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Native Frequency Domain Monte Carlo Simulation Of Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging For Look-Up Table Generation, Daemon A. Dikeman Aug 2024

Native Frequency Domain Monte Carlo Simulation Of Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging For Look-Up Table Generation, Daemon A. Dikeman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early detection of diseases and injuries is critical for many treatments to be effective in achieving positive patient outcomes; this early detection is aided by accessible and non-invasive diagnostic methods including biophotonics. Tools such as Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI) and Diffuse Optical Spectroscopic Imaging (DOSI) are two clinically relevant and powerful biophotonics techniques for identification and monitoring of disease and injury in medical settings, due to their utility in imaging and diagnosis, but recognizing their full potential necessitates advances in photon simulations to improve accuracy. The utility of SFDI in particular is heavily limited by the accuracy and applicability …


Deep Eutectic Solvent Systems For Effective Lignin Fractionation, Gloria Agyapong Aug 2024

Deep Eutectic Solvent Systems For Effective Lignin Fractionation, Gloria Agyapong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The carbon-rich biopolymer lignin has huge potential applications in producing bio-based products. However, the variability in lignin molecular weight, heterogeneity in lignin chemical structure, and limited functionality of lignin obtained from separation techniques prevent it from being widely used. In response to this challenge, a simple and eco-friendly approach was implemented to fractionate kraft lignin using deep eutectic solvents to produce homogenous lignin fractions with unique properties.

The following seven deep eutectic solvents were successfully made: choline chloride/ethylene glycol, choline chloride/levulinic acid, choline chloride/acetic acid, choline chloride/pyrocatechol, tetrabutylammonium chloride/ethylene glycol, tetrabutylammonium chloride/hexanol, and octanoic acid/hexanoic acid. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy …


Analysis Of Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffolds For Post-Bioprinting Density Variation Of 3d-Printed Chlorella Microalgae Cells, Olubusuyi Ayowole Aug 2024

Analysis Of Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffolds For Post-Bioprinting Density Variation Of 3d-Printed Chlorella Microalgae Cells, Olubusuyi Ayowole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emerging as a beacon of promise, green bioprinting pioneers the fusion of 3D bioprinting technology with the intricate organization of plant cells, particularly microalgae, within engineered tissues. The optimization of this process at an industrial scale hinge upon understanding the post-bioprinting cell growth density variation within hybrid hydrogel biomaterial scaffolds.

This study delves into the convergence of biotechnology and micro-biofabrication, employing a phototropic approach to unravel the behavior of microalgae-based bioinks sequel to their subjection to microextrusion forces during 3D bioprinting. Three hydrogel biomaterials—Alginic acid sodium salt (ALGINATE), Nanofibrillated Cellulose (NFC) – TEMPO, and CarboxyMethyl Cellulose (CMC)—are strategically chosen for …


A Temperature Compensated Lateral Field Excited Lithium Tantalate Sensor Platform, Yuri Trusty Aug 2024

A Temperature Compensated Lateral Field Excited Lithium Tantalate Sensor Platform, Yuri Trusty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The most common bulk acoustic wave (BAW) sensing platform is the AT-cut quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), which exhibits a pure transverse shear mode (TSM) that is temperature compensated near room temperature. Due to the inability of shear waves to propagate in liquids, a pure TSM is desirable for applications such as biosensing, where the target is typically detected from within a fluid. Resonant BAW modes that are thickness field excited (TFE) by electrodes on both major faces of the crystal substrate, prevent electrical property detection at the sensing surface. In contrast, lateral field excitation (LFE) only requires electrodes on a …


Investigation Of Magneto Hydrodynamic Drives For Blood Flow Assist Pumps, Faija Farjana Aug 2024

Investigation Of Magneto Hydrodynamic Drives For Blood Flow Assist Pumps, Faija Farjana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explores a new blood pump for patients with single ventricle defects, who went through the Fontan procedure. The patients having Fontan graft lack the pressure created by systole in the human body, which pushes the oxygen-poor blood to the lungs to be oxygenated. The aim of this work is to lay the foundation for developing an electromagnetic device that can assist the blood flow from the heart to the lungs by replacing the existing mechanical right ventricular assist device with rotary parts that result in health hazards. The concept of magnetohydrodynamic pump, based on Lorentz force, is investigated …


Engineering Far-Field And Near-Field Thermal Radiation Using Metamaterials, Ramin Pouria Aug 2024

Engineering Far-Field And Near-Field Thermal Radiation Using Metamaterials, Ramin Pouria

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thermal radiation at observation distances greater than the dominant wavelength of thermal radiation (~10 μm at room temperature) is referred to as the far-field regime. Otherwise, thermal radiation is in the near-field regime. Far-field and near-field thermal radiation have significant applications in thermal management, energy-conversion devices such as thermophotovoltaic power generation, spectroscopy, imaging, infrared cloaking, temperature measurements, and optoelectronics, to name only a few. Usually, these applications require thermal radiative properties that are not found among natural materials. Metamaterials made of micro/nanoscale structures offer a great opportunity for designing thermal emitters with improved thermal radiation properties. This dissertation investigates the …


Gan Hemt Quartz Crystal Oscillator Topologies For High Temperature Applications, Emily Currie Aug 2024

Gan Hemt Quartz Crystal Oscillator Topologies For High Temperature Applications, Emily Currie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oscillator circuits are at the heart of electronics required for communication, frequency control, and sensing. Crystal oscillators, in particular, present very attractive characteristics, such as their low power consumption and high frequency stability. These circuits employ acoustic waves devices as the frequency control element, often a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator. There is an increasing need for communication and sensing circuitry capable of withstanding high temperatures (HT) and harsh environments (HE) in many industries, and a crystal oscillator capable of insertion in such environments and of continuous operation from room temperature to HT is a beneficial addition to many HT …


A Prototype Upper Arm Exoskeleton For Evaluating The Response Of Human Subjects To Kinesthetic Feedback, Liam Hawthorne Aug 2024

A Prototype Upper Arm Exoskeleton For Evaluating The Response Of Human Subjects To Kinesthetic Feedback, Liam Hawthorne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Difficulties walking can originate from a wide variety of conditions, from neurological or musculoskeletal disorders to the effects of increasing age. In most cases, physical therapy in the form of gait rehabilitation plays a critical role in effective patient recovery. Because of the repetitive nature of physical therapy and significant time commitment for both the patient and a physical therapist, the incorporation of technology (such as robot assistance, exoskeletons, and feedback devices) into the rehabilitation process has been investigate to both improve the effectiveness of therapy, as well as allow for self-training between sessions. Although lower limb exoskeletons dominate this …


Flexural Behavior Of Scaled-Down Cross-Laminated Timber Beams Under Short- And Long-Term Loadings: Experimental & Numerical Investigations, Maitham Alabbad Aug 2024

Flexural Behavior Of Scaled-Down Cross-Laminated Timber Beams Under Short- And Long-Term Loadings: Experimental & Numerical Investigations, Maitham Alabbad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cross-laminated timber (CLT), a product in the mass timber family, is an innovative engineered wood product that enables the construction of mid- and high-rise timber buildings. CLT has been used extensively in timber construction. A typical use of CLT panels is in the construction of walls, floors, and roofs which can carry a continuous load. This load can impact the long-term performance of the CLT structure and must be considered in the design phase.

The primary goal of this research was to better understand the long-term creep behavior of CLT beams and contribute to the development of numerical approaches. The …


Comparison Of The Hygrothermal Properties Of Mechanically Fastened And Adhesive Bonded Wood-Fiber Insulated Panels, Jake Snow Aug 2024

Comparison Of The Hygrothermal Properties Of Mechanically Fastened And Adhesive Bonded Wood-Fiber Insulated Panels, Jake Snow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to characterize the hygrothermal and material, i.e., physical and mechanical, properties of wood fiber insulation (WFI) that can be an alternative to fossil-based building insulation, targeting structural insulated panels, retrofit insulated panels, and a novel all wood structural insulated panel. The hygrothermal properties of rigid WFI boards with varying densities, 110, 140, and 180 kg/m3, and one 140 kg/m3 without paraffin wax treatment were evaluated following relevant ASTM standards. The hygrothermal properties measured were, porosity, water vapor transmission, liquid water absorption, and thermal conductivity at varying temperatures. Additionally, the Tensile strength and block shear …


An Enhancement Of The Properties Of Cellulose Nanofibril Composites For Biomedical Applications, Cameron G. Andrews Aug 2024

An Enhancement Of The Properties Of Cellulose Nanofibril Composites For Biomedical Applications, Cameron G. Andrews

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of plastics has increased significantly within the past few years. The versatile properties within this material set have enabled them to be adopted into many different industries. They tend to possess excellent vapor and liquid barrier properties, adjustable mechanical properties, and can be designed for specific heating and electrical applications. One specific industry that has capitalized on plastics is the medical industry. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a class of subset plastic materials, single-use plastics, have been utilized. These single-use devices are typically used for a short time and quickly discarded. These items can range from masks to gloves …


Development And Characterization Of Injectable Cellulose-Based Hydrogels For Use As An Atlantic Salmon Vaccine Adjuvant, Blake H. Turner Aug 2024

Development And Characterization Of Injectable Cellulose-Based Hydrogels For Use As An Atlantic Salmon Vaccine Adjuvant, Blake H. Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aquaculture industry faces significant economic losses due to disease, with global finfish production losses exceeding $6 billion annually. 1 Vaccination is a critical strategy for disease management. However, the current use of oil-based vaccines is linked to negative side effects, including internal adhesions and reduced growth rates in fish. 2 Recent advancements in biomaterial vaccines present a promising alternative to traditional oil-based adjuvants, offering the potential to enhance vaccine safety and efficacy.3 Injectable hydrogels are an established method of delivering nutrients and drugs.4 Biopolymers sourced from natural plant matter have been explored for various drug, nutrient, and cosmetic applications. …


Enhancing Long Sequence Time-Series Forecasting Through Spatial Embedding Integration, Dorothy S. Harris Aug 2024

Enhancing Long Sequence Time-Series Forecasting Through Spatial Embedding Integration, Dorothy S. Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

AI is rapidly emerging as the most reliable and effective approach for prediction in all industries. One significant domain where it is applied is long sequence time-series forecasting (LSTF). While current LSTF models excel in temporal dimensions, they often neglect spatial dimensions. However, considering both spatial and temporal dimensions is crucial, as many real-world applications demand it and can benefit from it. Achieving a high prediction capacity is essential in long sequence time-series forecasting and spatiotemporal forecasting. To address this challenge, transformers are employed due to their ability to enhance prediction capacity. This thesis builds upon previous LSTF temporal transformer …


Omobot: A Low-Cost Mobile Robot For Autonomous Search And Fall Detection, Shihab Uddin Ahamad Aug 2024

Omobot: A Low-Cost Mobile Robot For Autonomous Search And Fall Detection, Shihab Uddin Ahamad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Omobot, a cost-effective autonomous mobile robot designed for indoor environments, focuses on fall detection and response for elderly care. The thesis presents the design, development, and evaluation of Omobot’s potential for aiding elderly people by combining mechanical and electronics design, software development, and improving fall detection accuracy. The robot’s design includes 3D printed structure and Mecanum wheels that allow it to move easily in indoor environment. It is powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Nano, which helps it to process data from sensors in real-time for navigation and fall detection. The software framework built on Robotic Operating System (ROS) helps in sensor …


Development, Characterization, And Technology Transfer Of Liquid-Infused Catheters, Evan Leonard Aug 2024

Development, Characterization, And Technology Transfer Of Liquid-Infused Catheters, Evan Leonard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect over 1.7 million patients annually and are often treated with antibiotics, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common type of HAI, resulting in an estimated $390­­–450 million in treatment and increased length-of-stay-associated costs annually. Previously, infusing catheter surfaces with a compatible liquid has demonstrated the ability to reduce the need for antibiotics by minimizing protein and bacterial adhesion to the catheter surface. In this work, we infuse commercial catheters with liquid to investigate changes in properties such as length, mass, and overall size. Confocal microscopy was used to …


Spin And Charge Transport In Metallic Ferrimagnets And Disordered Magnetic Oxides, Leopoldo A. Hernandez Jun 2024

Spin And Charge Transport In Metallic Ferrimagnets And Disordered Magnetic Oxides, Leopoldo A. Hernandez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent efforts have been exploring the use of thin film synthetic ferrimagnets and disordered magnetic oxides for applications in spintronic devices. Due to the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, ferrimagnetic materials offer the ultrafast dynamics of the antiferromagnetic exchange, with a net magnetization that can be influenced externally. With two, or more, competing ferromagnet sublattices, interesting properties arise that depend on the final magnetic landscape after growth of the material and it’s inherent magnetic anisotropy energies. Properties such as magnetic compensation temperatures, and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are attractive for applications in spintronic memory and logic devices, some already being implemented in MRAM …


Patient-Specific Musculoskeletal Modeling Of Total Shoulder Arthroplasty, Brendan M. Curran Jun 2024

Patient-Specific Musculoskeletal Modeling Of Total Shoulder Arthroplasty, Brendan M. Curran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is often considered a surgery of last resort for patients with debilitating pathologies of the glenohumeral joint such as osteoarthritis, humeral head fracture, and advancing rotator cuff tears. TSA replaces the articulation between the humeral head and the glenoid fossa, with the goals of relieving pain and restoring function. Two types of total shoulder implants are available: Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (aTSA) and Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (rTSA). TSA survivorship is lower than that of the survivorship seen in total knee and hip replacements [1]. Shoulder muscle moment arms and lines of action have been measured …


Statistical Modeling Of Knee Morphology And Material Properties Considering Diverse Populations, Gabrielle Jeannine Kindy Jun 2024

Statistical Modeling Of Knee Morphology And Material Properties Considering Diverse Populations, Gabrielle Jeannine Kindy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a widely performed surgical procedure aimed at alleviating pain and restoring function in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. Despite its general success, disparities in postoperative outcomes have been observed across different racial and ethnic groups, with minority populations often experiencing less favorable results. One potential avenue for improving the generalizability of orthopaedic implants is using Statistical Shape and Intensity Models (SSIMs), which can be used to incorporate patient variability directly into the orthopaedic medical device development workflow through population-based finite element analysis.

This work aimed to construct an SSIM from a diverse subject set, incorporating …


Incremental Quantities Based Permissive Overreaching Transfer Trip Scheme For Protecting Inverter-Based Renewable Resources, Osama Zangoti Jun 2024

Incremental Quantities Based Permissive Overreaching Transfer Trip Scheme For Protecting Inverter-Based Renewable Resources, Osama Zangoti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The power generation landscape evolves, with the increase of inverter-based resources (IBRs) such as solar photovoltaics and wind turbines, providing sustainable and clean energy sources. The shift towards IBRs mitigates climate change, creating considerable challenges to traditional power system protection due to their low fault current. Conventional protection schemes are designed around the internal dynamic of synchronous generators where they can supply an elevated fault current. This thesis explores a protection scheme designed to enhance the security of IBRs. The incremental characteristics of voltage and current coupled with the Permissive Overreaching Transfer Trip scheme (POTT) provide a remarkable ability to …


3d Printing For Scale-Model Testing: Design, Build And Measurement Of Four Hulls, Thomas Klodenski May 2024

3d Printing For Scale-Model Testing: Design, Build And Measurement Of Four Hulls, Thomas Klodenski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in 3D printing and 3D scanning are poised to improve the state of the art of hydrodynamic scale-model testing. These tools improve the accuracy of the as-built scale model and have a direct influence over the predicted full-scale performance and the confidence level of the designer’s computer simulation.

This thesis explores the subject of accuracy through the development of four 3D printed floating wave energy converter hulls produced with 3D printing. Conceptual and detail design, construction, and measurement techniques are discussed. Financial data is explored as well as time requirements. The ability to use 3D printing to rapidly …


Discovery Of Nanostructured Material Properties For Advanced Polymeric Systems, Colton Lee Duprey May 2024

Discovery Of Nanostructured Material Properties For Advanced Polymeric Systems, Colton Lee Duprey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polymer science has become a well-studied field in recent years. Their tunability, functionalization, and unique intermolecular reactions make them a significant area of interest for materials science. The production and research of polymeric materials has increased ever since their invention, and does look to be slowing down currently. While polymers may be considered macromolecules, their properties can be heavily influenced by the incorporation of nanostructures. Despite their small dimensions, nanostructured materials can have substantial impacts on these systems, even at small loading percentages. Nanomaterials have also become a topic of increasingly large interest in research over the last few decades. …


Comparative Analysis Of Volt/Var Control Strategies In A Distribution Network, Sahil Aziz May 2024

Comparative Analysis Of Volt/Var Control Strategies In A Distribution Network, Sahil Aziz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a detailed comparative performance analysis of two Volt/VAr (Voltage and Reactive Power) control strategies in distribution networks. The study specifically examines the impact of implementing Volt/VAr control within multiple string inverters on the low-voltage side of a Generator Step-Up (GSU) transformer, in contrast to utilizing a centralized Power Plant Controller (PPC) located on the high-voltage side of a GSU transformer.

The work also estimated the loss in accuracy associated with modeling multiple string inverters as an aggregate, in contrast, to explicitly modeling each inverter and its linked string impedance.


Land-Sea Connection Of Microplastic Fiber Pollution In Frenchman Bay, Maine, Grace A. Johnson May 2024

Land-Sea Connection Of Microplastic Fiber Pollution In Frenchman Bay, Maine, Grace A. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Global plastic production has been increasing over the past 50 years and is causing an increase in plastic waste entering the oceans. Plastic in the ocean is broken down into microplastics by a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes. This study investigates the extent and potential sources of microplastic fiber pollution in Frenchman Bay, Maine, a coastal bay with complex geomorphology, numerous estuaries and many small tributaries that bring freshwater into it. Frenchman Bay is an important factor in Maine’s economy through its impact on tourism and commercial fishing. It is also a semi-sheltered coastal bay with some freshwater …


Distribution Of Live Loads In Frp Composite Tub Girders For Highway Bridge Applications, Jon Pinkham Jr May 2024

Distribution Of Live Loads In Frp Composite Tub Girders For Highway Bridge Applications, Jon Pinkham Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bridges are vital nodes in the national transportation network and are essential for the movement of people and goods. With aging infrastructure new replacements are required, and increasing the longevity of these new structures is beneficial to future generations. This has opened the door to the use of new materials including fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) that are light weight and non-corroding, offering longer life spans compared to currently used materials such as steel and concrete. At the University of Maine, a novel FRP composite tub (CT) girder has been developed and used in the construction of four bridges to-date. While …


Ring Opening Of Hydrotreated Thermal Deoxygenation (Tdo) Oil Over Supported Metal Catalysts To Improve Engine Properties, Oluwaseun Salami May 2024

Ring Opening Of Hydrotreated Thermal Deoxygenation (Tdo) Oil Over Supported Metal Catalysts To Improve Engine Properties, Oluwaseun Salami

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order to meet CO2 emission standards, set by the climate accord in 2015, decarbonizing the transportation sector must become a priority globally. While electric vehicles are becoming more widely used, decarbonizing long distance transportation (e.g.., trucks, airplanes, marine vessels) is still a major concern, contributing over 50% of GHG emissions from transportation in 2018. To bridge this limitation of electric vehicles, biofuel is a viable alternative, having high energy density comparable to conventional fuels from crude oil. Renewable crude oil (biofuel) produced by Thermal DeOxygenation (TDO) is an interesting option as a cleaner intermediate to produce diesel …


An Investigation Of Concrete Porosity And Material Interface Interactions Using High Frequency Ultrasonic Attenuation, Josh Emery May 2024

An Investigation Of Concrete Porosity And Material Interface Interactions Using High Frequency Ultrasonic Attenuation, Josh Emery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the goal of detecting and quantitively characterizing pore distribution using ultrasonic analysis in concrete specimens with fine and coarse aggregate included, specimens were created with varying air contents, two different w/c ratios, and with and without coarse aggregate, which consisted of glass beads. The glass beads were used because of the close match of acoustic impedance with cement paste. The presumption being that any scattering at the interface between the paste and the aggregate would be due to the presence of an interfacial zone rather than the impedance mismatch. The specimens were subjected to through-transmission ultrasonic interrogation using Yushi …


Sic Mosfet Oscillator Circuit For Operation In High-Temperature Harsh Environments: Design, Simulation, And Testing, Nikung Thapa May 2024

Sic Mosfet Oscillator Circuit For Operation In High-Temperature Harsh Environments: Design, Simulation, And Testing, Nikung Thapa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the design, simulation, and validation of a high-temperature (HT) Colpitts oscillator, motivated by the need for robust electronics in HT harsh environments (HE) across sectors such as space exploration, power generation, and industrial processes. The Colpitts oscillator circuit utilizes a silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET in a source follower amplifier and an LC resonant tank circuit. The circuit was assembled on an alumina board with gold traces using silk-screen printing, and 1mm gold bond wires were employed for component connections. The design and analysis of the oscillator, in both open and closed-loop configurations, involved deriving the transfer function …


Spray Drying Of Cellulose Nanofibrils And Cellulose Nanocrystals: Applications In Thermoplastic Nanocomposites And 3d Printing, Sungjun Hwang May 2024

Spray Drying Of Cellulose Nanofibrils And Cellulose Nanocrystals: Applications In Thermoplastic Nanocomposites And 3d Printing, Sungjun Hwang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are promising alternatives to inorganic fillers in polymer matrix composites (PMCs) attributable to their biodegradability and nanometer-sized fibrils. The drying process is crucial for their incorporation into PMCs, which affects final production cost and performance. The University of Maine has researched spray drying (SD) for CNCs and CNFs, finding that SD is a cost-effective method and enhances the mechanical properties of the thermoplastic matrix attributable to the excellent distribution and dispersion of small particles into plastic matrices. The primary objective of this dissertation is to enhance the viability of spray-dried CNC/CNF powders. Three …


Artificial Intelligence And Uavs Application In Enhancement Of Bridge Inspection, Zahra Ameli May 2024

Artificial Intelligence And Uavs Application In Enhancement Of Bridge Inspection, Zahra Ameli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aging and deterioration of civil infrastructures, particularly bridges, pose significant safety risks and economical burdens. Despite gradual improvements in bridge conditions over time, a substantial portion still requires preventative maintenance to ensure public safety. Traditional bridge inspection methods are often time-consuming, expensive, subject to human error, and can pose safety risks to both inspection crews and the public. This thesis addresses these challenges by proposing innovative solutions through the integration of advanced technologies, with a focus on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), deep learning (DL) algorithms, and image fusion techniques. This research aims to enhance bridge inspection practices by improving …


Engineering A Compostable Isolation Gown To Reduce Hospital-Derived Synthetic Waste Accumulation In Landfill, Caden A. Scott May 2024

Engineering A Compostable Isolation Gown To Reduce Hospital-Derived Synthetic Waste Accumulation In Landfill, Caden A. Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ever-increasing accumulation of synthetic waste in landfills is a growing pollution and public health concern. In 2018, hospitals in the United States landfilled 1.5 million tons of personal protective equipment (PPE). Single-use, disposable PPE gowns constitute the greatest percentage of landfilled PPE by weight and are overwhelmingly made from non-degradable synthetic polymer materials. The most common and disposed of type of PPE gown is isolation gowns, which are used by healthcare workers attending patients under isolation precautions. One study has shown that under isolation procedures, healthcare systems will on average dispose of 33 gowns per patient per day as …