Engineering Commons^™

Composition-Structure-Property Relationships In Multicomponent Bioactive Glasses, Sharon Murphy

Theses

Silicate glasses function effectively as bone grafts by stimulating bone regeneration through gene activation. However these materials offer little therapeutic potential for the regeneration of healthy bone in those suffering from metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Examining the composition-structure-property relationships arising from the incorporation of therapeutic ions such as strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) into such glasses in order to allow for healthy bone regeneration and antibacterial efficacy, as well as sodium (Na) to allow for controlled ion release was the objective of this work. Eight calcium-strontium-sodium-zinc-silicate glass compositions were produced, based on incremental additions of Sr and Na. …

Enhanced Pervaporation Using A Novel Pump Configuration, Donough Patrick Shanahan

Theses

The pervaporation process is investigated in this work under the guises of process design improvements and process performance. Several avenues of research were investigated.

The main aim of the project was to investigate the use of liquid ring vacuum pumps for permeate recovery at laboratory and industrial scales. Due to technical and economical issues, these pumps were deemed unsuitable. This analysis then had to be extended further. Previous work investigated the use of dry vacuum pump systems on a lab scale and this work was extended to industrial scale simulations. Results from the lab scale process particularly those relating to …

The Influence Of Hydrogen Peroxide On The Static And Fatigue Properties Of Palacos-R Bone Cement, John M. Guerin

Theses

Aseptic loosening is a very costly complication of joint arthroplasty, both in terms of patient quality of life and financially. One potential contributing factor in its development - namely the use of hydrogen peroxide as an effervescent haemostatic agent - was investigated in this study. Clean bone cement samples and samples contaminated with 6% hydrogen peroxide were manufactured and stored either in room air or normal saline prior to testing. Thus four sample types were tested (clean stored wet or dry and contaminated stored wet or dry). Static (tension to failure) and fatigue testing was performed. Analysis was carried out …

Safety Data Dissemination Framework For Vehicular Networks, Martin Koubek

Theses

An effective transportation system is essential to modern societies with transportation having a significant influence on economic growth, social development and the environment. But this dependence on road mobility has had serious consequences in terms of rising crash costs that include deaths, injuries, lost productivity, material damage and congestion. The European Union and many other governments worldwide support active safety as being the next logical step in diminishing crash costs after passive safety (safety belt, ABS etc.) where drivers will be warned prior to reaching hazardous situations enabling them to react appropriately. While improving road safety is unanimously considered the …

Enhanced Vacuum Drying Through Improved Solvent Recovery, Reduced Process Cycle Times And Prediction Of Drying Duration, Diana Patricia Mesa Delgado

Theses

Drying of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals is often accomplished under vacuum conditions to enhance energy efficiency and to avoid overheating of thermo sensitive materials. This project aims to study vacuum drying operations to obtain a better understanding of this process so as to optimize drying performance. This project obtained industrial data collected from a range companies in Ireland.

Pharmaceutical companies started assessing processes and making changes to drying processes from 2004 onwards; these initiatives are due to economic pressures, environmental issues and the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative launched by the FDA in 2004.

Vacuum drying has been used in …