In this thesis, a two-dimensional pixel-wise deconvolution method for partial volume correction (PVC) for combined Positron Emission Tomography and Computer Tomography (PET/CT) imaging has been developed. The method is based on Van Cittert's deconvolution algorithm and includes a noise reduction method based on adaptive smoothing and median filters. Furthermore, a technique to take into account the position dependent PET point spread function (PSF) and to reduce ringing artifacts is also described. The quantitative and qualitative performance of the proposed PVC algorithm was evaluated using phantom experiments with varying object size, background and noise level. PVC results in an increased activity recovery as well as image contrast enhancement. However, the quantitative performance of the algorithm is impaired by the presence of background activity and image noise. When applying the correction on clinical PET images, the result was an increase in standardized uptake values, up to 98% for small tumors in the lung. These results suggest that the PVC described in this work significantly improves activity recovery without producing excessive amount of ringing artifacts and noise amplification. The main limitations of the algorithm are the restriction to two dimensions and the lack of regularization constraints based on anatomical information from the co-registered CT images.

The applications of membrane technologies have dramatically increased during the last few decades due to technology improvement and cost reduction. Membrane applications can be found in water and wastewater treatment, pharmaceutical industry, chemical processing industry, food industry, etc. However, the membrane technology faces two major challenges: membrane fouling and membrane lifetime. During the membrane filtration process, membrane fouling caused by natural organic matter (NOM) is an inevitable phenomenon, and physical cleaning or chemical cleaning are required for recovering the performance of membrane. As a result of these cleaning processes, membrane lifetime is shortened. For this reason, it is necessary to improve membrane's fouling resistance and lifetime in order to apply membrane technology in large-scale facilities. This dissertation focuses on improving the fouling resistance and flux performance of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane. Specifically, it is comprised of four parts. First, I prepared PVC membranes by adding different amounts of amphiphilic copolymer (Pluronic F 127) into PVC casting solutions. I optimized the performance of PVC membranes by changing the amount of Pluronic F127 used in the casting solution. The results show that with the increase of Pluronic F 127 content, the pore size and pore density both decrease. Moreover, the membrane surface becomes more hydrophilic as indicated by lower contact angles. In addition, the PVC membrane exhibits remarkable antifouling characteristics after adding Pluronic F 127. Second, I synthesized PVDF membranes by adding PVDF graft poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) (PVDF-g-PEGMA) as additive in casting solutions via the phase inversion method. The synthesized PVDF membranes have unique pillar-like structures on surfaces, which gives the PVDF membrane a defect-free feature and allows it to generate high flux under low pressure. Third, I investigated the forming mechanism of the pillar-like structure from aspects of solvent and additive. Finally, I investigated the influence of PEGMA dose on the performance of PVDF membranes. I changed the amount of PEGMA used in the casting solution and compared the performance of the synthesized PVDF membranes. To summarize, this dissertation has deepened our understanding of how to improve the fouling resistance and flux performance of PVC membranes and PVDF membranes by using amphiphilic copolymer. In addition, the PVDF membrane I synthesized has unique pillar-like structures that give it defect-free and high flux properties. Overall, the results of this study provide valuable information for PVC and PVDF membrane synthesis for large-scale production.

The design of service connections to deeply buried sewers involves a number of challenges. In practice, the loads that develop from vertical risers can damage the Tee or Wye fitting to which it is connected. This thesis studies the expected loads and resistance of these connections, and provides some recommendations for the solution of this engineering problem. Laboratory tests have been performed to explore the capacities of the existing fittings both in air and when buried in uniform sand. A test procedure different from the standard quality control test methods described in ASTM F1336-02 is used to study the performance of the fittings in air. A special test configuration was also developed for an existing pipe test cell to explore the capacities of the existing PVC Tee and Wye fittings when buried in uniform sand. An analytical formula analogous to pile downdrag and numerical analyses have been used to evaluate the test results, to calculate the capacities of the buried heavy-wall fittings, and to explore the downdrag forces that develop along vertical risers. Through comparisons with experimental measurements, it was demonstrated that these methods of analysis can be used to estimate the downdrag forces and determine the adequacy of specific fittings to resist those forces. The major conclusions drawn for the specific fittings tested in this project are summarized as follows. When axially loaded in air, both Tee and Wye fittings experience plastic yield failure. When buried, the Tee fitting fractures or yields only along the base of the riser part; while the Wye fitting itself does not fail, the riser cracks near its base where it connects to the curved pipe (450 elbow) above the Wye. Both the capacities and stiffness of the buried fitting system (either Tee or Wye) are approximately linear functions of the confining stress supplied by the surrounding soil. The accumulated downdrag along the riser in the coarse-grained soil is much smaller than that in fine-grained soil. Various practical solutions for the vertical riser problem are then discussed and recommended. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-12-28 21:18:30.363

Mono- and di-alkyltins are used extensively as heat stabilizers for processing of poly vinyl chloride (PVC). Tin mercaptide stabilizers are some of the most effective PVC stabilizers available. The main applications for tin stabilizers are building/construction products, such as pipes, fittings, siding and profiles (windows etc.), packaging and flexible PVC plastics. Most PVC products have been and are subjected to landfilling, when their use is terminated. The structure of the polymer itself and the substances used as additives have been a concern for environmental authorities in many countries since long, which also includes their presence in landfills. In the case of the organotin stabilizers their leaching out from (PVC) plastics into the leachate phase of landfills with the risk for further transport to ground and surface waters is in focus. The main objectives of this thesis take their start in this background and, thus, included the elucidation of whether organotin compounds (OTs) in stabilized PVC products contribute to the pool of OTs observed in landfill leachates and if these compounds are degradable by the microorganisms developing under anaerobic landfill conditions. To reach these aims and the research questions raised the forwarded PVC materials were added to muniscipal solid waste (MSW) processed in containers used to simulate the ageing of landfills under forced conditions. These include traditional landfill simulation reactors (LSRs) at a scale of ca 100 L and also at a smaller scale ca 5 L constructed for the purpose of this study, i.e. the modular environmental test system (METS). The latter were used to investigate temperature effects on the possible release of OTs from different types of PVC materials. The capacity by microorganisms in landfill environments were used to investigate their capacity to degrade or transform organotin stabilizer compounds focused on in this thesis. Differences in this capacity in relation to the ageing of landfills and exposure to the alkyltin stabilizers were studied with microorganisms sampled from LSRs spiked with PVC over time and from landfill site. Access to sensitive and reliable equipment and analytical protocols for the analysis of OTs and their transformation intermediates and end products are prerequisites for this kind of studies. This necessitated an adoption and adaptation of analytical methods for the low concentrations occurring in the environment. Two methods were established and well served the requirements. Indeed OTs migrated out from especially flexible PVC materials, while rigid PVC was less prone for OT release as judged from the METS simulations. The METS studies showed that the OT release increase substantially at higher temperatures and especially so when the temperature was higher than the glass transition of the PVC.materials. The organotin stabilizers were transformed, partly or completely degraded, by anaerobic microorganisms derived from landfill environments. Upon prolonged exposure to OTs leaching from PVC in LSR simulations the microorganisms displayed a higher efficiency in degradation of the leached OTs. The microorganisms would methylate inorganic tin and metyltin present in the MSW material as well as perform dealkylation depending on the tin concentrations prevailing. During these studies it was discovered that the organotin stabilzers were inhibiting the methanogens and fermentative bacteria, which lead to a retardation of the anaerobic mineralisation of the MSW in the assays. An in depth study revealed that the OTs themselves but also their ligands and degradation products from these together effected the inhibition. However, given the extent of leaching in relation to the water flows in landfills, the concentrations will mainly be too low to pose any risks to the surrounding environment.

Stay-in-place (SIP) formwork has been used as an alternative to the conventional formwork system. The systems are mainly assembled on site, hence simplifying the construction process and reducing the construction time as the removal procedure has been eliminated. SIP formwork systems can be divided into two main categories; structural and non-structural formwork, based on their contribution to resist applied loads. The structural formwork provides the same advantages as the non-structural formwork, in addition to its contribution to resist the applied loads. As a result, the cross section and the reinforcement of the structural member can be reduced. Recently, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been used as a stay-in-place formwork because of its lower cost compared to other materials, durability, and ease to assemble. The PVC SIP formwork consists of interconnected elements; panels and connectors that serve as permanent formwork for the concrete walls. In this study, the behaviour of the PVC encased reinforced concrete walls under eccentric compression loading was investigated. The variables in this study were the type of the specimen (PVC encased or control), the longitudinal reinforcement (4-10M or 4-15M rebars) and the eccentricity of the applied compression load (33.87 mm, 67.73 mm and 101.6 mm). Generally, the control walls (without PVC encasement) failed by yielding of the steel followed by crushing of the concrete, or by crushing of the concrete without yielding of the steel. For the PVC encased walls, buckling of the PVC occurred after the concrete crushed. The PVC encased specimens showed a higher peak load than their peer control walls. The effect of the PVC on increasing the ultimate capacity at a given eccentricity was more significant for the walls reinforced with 4-10M than the walls reinforced with 4-15M. For the lowest reinforcement ratio (4-10M), the PVC encased specimens showed an increase in peak load by 37.2% and 17.1% at an eccentricity of 67.73 mm and 101.6 mm, respectively. When the reinforcement was increased to 4-15 M, the increase in the peak load dropped at all eccentricities to 10%. For the vertical and the mid-span deflection, the PVC encased specimens and the control specimens showed the same values. Also, the test results showed an increase in the energy absorption capacity for the PVC encased specimens compared to the controls specimens, where the effect for the walls reinforced with 4-10M was higher than the walls reinforced with 4-15M at a given eccentricity. An analytical model was developed to predict the ultimate load capacity of the specimens taking into consideration the effect of the PVC on the load carrying capacity of the walls. The provision was derived based on the moment magnification factor method in which the effect of secondary stresses associated with the column deformations was taken into consideration. The calculated capacities of the PVC encased specimens showed a conservative error of 5.9% on average.

Proefschrift Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. / Met lit.opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Nos dias atuais a busca pela utilização de cargas de reforço aos materiais poliméricos tem sido o grande alvo dos pesquisadores e da indústria. Neste trabalho nanocompósitos de PVC foram obtidos através de duas rotas de preparação, mediante a mistura no estado fundido, utilizando-se uma extrusora monorosca. Empregaram-se diferentes concentrações de montmorilonita e velocidades de injeção nos nanocompósitos. Estes foram caracterizados por suas morfologias, propriedades termomecânicas e termo-dinâmico-mecânicas. O grau de intercalação e esfoliação dos nanocompósitos foi caracterizado por difração de raios X, MET e MEV. O inchamento da argila em plastificante, anterior ao processamento, parece ter induzido um maior grau de intercalação e uma esfoliação parcial em todos os sistemas. As análises termogravimétricas demonstraram pouca influência da carga sobre a estabilidade térmica dos nanocompósitos. / Nowadays the search for the use of reinforcement fillers into polymeric materials has been the great objective of researchers and industry. In this work PVC nanocomposites were obtained through two routes of preparation, by melt blending in a single-screw extruder. Additionally different montimorillonite concentrations and injection speeds were applied to nanocomposites preparation. These were characterized by morphological, thermo-mechanical and thermo-dynamic-mechanical properties. The degree of intercalated and exfoliated of nanocomposites was characterized by x ray diffraction, MET e MEV. The swelled clay in plasticizer, prior of the processing, seems to have induced a higher degree of intercalation and partial exfoliation in all systems. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated small influence of the nanofillers on the nanocomposites thermal stability.

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Florianópolis, 2015. / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-19T04:20:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 337629.pdf: 5699977 bytes, checksum: d3a1aaf40aa79851f3372aa48ae46d1f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / O presente trabalho propõe o desdobramento de uma metodologia aplicada no setor de PVC no estado de Santa Catarina. Partiu-se da coleta de informações de maneira presencial em 13 empresas do setor de PVC , onde foi aplicada a ferramenta ?Benchmarking para analise da cultura e maturidade da produção mais limpa? que de forma conjunta com o checklist de manufatura enxuta, resultou num panorama do estado atual das empresas em práticas e performances de produção mais limpa e manufatura enxuta. Foi gerado um relatório comparativo individual e geral das empresas, cuja análise levou à formulação e ponderação de indicadores específicos a fim de interpretar os pontos de caráter prioritário e de atenção direita na tomada de decisões das empresas sobre os aspectos sensíveis a melhoria em cada uma das 13 empresas.Na busca de um panorama amplo de praticas que pudessem ser implantadas pelas empresas, criou-se a ferramenta visual de praticas sustentáveis-FVPS que propõe uma grade de 64 práticas, geradas com o intuito de constituir uma ferramenta visual para a tomada de decisões do ponto de vista estratégico e gerencial em termos de sustentabilidade.O desenvolvimento, estratificação e estruturação dessa ferramenta, foi construído conforme níveis de relacionamento e interação entre fatores como: grau de investimento, disponibilidade de pessoal, tempo e quantidade de recursos físicos, alocação de materiais e fluxos de informações, aplicando-se critérios de análise hierárquica de processos (AHP), produção mais limpa (P+L), ferramentas de manufatura enxuta (ME) e metodologias desenvolvidas para a gestão empresarial nos três pilares da sustentabilidade: social, econômico e ambiental.Entre os resultados obtidos na fase de avaliação geral das empresas em praticas e performance, a média das empresas foi de 48,13% na avaliação das práticas, e 47,19% da performance. Encontrou-se a avaliação mais baixa tanto na prática como na performance na variável informação, no quesito da compreensão dos objetivos do processo produtivo para colaboradores externos e internos; isto reflete no desconhecimento das vantagens da implantação da P+L, e no retorno financeiro que traz ao serem aplicados seus conceitos.O estabelecimento de indicadores a partir do benchmarking conduz às empresas à que evidenciem e mensurem os quesitos que realmente fazem parte da gestão da empresa, identificando o nível em que a empresa se encontra e os aspectos que precisam ser melhoradosbuscando obter informações não mensuradas, esquecidas ou consideradas não relevantes até o momento.A ferramenta visual de práticas sustentáveis (FVPS) e cada uma das práticas que a compõem, buscam atingir a referência mínima de desenvolvimento sustentável nas empresas além do setor do PVC. Ao possuir uma plataforma comum, mas também flexível, depende intrinsicamente da tomada de decisões gerenciais, levando a organização a estar ciente de seu processo que, de outra forma, conduz a organização à aplicação de ferramentas que não estão alinhadas com os objetivos da organização, e desde o começo não estabelecem uma perspectiva clara da ação a ser realizada conforme a disponibilidade física de implantação o grau de investimento a disponibilidade do pessoal.<br> / Abstract : This work proposes the implementation of an applied methodology in the PVC sector in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Initially information from 13 manufacturers on the final product of the PVC sector was compiled, where benchmarking tool was applied for the cultural analysis and maturity of cleaning production ? which jointly with the checklist of lean manufacturing gave as a result a n overview of the current status of the companies in cleaning production practices and lean manufacturing.Comparative reports of general and individual types were performed for each of companies. This analysis led to the formulation and consideration of specific indicators in order to establish the priority points, and direct attention on decision making on sensitive aspects to improve each of the 13 manufacturers.In the search of an overview of good manufacturing practices, it was created the Visual Tool of Sustainable Practices-(VTSP) that proposes a grid of 64 practices, aligned with the purpose of providing a visual tool for decision-making from the strategic and managerial point of view in terms of sustainability.The development and construction of this tool was based on the relationship levels and interaction of factors such as: The required investment to carry on the practice, the availability of personnel, time and amount of physical resources, as well as the allocation of material and flow of information. For this purpose, criteria of hierarchical analysis process (HAP), cleaner production (CP), and lean manufacturing tools were applied; as well as business management methodologies were applied in the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic and environmental.The intend of this tool is to ensure the organization is aware of their own progress and the establishment of a clear perspective of the action to be taken as the physical availability, using the resources that will be committed in the process, and the degree of investment, availability of personnel and lean manufacturing tools that would leverage the company's progress.Among the results obtained in the phase of benchmarking application, the average of companies was 48.13 % in the evaluation of practices, and 47.19 % on performance.The variable with lowest rating was the information variable both in practice and performance on the aspect related ot the understanding of the process objectives for both internal and external collaborators.This reflects the unawareness of the advantages to implement cleaner production (CP), and return of investment that brings as a result of the applied concepts.The creation of indicators from benchmarking leads companies to conduct measures over aspects that really are part of the company's management, identifying the level at which the company is, and the aspects that need improvement seeking to obtain information not measured or forgotten until now.The Visual Tool of Sustainable Practices (VTSP) and each of the practices that part of it, seek to achieve the minimum reference sustainable development in companies beyond the PVC industry. Due to the fact these companies have a common and flexible platform, intrinsically depends on the decision making made by management, which leads the organization to be aware of its own process and progress opportunities that will lead towards the application of tools not aligned with the organization?s goals that don?t allow to establish a clear perspective of the action to be taken according to the current status of the organization.

Nos dias atuais a busca pela utilização de cargas de reforço aos materiais poliméricos tem sido o grande alvo dos pesquisadores e da indústria. Neste trabalho nanocompósitos de PVC foram obtidos através de duas rotas de preparação, mediante a mistura no estado fundido, utilizando-se uma extrusora monorosca. Empregaram-se diferentes concentrações de montmorilonita e velocidades de injeção nos nanocompósitos. Estes foram caracterizados por suas morfologias, propriedades termomecânicas e termo-dinâmico-mecânicas. O grau de intercalação e esfoliação dos nanocompósitos foi caracterizado por difração de raios X, MET e MEV. O inchamento da argila em plastificante, anterior ao processamento, parece ter induzido um maior grau de intercalação e uma esfoliação parcial em todos os sistemas. As análises termogravimétricas demonstraram pouca influência da carga sobre a estabilidade térmica dos nanocompósitos. / Nowadays the search for the use of reinforcement fillers into polymeric materials has been the great objective of researchers and industry. In this work PVC nanocomposites were obtained through two routes of preparation, by melt blending in a single-screw extruder. Additionally different montimorillonite concentrations and injection speeds were applied to nanocomposites preparation. These were characterized by morphological, thermo-mechanical and thermo-dynamic-mechanical properties. The degree of intercalated and exfoliated of nanocomposites was characterized by x ray diffraction, MET e MEV. The swelled clay in plasticizer, prior of the processing, seems to have induced a higher degree of intercalation and partial exfoliation in all systems. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated small influence of the nanofillers on the nanocomposites thermal stability.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-04-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:56:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 campos_a_me_rcla.pdf: 4152569 bytes, checksum: 41a529d2c0be5a0a79eb44e0ec1448ea (MD5) / Os plasticos constituem um dos materiais mais utilizados em nosso cotidiano. Assim, os residuos plasticos tem aumentado bastante e hoje representam 20% do total do volume de residuos, em lixoes municipais. O PVC (policloreto de vinila) e um polimero sintetico, instavel em relacao ao calor e luz, que degrada a temperatura relativamente baixa (aproximadamente 130oC), e libera HCl. A desidrocloracao gera novas especies na cadeia polimerica, ou seja, sequencias de polienos que podem ser verificadas atraves da espectroscopia de absorcao na faixa do UV-Visivel. A reciclagem do PVC apresenta algumas dificuldades intrinsecas ao comportamento do polimero, durante o processo tecnologico e, alem disso, sua biodegradacao e dificil. O PCL (poli α-caprolactona), um poliester sintetico, e sensivel a acao de enzimas microbianas, e pode sofrer hidrolise e degradacao. A mistura desses polimeros, isto e, a blenda de PVC e PCL pode constituir um meio para facilitar o ataque microbiano ao PVC, alem de melhorar ou manter as propriedades mecanicas da blenda. Processos termo e fotodegradativos podem facilitar o ataque microbiano a matriz polimerica do PVC. O presente trabalho pretende investigar a termo, foto e biotransformacao de filmes de blendas de PVC/PCL 1:1 e 3:1 com fungos de solo (Phanerochaete chrysosporium e Aspergillus fumigatus). As mudancas estruturais foram analisadas atraves da espectroscopia de absorcao no infravermelho (FTIR) e no UV-Visivel e as mudancas morfologicas, atraves de Microscopia Eletronica de Varredura (MEV) / The plastics are one of used the most materials daily. Thus, the plastics wastes have increased considerably and today represent 20% of the waste total volume in the municipal landfills. PVC (poly vinyl chloride) is a synthetic polymer, unstable in the presence of heat and light, that degrades on relative low temperature (approximately 130ºC), and releases HCl. The dehydrochlorination produces new species on polymeric chain, thus, polyenes sequences, that can be checked by the UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy. The recycling of PVC presents some difficulties due its behaviour during the technological processing and its biodegradation is difficult. PCL (polycaprolactone), a synthetic polyester is susceptible to enzymes action, and undergo hydrolysis and degradation. The blend of PVC and PCL can be one way to facilitate the microorganisms attack to the PVC polymer and to improve the mechanical properties of the blend. Thermal and photodegradation process can to facilite the microorganisms attack on PVC polymeric chain. The present work intends to investigate the thermal, photo and biotransformation of polymer films and blends of PVC/PCL 1:1 and 3:1 blends, with soil fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Aspergillus fumigatus). The structural changes were analysed by infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) and the UV-Visible. The morphologics changes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)