraintes réglementaires des médicaments combinés de thérapie innovante. Ce BAL doit pouvoir inclure des bioréacteurs à lit fluidisé perfusés par du plasma et contenant des sphéroïdes d’hépatocytes encapsulés. Des microparticules de verre, ajoutés aux billes d’alginate pour les alourdir, permettent d’obtenir une fluidisation optimale dans du plasma pathologique sans que des effets délétères ne soient observables ni pour les cellules ni pour les propriétés mécaniques des billes. Une méthode de culture cellulaire utilisant un revêtement anti-adhérent sur des boites de Petri en verre permet de produire un nombre important de sphéroïdes viables in vitro. Ces sphéroïdes encapsulés peuvent être maintenus vivants et métaboliquement actifs dans un bioréacteur à lit fluidisé pendant au minimum 4 jours.Pour assurer l’efficacité du BAL et la sécurité des patients, une circulation extracorporelle complexe a été mise au point pour être compatible avec une machine d’épuration extracorporelle commerciale, la Prismaflex® de la société Gambro, déjà utilisée en soins intensifs. Une étude préclinique sur un modèle ovin a montré que le traitement était bien toléré en ce qui concerne les aspects hémodynamiques. La prochaine étape concerne la mise en place d’une étude dans un modèle porcin d’insuffisance hépatique, avant de pouvoir procéder aux premiers essais cliniques. / The need for new liver support devices is clearly felt to allow keeping alive patients waiting for a transplant. Treatments, based on the use of cells cultured in an adequate environment, may even allow the recovery of some patients suffering from acute liver failure and avoid graft and associated immunosuppressive therapies. A hepatic substitution could also be used to reestablish patients recently transplanted or who had underwent an hepatectomy.. The objective of the thesis was to design, create and validate of a new bioartificial liver with consideration for the regulatory requirements of the Advanced Therapies Medical Product (ATMP). This device has to include fluidized bed bioreactors perfused with plasma and hosting alginate-encapsulated hepatocytes spheroids. Microparticles of glass have been added to weight down alginate beads in order to have an optimal fluidization in pathological plasma without negative effects neither on cells metabolism nor on mechanical properties of the beads. A cellular culture method using non adhesive coating in Petri dish led to the production of a large amount of viable spheroids in vitro. These encapsulated spheroids can be kept alive and metabolically active in a fluidized bed bioreactor during a minimum of four days. To ensure the efficacy of the BAL and the safety of patients, a complex extracorporeal circulation was designed to be compatible with a commercial medical device, the Prismaflex® monitor of the company Gambro, already used in intensive care units. A preclinical study on sheeps has shown that the treatment was well tolerated in terms of hemodynamics considerations. The next step is the establishment of a study in a porcine model of liver failure, before we can proceed to the first clinical trial.

In gas-solid fluidized beds, the generation of electrostatic charges due to continuous contacts between fluidizing particles, and the particles and the fluidization vessel wall, is unavoidable. Industrial operations, such as the production of polyethylene, are susceptible to significant operational challenges caused by electrostatics including reactor wall fouling, a problem known as “sheeting”. The formation of particle sheets can require shutdown periods for clean-up which results in significant economic losses. To gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of electrostatic charging in gas-solid fluidized beds, in an attempt to eliminate or minimize this problem, a pilot-scale pressurized gas-solid fluidization system was designed and built, housing an online electrostatic charge measurement technique consisting of two Faraday cups. The system permits the study of the degree of particle wall fouling at pressures and temperatures up to 2600 kPa and 100°C, respectively, and gas velocities up to 1 m/s (covering a range including turbulent flow regime). The system also allowed, for the first time, the measurement of the fluidizing particles’ mass, net charge and size distribution in various regions of the bed, especially those related to the wall coating under the industrially relevant operating conditions of high pressures and gas velocities. Experimental trials were carried out using polyethylene resin received from commercial reactors to investigate the influence of pressure and gas velocity on the bed hydrodynamics and in turn, the degree of bed electrification. Mechanisms for particle charging, migration and adherence to the column wall were proposed. The size distribution of the gas bubbles shifted towards smaller bubbles as the operating pressure was raised. Thus, higher pressures lead to greater mixing within the bulk of the bed and resulted in a higher degree of particle wall fouling. Moreover, the extent of wall fouling increased linearly with the increase in gas velocity and as the bed transitioned to turbulent regime, due to the increase in particle-wall contacts. Bipolar charging was observed especially within the wall coating with smaller particles being negatively charged. Overall, particle-wall contacts generated negatively charged particles resulting in a net negative charge in the bed, whereas particle-particle contacts generated positively and negatively charged particles resulting in no net charge when entrainment was negligible. The formation of the wall layer and its extent was influenced by the gravitational and drag forces balancing the image force and Coulomb forces (created by the net charge of the bed and the metallic column wall as the attraction between oppositely charged particles).