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Carbon Dioxide Gasification Of Biochar: A Study On Utilizing Captured Co2 To Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emission And Improving Carbon Conversion Efficiency, Nnamdi Ofuani Jan 2024

Carbon Dioxide Gasification Of Biochar: A Study On Utilizing Captured Co2 To Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emission And Improving Carbon Conversion Efficiency, Nnamdi Ofuani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With rapidly growing global economies and world population, fossil fuel continues to play a major role in meeting current energy demands. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have, hence, been implemented to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. With the implementation of CCS technologies comes the need to utilize the captured CO2. This research, therefore, proposes CO2 gasification of biochar as a viable carbon utilization pathway. With captured CO2 coming at various concentrations, there is a need to understand how CO2 concentration affects biochar conversion to useful products. This study, therefore, evaluates the effects …


Removal Of Phosphorous, Copper And Zinc From Stormwater Using Powdered Activated Carbon (Pac) Based Water Treatment Residuals, Foysol Mahmud Jan 2024

Removal Of Phosphorous, Copper And Zinc From Stormwater Using Powdered Activated Carbon (Pac) Based Water Treatment Residuals, Foysol Mahmud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) based water treatment residual (WTR) in eliminating phosphorus (P), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) from stormwater. The characteristics of the PAC WTR were analyzed, and a series of batch and column tests were conducted to determine its capacity to remove P, Cu, and Zn from stormwater and synthetic solutions. The PAC WTR conformed to the Langmuir isotherm model, demonstrating P adsorption capacities of 3.51 mg/g at pH 5. Regarding Cu and Zn removal, the PAC WTR also adhered to the Langmuir isotherm model, showing …


Solid Acid Catalyzed Dehydration Reactions Of Biomass-Derived Alcohols, Mackenzie Todd May 2023

Solid Acid Catalyzed Dehydration Reactions Of Biomass-Derived Alcohols, Mackenzie Todd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Concerns around climate change and the use of fossil resources contributing to increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere has motivated transitions to use biomass resources for the production of specialty chemicals and fuels, in hopes of creating a more cyclical use of carbon. The work presented here focuses on two different aspects of catalytic upgrading of biomass-derived platform molecules using heterogeneous acid catalysts. First, we use an interdisciplinary and iterative approach to process development for producing a diesel fuel additive from pyrolysis oils of woody biomass. We use fuel property calculations to define measures of success in chemical upgrading …


Livestock Wastewater And Air Quality Management Using Microalgae, Capacitive Deionization, And Biofilters, Augustina Kwesie Osabutey Jan 2023

Livestock Wastewater And Air Quality Management Using Microalgae, Capacitive Deionization, And Biofilters, Augustina Kwesie Osabutey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Enzymatic Removal Of Sulfa Drugs From Synthetic Wastewater By Soybean Peroxidase, Maryam Sharifzadeh Jan 2023

Enzymatic Removal Of Sulfa Drugs From Synthetic Wastewater By Soybean Peroxidase, Maryam Sharifzadeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sulfa drugs are a broad family of antibiotics that are widely used in the treatment of a wide range of infections, and they have been found in surface and groundwater, as well as present in sewage and effluent (treated sewage and sludge)municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). in concentrations of ng/L to >g/L. The continued presence of these so-called emerging pollutants (ECs) and their metabolites can cause adverse ecological effects, including bacterial resistance, even at very low concentrations. In this study, the first aim was to explore the feasibility of oxidation processes catalyzed by soybean peroxidase as an eco-friendly …


Highway Stormwater Runoff On-Site Treatment Using Bioslope With New Media Of Biochar Amended Topsoils, Ahmed I. Yunus Jan 2022

Highway Stormwater Runoff On-Site Treatment Using Bioslope With New Media Of Biochar Amended Topsoils, Ahmed I. Yunus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has constructed various treatment facilities on its right-of-way (ROW) to collect and treat highway stormwater runoff, emphasizing total suspended solids (TSS) removal. The permit performance goal set by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is 80% TSS removal. Current stormwater best management practice (BMP) treatment facilities include complex and permanent infrastructures such as bioslope, bioretention basins, sand filters, infiltration trenches, and grass channels. Among these BMPs, bioslope has been becoming more popular due to its applicability for roadway embankments and areas with limited ROW constraints. It removes pollutants effectively by physical filtration and chemical adsorption …


Develop A Multi-Functional Green Pervious Concrete (Mgpc) Pavement With Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Pahs) Removal Function., Hong Shang Aug 2021

Develop A Multi-Functional Green Pervious Concrete (Mgpc) Pavement With Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Pahs) Removal Function., Hong Shang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff induced Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminant increasingly imperils the groundwater quality and the sustainable development of human society due to the potential carcinogenic risks. Pavement can be considered as the first line of defense for contaminant removal of the stormwater runoff. New construction materials with stormwater runoff quantity and quality control are in urgent demand for updating the existing pavement system. An innovative material called Multi-functional Green Pervious Concrete (MGPC) was developed in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Louisville. This material uses organoclay as the amendment to enhance the PAHs removal capacity of …


Develop Biochar-Based Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizers, Zhisheng Cen Jan 2021

Develop Biochar-Based Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizers, Zhisheng Cen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current efficiency of conventional nitrogenous fertilizers (e.g. urea, ammonium sulfate, etc.) in agricultural practices is low, fluctuating from 30 to 40%. Approximately 60% of nitrogenous fertilizers were wasted due to vaporization into the air, runoff or leaching into water systems. The lost nitrogen (N) resulted in not only high production cost but also serious environmental problems, such as greenhouse gas (N2O) emission in the atmosphere, algal blooms, oxygen depletion, fish kills, and loss of biodiversity in surface water due to eutrophication or pollution. To address these problems, this study aimed to utilize low-cost biochar-based materials to develop a controllable, …


Development Of Bio-Based Nanocomposites For Biosensor And Indicator Applications In Smart Food Packaging, Abdus Sobhan Jan 2021

Development Of Bio-Based Nanocomposites For Biosensor And Indicator Applications In Smart Food Packaging, Abdus Sobhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Smart food packaging based on biosensors has been attracting more and more interest to the industrial community because of the concerns of food quality and safety. A food packaging with biosensor has a scope to enable real-time monitoring of microbial breakdown products of packaged foods. Furthermore, one of the biggest challenges in implementing biosensor for smart packaging materials is the development of bio-sensing active materials that can leverage their electrical, thermal, biodegradable and other functional properties. In this regard, nanocellulose-based activated carbon (NAC) nanocomposite was developed using the activated carbon and nanocellulose gel using the casting method with their different …


Long Term Evaluation Of E. Coli Removal From Stormwater Using Recycled Steel Byproducts, Brenden Olevson Jan 2021

Long Term Evaluation Of E. Coli Removal From Stormwater Using Recycled Steel Byproducts, Brenden Olevson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff often carries a variety of pollutants and pathogens that can endanger public health and wildlife. One contaminant of concern often highlighted in stormwater quality is Escherichia Coli (E.Coli) because its presence indicates microbial contamination in water. Different types of media filtration are being studied to reduce contaminant concentrations in stormwater. In this study, steel byproducts were examined as a potential material to use in media filtration to remove E. Coli and other contaminants from stormwater. Batch scale studies were conducted in laboratory to evaluate the E. Coli removal potential of steel chips and steel slag over a 24-hour …


Different Treatments Of Biochar Carbon Yp-50f To Enhance Specific Capacitance Of Supercapacitor, Ezaldeen Adhamash Jan 2020

Different Treatments Of Biochar Carbon Yp-50f To Enhance Specific Capacitance Of Supercapacitor, Ezaldeen Adhamash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High cost and environmentally unfavorable impacts are the significant difficulties that prohibit renewable energy storage from many applications. To work with these problems, novel renewable materials such as biomass derived carbon that have high surface area and low cost should be used. Renewable biochar carbon YP-50, synthesized from coconut, and activated using different plasma gases including methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2), and argon (Ar). Compared with the conventional activation method, the plasma treatment takes less effort and time. Significant improvements of the specific capacitance (SC) and specific surface area (SSA) were observed …


Comparative Nutrient Removal With Innovative Green Soprtion Media For Groundwater And Stormwater Co-Treatment, Dan Wen Jan 2019

Comparative Nutrient Removal With Innovative Green Soprtion Media For Groundwater And Stormwater Co-Treatment, Dan Wen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As indicated by the National Academy of Engineering, the understanding of nitrogen cycle has been deemed as one of 14 grand challenges in engineering of the 21st century. Due to rapid population growth and urbanization, the stormwater runoff increased in quantity as well as its nutrient concentrations, which may trigger serious environmental issues such as eutrophication in aquatic systems and ecosystem degradation. This study focuses on stormwater and groundwater quality control via Biosorption Activated Media (BAM) which can be applied to enhance the nutrient removal potential as an emerging Best Management Practices (BMPs). BAM was tested in this study with …


The Effect Of Edge-Of-Field Nutrient Management Practices On Microbial Concentrations In Subsurface Drainage Water And The Associated Risk Of Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination, Sara Mardani Jan 2019

The Effect Of Edge-Of-Field Nutrient Management Practices On Microbial Concentrations In Subsurface Drainage Water And The Associated Risk Of Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination, Sara Mardani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many in-field and edge-of-field management practices have been used to reduce nutrient loads from agricultural fields. The denitrification woodchip bioreactor (WB) is one edgeof- field management practice that has proven to be effective in removing nitrate from subsurface drainage water. The success in nitrate removal achieved with WBs has raised interest in expanding their capabilities for removing other agricultural pollutants, including phosphorus, by using other types of media like phosphorus-sorbing filters or combining these filters with woodchips to remove both nitrate and phosphorus as dual-nutrient removal systems. Despite the extensive research done on WBs and nutrient filter materials, little consideration …


Long-Term Carbon And Copper Impact On Nutrient Removal Via Green Sorption Media In Dynamic Linear Ditch Environments, Diana Ordonez Jan 2019

Long-Term Carbon And Copper Impact On Nutrient Removal Via Green Sorption Media In Dynamic Linear Ditch Environments, Diana Ordonez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nutrient-laden stormwater runoff causes environmental and ecological impacts on receiving water bodies. Biosorption Activated Media (BAM) composed of the sand, tire crumb, and clay have been implemented in stormwater best management practices due to its ability to efficiently remove nutrients from stormwater runoff, such as in roadside linear ditches, via unique chemophysical and microbiological processes. In this study, a set of fixed-bed columns were set up to simulate some external forces in roadside linear ditches and examine how these external forces affect the performance of BAM. In our experiment, scenario 1 simulates the impact that animals such as tortoises, moles …


Escherichia Coli Removal From Stormwater Using Steel Chips Filter, Peng Dai Jan 2019

Escherichia Coli Removal From Stormwater Using Steel Chips Filter, Peng Dai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Media filtration has received increasing attention as an effective technology that can facilitate the removal of particles and dissolved pollutions in the stormwater. However, most traditional media filtration systems are generally ineffective in removing bacteria, causing pollution of groundwater and receiving surface water. In this study, recycled steel chips were evaluated as low-cost filter materials for bacterial removal from stormwater. Laboratory column experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of steel chips particle size, flow rate, initial E.coli concentration, pH, natural organic matter (NOM), steady and intermittent flow on E.coli removal. The results showed that E.coli removal decreased from 99.4% …


Variables Governing The Initial Stages Of The Synergisms Of Ultrasonic Treatment Of Biochar In Water Saturated With Carbon Dioxide, Adedapo Reuben Adeniyi Jan 2018

Variables Governing The Initial Stages Of The Synergisms Of Ultrasonic Treatment Of Biochar In Water Saturated With Carbon Dioxide, Adedapo Reuben Adeniyi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates the initial stage of the synergistic processes of acoustic treatment of biochar in water saturated with CO2 (AIChE Journal, 2014;60:1054-1065). Treatments with switchgrass and miscanthus biochars have been conducted to examine the effects of acoustic intensity, biochar/H2O ratio, CO2 concentrations of the solution, and that in the headspace above the solution. The changes in biochars’ heating values, carbon and hydrogen contents, internal surface area, and pore size distribution have significant technological implications and are the focal points of this study. The miscanthus and switchgrass biochars were produced via pyrolysis process at 700 oC and 550 oC, respectively. …


Activated Carbon Preparation And Modification For Adsorption, Yuhe Cao Jan 2017

Activated Carbon Preparation And Modification For Adsorption, Yuhe Cao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Butanol is considered a promising, infrastructure-compatible biofuel. Butanol has a higher energy content than ethanol and can be used in conventional gas engines without modifications. Unfortunately, the fermentation pathway for butanol production is restricted by its toxicity to the microbial strains used in the process. Butanol is toxic to the microbes, and this can slow fermentation rates and reduce butanol yields. Gas stripping technology can efficiently remove butanol from the fermentation broth as it is produced, thereby decreasing its inhibitory effects. Traditional butanol separation heavily depends on the energy intensive distillation method. One of the main issues in acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation …


Development Of Heterogeneous Catalysts For Upgrading Biomass Pyrolysis Bio-Oils Into Advanced Biofuels, Shouyun Cheng Jan 2017

Development Of Heterogeneous Catalysts For Upgrading Biomass Pyrolysis Bio-Oils Into Advanced Biofuels, Shouyun Cheng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The massive consumption of fossil fuels and associated environmental issues result in an increased interest in alternative resources such as biofuels. The renewable biofuels can be upgraded from bio-oils that are derived from biomass pyrolysis. Catalytic cracking and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) are two most promising bio-oil upgrading techniques for biofuel production. Heterogeneous catalysts are essential for upgrading bio-oil into hydrocarbon biofuel. Although some progresses have been made, the cost and effectiveness of catalysts still remain challenges. The main objective of this study was to develop efficient heterogeneous catalysts for upgrading bio-oils into advanced hydrocarbon biofuel with low costs. In catalytic cracking, …


Evaluation Of Woodchip Bioreactor Denitrification Kinetics, Abdoul Aziz Kouanda Jan 2017

Evaluation Of Woodchip Bioreactor Denitrification Kinetics, Abdoul Aziz Kouanda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural subsurface drainage is a water management practice used to remove excess water in poorly drained soil. The use of fertilizers combined with subsurface drainage practice affects negatively surface water quality due to nutrient loss. Woodchip bioreactors have previously been used as a technology for removing nitrate from agricultural subsurface drainage. Understanding the mechanism that governs nitrate removal in woodchip bioreactors is crucial for field bioreactor design and application. The objective of this project is to determine woodchip bioreactor denitrification kinetics parameters under different operating conditions including hydraulic retention time, temperature and influent nitrate concentrations. Laboratory column experiments were conducted …


Carbon Dioxide Capture With Amine Functionlized Graphene Oxide, Renee Zeleszki Jan 2015

Carbon Dioxide Capture With Amine Functionlized Graphene Oxide, Renee Zeleszki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: amine functionalized graphene oxide was used as sorbent in order to achieve carbon dioxide capture. In this study, micro size graphite flakes was prepared according to modified hummers method and "hummers' method with additional kmno4." Graphene oxide was then functionalized with ethylenediamine (eda). Different purification methods for graphene oxide were studied as well as different functionalization method times. Graphite oxide and functionalized graphene oxide has been analyzed with fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ftir) for chemical structure. Thermal gravimetric analysis (tga) was used to test co2 capture capacity. Functionalized graphene oxide that has been purified with 30 washes via centrifuge …


Assessment Of Corn Stover Torrefaction On-Farm Biochar Production, Christina M. Gerometta Jan 2014

Assessment Of Corn Stover Torrefaction On-Farm Biochar Production, Christina M. Gerometta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Torrefaction is a thermochemical pretreatment process that is typically achieved by slowly heating biomass (<50°C/min) within the temperature range of 200 – 300°C under an inert atmosphere. This process yields a storable solid product with enhanced fuel characteristics that are influenced by the ligno-cellulosic composition of the original feedstock and the imposed torrefaction conditions (time and temperature). This study is an assessment of corn stover properties that are relevant for designing an on-farm torrefaction system. The first portion of this study compared the thermal decomposition behaviors of corn stover fractions (leaf, stalk, cob) to the respective ligno-cellulosic composition using thermo-gravimetric analysis. It was found that the thermal decomposition pattern correlates to the structure and ratio of ligno-cellulosic polymers and provides design guidelines for an on-farm torrefaction system capable of handling large quantities of mixed fraction stover. The second part of this study investigated the effects of torrefaction time and temperature on the mass and energy yield of mixed fraction corn stover using a 46.3 L batch style reactor. It was found that longer reaction times and higher temperatures were required to obtain mass and energy yields similar to those found using lab-scale reactors and finely milled samples. Non-uniform torrefaction occurred between fractions due to chemical composition of each fraction and proximity to the heating elements.


Thermal And Photochemical Interaction Of Co2 With Biochar, Eneruvie Uyoyou Okinedo Jan 2012

Thermal And Photochemical Interaction Of Co2 With Biochar, Eneruvie Uyoyou Okinedo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With interest in the changes that may occur to the carbonaceous portion of biochar obtain through the pyrolysis of biomass, the simple interaction between CO2 and biochar with water or a mixture of water and ethanol as hydrogen donor resulted in three significant observations. These reactions were carried out thermally at 333K and photochemically by simulating energy from the with a xenon lamp. The photochemical reaction involving biochar, CO2 with water or a mixture of water and ethanol as hydrogen donor led to a decrease in oxygen content of the parent biochar material, as observed by an increase in the …


Co2 Adsorption On Solid Sorbents, Bingyu Li Jan 2011

Co2 Adsorption On Solid Sorbents, Bingyu Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sorbent-based CO2 capture technology is considered as one of the potential scientific techniques for mitigating greenhouse gas emission. Major advantages of sorbent based adsorption are its low regeneration energy coupled with the elimination of corrosion and equipment degradation characteristic of amine based solvent CO2 capture systems which are the preferred industrial methods. Different CO2 capture configurations, processes, and operational parameters for different sorbents were revieand summarized. Efficient industrial applications for CO2 capture require that solid sorbents possess an adsorption capacity between 1000-2000µmol/g or more together with a long-term regeneration capacity. Economical consideration necessitates that the cost of CO2 sequestration be …