The Henry's law constant is important in the gas-liquid mass transfer process. This study investigates the apparent dimensionless Henry's law constant, also known as the gas-liquid partition coefficient (K'H), of both hydrophilic (methanol, isopropanol and acetone) and hydrophobic (toluene and p-xylene) organic compounds. The K'H in deionized (DI) water, wastewater with a maximum total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content of 700 mg/L, and DI water mixed with a maximum activated sludge suspended solid (SS) concentration of 40,000 mg/L, are measured by the single equilibrium technique (SET) at 288 K, 293 K, 298 K and 303 K. Experimental results indicate that the K'H of the three tested volatile organic compounds (VOCs) varies according to three situations. First, the K'H of the hydrophilic compounds in mixed liquor with the maximum suspended solid concentration is higher than that in DI water. The maximum rates of increase of K'H from KH in the SS range between 288 K and 303 K are 27.2% for methanol, 23.5% for isopropanol and 16.1% for acetone. Second, the K'H values for toluene and p-xylene are lower than those in DI water. Between 288 K and 303 K, the maximum reduce rate of K'H from KH in the SS range are 87.3% for toluene and 93.0% for p-xylene. Third, the K'H values of all of the test compounds in the wastewater are lower than those in DI water. The maximum rates of decrease of K'H from KH in the DOC concentration range between 288 K and 303 K are 1.2% for methanol, 1.1% for isopropanol, 1.7% for acetone, 14.3% for toluene and 20.1% for p-xylene. A model is presented to related K'H to wastewater DOC and concentration of SS in the activated sludge, using an organic carbon-water partition coefficient (KOC) and activated sludge-water partition coefficient (KSS) as model parameters. The model is verified, and model parameters for test compounds are estimated. Temperature variations of K'H can be regressed using van't Hoff's equation. The gas-water phase change enthalpy £GH'gw rises approximately linearly with increasing SS for hydrophobic toluene and p-xylene. K'H variation can be controlled by SS concentration and temperature in activated sludge system. The temperature effect of KOC and KSS are also observed. KOC and KSS decrease with as the temperature rises from 288 K to 303 K. The VOCs phase change enthalpy and entropy can be calculated using thermodynamic analysis. The partition of VOCs into the organic carbon phase releases energy, and thus prefers low temperatures. Lower temperatures and higher SS concentrations lead to lower K'H for hydrophobic VOCs, while higher SS concentrations result in higher K'H for hydrophilic VOCs. Organic-rich wastewater or low-biomass mixed liquor can successfully remove hydrophilic VOCs from contaminated air streams by bioscrubber. However, bioreactors scrubbed with high biomass-containing mixed liquor perform better than regular activated sludge concentration in removing hydrophobic VOCs. The experimental results thus support the design and operation of bioscrubber and suspended operable bioreactors.

In virtue of what do scientific diagrams acquire their epistemic legitimacy? Which factors serve to validate schematic visual representations, rendering them useful and accepted components of scientific practice? This thesis addresses the epistemic legitimacy of scientific diagrams by investigating a variety of diagrams whose referents are “invisible”, that is, whose targets either cannot be seen, lack physical form, or have no material analogue. In focusing on such images, we shall gain insight into the factors that shape the forms that practicing scientists give to their diagrams and shed light on contemporary issues in the philosophy of scientific models and representations. In this work, common factors underscoring the epistemic legitimacy of scientific diagrams are identified through three in-depth historical case studies. First, we consider several diagrammatic approaches to visualizing chemical structure that emerged around the 1860s, especially the competing approaches of August Kekulé and Alexander Crum Brown, and investigate the factors that led to the enduring success of Crum Brown’s visual representations and the corresponding abandonment of Kekulé’s. Second, we examine a spectrum of stereochemical diagrams and material models produced from the 1870s to the early 20th century, particularly those produced by J. H. van ‘t Hoff, and consider the factors that determined the forms given to representations of three-dimensional structures of chemical compounds. Third, we explore the diagrammatic approaches taken by physicist Richard Feynman in his mid-20th century lectures on quantum electrodynamics, paying close attention to his diagrams’ stylistic commonalities and dissimilarities as well as their ability to mediate between various aspects of the practice of physics. Finally, this thesis concludes by considering several common factors regarding the epistemic legitimacy of scientific diagrams that can be identified in these case studies, including the importance of a bijective relationship between scientists’ understanding of their diagrams and of their diagrams’ referents, the utility of diagrams for productively reasoning about their referents, and ability of certain diagrams to reduce scientists’ cognitive burden, especially through visual similarities. These factors serve to unite divergent approaches to the philosophy of scientific models and representation and reorient contemporary debates concerning representation towards an integrated historical-philosophical methodology.

In virtue of what do scientific diagrams acquire their epistemic legitimacy? Which factors serve to validate schematic visual representations, rendering them useful and accepted components of scientific practice? This thesis addresses the epistemic legitimacy of scientific diagrams by investigating a variety of diagrams whose referents are “invisible”, that is, whose targets either cannot be seen, lack physical form, or have no material analogue. In focusing on such images, we shall gain insight into the factors that shape the forms that practicing scientists give to their diagrams and shed light on contemporary issues in the philosophy of scientific models and representations. In this work, common factors underscoring the epistemic legitimacy of scientific diagrams are identified through three in-depth historical case studies. First, we consider several diagrammatic approaches to visualizing chemical structure that emerged around the 1860s, especially the competing approaches of August Kekulé and Alexander Crum Brown, and investigate the factors that led to the enduring success of Crum Brown’s visual representations and the corresponding abandonment of Kekulé’s. Second, we examine a spectrum of stereochemical diagrams and material models produced from the 1870s to the early 20th century, particularly those produced by J. H. van ‘t Hoff, and consider the factors that determined the forms given to representations of three-dimensional structures of chemical compounds. Third, we explore the diagrammatic approaches taken by physicist Richard Feynman in his mid-20th century lectures on quantum electrodynamics, paying close attention to his diagrams’ stylistic commonalities and dissimilarities as well as their ability to mediate between various aspects of the practice of physics. Finally, this thesis concludes by considering several common factors regarding the epistemic legitimacy of scientific diagrams that can be identified in these case studies, including the importance of a bijective relationship between scientists’ understanding of their diagrams and of their diagrams’ referents, the utility of diagrams for productively reasoning about their referents, and ability of certain diagrams to reduce scientists’ cognitive burden, especially through visual similarities. These factors serve to unite divergent approaches to the philosophy of scientific models and representation and reorient contemporary debates concerning representation towards an integrated historical-philosophical methodology.

This dissertation contains the following sections. Chapter 1 contains a detailed description of the theory of thin layer chromatography (TLC). Chapter 2 describes the benefits and practical considerations of elevated temperatures in liquid chromatography (LC). The porous graphitic carbon (PGC) I modified as part of my work is often used in elevated temperature LC. Chapter 3 shows a thermodynamic analysis of chromatographic retention at elevated temperature, and Chapter 4 contains a closer look at the van 't Hoff equation in LC and how it can be used in retention modeling. In Chapter 5, I describe a new procedure for microfabricating TLC plates that avoids the volume/feature distortions that occurred in our first microfabrication. The primary advance of this work was the priming of the carbon nanotube (CNT) forests with chemical vapor deposition (CVD) carbon and atomic layer deposition (ALD) alumina, which permitted effective ALD-like deposition of SiO2. Chapter 6 describes advancements in the microfabrication process of TLC, which excluded the use of the CVD carbon and Al2O3 coating as described in Chapter 5. The use of ozone, to lightly oxidize the CNT surface, primed the material for direct ALD deposition. Chapter 7 gives a detailed surface analysis of the microfabrication process up to and including the CNT forest. It was noticed that a channeling effect was present during Rutherford backscattering analysis of the CNTs. Additionally, characterization of CNTs using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode showed an odd-even effect for a homologous series of carbon, where the even moieties had a stronger signal. Chapter 8 describes the functionalization of PGC with di-tert-amyl peroxide (DTAP) and its effect on increasing the chromatographic performance as seen by a reduction in the tailing factors of test analytes. Chapter 9 -- 13 are detailed X-ray photoelectron analyses of the thin films and CNTs used in producing microfabricated TLC plates.