Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was tested to examine its applicability to remote and in suit analysis in inaccessible situation. Two types of liquid sample (slurry) prepared for simulating vitrification of liquid hazardous wastes was tested. In situ analysis ability makes the LIBS technique practical for analysis of the slurry samples during vitrification, which is in inaccessible situation. For the first slurry sample, two slurry circulation systems were devised to overcome major technical problems associated with LIBS measurements of slurry samples - namely sedimentation and change in the lens-to-sample distance (L.T.S.D) during measurement. The second slurry sample contained less water and is able to be managed in a small glass container during test. We applied direct analysis of slurry sample filled in glass container. Spectroscopic analysis was performed using two different detection systems: Czerny-Turner and Echelle spectrometer systems. In particular, spectroscopic analysis of data from an echelle spectrometer shows the high efficiency for simultaneously determining physical quantities of all elements of interest. We also evaluate LIBS technique to tin alloy samples for the purpose of quantitative analysis by using Echelle spectrometer system. Unknown samples without information of elemental composition were tested to estimate several sample compositions simultaneously. An artificial neural network, calibration method, and chemical analysis were applied to estimate the elemental concentrations of impurities in tin (Sn) alloy.

Esta tesis doctoral se centra en la dinámica de la inhibición y la recuperación del proceso de digestión anaerobia de purines de cerdo para encontrar indicadores, predecir fallos del proceso, minimizar las pérdidas de metano (CH4) y evaluar las mejores prácticas de gestión a nivel de la planta de biogás. Para cumplir con este objetivo, cinco ensayos fueron diseñados y ejecutados. En primer lugar, se diseñó un experimento para controlar los cambios físico-químicos y de emisión de gas de dos tipos de purines envejecidos durante 15 semanas de almacenamiento en condiciones de verano. En segundo lugar, diferentes concentraciones de sulfato (SO42-) fueron evaluadas en digestión anaerobia termofílica de purines de cerdo y vacuno controlando la producción de CH4 y los cambios fisicoquímicos en un ensayo en discontinuo. Así mismo, la degradación anaeróbica de la materia orgánica (MO) y el límite de inhibición de SO42- fueron investigados. En tercer lugar, los efectos de incluir purines de cerdo acidificados con SO42- en un codigestión anaerobia con purines de cerdo convencionales se estudió a dos escalas (a escala laboratorio y a gran escala), donde se evaluó el rendimiento del proceso. Así mismo, los indicadores clave del proceso fueron identificados. En cuarto lugar, una combinación de dos métodos, reacción en cadena de la polimerasa cuantitativa en tiempo real (qPCR) y microscopía electrónica de barrido cualitativa (SEM) fueron utilizados para evaluar los cambios en la población microbiana de los digestores anaerobios durante la adición de los purines. Finalmente, el rendimiento de CH4, la composición físico-química y la estructura y dinámica de la comunidad microbiológica fueron evaluadas durante la puesta en marcha de la digestión anaerobia de purines de cerdo a escala de laboratorio. Se evaluaron cuatro estrategias de puesta en marcha: inanición y no inanición, seguida de una adición gradual o brusca de los purines. Los resultados presentados en esta tesis doctoral per / Moset Hernández, V. (2012). Monitoring anaerobic digestion of animal slurry during inhibition and recovery phases [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/18069

Nos dias atuais, um dos maiores problemas de uma central dosadora de concreto são as sobras de resíduos de concretos que retornam nos caminhões, das obras gerando lamas decantadas com pH elevado caracterizando-a como resíduo perigoso e representando gastos elevados com destinação. O objetivo do presente trabalho visa estudar em detalhes a composição da lama residual do processo de fabricação do concreto excluindo o agregado graúdo, verificando qual é a influência de sua adição no concreto. Com isso, pretende-se estudar algumas formas de tratamento e viabilizar economicamente o seu reaproveitamento em substituição ao agregado miúdo. Para esse estudo foram coletadas duas amostras desse material cimentício, sendo uma coletada diretamente do tanque de decantação e a segunda coletada da própria lavagem dos caminhões betoneiras. Elas foram submetidas a ensaios de caracterização como: análise termogravimétrica (TG), granulometria a laser e calorimetria e ensaios de concreto fresco (reologia e abatimento) e concreto endurecido. Para a viabilização econômica foi realizado um estudo de caso em três centrais dosadoras de concreto, afim de identificar perdas de materiais, custos de destinação e custo variável na fabricação de concreto. Os resultados mostraram que a forma de coleta do material cimentício influencia na finura do material conforme ensaio de granulometria e densidade aparente, mas não foi possível obter cimento anidro. A possibilidade de utilização da lama em concretos foi possível com ajuda de aditivos superplastificantes, mas para a viabilização economicamente viável a cadeia produtiva do concreto estudou-se um teor ótimo de substituição da lama pelo agregado miúdo. / Nowadays, one of the biggest problems of a central concrete batching are the concrete waste leftovers returning from work generating decanted sludge with high pH characterizing it as hazardous waste and representing high spending allocation. The purpose of this study aims to study in detail the composition of the sludge from the concrete manufacturing process, checking what is the influence of its addition in concrete. With this, we intend to study some forms of treatment and its reuse economically viable to replace the fine aggregate. For this study two samples that were collected cementitious material, being collected directly from one settling tank and collected in the second washing of the own mixer trucks. They were subjected to characterization tests such as thermogravimetric analysis (TG), laser granulometry calorimetry and fresh concrete test (rheology and chilling) and hardened concrete. For economic feasibility was carried out a case study in three metering stations of concrete, in order to identify material losses, disposal costs and variable costs in the manufacture of concrete. The results showed that the form of collection of cementitious materials influences the fineness of the material as particle size and bulk density test, but it was not possible to obtain anhydrous cement. The possibility of using sludge in concrete was possible with the help of superplasticizers additives, but for the economical feasibility of the production chain concrete studied it a great replacement content of the mud by the fine aggregate.

Drilled shaft construction often requires the use of drill slurry to maintain borehole stability during excavation and concreting. While drill slurry may be composed of fluids ranging from air to petroleum, drilled shaft construction typically makes use of water based drilling fluids. Although clean water may be utilized as a drilling fluid, a premixed slurry consisting of water, minerals, and/or polymers is more commonly used. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) specifications require the use of mineral slurry for all primary structures. The slurry resists the intrusion of groundwater, slows the outward migration of drilling fluid from the excavation, and aids in the removal of suspended soil cuttings. The mechanisms by which mineral slurries work are quite different from those of polymer slurries. Due to these differences, it is unclear whether a mineral based slurry, which has been fortified with polymers by manufacturers or enhanced through the addition of polymers in the field, behaves more like a mineral slurry rather than polymer slurry. This thesis provides an overview of the methods used to measure physical slurry parameters of interest. These parameters include density, viscosity, pH, sand content, and filtration control. Methods employed to describe the slurry parameters include tools and instrumentation commonly used in both field and laboratory settings.

This dissertation presents a series of studies related to the study and control of slurry flow, process temperature, and aggressive diamonds in Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP). The purpose of these studies is to better understand the fundamentals of CMP and to explore solutions to some of CMP’s greatest challenges. Within-wafer removal rate non-uniformity (WIWRRNU) is a critical parameter to determine film thickness planarity on a wafer-scale level and it grossly impacts yield. Resolving this issue continues to be an area of intense focus in the industry. The first study in this dissertation shows the feasibility of adopting a new method to improve WIWRRNU during copper CMP that is solely based on intentional local temperature manipulation of the pad. A pad surface thermal management system is developed to locally change pad surface temperature. This system consists of one or more thermal transfer modules contacting the pad surface. In this study, the system is employed to adjust the "center-fast" copper removal rate profile to illustrate its effect during the process. Results shows that, when two thermal transfer modules are employed, local removal rates in the wafer center region decrease significantly while maintaining the removal rates near the wafer edge thereby significantly improving WIWRRNU. Another contribution of this dissertation is the investigation of the effect of pad groove design on slurry injection scheme during interlayer dielectric CMP. A novel slurry injector with multiple slurry outlets is designed, which provides optional slurry injection schemes (i.e. one injection point scheme and multi-injection point scheme). These schemes are compared with the standard slurry application method on a concentrically grooved pad and an xy-groove pad, respectively. On the concentrically grooved pad, the one injection point scheme generates significantly higher oxide removal rates (ranging from 22 to 35 percent) compared to the standard slurry application method at different slurry flow rates. On the xy-groove pad, the one injection point scheme still results in higher removal rates (ranging from 3 to 9 percent), however, its removal rate enhancement is not as high as that of the concentrically grooved pad. In order to further improve slurry availability on the xy-groove pad, the multi-injection point scheme is tested. Results show that the multi-injection point scheme results in significantly higher removal rates (ranging from 17 to 20 percent) compared to the standard slurry application method. This work underscores the importance of optimum slurry injection schemes for accommodating particular groove designs. The last contribution of this dissertation involves a study regarding aggressive diamond characterization and wear analysis during CMP. A 3M A3700 diamond disk is used to condition a Cabot Microelectronics Corporation (CMC) D100 pad for 30 hours. The top 20 aggressive diamonds for two perpendicular disk orientations are identified before the polishing, as well as after 15- and 30-hour polishing. The furrow surface area generated by these top 20 aggressive diamonds and their evolution are analyzed and compared. Results show that the original top 20 aggressive diamonds identified before polishing are subjected to wear after the first 15-hour polishing as the furrow surface area that they generate decreases dramatically (by 47%). As these original aggressive diamonds are worn, seven new aggressive diamonds are "born" and join the new top 20 list for both disk orientations. After the second 15-hour wafer polishing, the furrow surface area of these new top 20 aggressive diamonds do not change significantly. The furrow surface area created by all the active diamonds exhibits the same trend as the top 20 aggressive diamonds, confirming that most pad conditioning work is performed by these aggressive diamonds and that the disk loses its aggressiveness in the first 15 hours of polishing and then maintains its aggressiveness during the second 15 hours, albeit to a lesser extent.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Nos dias atuais, um dos maiores problemas de uma central dosadora de concreto são as sobras de resíduos de concretos que retornam nos caminhões, das obras gerando lamas decantadas com pH elevado caracterizando-a como resíduo perigoso e representando gastos elevados com destinação. O objetivo do presente trabalho visa estudar em detalhes a composição da lama residual do processo de fabricação do concreto excluindo o agregado graúdo, verificando qual é a influência de sua adição no concreto. Com isso, pretende-se estudar algumas formas de tratamento e viabilizar economicamente o seu reaproveitamento em substituição ao agregado miúdo. Para esse estudo foram coletadas duas amostras desse material cimentício, sendo uma coletada diretamente do tanque de decantação e a segunda coletada da própria lavagem dos caminhões betoneiras. Elas foram submetidas a ensaios de caracterização como: análise termogravimétrica (TG), granulometria a laser e calorimetria e ensaios de concreto fresco (reologia e abatimento) e concreto endurecido. Para a viabilização econômica foi realizado um estudo de caso em três centrais dosadoras de concreto, afim de identificar perdas de materiais, custos de destinação e custo variável na fabricação de concreto. Os resultados mostraram que a forma de coleta do material cimentício influencia na finura do material conforme ensaio de granulometria e densidade aparente, mas não foi possível obter cimento anidro. A possibilidade de utilização da lama em concretos foi possível com ajuda de aditivos superplastificantes, mas para a viabilização economicamente viável a cadeia produtiva do concreto estudou-se um teor ótimo de substituição da lama pelo agregado miúdo. / Nowadays, one of the biggest problems of a central concrete batching are the concrete waste leftovers returning from work generating decanted sludge with high pH characterizing it as hazardous waste and representing high spending allocation. The purpose of this study aims to study in detail the composition of the sludge from the concrete manufacturing process, checking what is the influence of its addition in concrete. With this, we intend to study some forms of treatment and its reuse economically viable to replace the fine aggregate. For this study two samples that were collected cementitious material, being collected directly from one settling tank and collected in the second washing of the own mixer trucks. They were subjected to characterization tests such as thermogravimetric analysis (TG), laser granulometry calorimetry and fresh concrete test (rheology and chilling) and hardened concrete. For economic feasibility was carried out a case study in three metering stations of concrete, in order to identify material losses, disposal costs and variable costs in the manufacture of concrete. The results showed that the form of collection of cementitious materials influences the fineness of the material as particle size and bulk density test, but it was not possible to obtain anhydrous cement. The possibility of using sludge in concrete was possible with the help of superplasticizers additives, but for the economical feasibility of the production chain concrete studied it a great replacement content of the mud by the fine aggregate.

Drilled shafts are cylindrical deep foundations constructed by casting fluid concrete into an excavated hole. These elements rely largely on side shear resistance generated by their substantial diameters and lengths to effectively transfer loads. Therefore, an exceptional concrete to soil interface is essential for proper performance of these structures. The FDOT preferred stabilization fluid, bentonite slurry, has been proven to degrade this interface with increased exposure time due to filter cake formation. For this reason, slurry exposure time has been limited to 36 hours by FDOT. Alternately, polymer slurries do not form a filter cake but rather stabilize excavations through continuous soil infiltration and the associated cohesion that accompanies the slurry presence. As polymer slurry use is relatively new to the state of Florida, FDOT does not presently have clear specifications regarding polymer exposure time limits. Hence, this thesis presents the results of pullout tests performed on 1/10th scale drilled shafts constructed with both polymer and bentonite slurries and with varying exposure times. To explore the effect of exposure time on side shear resistance, 24 - 4in diameter 8ft long shafts were constructed: 6 with bentonite and 18 with three different polymer products (6 each). After being exposed to the respective slurry for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 or 24 hours, each excavated hole was concreted and tested after 7 days of curing. Pullout tests served as a direct measure of side shear resistance due to the absence of base resistance associated with compression testing. After testing, shafts were exhumed and sectioned for filter cake measurement. As expected, shafts constructed using bentonite slurries immediately exhibited a decrease in capacity with increased exposure time. Between 0 and 24 hours a 34% reduction in capacity was witnessed. These reductions were attributed to filter cake thickness which increased with exposure time along with the reduction in effective shaft. After 4 hours of exposure, side shear resistance for the bentonite shafts approached an asymptote, likely defined by the strength of the filter cake formed. The side shear resistance of all polymer shafts exceeded that of the 24hr bentonite control shaft by 20-50 percent depending on the polymer product used. For a given polymer product no capacity reduction was noted with respect to time. Inspection of exhumed shafts revealed the formation of a soil cake (region of stabilized soil stuck to the shaft) around the perimeter of the polymer shafts. Therefore, the side shear resistance of the polymer shafts was defined by the soil-to-soil interface surrounding the shaft and not by an intermediate filter cake. The study resulted in the following findings: (1) open excavations using polymer slurry stabilization are not adversely affected by extended exposure time, (2) the effect of filter cake formation in bentonite supported excavations slows with time whereby no significant degradation in capacity was noted after 8 hours, (3) shafts constructed with polymer slurry performed better than those constructed with bentonite, and (4) as polymer slurry flow into the surrounding soil does not slow with time, more slurry volume is required (compared with bentonite) and slurry level must be continuously maintained.

The aim of this project was to investigate the potential of fused-slurry coatings for improving the oxidation resistance of wrought alloys. Slurry-aluminised coatings were deposited on Alloy 800H (Fe-33Ni-20Cr), Alloy HCM12A (Fe-12Cr-2W), Alloy 214 (Ni-16Cr-4Al-3Fe), Fe-27Cr-4Al and Fe-14Cr-4Al alloys. The slurry contained a cellulose-based binder in an aqueous carrier and spherical aluminium powder, with a particle size below 20 microns. The slurries were applied with a paint-brush, dried in air and heat treated in either hydrogen or argon at temperatures between 700 and 1150C. The slurries were characterised by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and viscometry. The coatings were characterised by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction and Vickers hardness measurements. The oxidation resistance of selected slurry-coated specimens was assessed in air at 1000 and 1100C in tests lasting up to 1000 hours.Slurry-aluminising was found to be a simple, effective way of forming protective coatings that were similar in composition and microstructure to chemical vapour deposits. However, it was difficult to control the amount of slurry applied to the substrate and produce coatings of uniform thickness.The coatings on Alloy HCM12A and the Fe-Cr-Al alloys contained cracks in the brittle FeAl phase due to tensile stresses arising from differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the substrates and the coatings. Rapid interdiffusion between the coatings and the ferritic substrates resulted in the appearance of Kirkendall voids.Coatings on Alloy 214 required a two-stage heat treatment to convert the brittle δ-Ni2Al3 to β-NiAl. Cracking along the coating/substrate interface was prevented by limiting the coating thickness to a maximum of 250 microns. During oxidation at 1100C, the β-NiAl was converted to γ'-Ni3Al. After 1000 h, the centre of the coating consisted chiefly of γ'-Ni3Al and bands of austenite (γ-Ni) were present at the inner and outer edges of the coating. The aluminium content at the coated surface was higher than the original aluminium content of the alloy, the protective alumina scale was improved and the oxidation life of the substrate was extended. An additional life of 1250 h at 1100C is estimated from a slurry coating before the aluminium content returns to that of the original alloy (4%), providing a potential improvement in oxidation resistance.Microstructural changes such as grain growth, sensitisation and formation of aluminium nitride particles near the coating/substrate interface, were detected in the alloy substrates after forming the slurry coatings. However, these microstructural changes did not detract from the good performance of the coatings during oxidation tests at 1100C.The work in this study has demonstrated a low-cost method of coating high-temperature alloys providing coatings with microstructures, densities and modes of degradation similar to those obtained by other coating methods. The coatings are potentially applicable to a wide range of high-temperature substrates.

Outotec Sweden AB works in the field of precious metal refining. Silver electrorefining is one of Outotec’s technologies widely applied in numerous silver refining plants worldwide. During this project a specific section in a silver refinery plant has been investigated. Today’s system provided by Outotec utilises gravity as a means of transport of the slurry consisting of refined silver crystals and silver electrolyte. The slurry is directed from the electrolysis cells through pipes mounted in an angle towards a separation tank. This solution requires three floors of the building of the refinery plant. The goal of this project was to develop concepts which would transport the slurry of silver crystals from the electrolysis cells to a separation tank within a single floor of the building. The implementation of such a system would result in lowering the overall investment cost of the refinery by at least 7 %. Ulrich & Eppinger’s product development process has been utilised in this thesis work which is a six step sequential method for development of products. Through this process, four concepts for transportation of silver crystal slurry were developed, analysed and cost estimated - Syringe, Drop to circulation tank, Suction Pump and Conveyor. The syringe concept eliminated the need for a single floor of the refinery, which translated to total projected investment cost of 337 000 SEK and an overall investment savings of 8.3 %. Drop to circulation tank eliminated the need for two floors which lead to a total estimated cost of 862 000 SEK. This corresponded to an overall investment savings of 16.5 %. The two final concepts - suction pump and conveyor was estimated to cost 346 000 and 337 000 SEK respectively. Both of the concepts resulted in a total projected savings of the overall investment by 8.3%, eliminating the need for one of the three floors in the refinery. The conclusion is that each of the concepts developed surpassed the goal of lowering the overall investment of the refinery by at least 7%. Three of the four concepts eliminated the need for one floor while the final one, drop to circulation tank, eliminated the need for two of the three floors. The concepts must be tested before implemented. This could either be conducted by approximating the electrolyte as water and silver crystals as metal shavings or by sludge. It would however be beneficial if a test rig is constructed for each concept and they are tested with the same mixture of silver slurry that is transported in Outotec’s existing refineries. The circulation tank should also be installed on the same floor as the electrolysis cells and the separation tank for the syringe, conveyor and suction pump concepts. This was never investigated by the authors since it was a limitation stated as the project was initiated. This component was however included in the drop to circulation tank concept since it was considered being part of the transportation system. If the circulation tank is installed on the same floor as the other components it will result in eliminating the need for two floors, which would ultimately lead to a substantial decrease in overall investment cost.