I fordonsindustrin är kemisk renlighet ett grundläggande kriterium för att säkerställa kvaliteten och hållbarheten hos den slutliga produkten. Kemisk renlighet kan defineras som den maximala nivån av kemiska föroreningar (t.ex. olja, fett, ytaktiva ämnen, kemikalier, etc.) som är tillåten på ytan av en produkt, men som tillåter produkten att fortfarande fungera som normalt. En ren yta fri från kemiska föreningar kommer således att säkerställa en robust binding mellan olika substrat. Syftet med den här rapporten är att undersöka och fastställa en kvantiativ method för att utvärdera kemisk renlighet för Formed in Place Gaskets (FIGP). De instrument som kommer att användas för att analysera nivån av kemisk kontaminering (rengöringsmedel) är: F-Scanner, SITA CleanoSpector och Krüss MSA One-Click SFE Mobile Analyzer. För att anvgöra hur nivån av kontaminering (rengöringsmedel) påverkar silikonens tätningsförmåga kommer dolly pull-off adhesionsprov och dragprov att användas. Resultatet visar att F-Scanner och SITA CleanoSpector kan skilja mellan olika nivåer av kontaminering (rengöringsmedel). Dock kan det från dolly pull-off adhesionsprov och dragprov inte dras någon slutsats om att en högre koncentration av kontaminering (rengöringsmedel) leder till en lägreadhesionsstyrka. / In the automotive industry chemical cleanliness is a fundamental criterion for ensuring the quality and durability of the final product. Chemical cleanliness can be defined as the maximum level of chemical contaminants (e.g. oil, grease, surfactants, chemical residues, etc.) permitted on the surface of a part, that still allows the part to function as normal. Hence, a clean surface that is free of chemical contaminants will ensure a robust adhesive bond between different substrates. The following thesis aims to investigate and establish a quantitative method to evaluate chemical cleanliness applicable to Formed in Place Gaskets (FIGP). Different instruments: F-Scanner, SITA CleanoSpector, and Krüss MSA One- Click SFE Mobile Analyzer, for surface analysis will be investigated and used to determine the level of chemical contamination (detergent) on the surface. To determine how the level of contamination (detergent) affects the adhesion properties of sealant, the dolly pull-off adhesion test and tensile test will be used. The results show that the F-Scanner and SITA CleanoSpector can distinguish between different levels of contamination (detergent). However, from the dolly pull-off adhesion test and tensile test, it cannot be concluded that a higher concentration of contamination (detergent) leads to a decrease in the adhesion strength of the sealant.

Extensive amounts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (organic emerging pollutants) are introduced into the environment mainly through wastewater treatment plants discharges either effluent wastewater reaching into the aquatic environment or sewage sludge which is spread onto agricultural land. These compounds are not regulated and their negative effects on humans and wildlife are unknown. One of the main challenges of analytical chemistry is to develop selective and sensitive methods for the detection and quantitation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products and their transformation products in complex matrices. The research presented in the thesis is focused on the development of new methods based on the use of hollow fiber liquid- phase microextraction (HF-LPME) technique and liquid chromatography for the determination of some of the most consume pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewaters, environmental waters and sewage sludge. / Tones de substàncies biològicament actives són alliberades contínuament al medi ambient, a través de la descàrrega d’aigües residuals als medis aquàtics o de biosòlids en l’agricultura. La presència d’aquestes substàncies (contaminants emergents) en el medi ambient ha generat una gran preocupació perquè es desconeix com actuen i quins són els mecanismes implicats en la seva transformació i/o transport. Un dels reptes de la química analítica és dissenyar mètodes selectius i sensibles per a la determinació de contaminants emergents en matrius complexes. La recerca presentada en aquesta tesi es centra en el desenvolupament de nous mètodes analítics basats en l’ús de la microextracció enfase líquida amb fibra buida (HF-LPME) i la cromatografia líquida per a la determinació d’alguns fàrmacs i productes d’higiene personal en aigües residuals, medis aquàtics i biosòlids.

Wards occupy significant proportions of hospital floor areas and due to their constant use, represent a worthwhile focus of study. Single-bed wards are specifically of interest owing to the isolation aspect they bring to infection control, including airborne pathogens, but threats posed by airborne pandemics and family-involvement in hospital care means cross-infection is still a potential problem. In its natural mode, ventilation driven by combined wind and buoyancy forces can lead to energy savings and achieve thermal comfort and high air change rates through secure openings. These are advantageous for controlling indoor airborne pathogens and external air and noise pollution. However, there is lack of detailed evidence and guidance is needed to gain optimum performance from available natural ventilation systems. This research is a proof of concept investigation into the feasibility and impact of natural ventilation systems targeting airflow rates, thermal comfort, heating energy and control of pathogenic bio-aerosols in hospital wards. In particular, it provides insights into the optimal areas of vent openings which could satisfy the complex three-pronged criteria of contaminant dilution, low heating energy and acceptable thermal comfort for occupants in a naturally ventilated single bed ward. The main aim of this thesis is the structured study of four systems categorised into three groups: Simple Natural Ventilation (SNV) in which single and dual-openings are used on the same external wall; Advanced Natural Ventilation (ANV) which is an emerging concept; and finally Natural Personalised Ventilation (NPV) which is an entirely new concept borne out of the limitations of previous systems and gaps in literature. The focus of this research is in the exploratory study of the weaknesses and potentials of the four systems, based on multi-criteria performances metrics within three architecturally distinct single-bed ward designs. In contributing to the body of existing knowledge, this thesis provides a better understanding of the performances of three existing systems while presenting the new NPV system. The analysis is based on dynamic thermal modelling and computational fluid dynamics and in the case of the NPV system, salt-bath experiments for validation and visualisation of transient flows. In all cases, wards were assumed to be free of mechanical ventilation systems that might influence the natural flow of air. The thesis meets three major objectives which have resulted in the following contributions to current knowledge: An understanding of the limitations and potentials of same-side openings, especially why and how dual-openings can be useful when retrofitted into existing wards. Detailed analysis of bulk airflow, thermal comfort, heating energy and room air distribution achievable from existing SNV and ANV systems, including insights to acceptable trickle ventilation rates, which will be particular useful in meeting minimum dilution and energy requirements in winter. This also includes qualitative predictions of the airflow pattern and direction obtainable from both systems. The innovation and study of a new natural ventilation system called Natural Personalised Ventilation (NPV) which provides fresh air directly over a patient s bed, creating a mixing regime in the space and evaluation of its comfort and energy performances. A low-energy solution for airborne infection control in clinical spaces is demonstrated by achieving buoyancy-driven mixing ventilation via the NPV system, and a derivative called ceiling-based natural ventilation (CBNV) is shown. A comparative analysis of four unique natural ventilation strategies including their performance rankings for airflow rates, thermal comfort, energy consumption and contaminant dilution or removal using an existing single-bed ward design as case study. Development of design and operational recommendations for future guidelines on utilising natural ventilation in single-bed wards either for refurbishment or for proposed designs. These contributions can be extended to other clinical and non-clinical spaces which are suitable to be naturally ventilated including treatment rooms, office spaces and waiting areas. The findings signify that natural ventilation is not only feasible for ward spaces but that there is opportunity for innovation in its application through further research. Future work could focus on related aspects like: impacts of fan-assisted ventilation for a hybrid flow regime; pre-heating of supply air; integration with passive heat recovery systems as well the use of full-scale experiments to fine-tune and validate findings.

Passive sampling, as opposed to the conventional spot or bottle water sampling technique, has shown to be reliable and efficient in monitoring the toxicologically relevant, freely dissolved (e.g. bioavaialable) concentrations of a wide range of organic contaminants in water. At the same time, partitioning controlled delivery (passive dosing; PD) techniques promise to overcome many of the challenges associated with toxicity testing of hydrophobic substances that may bias the interpretation of toxicity data. The present study investigated the feasibility of coupling silicone rubber passive sampling devices (SR-PSDs) with bioassay techniques for both chemical and ecotoxicological assessment of complex mixtures of organic contaminants in the aquatic environment. SR-PSDs were deployed in water at various locations within the Ythan catchment (north east, Scotland, UK), Forth estuary and the Firth of Forth (east coast of central Scotland, UK) for 7 to 9 weeks. Following retrieval, extracts from the SR-PSDs were analysed for dissolved concentrations of a variety of organic contaminants including PAHs and PCBs using GC-MS and GC-ECD respectively and were screened for a wide range of pesticides using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. The extracts were further evaluated for acute cytotoxicity (i.e. neutral red uptake assay) and EROD induction potential using rainbow trout liver cell line (Oncorhynchus mykiss; RTL-W1) and for phytotoxicity and developmental toxicity potential using algal growth inhibition test (with a marine phytoplankton, Diacronema lutheri) and fish embryo toxicity test (with embryos from zebrafish Danio rerio) respectively. Overall, the individual and total dissolved concentrations of PAHs (ΣPAH40; parent and branched) and PCBs (ΣPCB32; ortho and mono-ortho) measured in water from the Ythan, Forth estuary and Firth of Forth were relatively low compared with other studies using PSDs. A number and level of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides of varying hydrophobicity (log KOWs ~2.25 to ~5.31) were detected in the silicone rubber (SR) extracts from the Ythan catchment, the Forth estuary and the Firth of Forth, suggesting input mainly from agricultural run-off and possibly from direct discharges. No statistically significant (p<0.05) acute cytotoxicity was observed following 48 h exposure of RTL-W1 cells to SR extracts from the Ythan catchment. But, on a sublethal level, for every site, statistically significant EROD activity was observed to some degree following 72 h exposure. In addition, developmental and algal toxicities on embryos of D. rerio and D. lutheri respectively, were measured in all the deployed samples compared with the procedural controls (undeployed samples). Interestingly, extracts of SR-PSDs from the Forth estuary and the Firth of Forth exhibited growth inhibitions on D. lutheri that were similar to those of extracts from the Ythan, even though, fewer numbers of pesticides were detected in the Forth estuary and Firth of Forth than the Ythan. This suggests that pesticides were not solely responsible for the observed effects in the Ythan catchment. To further improve data from toxicity testing of hydrophobic substances, the study identified the use of SR O-rings as a suitable passive dosing format in in vitro toxicity tests and was partially validated through their use in dosing RTL-W1 cells with two individual PAHs and subsequently determining cytotoxicity and EROD-activity.

This study deals with the association of trace elements with colloids and particles in surface waters and groundwaters of mining and smelting district of Příbram. Colloids were studied using combination of cascade filtration a tangential flow ultrafiltration method to separate individual colloid fractions. Colloids were separated by filtration membranes with nominal pore size 0,8 μm, 0,45 μm, 0,1 μm, 100 kDa, and 5 kDa. Water samples were analyzed using ICP-OES, ICP-MS and HPLC. The data were used for thermodynamic modeling using PHREEQC-2 programme. The results show that major and trace elements can be divided into several groups, based on their abundance in individual size fractions. Most elements dominate in fraction of truly dissolved matter as dissociated ions (< 5 kDa), maximum concentration in colloid fraction is 5-20 % and almost exclusively in fraction 5 kDa - 100 kDa. Gradual decrease of concentration in all fractions at low ionic strength (1,2 mmol/l) was observed in case of elements such as As, Co, Cr, Si, Sb and U. Gradual decrease of concentration in several samples was observed for Cd, Fe, Pb, Mn and Zn. Dominant binding to colloids and particles in surface waters was observed for Fe and Pb, where these fractions accounted for over 90 %. The main factor influencing colloid...

Le caramel liquide, obtenu par le traitement thermique des sucres, est couramment utilisé pour modifier le goût ou la couleur des produits agroalimentaires.Parmi les promoteurs de caramélisation autorisés, l’ammoniaque (pour les caramels colorants de classe III) et les sels d’ammonium (pour ceux de classe IV) sont source de composés néoformés indésirables (CNI) comme le 2-acétyl-4-(1,2,3,4-tétrahydroxybutyl)imidazole (THI), immunosuppresseur, et le 4-méthylimidazole (4MeI), agent convulsif. Ces molécules ont des teneurs limitées par la réglementation Européenne à 10 et 250 ppm respectivement. Pour améliorer la connaissance de la chimie du caramel et la qualité des caramels colorants en contrôlant la formation des CNI, il est nécessaire de développer des méthodes analytiques fiables, rapides et faciles à mettre en œuvre. Ce travail de thèse présente le développement de nouvelles méthodes basées sur la chromatographie en phase liquide à deux-dimensions (LC-LC). Ces méthodes très sélectives permettent de minimiser le temps d’analyse puisque la préparation de l’échantillon se réduit à une simple dilution dans l’eau et les deux séparations chromatographiques en cascade sont réalisées sur un système totalement automatisé. La validation des méthodes par les profils d’exactitude a permis d’assurer que 90 % des résultats sont à moins de 20 % de la valeur vraie dans le domaine de concentration 10 à 50 ppm pour le THI, 20 à 500 ppm pour le 4MeI, 200 à 2500 ppm pour le fructose, saccharose, lactose, maltose et maltotriose et 500 à 2500 ppm pour le glucose.Ces méthodes sont enfin appliquées au suivi de la réaction de caramélisation et au contrôle qualité des produits finis. / Caramel liquid, obtained by heat treatment of sugars, is commonly used to alter the taste or colour of food products.Among promoters of caramelization allowed, ammonia (for caramel colours of class III) and ammonium salts (for those of class IV) are a source of neoformed contaminants (NFC) such as 2-acetyl-4-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)imidazole (THI), immunosuppressive agent, and 4-methylimidazole (4MeI), convulsive agent. These molecules have contents limited by the European regulations to 10 and 250 ppm, respectively.To improve knowledge of the chemistry of caramel and quality of caramel colours by controlling the formation of NFC, it is necessary to develop analytical methods that are both reliable, fast and easy to implement. This thesis presents the development and validation of new methods based on two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC-LC). These very selective methods can minimize analysis time since sample preparation is reduced to a simple dilution with water and the two consecutive chromatographic separations are performed on a fully automated system. The method validation by the accuracy profiles allowed to show that 90 % of obtained results correspond to the agreement value more or less 20 %, in the field of concentration 10 to 50 ppm for THI, 20 to 500 ppm for 4MeI, 200 to 2500 ppm for fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose and maltotriose and 500 to 2500 ppm for glucose.These methods are finally applied to monitor the reaction of caramelization and to control the quality of finished products.

A Baía da Guanabara vem sofrendo alterações na sua bacia de drenagem desde o início do século XIX que resultaram em acentuada degradação ambiental. O presente trabalho discute a influência da implantação de um Terminal Aquaviário de Gás Natural Liquefeito (GNL) na Baía, e suas possíveis influências nos processos de sedimentação local e/ou re-disponibilização de sedimentos de fundo, e possíveis contaminantes associados. Os resultados dos modelos matemáticos mostram que as maiores velocidades das plumas termicas que atingem o fundo são em média 0,46 m3/s para as simulações de verão e 0,47 m3/s para as simulações de inverno, sendo que são necessários pelo menos de 0,50 m3/s para uma corrente erodir o fundo, porem velocidades na faixa de 20 a 50 m3/s são suficientes para causar erosão de sedimentos finos inconsolidados. Sendo assim, a influência das plumas térmicas geradas no processo de re-gaseificação do GNL é de pequena magnitude, e suas correntes só conseguem exportar estes sedimentos para distancias inferiores a 1000 m. Em relação a re-disponibilização de contaminantes associados aos sedimentos de fundo se mostrou pouco provável, dado o fato da qualidade dos sedimentos apresentarem, diferente da água, baixa concentração de contaminantes e da baixa competência de erosão, que eles tenham competência para erodir sedimentos consolidados. / Since the beginning of the XIX century, interventions on the Guanabara\'s Bay drainage basin result in severe environmental degradation. This work aimed to analyze the implementation of an Aquaviary Terminal of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and its putative consequences on the local sedimentation processes, and the availability and possible associated contaminants of the bottom sediments. According to the mathematical models developed, the means of the greatest speeds of the thermal plumes that reach the bottom are 0.46m3/s for the summer simulations and 0.47m3/s for the winter. However, for a current to be able to erode the bottom it must be of at least 50m3/s. Currents with speeds ranging from 20 to 50m3/s are sufficient only to cause the erosion of fine and non-consolidated sediment. Therefore, the thermal plumes generated in the process of re-gasification of the LNG are of little magnitude, and will not be able to export these sediments to any distance greater than 1000 meters. The re-availability of the contaminants associated with the bottom sediments is not likely, once these sediments, differently from the water, showed little concentration of contaminants. In addition, with the low erosion capacity of the currents generated, the consolidated sediments are not likely to be eroded.

A Baía da Guanabara vem sofrendo alterações na sua bacia de drenagem desde o início do século XIX que resultaram em acentuada degradação ambiental. O presente trabalho discute a influência da implantação de um Terminal Aquaviário de Gás Natural Liquefeito (GNL) na Baía, e suas possíveis influências nos processos de sedimentação local e/ou re-disponibilização de sedimentos de fundo, e possíveis contaminantes associados. Os resultados dos modelos matemáticos mostram que as maiores velocidades das plumas termicas que atingem o fundo são em média 0,46 m3/s para as simulações de verão e 0,47 m3/s para as simulações de inverno, sendo que são necessários pelo menos de 0,50 m3/s para uma corrente erodir o fundo, porem velocidades na faixa de 20 a 50 m3/s são suficientes para causar erosão de sedimentos finos inconsolidados. Sendo assim, a influência das plumas térmicas geradas no processo de re-gaseificação do GNL é de pequena magnitude, e suas correntes só conseguem exportar estes sedimentos para distancias inferiores a 1000 m. Em relação a re-disponibilização de contaminantes associados aos sedimentos de fundo se mostrou pouco provável, dado o fato da qualidade dos sedimentos apresentarem, diferente da água, baixa concentração de contaminantes e da baixa competência de erosão, que eles tenham competência para erodir sedimentos consolidados. / Since the beginning of the XIX century, interventions on the Guanabara\'s Bay drainage basin result in severe environmental degradation. This work aimed to analyze the implementation of an Aquaviary Terminal of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and its putative consequences on the local sedimentation processes, and the availability and possible associated contaminants of the bottom sediments. According to the mathematical models developed, the means of the greatest speeds of the thermal plumes that reach the bottom are 0.46m3/s for the summer simulations and 0.47m3/s for the winter. However, for a current to be able to erode the bottom it must be of at least 50m3/s. Currents with speeds ranging from 20 to 50m3/s are sufficient only to cause the erosion of fine and non-consolidated sediment. Therefore, the thermal plumes generated in the process of re-gasification of the LNG are of little magnitude, and will not be able to export these sediments to any distance greater than 1000 meters. The re-availability of the contaminants associated with the bottom sediments is not likely, once these sediments, differently from the water, showed little concentration of contaminants. In addition, with the low erosion capacity of the currents generated, the consolidated sediments are not likely to be eroded.

<div>Agricultural headwater streams in the Midwestern United States are subject to contaminants from fields, increased sedimentation, and degradation of natural habitat. Previous research has shown that physical instream habitat degradation better explained variation in fish community structure than water chemistry. However, these studies did not include total suspended solids (TSS), which are considered a major freshwater contaminant. The objective of this study is to determine whether total suspended solids better explains fish community structure than other variables in agricultural headwater streams. Mixed linear effects modeling was used to determine the set of independent variables that best predicts each of the fish response variables of species richness, Shannon diversity index, fish density, and index of biotic integrity. Standardized coefficients were used to determine which independent variable in each of the models had the largest influence on fish response metrics. The set of independent variables that best explained species richness were mean total suspended solids, imidacloprid, discharge, and substrate richness. Shannon diversity index was explained best by the combination of maximum total suspended solids, mean total suspended solids, atrazine, total nitrogen, and discharge. Fish density was explained best by the percentage of silt and clay, dissolved oxygen, the percentage of canopy cover, cover type richness, and discharge. IBI was explained best by the combination of the percentage of silt and clay, total phosphorus, mean total suspended solids, and dissolved oxygen. Total suspended solids was the most influential independent variable for fish species richness and Shannon diversity, however the percentage of silt and clay in benthic sediments was the most influential independent variable for fish density and IBI. Results also indicate discharge and total phosphorus as being influential to fish community metrics. The results from this study suggest that models containing a combination of different types of independent variables best explain fish community structure. This study supports the use of conservation and restoration practices that reduce total suspended solids and the amount of silt and clay present in bed sediments to increase fish community integrity of agricultural headwater streams of the Midwestern United States.</div>

Surface transient storage (STS) in stream ecosystems serve an important function in retaining nutrients and refugia for aquatic communities. Unfortunately, they can retain contaminants as well. Therefore, it is of importance to determine the residence time distribution (RTD). A RTD of a particular STS zone encompasses the time it takes for the first pulse of water to leave the STS zone, and for the mean residence time of water in that zone, among other things. The RTD of STS is also useful to subtract from the RTD of the total transient storage in streams in order to determine the hyporheic transient storage (HTS) of streams, which is difficult to measure. Currently, there is no definitive method of determining the RTD of STS. They have been determined with tracer injection alone, though this is time consuming and subject to interference from HTS. A relationship between STS physical characteristics and a RTD would be desirable, as this would characterize the time of entrainment of STS based upon a few easily measured physical parameters. This exists for groyne fields and flumes, which both have artificial STS. However, direct application of these equations to natural STS leads to errors due to simplistic geometries. The focus of this study determines RTDs in lateral STS, which is adjacent to the main channel of a stream and a significant proportion of STS, and its relationship to physically measurable parameters of lateral STS. Twenty sites throughout Oregon were each injected with NaCl to determine four residence timescales: Langmuir time (��[subscript L]), negative inverse slope of the normalized concentration curve of the primary gyre (��[subscript 1]), negative inverse slope of the normalized concentration curve of the entire STS zone (��[subscript 2]), and the mean residence time (��[subscript STS]). The RTDs of these sites were then compared to the length, width, and depth of each lateral STS zone, as well as the velocity of the adjacent main channel. This data also was used to calculate dimensionless parameters submergence, a measure of bed roughness, and k, a measure of exchange that relates ��STS to lateral STS and associated parameters. ��[subscript 1] was found to be identical to ��[subscript STS], and ��[subscript 2] could not be defined. ��[subscript STS] was found to be approximately 1.35 times ��[subscript L], the ratio of which (��[subscript L]/��[subscript STS]) is positively correlated with lateral STS submergence. ��[subscript L] and ��[subscript STS] are positively correlated with lateral STS parameters, and inversely correlated with main channel velocity. The value of k from this study was comparable to the value of k from other studies in flumes, and so there is a relationship between RTDs and lateral STS parameters. / Graduation date: 2013