This dissertation is focused on understanding heterogeneous bimetallic catalysts using model catalyst systems, such as Pd-Au/Mo(110), Pd/Au(111) and Pd/Au(100). Monometallic and bimetallic model catalysts, composed of Pd and Au, were prepared by physical vapor deposition (PVD) onto well-characterized metal substrates. Subsequent characterization was performed using an arsenal of modern surface science tools: low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEISS), infrared absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electronic, morphological, and chemical properties of the prepared model catalysts were compared to those observed from monometallic single-crystal model catalysts such as Cu(100), Pd(111), Au(100), and Au(111). Between 700 K and 1000 K, formation of stable alloy surfaces of Pd-Au mixtures on Mo(110) was accompanied by substantial enrichment in Au. Annealing a 1:1 Pd-Au mixture at 800 K yields a Pd0.2Au0.8 surface alloy; the concentration of isolated Pd sites in this surface alloy can be systematically controlled by a judicious selection of initial bulk Pd-Au concentration. Pd-Au catalysts supported on Au(111) and Au(100) substrates generated a surface ensemble of Pd monomers surrounded by Au after annealing the systems at or above 550 K. To test the activity and selectivity of the prepared bimetallic model catalysts, the formation rate of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) was examined. More significant enhancement of VAM formation rate was observed for bimetallic catalysts supported on Au(100) compared to those on Au(111). A critical surface ensemble composed two non-contiguous Pd monomers was proposed for the VAM synthesis. Oxygen plays a critical role in the efficiency of the synthetic route. Structure-reactivity correlations were established based on the suggested elementary reactions leading to the oxidative coupling of ethylene and acetic acid to form VAM.

Os processos industriais de polimerização em emulsão são normalmente realizados em reatores batelada ou semi batelada ou em tanques agitados contínuos (CSTR). Os reatores contínuos têm a vantagem de terem menor porte e de propiciarem melhor controle de qualidade do produto através da redução de variações de batelada a batelada. Além disso, as oscilações periódicas autosustentadas na conversão de monômero e no tamanho da partícula, que são normalmente observadas em reatores do tipo CSTR, podem ser minimizadas em reatores tubulares mediante o uso de dispositivos de mistura estáticos adequados combinados com escoamento pulsado (oscilatório). O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o desenvolvimento de uma copolimerização em emulsão de acetato de vinila e acrilato de butila em uma coluna pulsada com pratos perfurados (CPPP). A fim de aumentar a sua flexibilidade operacional, a coluna é composta de 5 seções, cada uma apresentando controles independentes de alimentação lateral e temperatura. Dependendo da estratégia de alimentação de monômero, pode-se notar uma deriva de composição durante o processo de copolimerização em emulsão do acetato de vinila e acrilato de butila devido às grandes diferenças entre estes monômeros em suas razões de reatividade e nas solubilidades na fase aquosa. Neste caso, a CPPP propicia diferentes possibilidades de alimentação que permitem controlar a composição do copolímero através da alimentação do monômero mais reativo ao longo da coluna. Por esta razão, foi avaliado neste estudo o efeito do número de correntes de alimentação sobre as propriedades do polímero. Diferentes números de correntes laterais de alimentação de monômero foram empregadas nos ensaios experimentais. Diferenças na uniformidade da composição do copolímero podem ser notadas dependendo do número de correntes laterais de alimentação aplicadas em cada teste. A fim de permitir variações de temperatura, somente a temperatura de entrada das camisas de resfriamento foi fixada. Para simular as reações foi utilizado um modelo matemático desenvolvido baseado no modelo de escoamento pistonado (plug-flow) axialmente disperso. No presente trabalho, um balanço de energia foi incluído ao modelo matemático anterior de modo que a influência de diferentes perfis de temperatura pudesse ser considerada. O efeito das correntes laterais de alimentação de monômero sobre as propriedades do copolímero puderam ser previstas com suficiente precisão pelas simulações do modelo, as quais foram também validadas pelos resultados experimentais. Com base nas simulações matemáticas, um perfil ótimo de alimentação pôde ser calculado e experimentalmente aplicado na CPPP permitindo a produção de um copolímero mais homogêneo. Os resultados também permitiram a validação do modelo matemático como uma ferramenta confiável na predição de ensaios experimentais. Além disso, as vantagens da CPPP puderam ser verificadas pelo seu desempenho adequado como reator tubular para processos contínuos de copolimerização em emulsão. Finalmente, os resultados indicaram a possibilidade de melhorias adicionais nas propriedades do polímero através do emprego de diferentes temperaturas e perfis de alimentação de outros reagentes ao longo da coluna. / Industrial emulsion polymerization processes are usually performed in batch or semi-batch stirred tanks, or in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR). Continuous reactors have the advantage of being smaller and providing a better product quality control by the reduction of the batch-to-batch variations. In addition, periodical self-sustained oscillations in monomer conversion and in particle size that are usually observed in CSTR can be minimized in tubular reactors presenting good radial mixing. Such conditions can be achieved in tubular reactors by using adequate static mixing devices combined with pulsed (oscillatory) flow. The aim of this work is to report the development of a continuous emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate performed in a pulsed sieve plate column (PSPC). In order to improve its operational flexibility, the column is composed of five sections, each one presenting independent lateral feed and temperature controls. Depending on the monomer feeding strategy, a composition drift can be noticed during the emulsion copolymerization process of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate, due to the large differences in reactivity ratios and aqueous phase solubility between these monomers. In this case, the PSPC provides different operational feeding possibilities which allow controlling the copolymer composition by feeding the more reactive monomer along the column. For this reason, in this study the effect of the number of lateral feed streams on the polymer properties was evaluated. Different numbers of lateral monomer feed streams were employed in the experimental runs. Differences in the uniformity of the copolymer composition can be noticed along the reactor depending on the number of lateral feed streams applied in each test. In order to allow temperature variations, during each reaction only the inlet temperature of the cooling jackets was fixed. A developed mathematical model based on the axially dispersed plug-flow model was used to simulate the reactions. In the present study the energy balance was included in the mathematical model so that the influence of different temperature profiles could be taken into account. The effect of lateral monomer feed streams over the copolymer properties could be predicted with sufficient accuracy by model simulations which were also validated by the experimental results. Based on mathematical simulations, an optimal feeding profile could be calculated and experimentally applied in the PSPC allowing the production of a more homogeneous copolymer. The results also permitted the validation of the mathematical model as a reliable tool in the prediction of experimental runs. Furthermore, the advantages of the PSPC could be verified by its adequate performance as a tubular reactor for continuous emulsion copolymerization processes. Finally, the results indicate the possibility of further improvements in other polymer properties by employing different temperature and feeding profiles of other reagents along the column.

Orientador: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T07:49:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Franco_CileneMeinberg_M.pdf: 1835289 bytes, checksum: 8c7c34fee69d338538caffa2e9546741 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Iniciadores mono funcionais são largamente utilizados em polimerizações VIa radical livre. Muitas vezes, na busca de maiores produtividades, utilizam-se temperaturas de operação mais elevadas e/ou maiores concentrações iniciais de iniciador, que por conseqüência, geram polímeros com pesos moleculares mais baixos. O uso de iniciadores difuncionais permite o aumento da produtividade sem a redução no peso molecular do produto final, o que pode ser urna característica desejável. A pesquisa com iniciadores difuncionais é atual e de grande interesse industrial. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar o efeito da funcionalidade do iniciador, no caso mono e difuncional, sobre a polimerização via radical livre, considerando corno caso estudo um polímero linear, o poliestireno, e um ramificado, o poli (acetato de vinila). Para isso, foram feitas, experimentalmente, reações de polimerização em ampolas de vidro (polimerização em massa), com o iniciador mono funcional (Luperox TBEC) e o di funcional (Luperox 531). Foram analisados também o efeito da temperatura de polimerização e a concentração de iniciador. Também neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo estatístico através de um Planejamento Fatorial, a fim de analisar o efeito das variáveis temperatura e concentração de iniciador na polimerização do estireno com iniciador difuncional. Observou-se, tanto para o estireno corno para o acetato de vinila, que quando utilizado o iniciador difuncional é possível obter conversões maiores, sem alterar o peso molecular médio mássico e numérico, sendo que em alguns casos pode se até obter um aumento no peso molecular. O uso de iniciador di funcional é também mais viável economicamente, pois apresenta melhores resultados frente ao monofuncional, mesmo quando utilizado em concentrações ou temperaturas menores do que as utilizadas com o iniciador mono funcional. É importante salientar o caráter inovador desta pesquisa, já que não foram encontrados, em literatura aberta, dados experimentais da polimerização do acetato de vinila (ou outro monômero que produza ramificações de cadeia longa) utilizando iniciadores difuncionais / Abstract: Monofunctional initiators are extensively utilized in free radical polymerization. In order to increase productivity, higher temperature or higher initial initiator concentration are used, therefore polymers with lower molecular weights are obtained. Bifunctional initiators increase the polymerization rate without decreasing the average molecular weight and this can be desirable. They are an important issue to be investigated and are of great interest to industries. The objective of this work is to analyze the effect of the functionality of the initiator, by using mono and bifunctional, in free radical polymerization, for linear polymer (poly styrene) and branched polymer (poly(vinyl acetate)). Polymerizations were experimentally performed in glass ampoules (bulk polymerization) using both mono(Luperox TBEC) and bi- (Luperox 531) functional initiators. The effects of temperature and initiator concentration were also analyzed for various polymerization conditions. This work includes a statistical study using the factorial design to analyze the effect of temperature and initiator concentration in styrene polymerization with bifunctional initiator. It is observed in this study, that high conversions with no effect in the molecular weigh of the dead polymer can be achieved using bifunctional initiators in the polymerization of styrene and vinyl acetate. In many cases, it is possible to obtain higher molecular weights. Bifunctional initiator can also be used to provide reduction costs to initiators. They showed better results than the monofunctional initiator when lower concentration or temperature lower were utilized. / Mestrado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Químicos / Mestre em Engenharia Química

Les thérapeutiques individualisées et ciblées se développent actuellement, les formes galéniques évoluent donc en parallèle pour contrôler la libération des principes actifs (PA) et les conduire au plus proche des sites d’intérêts. Les formes orales solides représentent les formulations galéniques les plus utilisées, faciles d’emploi, indolores et réduisant le risque d’infection. Lors de leur conception, il est aussi possible de moduler la libération du PA.Deux approches sont étudiées dans ce manuscrit, l’une correspond au ciblage de la libération d’un PA vers son site d’action thérapeutique qui est le colon, la seconde consiste à contrôler la libération du PA pour maintenir une concentration constante, minimiser les effets indésirables et les périodes de présence de concentrations sub-thérapeutiques au niveau du site d’action.Première approche :Les traitements des Maladies Inflammatoires Chroniques de l’Intestin (MICI) peuvent être significativement améliorées par une libération localisée du PA. Une des approches est l’utilisation d’enrobages composés de polysaccharides dégradés par les enzymes sécrétées par la microflore colique. Mais l’absence d’une méthode in vitro reproductible simulant les conditions physiologiques du colon et l’impact potentiel des traitements antibiotiques associées qui pourraient affecter la quantité et la qualité des bactéries présentes et des enzymes sécrétées est un obstacle à sa mise au point. L’objectif de l’étude était d’effectuer un screening de polysaccharides ayant un intérêt dans le développement de nouvelles formulations à libération colique. Après cette sélection, la libération des formulations retenues ont été évaluées par une méthode utilisant des selles de patients atteints de MICI traités ou non par antibiothérapie. Enfin, l’utilisation de mélanges bactériens pour un éventuel remplacement de l’utilisation de selles fraiches a été évaluée.Seconde approche : Les formes orales enrobées présentent un grand potentiel pour la libération contrôlée de PA. Néanmoins, il est difficile d’obtenir une libération à vitesse constante avec ce type de formulation. Ceci est généralement dû au rôle prédominant du transport de masse par diffusion, ce qui entraine, avec le temps, une diminution de la concentration en PA au cœur du système, donc une réduction du gradient de concentration qui est la force motrice de la libération du PA. Ce type de cinétique de libération peut être inapproprié pour un traitement médicamenteux sûr et efficace. Malgré l’importance pratique de ce défi crucial de formulation, étonnamment, peu de stratégies efficaces sont connues. Dans cette étude, une nouvelle approche, basée sur une succession de couches de PA et de polymères (initialement dépourvu de PA) présentant une distribution initiale de PA non homogène, associé à un effet de temps de latence et à une diffusion partielle initiale à travers le noyau de la minigranule. Des variations de type, de quantité, d’épaisseur et de séquence des couches de PA et de polymères ont été testées. Un système assez simple composé de quatre couches (deux couches de PA et deux couches de polymère) permettait d’aboutir à une libération relativement constante durant 8h. / Individualized and targeted therapies are currently developed, therefore the dosage forms move in parallel to control the drug release and drive it nearest to interest sites. Solid oral dosage forms are the pharmaceutical formulations the most common, easy to use, painless and reducing the infectious risk. In these formulation designs, it is also possible to adjust the drug release.Two approaches are discussed in this manuscript, the first one targets the drug release to the therapeutic site of action which is the colon, and the second one consists on controlling the drug release to maintain a constant concentration, minimize side effects and periods of presence of sub-therapeutic concentrations at the site of action.The first approach:The treatment of colonic disease like Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), can be significantly improved via local drug delivery. One approach is to use polysaccharide coatings, which are degraded by enzymes secreted by the colonic microflora. However, the lack of a reliable in vitro test simulating conditions in a living colon and the potential impact of associated antibiotic treatments that could affect the quality and quantity of bacteria and enzymes secreted is an obstacle to its development. The aim of the study was to perform a screening of polysaccharides suitable for the development of new colonic release formulations. After this selection, the drug release of selected formulations were evaluated by a method using the stools of IBD patients treated or not with antibiotics. Finally, the use of bacterial mixtures substituting fresh fecal samples has been evaluated.The second approach: Coated pellets offer a great potential for controlling drug delivery systems. However, constant drug release rates are difficult to achieve with this type of dosage forms if the drug is freely water-soluble. This is because diffusional mass transport generally plays a major role and with time the drug concentration within the system decreases, resulting in decreased concentration gradients, which are the driving forces for drug release. This type of release kinetics might be inappropriate for an efficient and safe drug treatment. Despite the great practical importance of this potentially crucial formulation challenge, surprisingly little is yet known about efficient formulations. In this study, a novel approach is presented based on sequential layers of drug and polymer (initially free of drug) to provide a non-homogeneous initial drug distribution, combined with lag-time effects and partial initial drug diffusion towards the pellet’s core. By changing the type, number, thickness and sequence of the drug and polymer layers, a rather simple 4 layers system (2 drug and 2 polymer layers) allowed an about constant drug release during 8 h.

Conventional urea-based moulding compounds for investment casting patterns are manufactured using a slow “cooking” process. Nowadays in industrial processes the use of a faster process is highly recommended to increase throughput levels. At the same time, for quality control purposes, the requirements of an investment caster must be met. This study is therefore focused on: <ul><li> Finding the appropriate conventional process and conditions to prepare urea-based investment casting moulding compounds. </li><li> Optimising the composition variables to meet the mechanical, thermal, surface, flow and cost properties needed in investment casting. </li><li> Characterising the moulding compounds to meet the requirements of an investment caster by comparing them with an industrial, “cooked” urea-based compound. </li></ul> Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) urea-based moulding compounds were prepared using a two-roll mill and a conventional extrusion processes respectively. It was possible to injection mould PVOH urea-based moulding compounds with a urea content of up to 90 wt % which had been compounded using a two-roll mill. Using the conventional extrusion process, it was also possible to compound and injection mould EVA urea-based moulding compounds containing up to 70 wt % urea. The effects on composition variables on the properties of the moulding compound were studied and compared to those of the existing “cooked” urea-based moulding compound (Benchmark). The mechanical properties were characterised using the three-point bending test and Charpy impact test. The thermal properties were determined using simultaneous differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (SDTA/TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The thermo-mechanical and visco-elastic properties were determined using a dynamic mechanical analyser. A scanning electron microscope was used to study the surface texture of the mouldings. The EVA urea-based moulding compounds showed two endothermic melting peaks and multiple exothermic crystallisation peaks in the DSC curves. The peak at ca. 55 - 66°C corresponds to the melting of the wax/EVA blend, while the large peak at 130 - 132°C corresponds to the melting of the urea. The DSC heating curve of the PVOH urea-based moulding compounds showed two endothermic peaks. The small peak corresponds to the melting of the wax, while the large peak corresponds to the melting of the urea/PVOH blend. PVOH urea-based moulding compound had better mechanical properties than the industrial benchmark. The mechanical properties of the EVA urea-based compound were generally lower. The effect of the wax and polymer content on the mechanical properties was as follows: <ul><li> Increasing polymer content produced weaker but tougher moulding compounds. </li><li> Increasing wax content improved the strength and stiffness but gave compounds that were less tough. </li><li> Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated significant polymer-wax interactions. </li></ul> The urea content determined the stiffness (elastic modulus) of the compounds. PVOH mouldings had superior stiffness compared with the EVA and cooked urea-based mouldings. The Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results confirmed the result obtained from the modulus of elasticity determination in the three-point bending test. The impact strength increased with an increase in polymer content and reduced with an increase in wax content. The linear thermal expansion coefficient decreased as the urea content was increased. Measured values (100 to 156x10-6°C) were comparable to those of the benchmark. The cooked urea-based moulding compound had the lowest melt viscosity at 110°C, as indicated by its melt flow index (MFI). Fluidity increased with the polymer content. The thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) results confirmed that both the PVOH and EVA urea-based moulding compounds decomposed readily and left less than 1 wt % ash after combustion. From the SEM results apparent surface roughness appeared to increase with wax content. The EVA urea-based moulding compound had an irregular surface texture. Based on the criteria of cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness, the synthesis of PVOH urea-based patterns is preferable. The use of a conventional extrusion process to prepare PVOH urea-based patterns is recommended. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

Volatile substances such as perfumes, insect pheromones and volatile corrosion inhibitors can be released into the atmosphere from polymer matrices. The release characteristics of the volatile substances depend on the original concentration of the substances, and also on the type and geometry of the matrix. The design of the matrix can be done with a trial and error process involving several iterations of tool making followed by testing of the release characteristics. However, this is a costly and time-consuming method. The objective of this study is to propose and evaluate a mathematical model based on Fick's second law of diffusion. The model can be used to predict the release profiles of volatile substances from polymer matrices based on the initial volatile concentration, matrix geometry and the coefficient of diffusion of the volatile through the polymer. The alcohols I-propanol, I-butanol, I-hexanol and I-octanol and the polymer ethylene-eo-vinyl acetate (EVA) were chosen as a model system for this study. The coefficients of diffusion of all the alcohols through the EVA were determined with the time lag test using a diffusion cell and polymer sheets. Several methods of making polymer sheets were evaluated. Injection moulded disks was the most suitable method for the system under consideration. Based on the results of the time lag tests, the proposed model was used to predict the release characteristics of the different alcohols from two EVA matrix designs. Injection moulded test pieces of both designs were prepared. All the test pieces contained ca. 10% of one of the alcohols. The test pieces were aged at ambient conditions and the release of the alcohols was monitored. It was found that the proposed model gave a good prediction of the residual mass of the dispensers, never diverging more than 10% from the experimental result. The experimental results tended to show faster release than predicted. This was expected since the model does not consider the effect of concentration on the coefficient of diffusion. It was concluded that the model gave accurate predictions of the release characteristics of the system investigated. It would be a useful tool in the design and development of polymer dispensers for volatile substances. The smaller number of tool modifications and release tests required will lead to cost and time savings in the development process. / Dissertation (M Eng (Chemical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

No description available.

Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) has a major application as an indoor wood adhesive. Low water stability is however, one of the greatest drawbacks of PVAc. By grafting PVAc from a chitosan (CS) backbone (CS-graft- PVAc) water stability of adhesive is increased while good mechanical and adhesive properties are retained. Simultaneously the percentage of bio-based content is increased. This work investigates the proposed re- action mechanisms between chitosan and cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) which is used as an initiator for the grafting reaction. Litera- ture studies showed one dominating reaction mechanism and some not as common. The reaction mechanisms and their shortcomings are pre- sented and discussed in the report. / Poly(vinyl acetat)(PVAc) har ett stort användningsområde som ett trälim för möbler som ska användas inomhus. Den dåliga vatten stabiliteten är ett av de största problemen för användning av PVAc. Genom att ympa PVAc med chitosan(CS) (CS-graft-PVAc) kan vatten stabiliteten ökas samtidigt som en god limfunktion finns kvar och delen fossilbaserad monomer blir mindre och byts ut mot en biobaserad polymer. I detta arbete undersöks de föreslagna reaktionsmekanismerna mellan CS och cerium(IV) ammonium nitrat(CAN) som används som en katalysator för att grafta PVAc med CS. Litteraturstudier visade en dominerade reaktionsmekanism och några mindre förekommande. Reaktionsmekanis- merna och eventuella tillkortakommanden som finns gällande hur de fortlöper presenteras och diskuteras i detta arbete.

No / Functional, degradable polymers were synthesized via the copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) and 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) using a macro-xanthate CTA, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), resulting in the formation of amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(NVP)-b-poly(MDO-co-VAc). The behavior of the block copolymers in water was investigated and resulted in the formation of self-assembled nanoparticles containing a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic corona. The size of the resultant nanoparticles was able to be tuned with variation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments of the core and corona by changing the incorporation of the macro-CTA as well as the monomer composition in the copolymers, as observed by Dynamic Light Scattering, Static Light Scattering, and Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses. The concept was further applied to a VAc derivative monomer, vinyl bromobutanoate, to incorporate further functionalities such as fluorescent dithiomaleimide groups throughout the polymer backbone using azidation and “click” chemistry as postpolymerization tools to create fluorescently labeled nanoparticles. / University of Warwick, BP, The Royal Society

The thermal conductivities of foamed polymer based materials are much lower thermal conductivity values than unfoamed polymeric materials. Especially, thermal conductivity values of foamed polymers with closed-cell structure decreases to 0.03 W/m.K. The reinforcement of foamed polymeric materials by mixing with bitumen lowers the raw material cost. The main objective of this study is to make a new thermal insulation material with low thermal conductance. In this study, the effects of concentration of calcium carbonate as inorganic filler and the effects of cross-linking on the properties foamed and unfoamed ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer based bituminous blends and composites were investigated. Applications such as thermal, mechanical characteristics of foamed and unfoamed EVA based bituminous composites were investigated. Foamed EVA based bituminous composites were prepared by using Brabender Plastic Coder, PLV 151. Mixing was made at 120 &ordm / C at 60 rpm for 15 minutes. The prepared blends were molded by a technique called Hand Lay-up Self-expanding Batch Molding (HLUSEBM) which was firstly applied by our group. The molding temperature was 170 &ordm / C at which chemical blowing agent and cross-linking agent decomposes. According to test results, at moderate chemical blowing agent and EVA content, the best closed-cell structure with high porosity and low thermal conductivity values were obtained. The compressive properties of foamed polymer based bituminous composites (FPBBCs) increase with increasing CBA and EVA content. With increasing calcium carbonate and EVA concentration, the porosity of FPBBCs increases but thermal conductivity of them decreases. On the other hand, with increasing filler content but with decreasing EVA concentration elastic modulus of FPBBCs increases but elastic recovery decreases.