NANOlab Center of Excellence literature database -- Query Results

	NANOlab Center of Excellence literature database Home \| Show All \| Simple Search \| Advanced Search	Login Quick Search: Field: contains: ...
	1–30 of 282 records found matching your query (RSS):

Select All Deselect All

<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >>

List View

Citations

Details

	Records
	Author	Derks, K.
	Title	Scanning Michael Sweerts and Michaelina Wautier : uncovering the working methods of 17th-century Brussels artists by means of MA-XRF examination		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	634 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Art; Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES); Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
	Abstract	This dissertation focuses on the materials and techniques used by the Brussels artists Michael Sweerts (1618-1664) and Michaelina Wautier (1614-1689). It tries to answer the following research questions: 1.Did 17th-century Brussels-based artists use idiosyncratic painting materials and techniques, and can their work be distinguished from paintings created in other artistic centers based on these materials and techniques? 2.How did Sweerts and Wautier influence each other’s work? In order to answer the research questions, a selection of relevant and representative paintings from Sweerts’ and Wautier’s oeuvre has been studied with MA-XRF scanning and microscopic examination. The results are discussed in volume 2 of this dissertation, and form the basis upon which the chapters in volume 1 are built. MA-XRF scanning is a non-destructive imaging technique based on the technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The technique allows for the collection of elemental information about the materials present in a work of art. The work presented in this dissertation has shed more light on the working methods of Sweerts and Wautier. It has shown they both showed an openness and willingness to continue learning and developing as an artist. Wautier did not feel constrained to work only in one genre and apparently carried on developing her skills throughout her career, as evidenced by Flower Garland with Butterfly. She might have trained with a specialized artist to master their idiosyncratic working methods and this diverse genre. This suggests that Wautier had an interest in art education. Sweerts too had a passion for art education: he was involved in the drawing academy of Camillo Pamphilj in Rome, and later established his own academy for life drawing in Brussels. Sweerts’ work clearly shows the influence of his Italian contemporaries. Whilst living in Rome, he adapted his working methods to local customs such as working on brightly colored grounds. Wautier’s oeuvre shows that she was open to explore different genres and that she took inspiration from her contemporaries, including Theodoor van Loon and Daniël Seghers. In doing so, she furthered the development of different genres as she added original elements to her compositions. It is the conclusion of this dissertation that Michaelina Wautier can thus be considered one of the innovative artists of mid-17th-century Flemish painting, who inspired other artists in the Low Countries, including Michael Sweerts.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:197182		Serial	8927
Permanent link to this record



	Author	van der Snickt, G.
	Title	James Ensor's pigments studied by means of portable and synchrotron radiation-based X-ray techniques : evolution, context and degradation		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2012	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	501 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Art; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:100628		Serial	8135
Permanent link to this record



	Author	de Nolf, W.
	Title	Imaging of crystalline phase distributions by means of scanning and tomographic X-ray powder diffraction		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2013	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	407 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:110910		Serial	8057
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Vervloessem, E.
	Title	The role of pulsing and humidity in plasma-based nitrogen fixation : a combined experimental and modeling study		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	358 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract	Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable building block for all living organisms as well as for pharmaceutical and chemical industry. In a nutshell, N is needed for plants to grow and beings to live and nitrogen fixation (NF) is the process that makes N available for plants as food by converting N2 into a reactive form, such as ammonia (NH3) or nitrogen oxides (NOx), upon reacting with O2 and H2. The aim of this thesis is to elucidate (wet) plasma-based nitrogen fixation with a focus on (1) the role of pulsing in achieving low energy consumption, (2) the role of H2O as a hydrogen source in nitrogen fixation and (3) elucidation of nitrogen fixation pathways in humid air and humid N2 plasma in a combined experimental and computational study. Furthermore, this thesis aims to take into account the knowledge-gaps and challenges identified in the discussion of the state of the art. Specifically, (1) we put our focus on branching out to another way of introducing water into the plasma system, i.e. H2O vapor, (2) we de-couple the problem for pathway elucidation by starting with characterization of the chosen plasma, next a simpler gas mixture and building up from there, (3) we include modelling, though not under wet conditions and (4) we focus on also analyzing species and performance outside liquid H2O. Firstly, based on the reaction analysis of a validated quasi-1D model, we can conclude that pulsing is indeed the key factor for energy-efficient NOx- formation, due to the strong temperature drop it causes. Secondly, the thesis shows that added H2O vapor, and not liquid H2O, is the main source of H for NH3 generation. Related to this, we discuss how the selectivity of plasma-based NF in humid air and humid N2 can be controlled by changing the humidity in the feed gas. Interestingly, NH3 production can be achieved in both N2 and air plasmas using H2O as a H source. Lastly, we identified a significant loss mechanism for NH3 and HNO2 that occurs in systems where these species are synthesized simultaneously, i.e. downstream from the plasma, HNO2 reacts with NH3 to form NH4NO2, which decomposes into N2 and H2O. This reduces the effective NF when not properly addressed, and should therefore be considered in future works aimed at optimizing plasma-based NF. In conclusion, this thesis adds further to the current state of the art of plasma-based NF both in the presence of H2O and in dry systems.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:197038		Serial	9088
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Xu, W.
	Title	Plasma-catalytic DRM : study of LDH derived catalyst for DRM in a GAP plasma system		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	350 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract	Plasma is considered one of the promising technologies to solve greenhouse gas problems, as it can activate CO2 and CH4 at relatively low temperatures. Among the various types of plasmas, the gliding arc plasmatron (GAP) is promising, as it has a high level of non-equilibrium and high electron density. Nevertheless, the conversion of CO2 and CH4 in the GAP reactor is limited. Therefore, combining the GAP reactor with catalysts and making use of the heat produced by the plasma to provide thermal energy to the catalyst, forming a post-plasma catalytic (PPC) system, is hypothesized to improve its performance. Therefore, in this PhD research, we investigate important aspects of the PPC concept towards the use of the heat produced by GAP plasma to heat the plasma bed, without additional energy input. Aiming at this, based on a literature study (chapter 1), Ni-loaded layered double hydroxide (LDH) derived catalyst with good thermal catalytic DRM performance were chosen as the catalyst material. Before applying the LDH as a support material, the rehydration property of calcined LDH in moist and liquid environment was studied as part of chapter 2. The data indicated that after high temperatures calcination (600-900 C), the obtained layered double oxides (LDOs) can rehydrate into LDH, although, the rehydrated LDH were different from the original LDH. In chapter 3, different operating conditions, such as gas flow rate, gas compositions (e.g. CH4/CO2 ratio and nitrogen dilution), and addition of H2O were studied to investigate optimal conditions for PPC DRM, identifying possible differences in temperature profiles and exhaust gas compositions that might influence the catalytic performance. Subsequently, the impact of different PPC configurations, making use of the heat and exhaust gas composition produced by the GAP plasma, is shown in Chapter 4. Experiments studying the impact of adjusting the catalyst bed distance to the post-plasma, the catalyst amount, the influence of external heating (below 250 C) and the addition of H2O are discussed. As only limited improvement in the performance was achieved, a new type of catalyst bed was designed and utilized, as described in chapter 5. This improved configuration can realize better heat and mass transfer by directly connecting to the GAP device. The performance was improved and became comparable to the traditional thermal catalytic DRM results obtained at 800 C, although obtained by a fully electrically driven plasma.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:201534		Serial	9074
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Cagno, S.
	Title	Compositional analysis of historical glass		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2012	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	346 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:98145		Serial	7714
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Marchetti, A.
	Title	Novel insights and approaches for the analytical characterization of tangible cultural heritage objects		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2021	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	333 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract	Cultural heritage represents the vehicle of our cultural identity, handed over from past to future generations throughout human history. As a repository of fundamental cultural and social values, the preservation of all forms of cultural heritage is a responsibility of every society and of humankind as a whole. When it comes to tangible cultural heritage, preservation of heritage translates into preservation of objects and, therefore, of the materials they are constituted of. This crucial task relies heavily on the application of scientific analytical methods to answer material and conservation-related questions. The fundamental contribution of this analytical approach led, in the past decades, to an ever-deepening understanding of the factors governing the degradation of cultural heritage. However, the extreme complexity of the heritage object-environment system results in a massive research field, which inevitably presents relevant open questions. This is where the present PhD work comes into play, attempting to fill knowledge gaps in literature by starting from specific case studies and un-answered research questions. The multianalytical research conducted during this PhD unraveled fundamental information on the properties governing the reactivity and long-term behavior of different classes of materials, from α-brass in an indoor environment to artists’ pigments in the presence of light, moisture and soluble particulate matter (PM). The paramount importance of the synthesis conditions on the composition, physical properties and reactivity of heritage materials was also demonstrated, in particular for stable lead pyroantimonate and unstable Geranium lake artists’ pigments. Moreover, the study and characterization of specific heritage objects, namely a series of 16th century reliquary altarpieces and the painting L’Arlesienne, by Vincent Van Gogh, allowed to obtain relevant insights into their composition and on potential risks for their conservation. The challenging nature of the samples considered, created the perfect opportunity to test an innovative spectroscopic technique, optical photo-thermal IR (O-PTIR), for the characterization of heritage materials. Striking results were obtained, highlighting a great potential for the application of this non-destructive sub-micron molecular spectroscopy to the analysis of cultural heritage. Finally, in the last section of this work, strategies to implement the continuous monitoring of PM levels in indoor environmental quality studies were also considered, with a particular focus on the identification of environmental hazards for the collections housed in specific conservation environments (War Heritage Institute in Brussels and St. Martin’s church in Aalst, BE).
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:177849		Serial	8319
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Anaf, W.
	Title	The influence of particulate matter on cultural heritage : chemical characterisation of the interaction between the atmospheric environment and pigments		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2014	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	319 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:119329		Serial	8095
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Heijkers, S.
	Title	Plasma chemistry modelling for CO2 and CH4 conversion in various plasma types		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2020	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	316 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:168055		Serial	6582
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Legrand, S.
	Title	Advanced chemical imaging of artworks		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2021	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	315 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract	Last century the field of heritage sciences expanded beyond imagination. The inventions of X-ray radiography and infrared reflectography allowed experts to investigate paintings below the surface as well. More recent developments led to the advent of the field of hyperspectral imaging, to which the advanced chemical imaging methods, used in this thesis work, belong. These techniques not only allow to identify the components present in artworks, but also to visualize their distribution over these objects. The resulting distribution maps permit a broader public to interpret the scientific data and to relate these results with the artwork itself. During this thesis work a range of flat artworks were investigated in a non-destructive manner using mainly two macroscopic imaging techniques: macroscopic X-ray fluorescence scanning and macroscopic Fourier transformed mid-infrared scanning in reflectance mode. The resulting images were sometimes supplemented with microscopic techniques on a minute selection of samples to fully understand the layer build-up, composition and distribution of these materials over the stratigraphy. Illuminated manuscripts pushed the interpretation of the macroscopic imaging techniques: due to the impossibility of sampling, all answers had to be obtained non-destructively. Documenting masterpieces such as the Ghent Altarpiece by means of chemical imaging techniques, helped the restoration team, assisted by the international commission to make the daring decision of manually removing the non-original paint layers. Scanning stained-glass windows allowed experts to document the panels, create situation reports, identify later infills and guide the restoration process in a more efficient manner. By initially applying non-destructive imaging techniques, many of the research/conservation questions could already be answered. Based on the resulting distribution maps, only a very limited amount of sampling was required to obtain a representative set to answer the remaining questions. In most cases the combination of multiple methods was necessary to fully understand the situation. A similar trend could be seen in the research field: the collaboration between divergent disciples was often required in order to explain all observations. In order to completely break through, the scanning speed of these techniques has to increase even more in order to cover an acceptable surface in one workday. Parallel with the operational speed, the (basic) data treatment should also be streamlined more in order to allow a broader user group to access the results. Once these two improvements are carried out, these techniques become accessible to a larger public.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:176342		Serial	7420
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Cautaerts, N.
	Title	Nanoscale study of ageing and irradiation induced precipitates in the DIN 1.4970 alloy		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2019	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	306 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:161997		Serial	5392
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Uytdenhouwen, Y.
	Title	Tuning the performance of a DBD plasma reactor for CO2 reforming		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2020	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	303 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:174026		Serial	6774
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Voordeckers, D.
	Title	Design to breathe : understanding and altering wind patterns in street canyons to reduce human exposure to air pollution		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	xxii, 303 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Research Group for Urban Development; Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
	Abstract	Air pollution is proclaimed by the World Health Organiaation (WHO) as the biggest environmental threat to human health. Street canyons, or urban roads flanked by a continuous row of high buildings on both sides, are perceived as typical bottleneck areas for air quality due to their lack of natural ventilation. This doctoral thesis aims to integrate expert knowledge on in-canyon flow fields and pollution dispersion in street canyons from the specialized field of (bio)engineering into the field of urban planning and vice versa. In Chapter 1, a Geospatial Information System (GIS) method was developed to detect exposure zones and hotspot street canyons. A critical combination between aspect ratio (AR > 0.65) and traffic volume (TVmax > 300) was detected and subsequently used to detect hotspot street canyons in three major European cities (Antwerp, London and Paris). Chapter 2 focusses on acquiring in-depth knowledge on flow and concentration fields in street canyons by conducting an extensive literature review on over 200 studies and translates this knowledge into nineteen guidelines and eleven spatial tools, comprised in a toolbox for urban planning. Subsequently, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used into a research trough design process (Chapter 4) to illustrate how the design tools can be applied to a specific case study (Belgiëlei, Antwerp). Alternations to traffic lanes (traffic lane reduction and lateral displacement) combined with low boundary walls (LBWs), were found to reduce NO2 levels in the entire pedestrian area up to – 3.6 % and peak pollutions were reduced by -8 %. A maximum NO2 reduction was reached by combining a traffic lane displacement with hedges, adjustments to the tree planting pattern and an increased ground-level permeability, leading to reductions up to – 4.5 % in the pedestrian areas. In conclusion, urban design was found to be a valuable tool to enhance the effect of emission reduction strategies and draw in-canyon concentrations closer to the value of the background concentration. However, the background concentration seemed to dominate the efficiency of the urban design interventions and therefore, additional measures should be taken to reduce background pollution levels. This dissertation aims to contribute to the awareness of air pollution in street canyons, as well as support local governments in taking action by delivering spatial tools and guidelines applicable for urban planning and represents a framework for the dissemination of expert information on air quality in street canyons to the field of urban planning.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:196399		Serial	7767
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Bekaert, J.
	Title	Ab initio description of multicomponent superconductivity in bulk to atomically thin materials		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2018	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	290 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:151304		Serial	5192
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Schram, J.
	Title	Electrochemical sensing strategies for multiple illicit drugs		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2024	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	290 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
	Abstract	Today, illicit drugs are omnipresent in society. Clandestine markets are growing faster than ever before, record amounts of cocaine are seized in seaports and airports, while the associated violence is spiralling out of control. In addition, drug monitoring centres worldwide are warning for the increasing complexity of the drug markets, as the traditionally popular drugs are joined by countless new synthetic variants, while medical drugs are also increasingly being abused. In order to provide services confronted with illicit drug samples (police, customs, forensic scientists, first responders, …) with important information on the identity of an unknown sample, suitable analytical tests are required. While these exist for laboratory environments, on-site applicable tests are important to accelerate the decision-making process. Electrochemical sensors have all the advantages required for such on-site tests: they are fast, portable, easy-to-use and reliable. Furthermore, they are not influenced by colours, which are frequently added to drug samples to deceive the existing tests. Previous work has mainly focussed on the detection of a single drug per analysis. However, many drugs could be encountered due to the diversity of the drug markets. Therefore, this project developed electrochemical strategies for the detection of multiple drugs simultaneously. First, the electrochemical behaviour of the individual drugs was studied in different measuring conditions (assessing the influence of pH, concentration and temperature). Then, all findings and strategies were combined to detect multiple targets simultaneously. An electrochemical sensor was developed for the four most popular drugs at music festivals: cocaine, MDMA, amphetamine and ketamine. This sensor generates a so-called ‘superfingerprint’ of the sample, which is then automatically interpreted by a developed algorithm in order to produce a straightforward output. Finally, a pill analysis sensor was developed in the context of drug checking services, where a consumer can anonymously have a sample chemically analysed to obtain information on the composition, dose and potentially harmful additives. The sensor achieved an outstanding accuracy in identifying the main component and provided the option to quantify, as well as an indication on the presence of other substances in the sample. The project’s findings demonstrate the potential for electrochemistry in illicit drug detection and provide a basis for the development of new sensors, targeting other drug combinations.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:203199		Serial	9029
Permanent link to this record



	Author	De Meyer, S.
	Title	Macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction in reflection mode : a new technique for chemical imaging of artworks		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	285 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Art; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
	Abstract	Scientific research into cultural heritage has significantly grown in importance over the past decades. The growing popularity of macroscopic imaging techniques such as X-ray fluorescence or Fourier transform infrared now means that conservators and restorers have access to highly objective information on the chemical composition of a painting without the necessity for destructive sampling. As many works of art are heterogeneous on the macroscopic scale, it is clear that solely relying on microscopic samples does not provide sufficiently representative information on the condition of a painting and that macroscopic imaging techniques should be considered a crucial part of the analytical toolkit for conservation science. The goal of this research has been to investigate the added value of reflection-mode macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction (MA-XRPD) for scientific and art historical investigations of cultural heritage artefacts. A prototype scanner was developed after careful consideration of the individual components. This mobile instrument allows for the analysis of flat objects such as oil paintings with reflection MA-XRPD. In this manner images can be obtained that show the distribution of crystalline components present at the surface of the stratigraphy. These crystalline materials can originate from different sources and include original pigments and non-original pigments. MA-XRPD offers novel insights into original pigments such as ultramarine, copper sulfates and lead white. In Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer the MA-XRPD instrument was used to prove that Vermeer used multiple subtypes of lead white to achieve subtle optical effects while in the painting The Night Watch by Rembrandt the lead white composition was studied in detail; multiple rare lead-based compounds were identified that could be linked to the usage of specific driers in the oil paint. By investigating the presence of degradation products, MA-XRPD can be used to assess the conservation state of an artwork. Secondary alteration products were identified in paintings by Nellius and Mignon, explaining why the paintings had visually deteriorated over time. MA-XRPD registered the presence of lead arsenates which were formed from the original yellow arsenic-based orpiment. By combining microscopic and macroscopic analysis, a chemical degradation pathway for the conversion of the unstable orpiment pigment was proposed. In this manner, MA-XRPD can also be used to provide highly valuable information for conservators and restorers by pinpointing areas that have undergone degradation and to guide sampling campaigns.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198766		Serial	8896
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Alfeld, M.W.
	Title	Development of scanning macr-XRF for the investigation of historical paintings		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2013	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	264 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:111339		Serial	7803
Permanent link to this record



	Author	De Jong, M.
	Title	A highly accurate portable electrochemical sensor for cocaine : from methodology to testing in the field		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2020	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	263 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:170912		Serial	6538
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Muys, M.
	Title	Microbial protein as sustainable feed and food ingredient : production and nutritional quality of phototrophs and aerobic heterotrophs		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2019	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	262 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract	In iets meer dan 30 jaar moeten we tot 50% meer eiwit produceren, terwijl onze conventionele lineaire voedselproductieketen reeds de grenzen van duurzaamheid overschrijdt. Microbieel eiwit (MP), de eiwitrijke biomassa van micro-organismen, werd onderzocht als nieuw voeder en voedselingrediënt in een circulaire eiwitproductieketen. MP-productie kan gebaseerd zijn op primaire grondstoffen om zo de inefficiënte stappen in de huidige eiwitproductie over te slaan, of de productie kan gebaseerd zijn op secundaire grondstoffen afkomstig van de verliezen in de conventionele productieketen (bijvoorbeeld afvalwater). Zowel indirecte als directe strategiën voor nutriëntenherwinning kunnen geïdentificeerd worden. Indirecte nutriëntenherwinning werd onderzocht door struviet toe te passen als fosfor- en stikstofbron voor MP-productie. Struviet, een herwinningsproduct in de afvalwaterzuivering, bleek een hoge zuiverheidsgraad te hebben waardoor het een uitstekende selectieve barrière vormt tussen afvalstroom en MP productie. Oplossingssnelheden en MP groei-experimenten toonden aan dat struviet gemakkelijk gedoseerd kan worden in functie van de microbiële nutriëntenbehoeftes, waarnaast problemen vermeden worden gerelateerd aan de turbiditeit van nevenstromen, wat de productie van fototrofe MP mogelijk maakt. Daarnaast werd ook directe nutriëntenherwinning onderzocht. Hierbij werden de voedingswaarde en veiligheid geanalyseerd van biomassa bestaande uit aerobe heterotrofe bacteriën (AHB) afkomstig van effluentzuivering van 25 bedrijven in de voedings- en drankensector. Verder werd ook de temporele variabiliteit in kaart gebracht. Er werd een veelbelovend eiwitgehalte geobserveerd waarvan de variabiliteit aanzienlijke was. Verder werd aangetoond dat het eiwitgehalte positief gecorreleerd was met stikstofbelasting en negatief met slibverblijftijd, wat een indicatie is dat de implementatie van een geoptimaliseerd productieproces, de biomassakwaliteit gevoelig kan verhogen. Bovendien was de veiligheid als veevoeder gegarandeerd op vlak van de meeste contaminanten. In het daarop volgende hoofdstuk werd de variabiliteit in voedingswaarde en veiligheid bestudeerd van commerciële fototrofe MP (de microalgen Chlorella en Spirulina), gekweekt op primaire grondstoffen. De waargenomen variabiliteit in voedingswaarde vereist verdere optimalisatie van het productieproces. Er werd ook waargenomen dat een hoog eiwitgehalte geen hoge totale voedingswaarde impliceert, omdat de verteerbaarheid en de eiwitkwaliteit nog steeds ongunstig kunnen zijn. Op basis van gemeten contaminanten geeft een veilige consumptiedosis aan dat microalgen perfect kunnen worden geconsumeerd als volwaardige eiwitbron in plaats van als supplement, hun huidige hoofdtoepassing. In een laatste experimenteel hoofdstuk werd onderzocht hoe de variabiliteit in biomassakwaliteit van microalgen kan worden gereduceerd en hoe een stabiele, hoogwaardige biomassaproductie kan worden bekomen. De invloed van oogsttijd, operationele modus en fotoperiode werd bepaald op de productiviteit van biomassa, eiwit en essentiële aminozuren en er werden optimale productieparameters geïdentificeerd. Samengevat is MP-productie op basis van indirecte en directe nutriëntenherwinning veelbelovend. Verdere technologische ontwikkelingen en het verhogen van bewustwording en sociale acceptatie, moeten een verdere introductie van MP in de voeder- en voedingsmarkt faciliteren. Hier kan MP een belangrijke oplossing vertegenwoordigen om de exponentieel groeiende wereldbevolking op een duurzame manier te voeden.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:160717		Serial	8244
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Zhang, K.
	Title	Revealing the correlation between titania support properties and propylphosphonic acid modification by in-depth characterization		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	XVI, 262 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract	Grafting organophosphonic acids modification (PAs) on metal oxides has shown to be a flexible technology to tune the surface properties of metal oxides for various applications. Nevertheless, there are still puzzles that need to be addressed, such as the correlations between metal oxides properties (types of surface reactive sites) and the modification (modification degree), the correlations between metal oxides properties and the properties of modified surfaces. Moreover, the currently used liquid-phase method for the grafting has associated impeding effects of solvent on tailoring the modification degrees, and also causes the formation of metal phosphonate side products. The solid-phase method can induce the unwanted changes in crystal phase of supports. Based on these questions, the three titania supports with divergent surface properties were selected as the metal oxides supports investigated, propylphosphonic acid (3PA) modification was carried out under the same synthesis conditions: four different concentrations, two solvents (water or toluene), and one reaction time (4 h) and temperature (90 ). MeOH chemisorption was introduced to probe the surface (un)reactive sites for 3PA modification. On the other hand, MeOH chemisorption and inverse gas chromatography (IGC) were combined to characterize the changes in surface polarity and acidic properties induced by the modification. Next, a solid-phase method, manual grinding, was proposed to graft 3PA on titania, avoiding the impeding effects of solvent on improving modification degree and the formation of the titania phosphonate side products, as well as preserving the crystal phase. The results indicate that methanol chemisorption can qualitatively analyze the surface active sites that are consumed by 3PA modification, its chemisorption capacity shows the consistent trend with the maximum modification degree, hereby revealing the kinds of interactions that are important in controlling surface coverage. Titania supports is found to play an important role in changes in surface polarity and acidic properties by charactering the three modified titania samples at a similar modification degree using the methanol chemisorption coupled with in-situ infrared and thermogravimetric-mass spectrometer, and the IGC. Moreover, IGC provides additional information about the changes in binding modes. Furthermore, grafting 3PA modification on titania was achieved by manual grinding. Compared to the liquid-phase method, the maximum modification degree obtained by the manual grinding is 25 % higher while using 83.3 % or 75.0% lower amounts of expensive 3PA and limiting the formation of titania phosphonate side products. Compared to the reactive milling method, the proposed manual grinding method preserves the crystal phase(s) of titania.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198726		Serial	8924
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Vermeulen, M.
	Title	Natural and amorphous arsenic sulfide pigments : characterization, degradation and influence of the binding medium		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2017	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	258 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:147218		Serial	8295
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Grubova, I.Y.
	Title	Density functional theory study of interface interactions in hydroxyapatite/rutile composites for biomedical applications		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2018	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	251 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:158087		Serial	7760
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Pedrazo Tardajos, A.
	Title	Advanced graphene supports for 3D in situ transmission electron microscopy		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2021	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	247 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract	Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an ideal tool to investigate nanomaterials. The information from TEM experiments allows us to link the structure and composition of nanomaterials to their intrinsic physical properties. However, despite the significant evolution of the TEM field during the last two decades, major progress is still possible through the development of optimal TEM techniques and supports. The results presented in this thesis focus on the optimization of sample supports and their application. Among the different options, graphene has previously been reported as useful sample support for electron microscopy due to its unparalleled properties, for example, it is the thinnest known support and provides a protective effect to the sample under investigation. Unfortunately, commercial graphene grids show poor quality, in terms of intactness and cleanness, inhibiting their wide application within the field. Therefore, this thesis focuses on the application of optimized graphene TEM grids, obtained by transferring high quality graphene using an advanced procedure. This improvement on the transfer has enabled the visualization of materials with low contrast and high sensitivity towards the electron beam, such as surface ligands capping gold nanoparticles or metal halide perovskites. Furthermore, the implemented protocol is not only of interest for conventional TEM grids but also a major benefit for in situ TEM studies, where the sample is investigated in real time under certain stimuli. Hence, the same graphene transfer technology can be also applied to advanced in situ MEMS holders dedicated for both heating and gas experiments, where the thickness and insulating nature of the silicon nitride (Si3N4) support may hamper some applications. By engineering periodic arrays of holes in their Si3N4 membrane by focused ion beam, onto which the graphene is transferred, it has been possible to get proof-of-concept 3D in situ investigations of heat-induced morphological and compositional transformations of complex nanosystems. As an example, it has enabled the investigation of the possible phase-transition of metal halide perovskites upon heating using 2D and 3D structural characterization. Moreover, it has allowed the study of in situ three-dimensional nanoparticle dynamics during gas phase catalysis as well as the first steps that would lead towards the design and creation of the first Graphene Gas Cell. Consequently, implementation of the advanced graphene transfer technology described in this thesis is envisaged to impact a broad range of future experiments.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:181143		Serial	6836
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Ghorbanfekr Kalashami, H.
	Title	Graphene-based membranes and nanoconfined water : molecular dynamics simulation study		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2019	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	243 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:160548		Serial	5216
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Sóti, V.
	Title	Catalytic detoxification of lignocellulose hydrolyzate		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2019	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	XXVII, 243 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE)
	Abstract	The present PhD research investigated the possibility of catalytic detoxification of poplar wood based and steam exploded lignocellulosic hydrolyzate with different types of laccase enzymes, with special focus on ethanol and lactic acid products at industrially relevant parameters: high final product concentration, high initial substrate loading and integrated processes. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process was taken as a base case and five types of laccases were thoroughly investigated on their utilization potential. Phenolic removal from the liquid xylose rich fraction (XRF) was higher with fungal laccases (65-90 %) compared to approximately 30 % removal with bacterial laccase. Moreover, the optimal pH of fungal laccases was close to pH 4.5, the optimum for cellulase, while the bacterial laccase worked at basic pH. Integrating laccase treatment and hydrolysis together showed that fungal laccases have negative impact on final sugar concentration, while bacterial laccase had a strong positive effect. Although bacterial laccase removed less phenol and although its optimal conditions are difficult to integrate with hydrolysis, its enhancing effect on cellulase activity makes it a better candidate for application. The presence of the solid fraction (SF) alters the phenolic concentration evolution significantly, thus screening experiments with the liquid fraction alone do not provide sufficient information for the combined process. Magnetic Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates (m-CLEAs) immobilization was assessed for bacterial laccase. m-CLEAs decreased phenolic concentration faster at every pH compared to free bacterial laccase; however, the removal was caused by adsorption rather than by enzyme activity. Although the size of m-CLEAs particles are in the µm range, around 90 % of the initial catalyst mass was recycled from a dense (15 % substrate loading) mixture via magnetic separation. The high recycling rate is promising; m-CLEAs immobilization method can have industrial utilization potential. Minimum sugar revenue (MSR) estimations show that currently hardwood based MSR is 70 % more expensive than corn grain based MSR. About 7-10 fold cellulase activity increase will be needed until MSR will be competitive with corn grain MSR. However, m-CLEAs cellulase can already be competitive if the corn prices are in the higher regime of last year’s prices.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	no
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:180125		Serial	7584
Permanent link to this record



	Author	van 't Veer, K.C.
	Title	Plasma kinetics modelling of nitrogen fixation : ammonia synthesis in dielectric barrier discharges with catalysts		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2022	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	241 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract	Ammonia (NH3) synthesis is crucial for the production of artificial fertilizer and is carried out through the Haber-Bosch process. With an energy consumption of 30 GJ/t-NH3 and the emission of 2 kg-CO2/kg-NH3, ammonia is the chemical with the largest environmental footprint. Haber-Bosch operates under high pressure and high temperature conditions. Plasma technology potentially allows greener ammonia production. Dielectric barrier discharges are a popular plasma source in which a catalyst is easily incorporated. The combination of plasma and catalyst can circumvent the harsh reaction conditions of the Haber-Bosch process. Plasma kinetics modelling is used to gain insight into the mechanisms of such plasma-catalytic systems. Special attention is given to the instantaneous power absorbed by the electrons, the relevant fraction of the microdischarges and the discharge volumes. The importance of vibrational excitation is investigated. Depending on the exact discharge conditions, it was found that both the strong microdischarges and vibrational excitation can be simultaneously important for the ammonia yield. The temporal behavior of filamentary dielectric barrier discharges was explicitly taken into account. Ammonia was found to decompose during the microdischarges due to electron impact dissociation. At the same time atomic nitrogen and other excited species are created. Those reactive species recombine to ammonia in the afterglow through various elementary Eley-Rideal and Langmuir-Hinshelwood surface reaction steps with a net ammonia gain. Finally, the concept of the fraction of microdischarges was generalized. It directly represents the efficiency with which the applied electric power is transferred to each individual particle in the plasma reactor. It is argued that any type of spatial or temporal non-uniformity of the plasma will cause unequal treatment of the gas molecules in the reactor, corresponding to a lower efficiency at which the power is transferred to the gas molecules. All of those insights aid in an increased understanding of plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis as a potential green chemistry solution to the synthesis of ammonia on small scale.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:188246		Serial	7193
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Van der Paal, J.
	Title	Generation, transport and molecular interactions of reactive species in plasma medicine		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2019	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	237 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:162591		Serial	6297
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Ramakers, M.
	Title	Using a gliding arc plasmatron for CO2 conversion : the future in industry?		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2019	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	235 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record;
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:158254		Serial	5282
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Daems, E.
	Title	Shaping up oligonucleotides : aptamer-target recognition investigated by native mass spectrometry		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2021	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	235 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
	Abstract	Aptamers are short, synthetic DNA or RNA molecules that are characterized by a specific 3D conformation which enables specific target recognition. Aptamers are promising tools in many application fields from sensing to therapeutics. One of the major challenges in the aptamer field is understanding the relationship between the sequence and what determines the higher-order structure and specific interactions with targets. Therefore, this PhD thesis focuses on the use of different mass spectrometry (MS) based approaches to characterize aptamers and their interactions. Several of these approaches are already widely applied to study other biomolecules, such as proteins, but are still largely unexplored for aptamers and oligonucleotides in general. A first focus was put on obtaining information on the higher-order structure and conformational stability of aptamers using a combination of MS and with ion mobility (IM) spectrometry by performing collision-induced unfolding (CIU) experiments. CIU was shown to hold great promise to analyze the conformational dynamics and gas-phase stabilities of aptamers. Next, the capabilities and limitations of native IM-MS for the analysis of noncovalent interactions of aptamers were demonstrated. The conformational behavior and interactions of cocaine-binding aptamers were studied and it was found that relative binding affinities of aptamers that only differ slightly in sequence and structure can be determined using native MS. Moreover, native IM-MS allowed the detection of small conformational changes upon binding of a target, which were found to be dependent on the binding mode of the aptamer. An adaptive binding mechanism was suggested for flexible aptamers that require more reorganization upon binding. In the final part of this thesis, the importance of thoroughly characterizing and validating aptamer-target interactions before using them in an application was emphasized. Moreover, the gathered insights were applied in our own development of a proof-of-concept aptamer-based sensor. This was shown by investigating the interactions of ampicillin aptamers which were found to not bind the target they were selected for in the first place. A multi-analytical approach combining complementary techniques was used for this purpose since no single technique is generally applicable to characterize all aptamers and their interactions and to obtain a comprehensive picture of the aptamer-target interactions. Furthermore, such multi-analytical approach was used to characterize a testosterone-binding aptamer while developing an aptamer-based electrochemiluminescent sensing strategy for this target. This shows the importance of native MS, in combination with other techniques, to thoroughly understand the aptamer-target interactions in the development of a designed application.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:178116		Serial	8517
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Ysebaert, T.
	Title	Modelling and experimental validation of deposition on vegetation to facilitate urban particulate matter mitigation		Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue	Pages	xxvi, 234 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract	Exposure to air pollution, such as particulate matter (PM), causes adverse health effects, particularly to the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system. PM is the collective name for all kinds of particles ranging from small particles and liquid droplets, which contain organic compounds, acids and metals, to soil or dust particles. One distinguishes PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.1, which have aerodynamic particle sizes smaller than 10, 2.5 and 0.1 µm, respectively. It is mainly the latter that is the most harmful, as PM0.1 penetrates deep into the respiratory system and carries relatively more toxic substances than the other PM fractions. Over a 15-year period, PM concentrations in European member states have fallen by about 30%. Nevertheless, the World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines, which became stricter in 2021, are exceeded in most places around the world. Particularly in cities, excessive levels of PM are measured and it is here that PM mitigation should be investigated. For this, the implementation of urban green infrastructure, including trees, shrubs, green roofs and green walls, is being looked at. Plants hinder airflow and remove PM from the air by deposition on their leaves and branches. This process is known as dry deposition. Plants can capture PM very efficiently, due to their complex structure of leaves and branches. Green walls offer significant advantages over other types of urban green infrastructure because they can grow on the huge available wall area and, because they do not hinder air circulation, as we sometimes see with trees. Green walls are believed to have a much greater, untapped potential to reduce PM pollution. However, a literature review showed that we do not know the quantitative impact of green walls and lack the tools and/or general methodology to do so. The objective of this thesis is therefore to develop a method for assessing PM removal by green walls, based on predictive models and based on relevant parameters that are experimentally determined. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a numerical method to simulate airflow in complex environments such as cities. These models can also simulate the vegetation-wind interaction in detail and are interesting tools to assess the effect of green walls on PM concentrations in real environments. It is important to first study the aerodynamic effect of green walls and parameterise it correctly in CFD models. Plants decrease the wind speed and create turbulence through a combination of viscous and form drag, which are determined by the permeability (K) and drag coefficient (Cd), respectively. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted with three commonly found climbers (Hedera helix, Parthenocissus tricuspidata and Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and the variation of leaf area density was investigated for two of them. It was observed that the air resistance depended on plant species, leaf area density and wind speed. The difference between the plant species was assigned to the functional leaf size (FLS), the ratio of the largest circle within the boundaries of the leaf to the total leaf area. FLS is likely associated with other morphological characteristics of plants that, when considered collectively, provide a more comprehensive representation of leaf complexity. The pressure and velocity measurements obtained were used to optimise the permeability and drag coefficient in a CFD model. At wind speeds below 0.6 m s-1, the resistance was mainly determined by viscous drag and a larger leaf size resulted in a higher viscous drag. At wind speeds above 1.5 m s-1, form drag was dominant and the parameterised Cd decreased with increasing wind speed due to the sheltering effect of successive plant elements. The leaf area density had a significant effect on K and Cd and, is therefore an important plant parameters in CFD models. The main conclusion here is that the common practice of using a constant Cd to model the influence of plants on the air flow leads to deviations from reality. Wind tunnels are highly suitable to study the impact of green walls on PM concentration under controlled environmental conditions. For this purpose, a new wind tunnel setup was built and great attention was paid to obtaining a uniform air flow. Thus, based on CFD models, appropriate flow controllers were chosen, consisting of honeycombs and screens with different mesh sizes. New PM generation devices and measuring equipment were installed and set up appropriately. Devices were available for generating and measuring ultrafine dust (<0.1 µm, i.e. PM0.1) and fine dust (<0.3 µm, i.e. PM0.3) consisting of soot particles, and, on the other hand, fine dust with particle sizes smaller than 2.5 (PM2.5) and 10 µm (PM10) consisting of 'Arizona fine test dust'. With the new wind tunnel setup, it was possible to measure the influence of Hedera helix (common ivy), grown in a planter against a climbing aid, on the PM concentration and this was expressed by a collection efficiency, i.e. the difference in concentration in front and behind the plants normalised for the incoming concentration. The collection efficiency of H. helix depended on the particle size of the PM and wind speed. The collection efficiency decreased when the particle size increased from 0.02 to 0.2 µm and increased again for particle sizes above 0.3 µm. The collection efficiency also increased with increasing wind speed, especially for particle sizes > 0.03 µm. On the other hand, relative humidity and the type of PM (soot or dust) did not significantly affect the collection efficiency. The main objective of this study was to obtain an optimised size-resolved deposition model. Dry deposition occurs through several mechanisms, in particular gravity, diffusion, impaction and interception, and the subsequent resuspension of deposited PM back to the environment. The modelling of these mechanisms was described by \citet{Zhang2001} and \citet{Petroff2010}. The data obtained from the wind tunnel experiments allowed validating these deposition models. It was for the first time that deposition of real PM on green walls was studied. The different PM deposition mechanisms were found to be strongly dependent on particle size and wind speed. The models of \citet{Zhang2001} and \citet{Petroff2010} each matched PM concentration measurements for only certain particle sizes. Therefore, a combination of the two models was investigated and the root mean square error was lower by on average 3.5% (PM < 0.03 µm) and 46% (PM > 0.03 µm) compared to the original models at wind speeds greater than 1.5 m s-1. For wind speeds less than 1.5 m s-1, the optimised model did not differ from the original models. The optimised model was able to meet the imposed criteria for air quality models, where a correct model exhibits low deviation from measurements ('normalised mean square error' < 1.5), low bias ('fractional bias' between -0.3 and 0.3) and high R2. In comparison, the R$2$ of the optimised model was 0.57, while that of Zhang et al. (2001) and Petroff et al. (2010) was 0.23 and 0.31, respectively. The optimised model was however characterised by a high scatter, with the fraction of modeled results located within a factor of two of the measurements being lower than 50. A model study with a green façade oriented parallel to the incoming airflow showed that deposition by interception and impaction reduced remarkably, but that the orientation had no effect on deposition by Brownian diffusion. A promising green wall form for PM mitigation is the living wall system (LWS). LWS consist of supporting structures with substrate to grow plants in and can be planted with a variety of plant species. This allows to select plant species with optimal characteristics to achieve PM deposition. These characteristics refer to the macro- and microstructure of the leaves, and research has been conducted mainly on these. On the other hand, the influence of the supporting structure and substrate on PM concentrations has rarely been studied. With the new wind tunnel setup, LWS from different manufacturers were tested for their ability to capture PM. The setups were subjected for three hours to an air flow with a low PM concentration (resuspension phase) and then for three hours to an air flow to which additional PM was added (deposition phase). Some setups were able to decrease the PM concentration during both phases, while others just caused the concentration to increase. Some systems were able to reduce particulate matter concentration during both phases, namely LWS consisting of planters (-2% and -4% for PM0.1 and PM2.5, respectively) and textile cloths (-23% and -5% for PM0.1 and PM2.5, respectively). While other systems actually resulted in an increase in concentration especially LWS existing textile fabrics consisting of geotextiles (+11% for both PM fractions) and with moss as substrate (+2% and +5% for PM0.1 and PM2.5, respectively). This highlights the importance of careful selection of suspension systems to reduce particulate matter concentrations. Further research is therefore needed on the materials used in these systems in relation to their particulate content, as well as on plant development in these systems. In addition to air measurements, measurements were taken of the amount of PM deposited on the leaves and suspension system of LWS. This allowed the difference in PM resuspension and deposition between plant species to be investigated. The amount of deposited particulate matter was determined based on 'saturation isothermal remanent magnetisation' (SIRM), a measure of magnetisable particulate matter. This was possible because the added 'Arizona fine test dust' contained iron oxide. However, no significant difference was observed between the SIRM values measured before the wind tunnel experiment, after resuspension and after deposition. This suggested that the iron oxide content in the Arizona fine test dust was too low to measure a significant difference in the SIRM values on leaves after three hours. The plant species did give rise to different SIRM values ranging between 5 and 260 µ A. In particular, SIRM values above 26 µ A were observed for the plant species that were grouped due to their significantly higher accumulation of PM. 'Specific leaf area' (SLA), specifically the ratio of the one-sided 'fresh' leaf area to its dry mass, was the significant leaf characteristic. SLA correlated with leaf complexity. In particular, plant species with elongated leaves were characterized by low SLA, high FLS and high complexity and showed significantly higher SIRM values. Finally, the optimised size-resolved deposition model was also tested in an urban model to get an idea of the impact of a green wall on PM concentrations in a so-called 'street canyon'. These are narrow streets with high buildings on both sides, making air pollution more persistent. To this end, an ideal scenario was tested in which a green wall was introduced along both sides of the street over a length of about 270 m. The model result showed a decrease in PM2.5 and PM10 of 46 ± 12% and 52 ± 14%. This result is of course for a very optimal scenario where the green wall covers the entire building façades. Since this is not feasible in reality, other ways of promoting contact between green walls and polluted air can be explored. The insights obtained illustrate that the use of climbing plants can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to reduce PM concentrations. Moreover, the findings showed that models can be used to investigate the impact of green walls on PM levels. These findings fit within the broader context of designing healthy and sustainable urban environments and developing innovative solutions based on solid scientific knowledge.
	Address
	Corporate Author			Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication	Editor
	Language		Wos	Publication Date
	Series Editor		Series Title	Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue	Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited	Open Access
	Notes			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:199439		Serial	8900
Permanent link to this record