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Biochar is a form of stable organic carbon whose application to soils has the potential to sequester large amounts of atmospheric CO2 while improving the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. However, the optimal rates and methods of biochar application are unknown for many situations. Three experiments were performed to test methods of biochar application to soils as a stand-alone amendment, in combination with biosolids as a complementary amendment and in-situ through controlled landscape burning. The first was a greenhouse pot study, which involved combining biochar with spoil from an Appalachian surface coal mine to grow trees. Biochar combined with mine soil produced a much higher growth rate for trees, and pure biochar helped tree root growth, suggesting that it might be useful as a broadcasted amendment, as a nursery growing medium or as a backfill in tree planting holes. The second experiment explored methods to combine biochar and biosolids materials to form a granular product. Combining biochar and biosolids before applications reduced windborne losses of biochar as well as the nutrient leachate produced by the biosolids. Drum rolling was found to work best for producing aggregate granules. Wetting pure biochar to 100% gravimetric water content before applications reduced windborne losses from over 50% to under 5% as compared to when it was applied as a dry product. A series of controlled burns were conducted in the third experiment to determine the ideal range of meteorological conditions to produce the highest possible biochar yields in-situ. Relative humidity, forest litter moisture and ambient temperature were found to be the governing factors over the tonnage of biochar produced. Up to 3.0 Mg Ha-1 of biochar were produced under ideal conditions by controlled burning. Repeated high-yielding burns have the potential accumulate large amounts of biochar in the soil to improve soil properties. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the torrefaction and pelletization behavior, hydrophobicity, storage behavior, ash analysis on three different biomasses: one (willow pellets) from wood products, one (oat pellets) from agricultural products and one (poultry litter) from the non-lignocellulosic biomass products during the processes. Four different torrefaction temperatures from 200°C-300°C, at 10-60 minute residence times, 0%-2.4% oxygen concentration, were considered. Of these, 285°C for willow pellets, 270°C for oat pellets and 275°C for poultry litter were found to be optimum for hydrophobicity. Studies of XRD and SEM of biomass ash at 800°C, 900°C and 1000°C were also carried out. The aforementioned results indicate that torrefaction is a feasible alternative to improve energy properties of ordinary biomass and prevent moisture re-absorption during storage.

A novel compacted, torrefied, spherical biomass pellet, known as the "Q'Pellet", is aimed at overcoming the challenges of modern biomass pellets by building on the bene fits of torrefaction and utilizing the durability of a sphere. Pellets were made from both untreated hybrid poplar sawdust and material that had been partially torrefied at 250 C, allowing the torrefaction and pelletizing stages to be decoupled. A pelletizing die pre-heated to 280 C was successfully used to heat and torrefy room temperature raw and pre-torrefi ed material, greatly reducing the time required to produce each pellet. All Q'Pellets demonstrated 100% mechanical durability, and did not abrade during a tumbling can test or fracture during an impact resistance (drop) test. The gross calori fic value (GCV), ash and nitrogen content of pellets produced from raw hybrid poplar were 21.29+/-0.08 MJ/kg, 2.42+/-0.23 wt%, and <0.01 wt%, respectively. The GCV, ash and nitrogen content of pellets produced from pre-torre ed material were 21.25+/-0.34 MJ/kg, 3.58+/-1.11 wt%, and 0.42+/-0.03 wt%, respectively. The Q'Pellet was compared to biomass fuel speci fications in Europe and North America. The experiments performed herein provided an understanding of the material and process properties and limitations. Design speci fications for the development of a continuous pelletizing process were outlined. BGM Metalworks Inc has been hired by Queen's University to assist in the design and to fabricate the continuous pelletizing apparatus. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2014-05-06 14:04:54.059

O Pó de Aciaria Elétrica (PAE) é um resíduo sólido originado na fabricação de aços em Fornos Elétricos a Arco (FEA), classificado como resíduo perigoso pela ABNT NBR 10004- 2004. Isto porque ele contém metais nocivos ao meio ambiente (como chumbo e cádmio), embora seja constituído, em sua maior parte, pelos elementos ferro, zinco e oxigênio. Devido aos custos onerosos para disposição e por tratar-se de resíduo perigoso, a indústria procura pela possibilidade de retorno ao processo produtivo do aço. Uma das alternativas é a reintrodução na aciaria elétrica através de aglomerados autorredutores como parte da carga do FEA. Neste trabalho, são produzidas misturas autorredutoras contendo PAE e coque de petróleo, apresentando as correspondentes caracterizações químicas e físicas. Através de ensaios termogravimétricos é feita uma avaliação do comportamento destas misturas, mostrando a possibilidade do emprego desta técnica na aferição prática do teor ótimo de coque, em aglomerados. Além disto, foram produzidas pelotas autorredutoras através do uso de um disco laboratorial, sendo as pelotas submetidas a testes físicos e mecânicos, com uso de aglomerantes e também testes de autorredução em fornos mufla e em aparato experimental. Como resultados destes experimentos pode-se concluir que o cimento Portland ARI e a combinação de cal hidratada com cinza de casca de arroz possuem melhor resistência a compressão frente aos outros ligantes utilizados. O grau de metalização obtido para a maior parte das amostras não passou de 35%. A remoção de zinco foi de aproximadamente 85%, para temperatura de 1100 ºC, com 45 minutos e com 10% de coque de petróleo. Isto indica a possibilidade de enriquecimento da nova poeira gerada em zinco. Fato este que agrega valor para tratamento do resíduo em outros processos externos. / The Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD) is a solid waste generated by electric steelmaking, in Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF), being considered a hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency. That is because of its harmful metals, although it is composed, in majority, by elements iron, zinc and oxygen. Due to high costs involved for its disposal and because it is a hazardous waste, industry seek for the possibility of returning the EAFD back to the steelmaking process. One of the alternatives is by reintroduction via electric meltshop through self-reducing agglomerates as part of the furnace burden. In this work, self-reducing mixtures of EAFD and petroleum coke were produced, showing as result corresponding chemical and physical characterizations. Using thermogravimetric tests, an evaluation of the mixtures behavior was carried out, demonstrating the possibility of using this technique in a practical measurement of optimal content of coke, in agglomerates. Furthermore, selfreducing pellets were pelletized using a laboratorial disc, with these agglomerates being tested in physical and mechanical strength essays, with different binders employed and also selfreduction tests in vertical electric furnace and experimental apparatus. As part of the results it could be concluded cement and the combination between hydrated lime and rice husk ash achieved the best results, in compressive strength, comparing to other binders. The metallization degree for almost all samples achieved a maximum of 35%. Zinc removal, for temperatures around 1100 ºC, in an experiment of 45 minutes and using 10% of petroleum coke, was approximately 85%. It indicates the dust to be enriched with zinc. This fact adds value to the waste for treatment in other processes.

Submitted by Gabriela Lopes (gmachadolopesufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-07-05T13:50:00Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Tese corrigida.pdf: 987397 bytes, checksum: 3971de521d0082be2abbdeb2af93354e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-07-11T20:49:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese corrigida.pdf: 987397 bytes, checksum: 3971de521d0082be2abbdeb2af93354e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-11T20:49:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese corrigida.pdf: 987397 bytes, checksum: 3971de521d0082be2abbdeb2af93354e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-08 / O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a produção de mudas de qualidade de duas cultivares de alface, 'Regina' e 'Mimosa Salad Bowl' roxa, com o uso de substratos alternativos a partir de sementes nua peletizada, nua e peletizada®. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos em casa de vegetação, com a cv. Regina em 2015 e com cv. Mimosa Salad Bowl roxa em 2016, onde foram avaliados sete substratos (T1-substrato comercial, T2-vermicomposto bovino (100%), T3- vermicomposto bovino (65%) + casca de arroz carbonizada (35%), T4- vermicomposto bovino (65%) + pinha moída (35%), T5-vermicomposto ovino (100%), T6-vermicomposto ovino (75%) + casca de arroz carbonizado (25%), T7- vermicomposto ovino (75%) + pinha moída (25%)) e três tipos de sementes ( nua peletizada com vermicomposto bovino, nua e peletizada®) . A semeadura foi feita em bandejas de poliestireno expandido com 128 células cada. O delineamento utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Foram avaliados: índice de velocidade de emergência, diâmetro de colo, comprimento de raiz, altura da muda, massa fresca parte aérea e das raízes, massa seca parte aérea e das raízes, estabilidade do torrão, relação altura da muda/diâmetro de colo, índice de qualidade de Dickson e nitrogênio, potássio, fósforo, cálcio e magnésio da parte aérea das mudas. Observou-se com este estudo que: as misturas de vermicomposto bovino (65%) + casca de arroz carbonizada (35%) e vermicomposto bovino (65%) + pinha moída (35%) podem substituir o substrato comercial na produção de mudas de alface 'Mimosa Salad Bowl' roxa, enquanto que para 'Regina' a mistura vermicomposto bovino (65%) + casca de arroz carbonizada (35%) pode substituir o substrato comercial. O vermicomposto bovino favorece um aporte nutricional suficiente às mudas de alface cv. Regina e Mimosa Salad Bowl roxa produzidas através de sementes nuas peletizadas com vermicomposto bovino, nuas e peletizadas®. É viável a produção de mudas de alface 'Regina' e 'Mimosa Salad Bowl' roxa através de sementes nuas peletizadas com vermicomposto bovino. / The present work had the objective of evaluating the quality seedlings production of two lettuce cultivars, 'Regina' and 'Mimosa Salad Bowl' purple, with the use of alternative substrates from bare, pelleted and nude seeds. Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, ‘Regina’ in 2015 and ‘Mimosa Salad Bow’l purple in 2016, where seven substrates (T1-commercial substrate, T2-bovine manure vermicompost (100%), T3-bovine manure vermicompost (65%) + carbonized rice husk (35%), T4- bovine manure vermicompost 65%) + pine crushed (35%), T5-ovine manure vermicompost (100%), T6- ovine manure vermicompost (75%) + carbonized rice husk (25%), T7- ovine manure vermicompost (75%) + pine crushed (25%)) and three types of seeds (nude pelleted with bovine manure vermicompost, bare and pelletized). The sowing was done in trays of expanded polystyrene with 128 cells. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications. The following variables were evaluated: emergence velocity index, lap diameter, root length, seedling height, dry and fresh fitomass aerial and root, stability of the clod, height / height ratio, Dickson Quality Index and nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium of the aerial part of the seedlings. It was observed in this study that: mixtures of bovine manure vermicompost (65%) + carbonized rice husk (35%) and bovine vermicompost (65%) + pine crushed (35%) can replace the commercial substrate in the production of seedlings Lettuce 'Mimosa Salad Bowl', while for 'Regina' bovine vermicompost (65%) + carbonized rice husk (35%) may replace the commercial substrate. The bovine manure vermicompost favors a sufficient nutritional contribution to lettuce seedlings ‘Regina’ and ‘Mimosa Salad Bowl’ purple produced through bare seed pellets with bovine manure vermicompost, bare and pelleted®. It is feasible to produce 'Regina' lettuce and 'Mimosa Salad Bowl' seedlings through bare seeds pelleted with bovine manure vermicompost.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-04Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:22:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 velosojunior_rr_dr_jabo.pdf: 691663 bytes, checksum: f6b98360dc2bdb01bfaffd1d7739d51e (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A importância dos psitacídeos como animais de estimação, o grande número de espécimes criados e os problemas desencadeados pela falta de informações sobre suas necessidades nutricionais em cativeiro, especialmente os aspectos relacionados à saúde a longo prazo das espécies com longa expectativa de vida, têm estimulado a comunidade científica ao aprofundamento sobre este tema. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar: os efeitos da inclusão de teores crescentes de fibra de cana (0, 7, 14 e 21%) sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, coeficiente de metabolização da energia bruta, energia metabolizável aparente e matéria seca das excretas; os processos de extrusão e peletização na produção de alimentos para araras; e o efeito das rações extrusadas ou peletizadas, com baixo e alto teor de fibra, sobre a ingestão de alimentos, parâmetros de bioquímica sérica e peso corporal. Foram utilizados 24 casais de Araras-Canindé. O ensaio de digestibilidade teve duração de 24 dias e adotou-se delineamento em blocos, com dois blocos de 24 unidades experimentais cada, em esquema fatorial 2 x 4 (dois tipos de processamento x quatro níveis de inclusão de fibra). O ensaio sobre os parâmetros de bioquímica sérica teve duração de 105 dias e foi utilizado delineamento inteiramente casualizado, num esquema em parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas um fatorial (dois processamentos x dois níveis de inclusão de fibra x sexo das araras) e a subparcela, os resultados para o 25º e 130º dias de consumo das rações. Concluiu-se que a inclusão de fibra às rações e a diminuição da energia metabolizável resultam em redução linear na digestibilidade dos nutrientes, elevação no consumo de matéria seca e água, e redução nos níveis séricos de colesterol. Rações peletizadas demonstraramse melhores que as rações extrusadas, com menor... / The importance of parrots as pets, the growing number of specimens kept as pets and the problems caused by the lack of information about their nutritional needs in captivity, especially the aspects related to long-term health of species have a long life expectancy, has stimulated the scientific community to a depth on this topic. Our objectives were to assess: the effects of adding increasing levels of sugar cane fiber (0, 7, 14 and 21%) on apparent digestibility of nutrients, metabolism coefficient of gross energy, metabolizable energy and dry matter excreta, the processes of extrusion and pelletization to produce food for macaws and the effect of extruded or pelleted diets, with low and high fiber content on food intake, serum biochemical parameters and body weight. We used 24 pairs of blue and yellow macaw. The digestibility trial lasted 24 days and adopted block design with two blocks of 24 experimental units each in a factorial 2 x 4 (two types of processing x four levels of inclusion of fiber). The test on the parameters of serum biochemistry lasted 105 days and was used a randomized design in a split plot scheme, and the plots were a factorial (two processes x two levels of fiber x sex of macaws) and sub-plot, 25 th and 130 th days of consumption of rations. It was concluded that the inclusion of fiber in diets and the metabolizable energy decrease results in linear decrease in digestibility of nutrients, high in dry matter intake and water, and reduction in serum cholesterol. Rations proved to be better than the extruded feeds, less feed wastage and greater reduction in serum glucose and cholesterol. Diets for macaws should be based on metabolizable energy. And the reduction in energy and fat content of diets provides reduction in serum glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, so excess energy and fat causes metabolic damage to Araras. The energy requirement ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

O Pó de Aciaria Elétrica (PAE) é um resíduo sólido originado na fabricação de aços em Fornos Elétricos a Arco (FEA), classificado como resíduo perigoso pela ABNT NBR 10004- 2004. Isto porque ele contém metais nocivos ao meio ambiente (como chumbo e cádmio), embora seja constituído, em sua maior parte, pelos elementos ferro, zinco e oxigênio. Devido aos custos onerosos para disposição e por tratar-se de resíduo perigoso, a indústria procura pela possibilidade de retorno ao processo produtivo do aço. Uma das alternativas é a reintrodução na aciaria elétrica através de aglomerados autorredutores como parte da carga do FEA. Neste trabalho, são produzidas misturas autorredutoras contendo PAE e coque de petróleo, apresentando as correspondentes caracterizações químicas e físicas. Através de ensaios termogravimétricos é feita uma avaliação do comportamento destas misturas, mostrando a possibilidade do emprego desta técnica na aferição prática do teor ótimo de coque, em aglomerados. Além disto, foram produzidas pelotas autorredutoras através do uso de um disco laboratorial, sendo as pelotas submetidas a testes físicos e mecânicos, com uso de aglomerantes e também testes de autorredução em fornos mufla e em aparato experimental. Como resultados destes experimentos pode-se concluir que o cimento Portland ARI e a combinação de cal hidratada com cinza de casca de arroz possuem melhor resistência a compressão frente aos outros ligantes utilizados. O grau de metalização obtido para a maior parte das amostras não passou de 35%. A remoção de zinco foi de aproximadamente 85%, para temperatura de 1100 ºC, com 45 minutos e com 10% de coque de petróleo. Isto indica a possibilidade de enriquecimento da nova poeira gerada em zinco. Fato este que agrega valor para tratamento do resíduo em outros processos externos. / The Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD) is a solid waste generated by electric steelmaking, in Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF), being considered a hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency. That is because of its harmful metals, although it is composed, in majority, by elements iron, zinc and oxygen. Due to high costs involved for its disposal and because it is a hazardous waste, industry seek for the possibility of returning the EAFD back to the steelmaking process. One of the alternatives is by reintroduction via electric meltshop through self-reducing agglomerates as part of the furnace burden. In this work, self-reducing mixtures of EAFD and petroleum coke were produced, showing as result corresponding chemical and physical characterizations. Using thermogravimetric tests, an evaluation of the mixtures behavior was carried out, demonstrating the possibility of using this technique in a practical measurement of optimal content of coke, in agglomerates. Furthermore, selfreducing pellets were pelletized using a laboratorial disc, with these agglomerates being tested in physical and mechanical strength essays, with different binders employed and also selfreduction tests in vertical electric furnace and experimental apparatus. As part of the results it could be concluded cement and the combination between hydrated lime and rice husk ash achieved the best results, in compressive strength, comparing to other binders. The metallization degree for almost all samples achieved a maximum of 35%. Zinc removal, for temperatures around 1100 ºC, in an experiment of 45 minutes and using 10% of petroleum coke, was approximately 85%. It indicates the dust to be enriched with zinc. This fact adds value to the waste for treatment in other processes.

O Pó de Aciaria Elétrica (PAE) é um resíduo sólido originado na fabricação de aços em Fornos Elétricos a Arco (FEA), classificado como resíduo perigoso pela ABNT NBR 10004- 2004. Isto porque ele contém metais nocivos ao meio ambiente (como chumbo e cádmio), embora seja constituído, em sua maior parte, pelos elementos ferro, zinco e oxigênio. Devido aos custos onerosos para disposição e por tratar-se de resíduo perigoso, a indústria procura pela possibilidade de retorno ao processo produtivo do aço. Uma das alternativas é a reintrodução na aciaria elétrica através de aglomerados autorredutores como parte da carga do FEA. Neste trabalho, são produzidas misturas autorredutoras contendo PAE e coque de petróleo, apresentando as correspondentes caracterizações químicas e físicas. Através de ensaios termogravimétricos é feita uma avaliação do comportamento destas misturas, mostrando a possibilidade do emprego desta técnica na aferição prática do teor ótimo de coque, em aglomerados. Além disto, foram produzidas pelotas autorredutoras através do uso de um disco laboratorial, sendo as pelotas submetidas a testes físicos e mecânicos, com uso de aglomerantes e também testes de autorredução em fornos mufla e em aparato experimental. Como resultados destes experimentos pode-se concluir que o cimento Portland ARI e a combinação de cal hidratada com cinza de casca de arroz possuem melhor resistência a compressão frente aos outros ligantes utilizados. O grau de metalização obtido para a maior parte das amostras não passou de 35%. A remoção de zinco foi de aproximadamente 85%, para temperatura de 1100 ºC, com 45 minutos e com 10% de coque de petróleo. Isto indica a possibilidade de enriquecimento da nova poeira gerada em zinco. Fato este que agrega valor para tratamento do resíduo em outros processos externos. / The Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD) is a solid waste generated by electric steelmaking, in Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF), being considered a hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency. That is because of its harmful metals, although it is composed, in majority, by elements iron, zinc and oxygen. Due to high costs involved for its disposal and because it is a hazardous waste, industry seek for the possibility of returning the EAFD back to the steelmaking process. One of the alternatives is by reintroduction via electric meltshop through self-reducing agglomerates as part of the furnace burden. In this work, self-reducing mixtures of EAFD and petroleum coke were produced, showing as result corresponding chemical and physical characterizations. Using thermogravimetric tests, an evaluation of the mixtures behavior was carried out, demonstrating the possibility of using this technique in a practical measurement of optimal content of coke, in agglomerates. Furthermore, selfreducing pellets were pelletized using a laboratorial disc, with these agglomerates being tested in physical and mechanical strength essays, with different binders employed and also selfreduction tests in vertical electric furnace and experimental apparatus. As part of the results it could be concluded cement and the combination between hydrated lime and rice husk ash achieved the best results, in compressive strength, comparing to other binders. The metallization degree for almost all samples achieved a maximum of 35%. Zinc removal, for temperatures around 1100 ºC, in an experiment of 45 minutes and using 10% of petroleum coke, was approximately 85%. It indicates the dust to be enriched with zinc. This fact adds value to the waste for treatment in other processes.

Doctor Pharmaceuticae - DPharm / The popularity and increasing complexity of sustained release dosage forms has resulted in increased costs to the patient. One approach to achieve cheaper, yet effective, sustained release medication is through the simplification of production processes. Matrix tablets have been used to sustain the release of numerous drugs and are cheap to prepare. Since they are single-unit dosage forms, however, they display less predictable transit through the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, they provide less reliable blood levels of the drug in comparison with multi particulate dosage forms. Of the various types of multiparticulates available, pellets are popular for oral administration. A fairly recent innovation, in pelletization technology, is extrusion and spheronization. With this technique it is possible to produce pellets with a high degree of drug loading directly and rapidly. The drug loaded beads are usually coated for a sustained release effect. If one could omit the coating step, it would avoid many problems (thus reducing the number of quality control procedures required) and save chemicals, labour and capital for the purchase of additional equipment. The primary aim of this project was to investigate the preparation of non-coated, spheronized sustained release pellets, while a secondary aim was to prepare beads that can be compressed into sustained release tablets. A tablet can accommodate a larger mass and the compaction forces involved may enhance the sustained release effect. Several techniques were used in an attempt to sustain the release of drugs of different solubilities. In one series of formulations, a novel method was used to incorporate a binder consisting of ethylcellulose in ethanol. Using this technique, the release of Theophylline was sustained for approximately 8 hours. In other formulations, several materials were added to beads with the aim of forming sustained release matrixes. Only magnesium stearate was able to prolong the release of Acetaminophen and Theophylline for a reasonable time. In an attempt to explain why materials that were successfully used in sustained release matrix tablets were of very limited value in beads, an equation was developed to calculate the approximate distance between the retardant particles. Calculations using this equation revealed that the retardant particles were too far apart, within each bead, to expect consolidation to occur. The discrete retardant particles do not retard drug release effectively. Eudragit?-containing beads, which sustained the release of the drug to a small extent, were successfully compressed into tablets, both on their own and in combination with non pareil seeds. In each case, the sustained release effect was improved by compaction. In the case of the products manufactured with non pareil seeds, the tablets disintegrated rapidly to release the beads, thus ensuring that the advantages of multiparticulates were maintained. Because it was realised that a large amount of the matrix material could not be incorporated within the beads if a high dose drug was formulated with Avicel? PH 101, the idea of forming the matrix outside the beads was developed. Several materials were tried in an attempt to form a sustained release external matrix. Eudragit? RSPO prolonged the dissolution of Theophylline for more than four hours. Magnesium stearate was able to sustain the release of Acetaminophen and Theophylline appreciably. In the latter case, the dissolution, in water, of a standard adult dose of the drug was prolonged for more than 12 hours. However, the dissolution in an acidic medium was much faster. The described technique represents an advance in extrusion and spheronization technology. While beads containing Cutina? HR did not show promise as sustained release units, they compacted to form sustained release tablets of good appearance and acceptable strength. These tablets were considered to have been efficiently prepared because the constituent beads were easily manufactured and showed good flowability, and because a glidant and a lubricant were not required. The production of sustained release Indomethacin beads with a more steady release profile than the innovator's product has also been described in other experiments. The research described in this thesis represents progress towards the widespread commercial production of effective non-coated sustained release beads and may encourage further work towards this goal.