Thesis (M.B.A. (Rhodes Investec Business School)) - Rhodes University, 2007. / A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)

Este trabalho tem como objetivo preparar membranas compostas de α-alumina recobertas com paládio usando a técnica de deposição química electroless plating associada ao método sol-gel. Foram realizados tratamentos térmicos a 1450°C nos suportes cerâmicos em 6, 12, 18, 24 e 30 h visando verificar a influência do tempo na porosidade do mesmo. Foram preparadas membranas compostas, alumina-Pd com uma, duas e três camadas de paládio na superfície externa do suporte cerâmico, em que o suporte e as membranas foram caracterizados por: análise morfológica realizada por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura de Emissão de Campo (FESEM), porosidade avaliada pelo Método de Brunauer, Emmet e Teller (BET), Método de Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) e porosimetria de mercúrio, quantificação de paládio em solução por Espectrometria de Massa com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-MS) e a permeabilidade e seletividade dos gases mensurada a partir de um equipamento em escala de bancada. O aumento do tempo durante a sinterização não promoveu mudanças significativas na porosidade do suporte, mostrando que o tempo de 6 h de tratamento térmico é suficiente para atingir a menor distribuição de tamanho de poro do material. A formação da camada de paládio foi realizada sem e com a associação do método sol-gel, apresentando uma camada mais homogênea com o uso do método, no entanto a análise de ICP-MS indicou maior quantidade de metal paládio na deposição electroless plating. A análise morfológica indicou espaços vazios menores de acordo com o número de camadas formadas. O suporte cerâmico sem e com camada de paládio apresenta variação na permeabilidade aos gases N2, CH4 e CO2 nas pressões de 100 a 400 kPa e quanto mais espessa a camada de paládio formada, menor é a permeabilidade dos gases. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-02-23T18:54:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Tatiana Bisoto.pdf: 546380 bytes, checksum: b684b58eaa3e2af8b355719394be7208 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-23T18:54:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Tatiana Bisoto.pdf: 546380 bytes, checksum: b684b58eaa3e2af8b355719394be7208 (MD5) / Within this context, this work aims to prepare membranes composed of α-alumina coated with palladium using the electroless plating technique associated with the sol-gel method. To achieve the objectives of the paper, analyzes of porosity of the ceramic support with and without heat treatment of 1450°C for 6; 12; 18; 24 and 30 h, the formation of one, two and three layers of palladium on the external surface of the ceramic support, the effect of the sol-gel method, the chemical and physical properties, permeability and selectivity of the gases were performed. Morphological analysis were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), the membrane porosity was evaluated by the Brunauer, Emmet and Teller (BET) theory, Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method and by mercury porosimetry, the palladium quantification in solution was given by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) analysis and gas permeability and selectivity were measured by a bench scale equipment. The time increase during the sinterization did not promote representing changes in the support porosity, which shows that the 6 h time of heat treatment is sufficient to achieve the lowest porosity of the material. The palladium layer formation was realized without and with the combination of the sol-gel method, presenting a more homogeneous layer with the use of the method. However, the ICP-MS analysis indicated a greater amount of palladium deposition without sol-gel method. The morphological analysis showed smaller empty spaces according to the number of layers formed. The ceramic support without and with palladium layer showed variation in permeability to N2, CH4 and CO2 gases at pressures of 100 to 400 kPa and the higher the palladium layer formed, the smaller the gas permeability

Este trabalho tem como objetivo preparar membranas compostas de α-alumina recobertas com paládio usando a técnica de deposição química electroless plating associada ao método sol-gel. Foram realizados tratamentos térmicos a 1450°C nos suportes cerâmicos em 6, 12, 18, 24 e 30 h visando verificar a influência do tempo na porosidade do mesmo. Foram preparadas membranas compostas, alumina-Pd com uma, duas e três camadas de paládio na superfície externa do suporte cerâmico, em que o suporte e as membranas foram caracterizados por: análise morfológica realizada por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura de Emissão de Campo (FESEM), porosidade avaliada pelo Método de Brunauer, Emmet e Teller (BET), Método de Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) e porosimetria de mercúrio, quantificação de paládio em solução por Espectrometria de Massa com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-MS) e a permeabilidade e seletividade dos gases mensurada a partir de um equipamento em escala de bancada. O aumento do tempo durante a sinterização não promoveu mudanças significativas na porosidade do suporte, mostrando que o tempo de 6 h de tratamento térmico é suficiente para atingir a menor distribuição de tamanho de poro do material. A formação da camada de paládio foi realizada sem e com a associação do método sol-gel, apresentando uma camada mais homogênea com o uso do método, no entanto a análise de ICP-MS indicou maior quantidade de metal paládio na deposição electroless plating. A análise morfológica indicou espaços vazios menores de acordo com o número de camadas formadas. O suporte cerâmico sem e com camada de paládio apresenta variação na permeabilidade aos gases N2, CH4 e CO2 nas pressões de 100 a 400 kPa e quanto mais espessa a camada de paládio formada, menor é a permeabilidade dos gases. / Within this context, this work aims to prepare membranes composed of α-alumina coated with palladium using the electroless plating technique associated with the sol-gel method. To achieve the objectives of the paper, analyzes of porosity of the ceramic support with and without heat treatment of 1450°C for 6; 12; 18; 24 and 30 h, the formation of one, two and three layers of palladium on the external surface of the ceramic support, the effect of the sol-gel method, the chemical and physical properties, permeability and selectivity of the gases were performed. Morphological analysis were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), the membrane porosity was evaluated by the Brunauer, Emmet and Teller (BET) theory, Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method and by mercury porosimetry, the palladium quantification in solution was given by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) analysis and gas permeability and selectivity were measured by a bench scale equipment. The time increase during the sinterization did not promote representing changes in the support porosity, which shows that the 6 h time of heat treatment is sufficient to achieve the lowest porosity of the material. The palladium layer formation was realized without and with the combination of the sol-gel method, presenting a more homogeneous layer with the use of the method. However, the ICP-MS analysis indicated a greater amount of palladium deposition without sol-gel method. The morphological analysis showed smaller empty spaces according to the number of layers formed. The ceramic support without and with palladium layer showed variation in permeability to N2, CH4 and CO2 gases at pressures of 100 to 400 kPa and the higher the palladium layer formed, the smaller the gas permeability

Thesis (M. Sc.) -- University of LImpopo, 2019 / Refer to document

The global threat of climate change is one of the most crucial environmental issues facing the world in modern times. In response to this threat, international governments have drafted the Kyoto Protocol which included the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The CDM is a scheme which invited developing countries, like South Africa, to become involved in climate change mitigation projects. While South Africa has been identified as an attractive host country for CDM projects, research has revealed that it lags behind other developing countries in this regard. This study provides a theoretical background to the CDM and grounds the subject within the field of Environmental Economics. Following a literature review of factors that could influence the involvement of a municipality in CDM projects, this thesis undertook a case study of the barriers and drivers to CDM implementation within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). Use was made of semi-structured interviews, where a questionnaire was used to guide the researcher’s interview process. Five NMBM officers, who were likely to have been involved with CDM project implementation, were interviewed. Data collected was analyzed using a coding technique and was compared and contrasted to the literature in a process of explanation building. It was possible to elicit 14 factors that acted as CDM-barriers; seven that acted as CDM-drivers; and 10 that were required to change within the NMBM to encourage greater CDM involvement. Of the barriers, lack of awareness, poor political will and lack of funding emerged as the most inhibiting. Of the CDM-drivers, the potential financial benefits; ownership of infrastructure capable of producing carbon assets; and technology transfer emerged as the factors most likely to promote CDM involvement. With regards the factors that require change, it emerged that a positive response would result from a proactive stance by National Government on the CDM; the use of Public-Private-Partnerships to facilitate CDM projects; and improved communication and capacity building within the NMBM and the Nelson Mandela Bay business community. The main recommendation offered to the NMBM was for it to draft a Sustainable Development Policy as well as a formal sustainable development strategy to drive a coherent and consolidated approach to the Municipality’s involvement with CDM projects. Further, it was proposed that the NMBM should, lobby National Government for it to promulgate enabling legislation and a framework which would encourage CDM investment in South Africa; and engage with local business to promote the active involvement of the Nelson Mandela Bay with the implementation of CDM projects. Keywords: Global Warming, Kyoto Protocol, Clean Development Mechanism, Sustainable Development, Environmental Economics, Public Sector, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

Climate change is regarded as the greatest threat facing the world today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that climate change is caused by human activities, as a result of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being emitted into the atmosphere. Scientific literature on the impact of climate change is well documented, especially for the health sector. The mission of the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) is to “contribute towards the reduction of the burden of diseases in all the communities in Gauteng”. Ekurhuleni Health District is part of GDoH and shares a similar mission. However, this mission is under threat due to the direct and indirect impact of climate change on the public health sector. Therefore, it is essential for Ekurhuleni Health District and Provincial Clinics to take measures to reduce their contribution to climate change in the light of improving the health of their constituent. This study estimates the carbon footprint of the employees of Ekurhuleni Health District and Provincial Clinics and determines the knowledge and perception of climate change among managers and operational employees. The methodologies of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and the Department of Environmental Forestry and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) were used to quantify the carbon footprints of the employees of the Ekurhuleni Health District and Provincial Clinics. A content analysis was applied to determine the knowledge and perception of climate change. The study revealed that Scope 2, indirect emissions (electricity), accounts for 92% (35150 t CO2e) of the total carbon footprints for the period of five years, 2010-2014. Scope 1, direct emission (vehicles), is responsible for 4% (1362 t CO2e) and Scope 3, indirect emissions for ICT, for 2% (862 t CO2e), office paper 1% (181 t CO2e) and air conditioners 1% (458 t CO2e). The majority of employees demonstrated basic knowledge of climate change. However, the concept of GHGs was unfamiliar to most of the employees. In terms of perceptions of climate change, the majority of employees were concerned about the future of the planet and climate change and believed that climate change will impact their job description. The study recommends the following mitigation measures, among others, to reduce carbon footprints: (1) electrical vehicles; (2) substituting personal desktops with laptops; and (3) substituting HFC-23 air conditioner refrigerant with R410A. These recommendations have the potential to reduce the carbon emissions by 2445 t CO2e for the period of five (5) years and save R7 875 089 from fuel and power consumption. Furthermore, the District Office and Provincial Clinics can generate a revenue of R293 400 by registering for a CMD project for five years or R1 173 600 for the duration of the project (20 years). / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)