The effect of the operating conditions of three continuous high shear granulators on the internal structure and strength of granules has been investigated and the possibility of seeded granulation has been explored. In a recently concluded programme of research on the scale-up of a high shear granulator, Cyclomix (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron B.V., The Netherlands), a novel method of granulation called seeded granulation was introduced, where each granule contained, at its core, a large particle from the upper tail end of the feed particle size distribution. Seeded granulation is particularly useful for process control of continuous granulators as there is the potential to control granulation by the flow rate of the seed particles. Hence, the performance of three different types of continuous granulators in terms of granule strength and structure has been evaluated here; these are Extrudomix, Modulomix (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron, UK and The Netherlands, respectively) and the Nica M6 Turbine continuous granulator (manufactured by GEA, UK). Calcium carbonate (Durcal 65) powder was granulated using an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as binder in the same ratio as used previously in our batch granulation, to allow comparison between the continuous and batch processes. The crushing strength was characterised by quasi-static side crushing between two platens using a mechanical testing machine. The internal structure and morphology were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and the extent of seeding quantified. Granules produced in all the three continuous granulators were significantly weaker than those of the batch granulator tested previously. Among the continuous granulators only the Modulomix granulator produced some seeded granules. It is considered that longer residence time is necessary to produce seeded granules.

<p>This dissertation describes an investigation into the free radical batch polymerization of methyl methacrylate to high conversion. The overall objective was to develop a kinetic model to accurately predict conversion and molecular weight distribution for the polymerization. The dissertation is divided into three self-contained parts.</p> <p>Part I describes the development and testing of the kinetic model. New gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) data interpretation methods (developed in Part I I), the free volume concept of diffusion theory, and newly obtained isothermal kinetic data, are combined with computer implemented optimization techniques, to show that classical kinetics apply to high conversions.</p> <p>Part II details the development of three new GPC interpretation techniques. The two most recent are evaluated in Part I.</p> <p>The third has been used by other workers. Other interpretation methods are also evaluated and discussed. Part I I I describes the development of a high shear concentric cylinder viscometer and its use with Newtonian standards. This is a prelude to future studies in polymer rheology and polymerization under shear conditions.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Heavy-metal contamination in soils has become a serious environmental problem. Among all metals, excessive amount of zinc was released to soils over the years. Zinc is not only toxic to human being, but also to plants. High concentration of zinc is extremely phytotoxic. Currently, the most popular method to remediate heavy-metal contaminated soils is stabilization/solidification (S/S) technique as it is cheaper, faster and more effective to remediate heavy metals than other remediation methods. Portland cement is the most-used binder in S/S technique. However, the production of Portland cement has released a significant amount of carbon dioxide, which strongly contributes to global warming. In addition, zinc retards the setting and hydration of Portland cement, which would require more Portland cement to remediate zinc-contaminated sites. Therefore, researchers are looking for new materials to improve the performance of Portland cement in zinc-contaminated soils. In recent years, the application of graphene-based materials in concrete had proved to be effective. Due to relative cost-effectiveness and comparable properties, multi-layer graphene, known as graphene nanoplatelets, may show a promising potential in construction. Moreover, research has reported that graphene nanoplatelets can be exfoliated from graphite and potentially scaled up for full-scale applications. At present, there is no application of graphene nanoplatelets in the S/S of contaminated soils and the roles of graphene nanoplatelets in cement-stabilized zinc-contaminated clay remained unknown. In this research, graphene nanoplatelets were dispersed in solution with a high-shear mixing apparatus. Dispersed graphene nanoplatelets solution was then applied to zinc-contaminated soil along with cement. To evaluate the efficacy of this S/S method, various influencing factors such as mixing sequence, graphene nanoplatelets content, zinc content, cement content, and curing time were studied. An optimum graphene nanoplatelets content was determined through the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the stabilized/solidified samples. It was found that at the optimum content, the unconfined compressive strength of cement-stabilized zinc-contaminated clay was improved by 22.3% with the addition of graphene nanoplatelets. Also, graphene nanoplatelets were effective at moderate zinc content and low cement content. Graphene nanoplatelets accelerated cement hydration effectively at early ages. Microstructural analyses indicated that more hydration products were developed in samples with graphene nanoplatelets. At current stage, it is still expensive to apply graphene nanoplatelets in S/S technique; however, it is possible to exfoliate graphite into graphene nanoplatelets in future research. / Graduate / 2022-05-12

Os compostos antioxidantes naturais têm sido cada vez mais investigados devido à necessidade das indústrias alimentícias suprirem as exigências dos consumidores em relação à saudabilidade dos produtos. A quercetina é um flavonoide cujos benefícios estão relacionados principalmente à sua ação antioxidante. Entretando, tal molécula apresenta, geralmente, baixa absorção no trato gastrointenstinal, o que pode ser um obstáculo para sua efetiva ação biológica. Por este motivo, uma alternativa para melhorar a sua bioacessibilidade é a encapsulação em sistemas coloidais baseados em matrizes lipídicas, como os lipossomas. Os lipossomas possuem a capacidade de incorporar tanto bioativos hidrofílicos quanto hidrofóbicos em sua estrutura, bem como proporcionar liberação controlada e aumentar a bioacessibilidade dos ingredientes encapsulados. No entanto, há necessidade do desenvolvimento de processos de produção de lipossomas em maior escala, e dentre os processos possíveis a serem empregados com este objetivo encontra-se o método de produção de injeção de etanol. O objetivo principal da presente Tese foi a microencapsulação de quercetina em lipossomas através do método de injeção de etanol. A dispersão de lipossomas encapsulando quercetina escolhida foi liofilizada, com a intenção de aumentar a estabilidade dos lipossomas e enriquecer o amido de milho. O enriquecimento do amido de milho foi realizado por aglomeração, especificamente pelo método de alto cisalhamento, sendo que o pó alimentício aglomerado resultante foi caracterizado fisicamente e teve suas propriedades físicas melhoradas. Foi possível realizar a aplicação do amido de milho enriquecido com quercetina no antepasto de berinjela, sendo que tal incorporação não alterou significativamente as características do produto. Além disso, o antepasto de berinjela foi processado a alta pressão hidrostática e teve sua estabilidade avaliada, sendo que a utilização do processamento não-térmico apresentou vantagens em relação ao método de processamento convencional. / The natural antioxidant compounds have been increasingly investigated due to the need of the food industry to provide healthier products. Quercetin is a flavonoid, whose benefits are linked mainly with its antioxidant activity. However, this bioactive generally has a low absorption rate in the gastrointestinal tract, which it can be an obstacle for its biological action effective. For this reason, an alternative to improve such bioavailability is to encapsulate quercetina in lipid-based matrices, e.g, liposomes. The liposomes have the capacity to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactive, as well as to control the release of the encapsulated bioactives, and enhance their bioavailability. However, there is a need to develop liposome production methods in larger scale, and one of the processes feasible to be scaled up is the ethanol injection method. One of the main objectives of this Thesis was to microencapsulate quercetin in liposomes by ethanol injection method. The dispersion of quercetin-loaded liposomes was lyophilized aiming to increase the stability of liposomes and enrich cornstarch. The enrichment of cornstarch was performed by agglomeration, specifically by high shear method, and the agglomerated food powders were characterized and their physical properties was improved. It was possible to incorporate the enriched cornstarch with quercetin in eggplant sauce, and such application did not change the product characteristics. Also, the eggplant sauce was processed by high hydrostatic pressure and had its stability evaluated, indicating the use of nonthermal technology showed advantages if compared to the conventional thermal processing.

Cette étude est dédiée à la compréhension du processus de granulation humide en mélangeurs à haut taux de cisaillement. Une étude systémique et méthodologique a été menée permettant l'investigation de l'influence des paramètres opératoires, de la technologie employée et des propriétés physico-chimiques des matières premières. Cette investigation est réalisé a travers des techniques de caractérisation morphologiques, rhéologiques et mécaniques. En reliant les courbes de couple enregistrés lors de la granulation humide à la cinétique de croissance des granules, aux caractérisations microscopiques et aux propriétés mécaniques des granules la prédiction du comportement lors de la granulation devient possible. La caractérisation des propriétés mécaniques des granules a été étudié à deux échelles: à l'échelle du milieu humide la consistance a été caractérisé par un rheometre à torque et à l'échelle de l'agglomérat sec la résistance mécanique a été caractérisé par des mesures de compression directe des grains individuelles. Cette approche permet d'avoir des informations complémentaires permettant de mieux décrire l'évolution des courbes de couple dépendantes de propriétés de la masse humide et la compétition entre les forces interfaciales et visqueuses conditionnant la qualité des grains secs résultés. Les paramètres investigués par cette approche sont l'effet du taux de remplissage du réacteur, l'effet de la vitesse d'agitation, de la présence et de la conception de l'émotteur, de la conception du réacteur employé, des propriétés physico-chimiques de la solution liante et des propriétés des mélanges binaires des poudres hydro-solubles / hydro-insolubles. / This study is dedicated to the understanding of the wet granulation process in high shear mixers. A systematic study has been carried out that allows the investigation of the influence of operating conditions, technology and physico-chemical properties of the starting materials. This investigation is achieved by morphological, rheological and mechanical characterization methods. By linking recorded torque curves during the granulation process to granule growth kinetics, microscope characterizations and to the end-granule properties granulation outcome prediction becomes possible. The characterization of the mechanical properties has been done at two scales: at the granule bed scale the bulk wet mass consistency has been determined on a mixer torque rheometer, at the granule scale single dry granule direct compression tests were carried out. This approach gives complementary information allowing better description of the torque curves directly related to the wet mass properties and the competition between static and viscous forces conditioning the dry end granule quality. The factors investigated in this study are: the effect of fill ratio, impeller speed, chopper presence and design, mixer design, binder physico-chemical properties and formulation properties for binary water-soluble / water insoluble powder mixtures.

Os compostos antioxidantes naturais têm sido cada vez mais investigados devido à necessidade das indústrias alimentícias suprirem as exigências dos consumidores em relação à saudabilidade dos produtos. A quercetina é um flavonoide cujos benefícios estão relacionados principalmente à sua ação antioxidante. Entretando, tal molécula apresenta, geralmente, baixa absorção no trato gastrointenstinal, o que pode ser um obstáculo para sua efetiva ação biológica. Por este motivo, uma alternativa para melhorar a sua bioacessibilidade é a encapsulação em sistemas coloidais baseados em matrizes lipídicas, como os lipossomas. Os lipossomas possuem a capacidade de incorporar tanto bioativos hidrofílicos quanto hidrofóbicos em sua estrutura, bem como proporcionar liberação controlada e aumentar a bioacessibilidade dos ingredientes encapsulados. No entanto, há necessidade do desenvolvimento de processos de produção de lipossomas em maior escala, e dentre os processos possíveis a serem empregados com este objetivo encontra-se o método de produção de injeção de etanol. O objetivo principal da presente Tese foi a microencapsulação de quercetina em lipossomas através do método de injeção de etanol. A dispersão de lipossomas encapsulando quercetina escolhida foi liofilizada, com a intenção de aumentar a estabilidade dos lipossomas e enriquecer o amido de milho. O enriquecimento do amido de milho foi realizado por aglomeração, especificamente pelo método de alto cisalhamento, sendo que o pó alimentício aglomerado resultante foi caracterizado fisicamente e teve suas propriedades físicas melhoradas. Foi possível realizar a aplicação do amido de milho enriquecido com quercetina no antepasto de berinjela, sendo que tal incorporação não alterou significativamente as características do produto. Além disso, o antepasto de berinjela foi processado a alta pressão hidrostática e teve sua estabilidade avaliada, sendo que a utilização do processamento não-térmico apresentou vantagens em relação ao método de processamento convencional. / The natural antioxidant compounds have been increasingly investigated due to the need of the food industry to provide healthier products. Quercetin is a flavonoid, whose benefits are linked mainly with its antioxidant activity. However, this bioactive generally has a low absorption rate in the gastrointestinal tract, which it can be an obstacle for its biological action effective. For this reason, an alternative to improve such bioavailability is to encapsulate quercetina in lipid-based matrices, e.g, liposomes. The liposomes have the capacity to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactive, as well as to control the release of the encapsulated bioactives, and enhance their bioavailability. However, there is a need to develop liposome production methods in larger scale, and one of the processes feasible to be scaled up is the ethanol injection method. One of the main objectives of this Thesis was to microencapsulate quercetin in liposomes by ethanol injection method. The dispersion of quercetin-loaded liposomes was lyophilized aiming to increase the stability of liposomes and enrich cornstarch. The enrichment of cornstarch was performed by agglomeration, specifically by high shear method, and the agglomerated food powders were characterized and their physical properties was improved. It was possible to incorporate the enriched cornstarch with quercetin in eggplant sauce, and such application did not change the product characteristics. Also, the eggplant sauce was processed by high hydrostatic pressure and had its stability evaluated, indicating the use of nonthermal technology showed advantages if compared to the conventional thermal processing.

La mégacaryopoïèse représente le processus de différenciation des cellules souches hématopoïétiques (CSH) en mégacaryocytes (MK). Ce processus précède la thrombopoïèse qui aboutira à la formation des plaquettes sanguines. Ces processus complexes ont lieu 1) au sein de la structure tridimensionnelle (3D) de la moelle osseuse, 2) dans les vaisseaux sinusoïdes de la moelle et 3) dans la circulation sanguine. Le but général de ce travail a été de comprendre le mécanisme de chaque étape. Le premier objectif a été d’étudier les effets d’une structure poreuse 3D mimant celle de la moelle osseuse, sur la différenciation mégacaryocytaire et la production plaquettaire in vitro. Cette étude a permis de démontrer que la synergie entre l’organisation spatiale et les signaux du microenvironnement améliore la production en MK et en plaquettes. Par la suite, nous avons souhaité caractériser in vitro et in vivo les plaquettes produites en conditions de flux. Nous avons notamment mis en évidence la capacité des plaquettes produites in vitro dans un système de microfluidique, à s’incorporer et à participer à la formation d’un thrombus in vitro et in vivo contrairement aux plaquettes obtenues en statique. Ces travaux prouvent donc l’intérêt d’une part, de mimer le microenvironnement de la moelle osseuse et d’autre part, de reproduire les forces de cisaillement du sang afin d’améliorer et d’augmenter la production de plaquettes in vitro pour de futures applications en thérapeutique. / Megakaryopoiesis is a process allowing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) to proliferate and differentiate into megakaryocytes (MK). It is followed by thrombopoiesis allowing blood platelet production. These processes occur 1) in the bone marrow three-dimensional (3D) structure, 2) in the bone marrow sinusoid vessels and 3) in the blood flow. Our general aim was to decipher the mechanism associated to each process. The first objective was to study the effects of porous 3D structure on MK differentiation and platelet production. This study demonstrated that the synergy between spatial organization and biological cues improved MK and platelet production. We also characterized platelets produced from mature MK in flow conditions, with respect to their in vitro and in vivo properties. We highlighted the capacity of flow-derived platelets to incorporate in a thrombus in vitro and in vivo, compared to static-derived platelets. These works represent some new developments for mimicking the bone marrow structure and to reproduce blood shear forces in order to improve and increase in vitro platelet production for therapeutic use.

In this thesis was designed, manufactured and tested the fourth evolution of a slit-flow rheometer with another necessary parts, eg. rheometer`s holder, drive frame and important jig tools. The rheometer is able to measure rheological properties of magnetic and non-magnetic fluids at very high shear rates, which commercial rheometers can not reach. It is designed for 200 bar pressure and maximum load 15 kN. The construction of the slit-flow rheometer with it`s holder and drive frame improves user friendliness, accelerates change of the fluid sample and expands research opportunities thanks to a big space for additional adjustments. It is possible to use different length of the slit and thanks to a changeable inserts it is possible to change parameters of the slit (roughness of the walls, wall material, thickness of the slit). A part of this thesis was focused on illation of necessary equations for planning calibration measurements. Aim of these measurements is to obtain minor pressure losses dependence on Reynolds number for specific slit.

This work deals with the research of degradation of magnetorheological (MR) fluid during long-term loading under conditions that correspond to the real load in the linear MR devices such as dampers. The behaviour of MR fluid is described by a Bingham model of viscoplastic fluid. The parameters of this model are the yield stress and viscosity. Their values are determined by the shear rate from 1 to 2,8104 s-1. Results of durability tests show a significant decrease in viscosity of MR fluid, a gradual increase in yield stress in the off-state and a significant decrease in MR effect. The paper also described the effect of temperature on these parameters and there is also designed a method of non-assembly diagnostic of the MR fluid state in the damper using the "rate of pulsation."

La rhéologie à hauts taux de cisaillement pour deux polymères, le PEHD semi-cristallin et le PMMA amorphe a été étudiée. Des outils de rhéométrie classique, un rhéomètre plan-plan en mode dynamique, et un rhéomètre capillaire, ont été utilisés dans des conditions extrêmes (avec des filières pour la rhéométrie capillaire de diamètres allant jusqu'à 0,3 mm) mais les dépouillements de ces résultats ont été fait suivant les hypothèses conventionnelles en négligeant les instabilités et les phénomènes physiques qui interviennent lors de ces écoulements.Nous avons par la suite développé un modèle mathématique de l'écoulement dans un capillaire pour rendre compte de l'importance des différents phénomènes physiques qui peuvent avoir lieu dans des écoulements extrêmes, à savoir l'échauffement et la piezodépendance de la viscosité, la compressibilité et le glissement à la paroi. Les résultats du modèle développé ont été comparés avec les résultats expérimentaux.Nous avons aidé au développement d'une presse de microinjection originale et nous l'avons testée avec un moule de plaque instrumenté d'épaisseur allant jusqu'à 0,2 mm. Nous avons montré qu'il était possible de réaliser des pièces de qualité ce qui est avéré par des mesures de pression, vitesse et de température bien reproductibles. Nous avons exploité les données rhéologiques expérimentales dans la modélisation de la phase de remplissage avec le logiciel de calcul Rem3D. Des corrélations entre les mesures expérimentales et les calculs ont été réalisées en comparant l'évolution des pressions dans le système d'alimentation et dans l'empreinte. / Rheology at high shear rate for both polymers, semi-crystalline HDPE and amorphous PMMA was studied. Classical rheometry tools, plane-plane dynamic mode rheometer and capillary rheometer, were used in extreme conditions (with channels diameters for capillary rheometry up to 0.3 mm). However, analyses of these results were made following conventional assumptions neglecting instabilities and physical phenomena involved in these flows.We then developed a mathematical model of a capillary flow in to reflect the importance of different physical phenomena that can occur in extreme flows, namely heating, pressure dependency of viscosity, compressibility and the wall slip. The results of the developed model were compared with experimental results.We helped develop a press microinjection original and we tested it with instrumented plate mold with thickness up to 0.2 mm. We have shown that it is possible to make quality parts which are proven by well reproducible pressure, speed and temperature measurements. We used the experimental rheological data in filling phase modeling with the calculation software Rem3D. Correlations between experimental measurements and calculations were carried out by comparing the pressure in the filling system and the cavity.