The flash method proposed by Parker et al. in the early sixties is one of the most important experimental procedures to determine the thermal properties of homogeneous materials. Because of the versatility of this method, researchers have attempted to extend its usefulness into the realm of composite material. However, some difficulties arise because of the existence of preferential heat paths in heterogeneous materials, especially in fiber-reinforced composites. In order for experimental flash method results to be meaningful a homogeneous temperature front must exist at the back face of the sample, where the measurements are made. In this work, the parameters that render the radial temperature response of a fiber reinforced composite homogeneous at the back face were investigated. According to the literature three criteria must be met for homogeneity to occur: fiber-to-matrix volume ratio must be high; sample axial dimension must be large compared to radial fiber dimension and the thermal contact between the fibers and the matrix must be high. Since the first two criteria are met by most fiber-reinforced composite samples subject to the flash method, attention was concentrated on the third criterion. An inequality that must be met by the contact conductance term to establish homogeneity is proposed and some sample temperature profiles are presented. / Master of Science

No / This paper aims to investigate experimentally the effects of circulating coolant flow rate, groundwater table fluctuations, infiltration of rainwater, on the amount of thermal energy that can be recovered from the near surface soil layers. A comprehensive experimental investigation was carried out on a fully equipped tank filled with sand. A heat collector panel was embedded horizontally at the mid-height of the tank. Measurements of the temperature at various points on the heat collector panel, adjacent soil, inlet and outlet were continuously monitored and recorded. After reaching a steady state, it was observed that increasing water saturation in the adjacent soil leads to a substantial increase on the amount of heat recovered. A model was proposed for the estimation of temperature along the heat collector panel based on steady state conditions. It accounted for thermal resistance between pipes and the variability of water saturation in the adjacent soils. This model showed good agreement with the data. Whilst increasing the flow rate of the circulating fluid within the panel did not cause noticeable improvement on the amount of heat energy that can be harnessed within the laminar flow regime commonly found in ground source heat panels. Infiltration of rainwater would cause a temporary enhancement on the amount of extracted heat. Measurement of the sand thermal conductivity during a cycle of drying and wetting indicates that the thermal conductivity is primarily dependent upon the degree of water saturation and secondary on the flow path.

This study seeks to develop smart hydrogel formulations for injectable controlled drug delivery from Pluronics to enhance patients compliance, decrease side effects, reduce dose and frequency. A biocompatible copolymer, Pluronic F127 was probed as the main ingredient for the injectable systems owing its low gelation concentration and ease of modification the system properties through excipients addition. The matrix properties were studied through a series of thermal, rheological and structural (SAXS/SANS) experiments as a function of concentration and shear rate, covering both static and dynamic environments. It has shown that gelled viscosity (and structure) can be critically controlled by shear rate and the structures recorded do not match those predicted for sheared colloids. Two further Pluronics F68 and F108, were studied showing similar but shifted gelation properties to F127. Effects of additives were studied by introducing different Mw PEGs and a model hydrophobic drug ‘ibuprofen’ to a F127 20% formulation. PEGs addition effects on the system properties and gelation transition were largely dependent on the Mw used in the blend, which became more prominent with increasing chain length. Ibuprofen’s addition has resulted in reduced gelation temperature and smaller hard spheres without having a great effect on the system rheological properties compared to neat gels. Blends containing both additives PEG and ibuprofen exhibited a synergistic effect, where comparisons show that Ibuprofen had the largest effect on the blends lowering gelation boundaries and slightly increasing the size of the hard spheres indicating the necessity of full characterisation of the formulation with any API.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Ignition of a combustible mixture by a transient jet of hot reactive gas is important for safety of mines, pre-chamber ignition in IC engines, detonation initiation, and in novel constant-volume combustors. The present work is a numerical study of the hot-jet ignition process in a long constant-volume combustor (CVC) that represents a wave-rotor channel. The mixing of hot jet with cold mixture in the main chamber is first studied using non-reacting simulations. The stationary and traversing hot jets of combustion products from a pre-chamber is injected through a converging nozzle into the main CVC chamber containing a premixed fuel-air mixture. Combustion in a two-dimensional analogue of the CVC chamber is modeled using global reaction mechanisms, skeletal mechanisms, and detailed reaction mechanisms for four hydrocarbon fuels: methane, propane, ethylene, and hydrogen. The jet and ignition behavior are compared with high-speed video images from a prior experiment. Hybrid turbulent-kinetic schemes using some skeletal reaction mechanisms and detailed mechanisms are good predictors of the experimental data. Shock-flame interaction is seen to significantly increase the overall reaction rate due to baroclinic vorticity generation, flame area increase, stirring of non-uniform density regions, the resulting mixing, and shock compression. The less easily ignitable methane mixture is found to show higher ignition delay time compared to slower initial reaction and greater dependence on shock interaction than propane and ethylene. The confined jet is observed to behave initially as a wall jet and later as a wall-impinging jet. The jet evolution, vortex structure and mixing behavior are significantly different for traversing jets, stationary centered jets, and near-wall jets. Production of unstable intermediate species like C2H4 and CH3 appears to depend significantly on the initial jet location while relatively stable species like OH are less sensitive. Inclusion of minor radical species in the hot-jet is observed to reduce the ignition delay by 0.2 ms for methane mixture in the main chamber. Reaction pathways analysis shows that ignition delay and combustion progress process are entirely different for hybrid turbulent-kinetic scheme and kinetics-only scheme.

Mu Jun. / Thesis submitted in: December 2005. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-183). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Issues and Background --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1. --- Why Ecological Architecture? --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Fossil Fuels and Environmental Issues --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- The Buildings' Role in the Issues --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2. --- Knowledge in Ecological Design --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- About Ecological Architecture --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Thermal Study ~ A Significant Way to Ecological Architecture --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- What is Suitable Ecological Architecture for Loess Plateau areas of China --- p.16 / Chapter 3. --- Defining the Future Ecological Architecture in Loess Plateau Areas --- p.20 / Chapter 3.1. --- Economy for Building --- p.20 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Situation --- p.20 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Technological Strategies towards a Cost-effective Ecological Approach --- p.22 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- Alternative-Technological Approach --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2. --- Climate --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- Climatic Characteristics --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- A climatically Responsive Approach ~ Selective Environmental Design --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.3. --- Climatic Response of Thermal Design Guidelines --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.3.1. --- Minimizing Heat loss through Building Fabrics --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.3.2. --- Utilization of Available Natural Energy --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3. --- Benefits from Vernacular Architecture --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Earth ArchitecturéؤVernacular Architecture on Loess Plateau --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.1.1. --- Classification --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3.1.2. --- Environmental Performance --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Literature Review of Studies on Earth Architecture --- p.58 / Chapter 3.3.2.1. --- Properties of Earth-based Materials --- p.58 / Chapter 3.3.2.2. --- Literature on Earth Architecture --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- Issues and Development --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.3.1. --- Limitation in Existing Earth Architecture of Loess Plateau --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.3.2. --- Recent Research on Developing Earth Architecture in Loess Plateau Areas --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3.3.3. --- Considerations --- p.81 / Chapter 3.4. --- Conclusion --- p.82 / Chapter 4. --- Making of the Classroom as Designed for the Thermal Study --- p.84 / Chapter 4.1. --- Why a Classroom? --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2. --- The School Project and the Classroom Simulated --- p.85 / Chapter 5. --- Thermal Study by Simulating Experiments --- p.88 / Chapter 5.1. --- Research Methodology --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2. --- Program Validation --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3. --- Experimental Series of Simulation and Model Setup --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4. --- Thermal Mass and Insulation --- p.95 / Chapter 5.4.1. --- External Wall --- p.95 / Chapter 5.4.2. --- Roof Study --- p.97 / Chapter 5.4.3. --- "Windows, Doors and Glazing" --- p.100 / Chapter 5.4.4. --- Incorporated Performance --- p.103 / Chapter 5.5. --- Passive system for natural energy use --- p.106 / Chapter 5.5.1. --- Passive Solar System Study --- p.106 / Chapter 5.5.1.1. --- Wall-based Passive Solar System --- p.106 / Chapter 5.5.1.2. --- Roof-based Passive Solar System --- p.125 / Chapter 5.5.1.3. --- System Comparison in Thermal Performance --- p.135 / Chapter 5.5.2. --- Natural Ventilation System with the Heat Exchanger --- p.137 / Chapter 5.5.2.1. --- Pre-warming Effect of the Solar Space --- p.139 / Chapter 5.5.2.2. --- Effect of the Earth-air-tunnel --- p.142 / Chapter 5.5.2.3. --- Incorporation with the Chimney --- p.153 / Chapter 5.5.2.4. --- Comparison in Performance --- p.158 / Chapter 5.6. --- Summary --- p.159 / Chapter 6. --- Design Improvement and Performance Prediction --- p.162 / Chapter 6.1. --- System Incorporation and Design Improvement --- p.161 / Chapter 6.2. --- Thermal Performance Prediction --- p.167 / Chapter 7. --- Conclusion --- p.174 / Appendix --- p.179

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 R33 / Master of Science

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the primary circuit components of high temperature reactors, various unwanted particles have been found. These particles include, for example, graphite and silver- 110 (110mAg). The silver-110 (110mAg) particles are radioactive, with a half-life of 253 days. The presence of radioactive particles in the primary circuit components constitutes an unwanted maintenance problem from a radiation hazard point of view. The development of a method to remove these particles from the helium stream is therefore needed. This thesis consideres two possible methods of removing silver from the helium stream, namely laser ablation of microparticles and electrostatic precipitation. These methods require the generation of silver ions or charged particles, the deflection of these particles in a helium gas stream passing through an electric field and the subsequent plate-out of these particles onto deflection electrodes. To find a suitable method of generating ions, various methods to generate the silver ions were investigated and evaluated. These methods include existing ion sources, thermionic, field and photoelectric emission and laser ablation of microparticles. No existing ion sources could be found which could be utilised in helium at high pressure. From calculations it was concluded that thermionic, field and photoelectric emission could also not be used to raise the energy of the emitted electrons sufficiently to ionize silver in a helium flight path. These methods were found not to be feasible ion sources in helium at high pressures. However, laser ablation of microparticles was found to constitute a feasible technology. Laser ablation was successfully utilised by Nichols et al. (2000) to deflect silver nanoparticles in an electric field across a two bar helium stream. An apparatus, similar to the one developed by Nichols et al. (2000), was designed and built. The apparatus included a silver insertion mechanism and tests with this apparatus were called the microparticle tests. To determine the efficacy of the silver insertion mechanism, the microparticle tests were done without the use of a laser. It was found that a laser was not necessary as microparticles collected on both the deflection electrodes. Dielectrophoresis was proposed as a possible explanation for the deflection and the plate-out of the mcroparticles. To theoretically model the deflection of the silver particles, two models were proposed, namely the deterministic and the stochastic deflection models. The latter describes the deflection of atoms, ions and polarized particles by using probability theory. From this model it was found that the Brownian motion force is far larger that the force created by the polarizibility of the atom due to an electric field. The deterministic deflection model describes the deflection of larger particles in a continuum. From this model it was found that a silver microparticle with a radius of 3 mm in a helium stream with bulk velocity of 0.0198 m/s would deflect 4.6 mm per helium flight path length of 140 mm. From these calculation it was found that the apparatus which had been built was not long enough to deflect and plate-out all the silver microparticles. The dielectrophoresis force on nanoparticles cannot be calculated, as the theory of dielectrophoresis is only valid for particles with diameter larger than 1 mm. Changes were therefore made to the apparatus to generate nanoparticles as their mobility is larger than that of microparticles. The nanoparticles were created by means of an arc discharge in helium; therefore tests with this modified apparatus were called the arc discharge test. The nanoparticles so created, deflected and deposited on both deflection electrodes. With the use of an atomic force microscope some of the particles could be classified as microparticles. According to the deterministic deflection model they should not have deflected. Combined with the fact that oxygen was in the plasma, due to the oxidation of the electrodes, a hypothesis of bipolar charging was thus proposed. The deterministic deflection model was used and supplemented with field and diffusion charging calculations, to support this hypothesis. A reasonable correlation between the theoretical model and this experimental results was obtained. Based on the arc discharge test, electrostatic precipitation was proposed as the indicated means of scrubbing silver and other particles such as graphite from a helium stream. It is recommended that a new apparatus be built and that the deterministic deflection model be used to predict the deflection of the particles. With this apparatus the uncertainties of breakdown voltage, the effect of thermionic emission and the size of the particles, all of which have been identified as being important, can then also be determined. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die primêre komponente van die kringloop van hoë temperatuurreaktors, was verskillende ongewenste partikels soos grafiet en silwer-110 (110mAg) teenwoordg. Silwer- 110 (110mAg) is radioaktief met ’n halfleeftyd van 253 dae. Vanuit ’n radiasie-risiko oogpunt word daar onderhoudsimplikasies geskep deur die teenwoordigheid van radioaktiewe partikels in die primêre komponente. Die ontwikkeling van ’n metode om hierdie partikels uit die heliumstroom the verwyder was dus nodig. Hierdie tesis ondersoek twee moontlike metodes van verwydering van silwer uit die heliumstroom, naamlik laser-ablasie van mikropartikels en elektrostatiese presipitasie. Hierdie metodes benodig die generasie van silwer ione of gelaaide partikels, die defleksie daarvan in ’n heliumstroom wat deur ’n elektriese veld vloei en die platering van die partikels op defleksie elektrodes. Om ’n geskikte metode the vind wat ione genereer was, verskillende metodes om die silwer ione te verkry, ondersoek en geëvalueer. Hierdie metodes sluit in bestaande ioonbronne, termioniese, veld en fotoëlektriese emissie en laser-ablasie van mikropartikels. Geen ioonbronne was gevind wat gebruik kan word in helium by hoë druk nie. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak vanaf berekeninge dat termioniese, veld en fotoëlektriese emissie ook nie gebruik kan word om die energie van die voortgebronge elektrone genoeg te verhoog om silwer in ’n heliumstroom te ioniseer nie. Daar was gevind dat hierdie metodes nie geskik is as ioonbronne in helium by hoë druk nie. Daarenteen was laser-ablasie van mikropartikels gevind om ’n geskikte tegnologie voor te stel. Laser-ablasie van mikropartikels was suksesvol deur Nichols et al. (2000) gebruik om silwer nanopartikels te deflekteer in ’n elektriese veld oor helium van twee bar. ’n Apparaat soortgelyk aan Nichols et al. (2000) se eksperiment, was dus ontwerp en gebou. Die apparaat het ’n silwer insitmeganisme bevat en toetse met hierdie apparaat was die mikropartikel toetse genoem. Om die effektiwiteit van die insitmeganisme te bepaal, was toetse gedoen sonder opstelling van die laser. Daar was eksperimenteel gevind dat die laser nie nodig was nie, omdat mikropartikels op beide defleksie elektrodes geplateer het. Dielektroforese was voorgestel as ’n moontlike verduideliking vir deflektering en platering vir die silwer mikropartikels. Om die defleksie van silwer partikels teoreties te moduleer was twee modelle voorgestel, naamlik deterministiese en stogastiese defleksiemodelle. Laasgenoemde beskryf die defleksie van atome, ione en gepolariseerde partikels deur gebruik te maak van waarskynlikheidsteorie. Die stogastiese defleksiemodel dui aan dat die Brownian bewegingskrag veel groter is as die krag wat geskep word deur die polarisasie van ’n atoom as gevolg van ’n elektriese veld. Die deterministiese defleksiemodel beskryf die defleksie van groter partikels in ’n kontiuum. Met hierdie model was gevind dat silwer mikropartikels met ’n radius van 3 mmin ’n heliumstroom van snelheid van 0.0198 m/s, 4.6 mm sal deflekteer per 140 mm van heliumstroom lengte. Dit bewys dat die apparaat wat gebou was, se lengte onvoldoende was om al die silwer mikropartikels te deflekteer en te laat neerslaan. Die dielektroforese krag van nanopartikels kan nie uitgewerk word nie, omdat die dielektroforese model slegs geldig is vir partikels groter as 1 mm. Veranderings was dus aan die apparaat gemaak om nanopartikels te genereer omdat hul mobiliteit hoër is as die van mikropartikels. Die nanopartikels was geskep deur gebruik van ’n boogontlading in helium; daarom was toetse met hierdie gemodifiseerde apparaat die boogontladingstoets genoem. Die nanopartikels wat so geskep was, het gedeflekteer en het op beide elektrodes neergeslaan. Met die gebruik van ’n atomiese krag mikroskoop was dit gevind dat sommige van hierdie partikels mikropartikels was. Volgens die deterministiese defleksiemodel moes hul nie gedeflekteer het nie. Gekombineerd met die feit dat daar, weens oksidasie van die elektrodes, suurstof in die plasma was, was ’n hipotese van bipolêre lading voorgestel. Die deterministiese defleksiemodel is saam met die veld- en diffusielading gebruik om hierdie hipotese te staaf. ’n Redelike korrelasie tussen die teoretiese en eksperimentele data was gevind. Gebaseer op die boogontladingstoets, was elektrostatiese presipitasie voorgestel as ’n metode om silwer en ander partikels soos grafiet uit ’n heliumstroom te verwyder. Daar word voorgestel dat ’n nuwe apparaat gebou word en dat die deterministiese defleksiemodel gebruik word vir die bepaling van defleksie van die partikels. Deur die nuwe apparaat te gebruik kan die onsekerhede van deurslagspanning, effek van termioniese emissie en grootte van die partikels wat geidentifiseer is as belangrik, ook bepaal word.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) copolymers contain a hydrophilic PEO block and a hydrophobic PS block. PS and PEO have different affinities for most organic solvents and as a result, the PS-b-PEO copolymers are difficult to characterize in solution. In order to achieve a complete characterization of their molecular heterogeneity different techniques have been used. Recently FFF has become a cutting edge technology for polymer analysis because it possesses a number of advantages over conventional SEC and other liquid chromatographic techniques. The mild operating conditions allow the analysis of delicate and sensitive complex analytes such as complex polymer assemblies. The ability to analyze polymers with ultrahigh molar masses has also contributed to its significance in the characterization of polymers. In this study, the FFF behaviour of PS-b-PEO copolymers as well as PS and PEO homopolymers was investigated using Thermal FFF in different organic solvents and AF4. The aim of the study was the correlation of the thermodynamic quality of the solvents and the elution behaviour of the polymers. Unfortunately, PEO homopolymers have been found to interact with the membrane in AF4. Therefore, they were best characterized in organic solvents using Thermal FFF. In contrast to AF4 no specific interactions occurred due to the absence of a membrane. Results for Thermal FFF showed that in all utilized solvents, PS and PEO homopolymers were separated in the direction of increasing molar mass. For PS-b-PEO copolymers the retention in selective (good) solvents for PS was dependent on the molar mass of the PS block in the block copolymer. This was explained by the fact that in poor solvents PEO adopts a collapsed coil conformation while PS is present in extended random coil conformation. Results also showed that polymer retention was dependent on the temperature programme utilized. The fractionations by Thermal FFF indicated that some of the PS-b-PEO copolymer samples contained PS and PEO homopolymers as by-products. After semi-preparative fractionation these homopolymers were qualitatively identified using FTIR spectroscopy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Polistireen-blok-poli(etileenoksied) (PS-b-PEO) ko-polimere bevat 'n hidrofiliese politetileen oksied (PEO) blok en 'n hidrofobiese polistireen (PS) blok. PS en PEO het verskillende affiniteite vir die meeste organiese oplosmiddels, dit bemoeilik die karakterisering van PS-b-PEO ko-polimere in oplossing. Ten einde 'n volledige karakterisering van hul molekulêre heterogeniteit te bepaal moet ‘n verskeidenheid van tegnieke gebruik word. Onlangs het veldvloeifraksionering (FFF) baie grond gewen tov polimeer analise, aangesien dit verskeie voordele het bo tradisionele chromatografiese tegnieke soos grootte-uitsluitingschromatografie (SEC). Die ligte operasionele omstandighede laat die ontleding van ‘n verskeidenheid van polimere toe, enige iets van delikate polimeer komplekse tot ultra hoë molekulêre massa. In hierdie studie is die FFF gedrag van PS-b-PEO ko-polimere asook PS en PEO homopolimere ondersoek met behulp van Termiese FFF(ThFFF) in verskillende organiese oplosmiddels en onsimmetriese vloei-veldvloeifraksionering(AF4). Die doel van die studie was om die verband tussen die termodinamiese gehalte van die oplosmiddels en die eluering gedrag van die polimere te bepaal. Analise van PEO homopolimere was onsuksesvol aangesien daar interaksie was met die membraan. PEO is dus net geanaliseer in organise oplosmiddels met behulp van ThFFF, aangesien daar geen membraan is nie. Analise met ThFFF het gewys dat skeiding plaasvind volgens ‘n toename in molekulêre massa in organise oplosmiddels. Vir PS-b-PEO ko-polimere die retensie in selektiewe (goeie) oplosmiddels vir PS was afhanklik van die molekulêre massa van die PS blok in die ko-polimeer. ‘n Moontlike teorie is dat die PEO blok ‘n ineengestorte spoel struktuur vorm terwyl die PS blok ‘n uitgestrekte lukraake vorm aan neem. Resultate het ook getoon dat die polimeer retensie afhanklik was van die temperatuur program wat gebruik is. Die fraksionering deur ThFFF het aangedui dat sommige van die PS-b-PEO kopolimeer monsters bestaan het uit PS en PEO homopolimere as by-produkte. Hierdie is kwalitatief bewys deur analise van die fraksies na fraksionering van die ko-polimere met behulp van FTIR spektroskopie.

The use of aluminum nitride as a substrate material for microelectronics is examined. A brief look at thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of aluminum nitride show that it is a viable alternative material for this use. A study of the interfaces between aluminum nitride and several thick film pastes (palladium silver conductor, ruthenium oxide resistor, and gold conductor) was performed with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Results of this investigation showed that the contaminants in the substrate material that affect thermal conductivity do not affect the adhesion of the thick film pastes. However, it was found that the lack of certain elements in the binder of the thick film paste could lead to weaker adhesion, and severe degradation of the thick film's adhesion during thermal cycling.

For many years the problem of separating aliphatic and aromatic compounds has been at the forefront of the petroleum and oil refining industries. This separation is often effected using liquid-liquid extraction or extractive distillation. Both of these processes require the addition of a solvent to bring about separation. The aims of this work were to investigate the use of "mixed" solvents, such as those used in the Arosolvan process, for their application in liquid-liquid extraction and extractive distillation as well as to provide related thelmodynamic data for systems containing mixed solvents. In the last part of this work, a computer program was developed to theoretically predict the effectiveness of a number of solvents on a user-defined separation. The solvents used for liquid-liquid extraction were chosen based on their similarities to those in the Arosolvan process and were of the form, {N-methyl-2-pyrollidone (NMP) + glycerol, a glycol or water} where the glycol was either monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG) or triethylene glycol (TEG). The additives were combined in various mixing ratios to NMP to determine a mixing ratio for which the effect of the solvent is possibly optimized (a list of all solvents and mixing ratios used are presented in this work). Solvent selectivity and the range of compositions over which separation could occur determined the effectiveness of the solvents. This work dealt with the separation of n-hexane and toluene. In order to determine the selectivity and range of compositions, the liquid-liquid equilibria (LLE) of systems containing n-hexane + toluene + solvent had to be determined. LLE was measured using a simple equilibrium cell at 298 K and 1 atm. The phase separation boundaries (binodal curves) were determined using a titration method. The results obtained in this work showed an increase in the range of compositions over which the mixture of n-hexane and toluene could be separated (i.e a larger range of mixing ratios over which these components could be separated from each other) from the pure NMP solvent to the mixed solvent cases. This implies that there is a The range of compositions over which separation could be affected is given (for the solvents) in descending order: NMP + 50% glycerol> NMP + 10% water > NMP + 30% MEG > NMP + 5% water > NMP + 30% glycerol> NMP + 10% glycerol > NMP + 10% MEG > NMP + 10% DEG > NMP + 10% TEG > NMP + 5% DEG > 100% NMP. The selectivities of the solvents showed a remarkable increase from the pure NMP case to the mixed solvent cases. The maximum selectivity obtained for the NMP + 10% DEG system was over 1200 compared to a maximum selectivity of just 6 for the pure NMP system. The maximum selectivities obtained in descending order were as follows: NMP + 10% DEG > NMP + 10% TEG > NMP + 10% glycerol > NMP + 10% MEG > NMP + 30% MEG > NMP + 50% glycerol > NMP + 10% water > NMP + 5% water > NMP + 30% glycerol > NMP + 5% DEG > 100% NMP. The binodal curves were modelled using the Hlavaty, ,8-density and log-y functions. The maximum standard deviations obtained were 0.075, 0.078 and 0.05 for each of the functions respectively. The equilibrium data was modelled using the UNIQUAC and NRTL thermodynamic models and showed excellent agreement. This work showed better agreement to the NRTL functions due to the fact that the non-randomness parameter, a ij , may be chosen arbitrarily. The results obtained in this work indicate that the use of mixed solvents greatly increases the effectiveness ofNMP used for the separation of n-hexane and toluene. It is suggested that further studies be performed on a wider range of aliphatic and aromatic compounds in order to determine whether this is a generic behaviour or just true for n-hexane and toluene. The effectiveness of each solvent for extractive distillation was determined by its separation factor. In order to determine separation factors, the activity coefficients at infinite dilution (IDACs) had to be measured. This was done using a gas-liquid chromatography technique. The solvents employed in this study were NMP, Glycerol, MEG, TEG, NMP + 10% glycerol, NMP + 10% MEG, NMP + 10% DEG, NMP + 10% TEG. The solutes used were: pentane, heptane, hexane, toluene and benzene. The separation factors were determined for each alkane/aromatic pair per solvent. The pure solvent cases were then compared to the mixed solvent cases. The mixed solvents did not show results as promising for extractive distillation applications as they did for liquid-liquid extraction. TEG displayed the best selectivities for each of the alkane/aromatic separations except for the heptane/benzene pair, for which NMP + 10% glycerol proved to be the most effective solvent. When compared to the results obtained from the original UNIF AC model, the IDACs obtained in this work showed up to a 99% deviation. This is due to the fact that the model does not work well for all types of molecules and does not predict the equilibrium of "unlike" molecules adequately. It is suggested that other mixing ratios and different solvents be used to further investigate the effectiveness of mixed solvents for extractive distillation applications. It is further recommended that a computer aided data logging system be developed to determine residence times. This would not only provide more accurate results, but also provide a database for future reference. The computer program that was developed using the original UNIF AC method contains a database of 28 commonly used industrial solvents. This program enables the user to compare graphically the effectiveness of each of the solvents on the desired separation. Due to the limitations of the original UNIF AC method, the program does not work well for all types of molecules. However, the model can be changed without altering the prografnming structure to include a modified version of the UNIFAC model depending on the users needs. The program although written from an extractive distillation standpoint can be extended to include liquid-liquid equilibrium predictions. The main benefit of such a program is to eliminate time-consuming experimental work required to narrow down a long list of solvents required for a particular separation by theoretically predicting the best solvents for the job. The solvent database can also be expanded when new solvents become available or the user needs change / Thesis (M.Sc. Eng)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.