A geofísica tem mostrado eficácia em identificar áreas contaminadas por derivados de petróleo, contribuindo para tornar mais efetivos os programas de sondagem voltados à coleta de amostras e instalação de poços de monitoramento. O presente trabalho apresenta resultados de investigações geofísicas em uma área de disposição de resíduos de re-refino de óleo lubrificante localizada no município de Ribeirão Preto, no Estado de São Paulo. Na área de estudo os resíduos foram dispostos em quatro cavas com um volume total de aproximadamente 25.000 m3, em área de afloramento de arenitos da Formação Botucatu e basaltos da Formação Serra Geral. As cavas foram totalmente preenchidas com resíduos por aproximadamente 25 anos e não foi usado nenhum tipo de impermeabilização na base e laterais destas cavas. O objetivo do trabalho foi o estudo de uma metodologia geofísica de aquisição e modelagem de dados 3D com os métodos da eletrorresistividade e polarização induzida para a caracterização geoambiental da área de estudo, seguido pelos métodos potencial espontâneo e ground penetrating radar (GPR). A aquisição de dados 3D, a partir de uma série de levantamentos elétricos 2D, mostrou-se eficaz em mapear variações de resistividade e cargabilidade em três dimensões, mostrando em subsuperfície o comportamento dos contaminantes. As anomalias condutivas na zona saturada e zona não saturada estão relacionadas à contaminação gerada pelo processo de biodegradação. Em geral, as cavas com resíduos são caracterizadas por baixos valores de cargabilidade. Nos levantamentos elétricos 2D são observadas anomalias condutivas abaixo das cavas coincidentes com a atenuação do sinal eletromagnético do GPR, evidenciando a contaminação do meio, bem como o aumento da polarização à medida que se afasta da fonte de contaminação. O método potencial espontâneo, também, possibilitou o mapeamento da contaminação, que é associada às anomalias negativas de potencial espontâneo e evidencia atividade geoquímica no local. O GPR foi o método mais eficiente na identificação da geometria das cavas, com exceção da cava 1, cuja base não é bem caracterizada pelo sinal GPR. As análises diretas de amostras de solo e água subterrânea confirmam a contaminação. Nas análises de solo, baixas concentrações de alguns hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos foram encontradas, principalmente naftaleno e fenantreno. Nas amostras de água, foi confirmado contaminação da água subterrânea por chumbo (Pb). O processo de biodegradação é confirmado pela existência de microorganismos (bactérias), como constatado na análise biológica das amostras de solo coletadas em um ponto específico, onde assinaturas geofísicas sugerem contaminação. Os métodos geofísicos utilizados afirmam-se como uma ferramenta de grande potencial na caracterização geoambiental, juntamente com os métodos de investigação direta neste caso de estudo, e podendo ser aplicados no estudo de áreas similares. / Geophysics has been shown to be effective in identifying areas contaminated by oil products, contributing to the greater efficiency of soundings programs and the installation of monitoring wells. The present work presents results of geophysical investigations in a lubricant oil waste area located in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil. In the study area the waste was disposed of in four trenches with a total volume of about 25.000 m3. This area is situated on the geological domains of the basaltic spills of the Serra Geral Formation and the sandstones of the Botucatu Formation. The trenches were totally filled with waste over approximately 25 years and no protection liners were used in the bottom or laterals of the trenches. The goal of the study was the acquisition and modeling of 3D data with the electroresistivity and induced polarization methods for the environmental characterization of the study area, followed by self potential and ground penetrating radar methods (GPR). The acquisition of 3D data, from a series of 2D electrical surveys, was effective in mapping variations of resistivity and chargeability in three dimensions, showing in the subsurface the behavior of contaminants. The conductive anomalies in the saturated zone and unsaturated zone were related to contamination generated by the biodegradation process. In general, the trenches with waste were characterized by low values of chargeability. In 2D electrical surveys, conductive anomalies were observed below the trenches coincident with the attenuation of the electromagnetic signal of the GPR, indicating the contamination of the environment and increased polarization from the contamination source. The self potential method also allowed mapping of the contamination, which is associated with negative anomalies of self potential and evidence of geochemical activity in the locale. GPR was the method most efficient in the identification of the geometry of the trenches, except in the trench 1, in which the base is not delineated by a GPR signal. A direct analysis of the soil and groundwater samples confirmed the contamination. In the soil analysis, low concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were found, mainly naphthalene and phenanthrene. In the water samples, there was confirmed contamination of the groundwater by lead (Pb). The biodegradation process was confirmed by the presence of microorganisms (bacteria), as evidenced in a biological analysis of soil samples collected at a specific point, where geophysical signatures suggested contamination. The geophysical methods used were an excellent tool for an environmental characterization, and together with the direct methods of investigation in this case study and can be applied in the study of similar areas.

Les protéine-kinases appartiennent à une large famille d’enzymes impliquées dans de multiples processus cellulaires. Habituellement soumises à un fin contrôle, leur dérégulation est à l’origine de nombreuses maladies parmi lesquelles les cancers et les pathologies neurodégénératives. Le développement de puissants inhibiteurs sélectifs des protéine-kinases permettant de réguler leur activité représente une piste prometteuse pour traiter les pathologies associées. Dans le cadre de la recherche de nouveaux inhibiteurs de kinases et la valorisation des produits de la mer en thérapeutique, nous avons envisagé la conception et la synthèse de nouveaux hétérocycles à sous structures 3-alcényl-oxindole, 3-alcényl-azaoxindole et 3-alcényl-diazaoxindole. Bon nombre d’alcaloïdes naturels issus du milieu terrestre ou du milieu marin, ou encore des agents thérapeutiques tel que le Sunitinib présentent une structure de type alcényl-oxindole. Par l’intermédiaire de la chimie du chlorure de 4,5-dichloro-1,2,3-dithiazolium (sel d’Appel), nous avons développé et étudié au départ de divers dérivés azotés à méthylène actif (oxindoles, azaoxindoles et diazaoxindoles) de nouvelles voies d’accès permettant d’obtenir des séries originales de dérivés de 3-alcényl-oxindoles portant au niveau de l’alcène exocyclique des hétérocycles, des amino-nitriles et des thio-nitriles. Impulsé par le fort pouvoir inhibiteur de kinases des bis-oxindoles mimes de l’alcaloïde indirubine, nous avons entrepris la synthèse de nouveaux indirubinoïdes et isoindigoïdes polyazotés. Afin de dégager des relations structure activité, plus de 80 nouveaux dérivés 3-alcényl-oxindoles, azaoxindoles, diazaoxindoles présentant une grande diversité chimique ont été préparés et évalués sur différentes cibles biologiques. Plusieurs de ces dérivés présentent des activités micromolaires sur les kinases DYRK1A, GSK3 et submicromolaire sur CK1. Les évaluations biologiques sur des lignées de cellules cancéreuses ont permis d’identifier plusieurs thio et amino-3-alcényl-oxindoles cytotoxiques avec des activités de l’ordre du micromolaire. / Deregulation of protein kinases leads to numerous pathologies such as cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. In order to identify new scaffolds able to inhibit this proteins we synthesized new 3-alkenyl-oxindoles. By the mean of Appel’s salt chemistry, we develop a new synthetic route to this skeleton. Our approach allows variation of the substituent of the exocyclic akene which can be functionalized by heterocycles, amino-nitriles or thio-nitrile which are obtained after selective ring opening of (1,2,3)-dithiazoles. In another part, given powerful indirubin kinase inhibitory potency, we synthesized new analogs indiribunoids and isoindigoids. In both cases (3-akenyl-oxindoles from Appel’s salt chemistry and indigoids), the aromatic ring were substituted by various electron withdrawing group and nitrogen were incorporated to determinate structure activity relationship. All this 80 original 3-alkenyl-oxindoles were evaluated for their ability to inhibit kinase activity and cell proliferation.

Le principal objectif de cette thèse est de montrer le potentiel pour l’électronique organique de films moléculaires minces liés de façon covalente au substrat et déposés par greffage électro- chimique. Ces couches organiques de 5 à 100 nm d’épaisseur visent à proposer une alternative aux films minces organiques d’épaisseur supérieure à 100 nm et aux couches mono-moléculaires autoassemblées d’épaisseur comprise entre 1 et 5 nm.Ce travail a d’abord permis d’établir les conditions optimales de greffage de trois différents sels de diazonium : un dérivé de la tris-bipyridine fer (II), un sel de diazonium comportant une longue chaîne fluorée et un autre comportant une fonction thiol. En particulier, un contrôle fin de l’épaisseur des films est démontré sur des électrodes patternées micrométriques adaptées à la réalisation de dispositifs.L’électrogreffage de doubles couches est ensuite étudié. Il consiste à utiliser une électrode electrogreffée par des molécule électroactives, ici le dérivé de la tris-bipyridine fer (II), comme électrode de travail pour l’électrogreffage d’un second sel de diazonium. Cette technique permet de former des couches organiques d’épaisseur contrôlée par la première couche et présentant des fonctions terminales contrôlées par le choix du second composé (ici, fonctions thiols ou chaînes fluorées). L’intérêt de ces couches fonctionnelles est ensuite évalué dans des jonctions verticales métal-molécules-métal utilisant différents types d’électrodes supérieures : des électrodes imprimées à partir d’une solution de nanoparticules d’or, suivant un procédé élaboré dans cette thèse, et des électrodes fabriquées à partir de métaux évaporés sous vide. Enfin, des transistors à base de MoS2 utilisant 30 nm de ces couches greffées comme diélectrique de grille sont fabriqués et étudiés. Leurs performances (mobilité électronique de 46 cm2.(V.s)-1, rapport ION/IOFF de 9.107, etc.) confirment la qualité de ces isolants organiques électrogreffés. La méthode s’avère ainsi efficace et versatile pour la préparation de couches organiques robustes d’épaisseur contrôlée et aux propriétés de surface ajustables. / The main objective of this PhD thesis is to show the potential for organic electronics of molecular thin films covalently bounded and formed by electrochemical grafting. These 5 to 100 nm thick layers aim to propose an alternative to organic thin films of thickness above 100 nm and to self-assembled monolayers of thickness between 1 and 5 nm.This work first establishes the optimal electrografting conditions of three diazonium salts : a derivative from the tris-bipyridine iron (II), a diazonium salt with a long fluorinated chain and another with a thiol function). In particular, a fine tuning of the thickness of the resulting layers is demonstrated on micrometric patterned electrodes.Double layer electrografting is then studied. It consists in using an electrode electrografted with electroactive molecules, here the tris-bipyridine iron (II) derivative, as a working electrode for the electrografting of a second diazonium salt. This technique allows the formation of organic double-layers of thickness controlled by the first layer and presenting terminal functions controlled by the choice of the second compound (here, thiol functions or fluorinated chains).The potential of these layers is then evaluated in vertical metal-molecules-metal junctions using various top electrodes : electrodes printed from an aqueous gold nanoparticle ink through a method developed in this thesis, and electrodes made by metal evaporation in vacuum. To conclude, field-effect transistors based on MoS2 using these electrografted thin layers as gate-dielectric are fabricated and studied. Their performances (electronic mobility of 46 cm2.(V.s)-1, ION/IOFF ratio of 9.107,etc.) confirm the quality of these organic electrografted insulators. The method is thus efficient and versatile for the preparation of robust organic layers with adjustable surface properties and thickness.

Children's undeveloped social, emotional, and behavioral skills have long been a concern in early childhood classrooms. Numerous studies have illuminated how therapy dogs in pedagogical settings support children's holistic development, yet there is scant data on the integration of therapy dogs into the early childhood classroom. This study was guided by the progressive education theory and the concept of the human-animal bond, which collectively lay the foundation for how young children develop critical life skills in the presence of a therapy dog. A qualitative collective case study was used to examine how 3 early childhood educators used therapy dogs and viewed the support these dogs provide for the social, emotional, and behavioral development of children. Two educators from three Indiana public schools and 1 educator from an Indiana independent early education program participated in semi-structured interviews on their use of therapy animals in early childhood classrooms. Classroom observations, children's artifacts, and researcher field notes were used to triangulate the data. A within-case analysis was conducted for each site, followed by a cross-case analysis for comparisons and generalizations. Three themes resulted: a therapy dog (a) is an innovative teaching tool; (b) supports children's social, emotional, and behavioral development; and (c) enhances children's experiences. It is expected that these findings may give program administrators and early childhood educators the mechanics of effective therapy dog practices. Knowing the mechanics of therapy dog usage in the classroom and understanding the potential outcomes for young children, administrators and educators could build on this process, develop a more effective plan for their own program, or opt out of a therapy dog program entirely.

No description available.

The goal of this study was to explore whether Strong Kids could result in improved social and emotional competence when implemented as a school-wide universal intervention. No prior studies have examined this question. This study also evaluated whether teachers could implement Strong Kids as it was designed and whether they viewed it as socially valid. It used a non-equivalent control group design. The treatment school in the study involved 348 students and 17 teachers from a Title I school. School demographics indicated that 61% of students were Hispanic, 37% White, and 2% of other ethnicities. Approximately 82% of the students qualified for free or reduced lunch. Teachers at the treatment school taught Strong Kids for 12 weeks, permitted treatment fidelity observations, and completed a social validity questionnaire (with a subgroup also participating in a social validity focus group). The control school participants consisted of 266 students and 11 teachers. The control school was selected because it was demographically similar to the treatment school. Teachers at both treatment and control schools completed pretest and posttest ratings of each of their students' internalizing behaviors and peer-related prosocial behaviors using nationally normed scales. Analyses comparing teacher ratings of the treatment school with ratings at the control school were performed using a split-plot ANOVA. Scores for students identified as at-risk through school-wide screening were compared to students not identified as at-risk. Average scores on the social validity questionnaire were calculated, and a qualitative analysis of the focus group was performed. Results revealed that 82% of lesson components were fully implemented. Teacher ratings at the treatment school reflected a significant decrease in students' internalizing behaviors, while ratings at the control school increased. At-risk students showed significantly greater improvements on both internalizing and peer-relations subscales compared to non-at-risk students. Social validity results revealed that Strong Kids provided a common language for teachers and students to talk about feelings and an avenue for students to seek help. It also helped teachers set school-wide expectations for handling social and emotional concerns.

Universal school-wide social-emotional screeners identify at-risk students with social-emotional behavior problems (Romer et al., 2020). Identifying such students alone cannot prevent these social, emotional, and behavioral concerns from becoming problematic. However, data gathered from social-emotional screening can guide the development of strategies, supports, interventions, and progress monitoring students at risk across all tiers (Yates et al., 2008), leading to the prevention of social-emotional and behavioral problems from turning maladaptive (Humphrey & Wigelsworth, 2016; Walker et al., 2004). A school district in the Mountain West area of the United States developed a screening survey that addresses school climate, culture, and connectedness to administer to their student body. Their survey aims to identify students' needs in the following character social-emotional learning (SEL) skills that contribute to student well-being: self-awareness, compassion, resilience, and respect. Their screening survey can potentially identify the general student body's social-emotional behavioral needs. The data gathered may be used to create tiered supports that address students' needs. In this study, we conducted two focus groups that provided a forum for school psychologists in this Mountain West school district who work in an elementary school to discuss what tiered supports may be appropriate to implement in response to needs identified by the survey. The discussion also included professional development topics the participants perceived necessary for school teams responding to the survey data. The findings from this study contribute to the existing literature by recognizing that school psychologists may understand implementation science and can help lay the needed groundwork before implementing social-emotional screeners so that the process can be more efficient and effective. The findings emphasize the understanding that from the perspective of school psychologists, social-emotional learning should be applied universally and collaboratively at school and at home. School teams need to allocate time to teach social-emotional learning at school. The findings also suggest that school psychologists can determine appropriate interventions if screening data suggest a weakness in social-emotional and behavioral areas and that data collected from the screener can be used to guide topics for professional development.

L’hypertension artérielle (HTA) est une maladie chronique prédominante et en augmentation constante partout dans le monde. Cette situation est en partie attribuable au vieillissement des populations puisque la prévalence de l’HTA croît avec l’âge. Aujourd’hui, il est important de contrôler cette maladie chronique, à tout âge, afin d’en diminuer la morbidité et la mortalité cardiovasculaires. L’éducation à la santé, une des grandes fonctions de l’infirmière1 en société, offre un lieu d’interventions favorisant le contrôle de nombreuses maladies chroniques, dont l’HTA. Il est toutefois difficile de bien circonscrire les interventions éducatives infirmières ayant un impact favorable sur le contrôle de l’HTA, et ce, particulièrement chez les personnes très âgées. La diminution de la consommation de sodium fait partie des stratégies non pharmacologiques permettant un contrôle adéquat de l’HTA. Bien que sa diminution soit une mesure jugée bénéfique chez les personnes de moins de 65 ans, peu de données sont disponibles pour en déterminer l’efficacité auprès de personnes hypertendues de plus de 75 ans. Les interventions éducatives par les infirmières concernant la diminution de ce nutriment, dans cette population, nécessitent plus d’études. Cette recherche visait donc à développer, valider, mettre à l’essai et enfin, évaluer une intervention éducative en santé ciblant la diminution de la consommation de sodium chez des personnes très âgées hypertendues. Cette recherche s’inscrivait dans une perspective disciplinaire infirmière en retenant le modèle conceptuel de Neuman comme point d’ancrage dans le développement de cette intervention éducative. Selon ce modèle, dans une approche préventive, l’infirmière et la personne affectée identifient un agent de stress sur lequel agir pour ensuite déterminer la manière d’intervenir. L’objectif de cette intervention reposait sur l’amélioration ou encore le rétablissement des lignes de défense ou de résistance de la personne, permettant ainsi le maintien optimal de son bien-être. L’intervention éducative a été planifiée et développée par l’entremise de la schématisation d’interventions (intervention mapping). Cette schématisation a aussi utilisé le modèle conceptuel de Neuman et la théorie sociale cognitive de Bandura dans l’intervention éducative préconisée. Afin de déterminer l’impact de cette intervention éducative, une méthodologie de recherche quasi expérimentale de type avant-après avec groupe témoin non équivalent a été retenue. Une méthode d’échantillonnage par choix raisonné a été privilégiée afin d’éviter un biais de contamination entre les groupes à l’étude. Les données obtenues ont été analysées à partir de la théorie de Bayes. Au total, 42 personnes âgées de plus de 75 ans autonomes à domicile ont été recrutées. De ce nombre, 18 personnes ont complété l’ensemble de l’intervention éducative qui se distribuait en huit rencontres à domicile sur 12 semaines. Les résultats des analyses de covariance bayésiennes démontrent que l’intervention éducative contribue à une augmentation du sentiment général d’efficacité personnelle de 1 point (0,3 à 1,7 point), à une diminution de la consommation de sodium à 489 mg quotidiennement (-739 à -257 mg) et à une diminution de 10 mmHg de la pression artérielle systolique avec un intervalle de confiance à 95 % (IC) de -1 à -19 mmHg. Cependant, cette recherche n’a pas permis de montrer que l’intervention éducative pouvait influencer la pression artérielle diastolique ou le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle spécifique à une diminution de la consommation de sodium. Cette étude avait plusieurs biais incluant celui d’avoir un échantillon de faible taille (n=18). Elle se rapproche davantage d’une étude pilote, il est donc difficile pour l’instant de conclure formellement et de pouvoir actuellement généraliser les données obtenues. Toutefois, les résultats indiquent qu’une intervention éducative développée sous l’éclairage du modèle conceptuel de Neuman favorise une diminution de la consommation de sodium chez les personnes très âgées hypertendues tout en diminuant la pression artérielle systolique. Une intervention éducative de ce type pourrait d’une part répondre aux besoins actuels d’une clientèle vulnérable et d’autre part, offrir une intervention infirmière bénéfique. / Hypertension is a chronic disease. This situation is prevalent and on the rise throughout the world. This is a consequence of the aging population as the prevalence of HBP increases with age. Today, it is essential to control this chronic disease at all ages. In this way, it will be possible to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Health nursing education is one of the major roles of the nurse. It can help control several chronic diseases, including HBP. However, it is difficult to identify nursing interventions with a positive impact on the control of HBP in very elderly people. Although sodium reduction is beneficial for people under 65 years old, there are few data available to determine its effectiveness in HBP people over 75 years old. Nurses’ educational strategy to reduce this mineral in this population also remains unclear. The aim of this research was to develop, validate, test and, finally, evaluate health education intervention on sodium reduction in hypertensive very elderly individual. This research comes from nursing disciplinary perspective and is based on Neuman’s conceptual model. Neuman perspective is framework conceptual model for nursing practice. During this planning, the nurse and the person identify a stressor and preventive actions to be taken together to reduce stressor effects. The aim of the intervention is to improve the person’s lines of defence or resistance to preserve the person’s well-being. Educational intervention was designed and developed using “intervention mapping”. This framework has several iterative steps and provides a rigorous structure and logical framework. This mapping integrated Neuman’s conceptual model and the Social Learning Theory by Bandura for the elaboration of the educational intervention. This research uses a before-after quasi-experimental research design with a non-equivalent control group. A sampling method based on reasoned choice was used in order to avoid contamination bias between the study groups. The data obtained were analyzed from Bayes' theory. We recruited 42 participants over 75 years of age who were autonomous at home. Of these, 18 people completed all eight home visit meetings regarding the education program. The results of Bayesian inferences showed that the educational intervention contributed to an increase in overall sense of self-efficacy by 1 point (0.3 to 1.7), a decrease in sodium intake 489 mg (-739 à -257 mg) and a 10 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure with a 95% credibility interval (CI) of -1 to -19 mmHg was found. However, this research did not demonstrate that educational intervention could influence diastolic blood pressure or feelings of self-efficacy specific to sodium reduction. This study had several biases including that of having a small sample size (n = 18). It is closer to a pilot study, so it is difficult for now to formally conclude and to be able to generalize the data obtained at this time. However, the results of this study showed that an educational intervention developed using Neuman’s conceptual model favours a decrease in sodium consumption in very elderly hypertensive individuals while decreasing systolic blood pressure. An educational intervention of this type makes it possible to meet the current needs of a vulnerable person, on the one hand, and to offer a beneficial nursing intervention on the other.

In this thesis, ammonia (NH3) decomposition was assessed as a fuel processing technology for producing on-demand hydrogen (H2) for portable and distributed fuel cell applications. This study was motivated by the present lack of infrastructure to generate H2 for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. An overview of past and recent worldwide research activities in the development of reactor technologies for portable and distributed hydrogen generation via NH3 decomposition was presented in Chapter 2. The objective was to uncover the principal challenges relating to the state-of-the-art in reactor technology and obtain a basis for future improvements. Several important aspects such as reactor design, operability, power generation capacity and efficiency (conversion and energy) were appraised for innovative reactor technologies vis-à-vis microreactors, monolithic reactors, membrane reactors, and electrochemical reactors (electrolyzers). It was observed that substantial research effort is required to progress the innovative reactors to commercialization on a wide basis. The use of integrated experimental-mathematical modelling approach (useful in attaining accurately optimized designs) was notably non-existent for all reactors throughout the surveyed openliterature. Microchannel reactors were however identified as a transformative reactor technology for producing on-demand H2 for PEM cell applications. Against this background, miniaturized H2 production in a stand-alone ammonia-fuelled microchannel reactor (reformer) washcoated with a commercial Ni-Pt/Al2O3 catalyst (ActiSorb® O6) was demonstrated successfully in Chapter 3. The reformer performance was evaluated by investigating the effect of reaction temperature (450–700 °C) and gas-hourly-space-velocity (6 520–32 600 Nml gcat -1 h-1) on key performance parameters including NH3 conversion, residual NH3 concentration, H2 production rate, and pressure drop. Particular attention was devoted to defining operating conditions that minimised residual NH3 in reformate gas, while producing H2 at a satisfactory rate. The reformer operated in a daily start-up and shut-down (DSS)-like mode for a total 750 h comprising of 125 cycles, all to mimic frequent intermittent operation envisaged for fuel cell systems. The reformer exhibited remarkable operation demonstrating 98.7% NH3 conversion at 32 600 Nml gcat -1 h-1 and 700 °C to generate an estimated fuel cell power output of 5.7 We and power density of 16 kWe L-1 (based on effective reactor volume). At the same time, reformer operation yielded low pressure drop (<10 Pa mm-1) for all conditions considered. Overall, the microchannel reformer performed sufficiently exceptional to warrant serious consideration in supplying H2 to low-power fuel cell systems. In Chapter 4, hydrogen production from the Ni-Pt-washcoated ammonia-fuelled microchannel reactor was mathematically simulated in a three-dimensional (3D) CFD model implemented via Comsol Multiphysics™. The objective was to obtain an understanding of reaction-coupled transport phenomena as well as a fundamental explanation of the observed microchannel reactor performance. The transport processes and reactor performance were elucidated in terms of velocity, temperature, and species concentration distributions, as well as local reaction rate and NH3 conversion profiles. The baseline case was first investigated to comprehend the behavior of the microchannel reactor, then microstructural design and operating parameters were methodically altered around the baseline conditions to explore the optimum values (case-study optimization). The modelling results revealed that an optimum NH3 space velocity (GHSV) of 65.2 Nl gcat -1 h-1 yields 99.1% NH3 conversion and a power density of 32 kWe L-1 at the highest operating temperature of 973 K. It was also shown that a 40-μm-thick porous washcoat was most desirable at these conditions. Finally, a low channel hydraulic diameter (225 μm) was observed to contribute to high NH3 conversion. Most importantly, mass transport limitations in the porouswashcoat and gas-phase were found to be negligible as depicted by the Damköhler and Fourier numbers, respectively. The experimental microchannel reactor produced 98.2% NH3 conversion and a power density of 30.8 kWe L-1 when tested at the optimum operating conditions established by the model. Good agreement with experimental data was observed, so the integrated experimental-modeling approach used here may well provide an incisive step toward the efficient design of ammonia-fuelled microchannel reformers. In Chapter 5, the prospect of producing H2 via ammonia (NH3) decomposition was evaluated in an experimental stand-alone microchannel reactor wash-coated with a commercial Cs-promoted Ru/Al2O3 catalyst (ACTA Hypermec 10010). The reactor performance was investigated under atmospheric pressure as a function of reaction temperature (723–873 K) and gas-hourly-space-velocity (65.2–326.1 Nl gcat -1 h-1). Ammonia conversion of 99.8% was demonstrated at 326.1 Nl gcat -1 h-1 and 873 K. The H2 produced at this operating condition was sufficient to yield an estimated fuel cell power output of 60 We and power density of 164 kWe L-1. Overall, the Ru-based microchannel reactor outperformed other NH3 microstructured reformers reported in literature including the Ni-based system used in Chapter 3. Furthermore, the microchannel reactor showed a superior performance against a fixed-bed tubular microreactor with the same Ru-based catalyst. Overall, the high H2 throughput exhibited may promote widespread use of the Ru-based micro-reaction system in high-power applications. Four peer-reviewed journal publications and six conference publications resulted from this work. / PhD (Chemical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In this thesis, ammonia (NH3) decomposition was assessed as a fuel processing technology for producing on-demand hydrogen (H2) for portable and distributed fuel cell applications. This study was motivated by the present lack of infrastructure to generate H2 for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. An overview of past and recent worldwide research activities in the development of reactor technologies for portable and distributed hydrogen generation via NH3 decomposition was presented in Chapter 2. The objective was to uncover the principal challenges relating to the state-of-the-art in reactor technology and obtain a basis for future improvements. Several important aspects such as reactor design, operability, power generation capacity and efficiency (conversion and energy) were appraised for innovative reactor technologies vis-à-vis microreactors, monolithic reactors, membrane reactors, and electrochemical reactors (electrolyzers). It was observed that substantial research effort is required to progress the innovative reactors to commercialization on a wide basis. The use of integrated experimental-mathematical modelling approach (useful in attaining accurately optimized designs) was notably non-existent for all reactors throughout the surveyed openliterature. Microchannel reactors were however identified as a transformative reactor technology for producing on-demand H2 for PEM cell applications. Against this background, miniaturized H2 production in a stand-alone ammonia-fuelled microchannel reactor (reformer) washcoated with a commercial Ni-Pt/Al2O3 catalyst (ActiSorb® O6) was demonstrated successfully in Chapter 3. The reformer performance was evaluated by investigating the effect of reaction temperature (450–700 °C) and gas-hourly-space-velocity (6 520–32 600 Nml gcat -1 h-1) on key performance parameters including NH3 conversion, residual NH3 concentration, H2 production rate, and pressure drop. Particular attention was devoted to defining operating conditions that minimised residual NH3 in reformate gas, while producing H2 at a satisfactory rate. The reformer operated in a daily start-up and shut-down (DSS)-like mode for a total 750 h comprising of 125 cycles, all to mimic frequent intermittent operation envisaged for fuel cell systems. The reformer exhibited remarkable operation demonstrating 98.7% NH3 conversion at 32 600 Nml gcat -1 h-1 and 700 °C to generate an estimated fuel cell power output of 5.7 We and power density of 16 kWe L-1 (based on effective reactor volume). At the same time, reformer operation yielded low pressure drop (<10 Pa mm-1) for all conditions considered. Overall, the microchannel reformer performed sufficiently exceptional to warrant serious consideration in supplying H2 to low-power fuel cell systems. In Chapter 4, hydrogen production from the Ni-Pt-washcoated ammonia-fuelled microchannel reactor was mathematically simulated in a three-dimensional (3D) CFD model implemented via Comsol Multiphysics™. The objective was to obtain an understanding of reaction-coupled transport phenomena as well as a fundamental explanation of the observed microchannel reactor performance. The transport processes and reactor performance were elucidated in terms of velocity, temperature, and species concentration distributions, as well as local reaction rate and NH3 conversion profiles. The baseline case was first investigated to comprehend the behavior of the microchannel reactor, then microstructural design and operating parameters were methodically altered around the baseline conditions to explore the optimum values (case-study optimization). The modelling results revealed that an optimum NH3 space velocity (GHSV) of 65.2 Nl gcat -1 h-1 yields 99.1% NH3 conversion and a power density of 32 kWe L-1 at the highest operating temperature of 973 K. It was also shown that a 40-μm-thick porous washcoat was most desirable at these conditions. Finally, a low channel hydraulic diameter (225 μm) was observed to contribute to high NH3 conversion. Most importantly, mass transport limitations in the porouswashcoat and gas-phase were found to be negligible as depicted by the Damköhler and Fourier numbers, respectively. The experimental microchannel reactor produced 98.2% NH3 conversion and a power density of 30.8 kWe L-1 when tested at the optimum operating conditions established by the model. Good agreement with experimental data was observed, so the integrated experimental-modeling approach used here may well provide an incisive step toward the efficient design of ammonia-fuelled microchannel reformers. In Chapter 5, the prospect of producing H2 via ammonia (NH3) decomposition was evaluated in an experimental stand-alone microchannel reactor wash-coated with a commercial Cs-promoted Ru/Al2O3 catalyst (ACTA Hypermec 10010). The reactor performance was investigated under atmospheric pressure as a function of reaction temperature (723–873 K) and gas-hourly-space-velocity (65.2–326.1 Nl gcat -1 h-1). Ammonia conversion of 99.8% was demonstrated at 326.1 Nl gcat -1 h-1 and 873 K. The H2 produced at this operating condition was sufficient to yield an estimated fuel cell power output of 60 We and power density of 164 kWe L-1. Overall, the Ru-based microchannel reactor outperformed other NH3 microstructured reformers reported in literature including the Ni-based system used in Chapter 3. Furthermore, the microchannel reactor showed a superior performance against a fixed-bed tubular microreactor with the same Ru-based catalyst. Overall, the high H2 throughput exhibited may promote widespread use of the Ru-based micro-reaction system in high-power applications. Four peer-reviewed journal publications and six conference publications resulted from this work. / PhD (Chemical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015