Previous research has shown that the naturally occurring reactive electrophilic species (RES), 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA), not only serves as a precursor for jasmonic acid but is also a potent antifungal compound. However, both the low amount present in plants and the multis…
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This thesis is concerned with the development of hydrogels that adhere to skin and can beused for topical or transdermal release of active compounds for therapeutic or cosmeticuse.The suitability of a range of monomers and initiator systems for the production of skinadhesive hyd…
This thesis describes the design and synthesis of a variety of functionalised phosphine oxides andsulfides, based on the structure of trioctylphosphine oxide, synthesised for the purpose of surfacemO(ilification of quantum dots. The ability ofthe ligands to modify the surface ch…
The research described in this thesis explored the synthesis and characterisation of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers of lactide through non-toxic titanium alkoxide initiators. The research objectives focused on the preparation of polylactides in both solvent and solvent…
The thesis presents an experimentally validated modelling study of the flow of combustion air in an industrial radiant tube burner (RTB). The RTB is used typically in industrial heat treating furnaces. The work has been initiated because of the need for improvements in burner li…
Hypercoiling poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PSMA) is known to undergo conformational transition in response to environmental stimuli. The association of PSMA with lipid 2-dilauryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC) produces polymer-lipid complex analogues to lipoprotein ass…
The objectives of this research were to investigate the perforamnce of a rubberwood gasifier and engine with electricity generation and to identify opportunities for the implementation of such a system in Malaysia. The experimental work included the design, fabrication and commi…
Lead in petrol has been identified as a health hazard and attempts are being made to create a lead-free atmosphere. Through an intensive study a review is made of the various options available to the automobile and petroleum industry. The economic and atmospheric penalties coupl…
Hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) has been used as a rocket propellant binder which is required to be stored for at least twenty years. It is found that the excellent stress-strain characteristics of this propellant can be totally lost, during this long storage, due to th…
Water-based latices, used in the production of internal liners for beer/beverage cans, were investigated using a number of analytical techniques. The epoxy-graft-acrylic polymers, used to prepare the latices, and films, produced from those latices, were also examined. It was con…
The enzyme catalysed polytransesterification of diesters with diols was investigated under various conditions. The most consistent results were obtained using crude porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) suspended in anhydrous diethyl ether. Addition of molecular sieve to the above sys…
The cationic polymerisation of various monomers, including cyclic ethers bearingenergetic nitrate ester (-ON02) groups, substituted styrenes and isobutylene has beeninvestigated. The main reaction studied has been the ring-opening polymerisation of 3-(nitratomethyl)-3-methyl oxe…
Ion exchange resins are used for many purposes in various areas of science and commerce. One example is the use of cation exchange resins in the nuclear industry for the clean up of radioactively contaminated water (for example the removal of 137Cs). However, during removal of r…
The continuous separation of beet molasses resulting in a sucrose rich product and a non-sugar waste product was carried out using a rotating annular chromatograph. The annulus was 12 mm wide and 1.4 m long and was packed with a sodium charged 5.5% cross-linked polystyrene ion e…
N-vinylcarbazole was polymerised using the free radical catalyst (azo-bisisobutyronitrile) and cationic catalysts (boron-trifluoride etherate and aluminium chloride). The polymers produced were characterised by molecular weight measurements and powder x-ray diffraction. The tact…
The primary objective of this research has been to determine the potential of fluorescence spectroscopy as a method for analysis of surface deposition on contact lenses. In order to achieve this it was first necessary to ascertain whether fluorescence analysis would be able to d…
The kinetics and mechanisms of ring opening polymerization and copolymerizntion of different cyclic ethers were studied using mainly a cationic system of iinitiation. BF30Et2/ethanediol. The cyclic ethers reacted differently showing that ring strain and basicity are the main dri…
The aim of this study was to use the transformation of anionic to metathesis polymerization to produce block co-polymers of styrene-b-pentenylene using WC16/PStLi and WC16/PStLi/AlEtC12 catalyst systems. Analysis of the products using SEC and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy enabled …