Digital Commons Network^™

Design And Operation Of A Pilot Plant For Biodiesel Production From Triglycerides, Balasubramaniam Karthikeyan

Masters Theses

"In the wake of the events of September 11th 2001, the quest to relieve the nation’s dependence on petroleum fuels have taken a new urgency, there is a renewed interest in use of renewable biogenic fuels in particular -- the “biodiesel.” Biodiesel generally refers to fatty acid methyl esters of monohydric alcohols -- predominantly the methyl alcohol.

The principal sources of fatty acids are vegetable oils - soybean oil and canola oil. However, there are other “cheaper” sources of fatty acids that include beef tallow, poultry fats, pork fats and the used cooking oils. The first two are available in …

Mechanical Response Of Nets Of Graphical Objects, Rakesh Kumar Bajaj

Masters Theses

"This research produces networks of graphical objects that respond to human manipulation in a fashion that would be deemed physically reasonable. That is, a graphical network is given a mechanics-like behavior in the presence of the human interaction. In this approach, nonlinear models replace commonly used linear models to mimic physical reality better. Software solutions are provided via a class library useful for such interactive visual modeling"--Abstract, page iii.

Iron Phosphate Glass For The Vitrification Of Ineel Sodium Bearing Waste And Hanford Low Activity Waste, Robert Douglas Leerssen

Masters Theses

"The current study investigates the feasibility of using iron phosphate glass for the immobilization of nuclear wastes that have limited solubility in the current borosilicate glass used for vitrification. These wastes contain elements such as sulfur and phosphorus, which have proven problematic (causing phase separation at >1 wt%) for vitrification in borosilicate glasses, as well as having a high soda content (50-75 wt%) which also limits wasteloading"--Abstract, page iv.

Glass Transition Behavior Of Thin Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Films On Silica, Moses T. Kabomo

Masters Theses

"Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) was used to study the glass transition behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) adsorbed onto silica substrates from toluene. Untreated fumed amorphous silica and silica treated with hexamethyldisilazane were used for the adsorption to probe the effect of polymer- substrate interactions. To test the effect of molecular weight on the T_g of adsorbed polymers, low polydispersity PMMA samples of varying molecular weights were used. The results revealed a broadening of the glass transition towards high temperatures. The observed increase in the glass transition breadth varied with adsorbed amount and the type of silica used for …

Stratigraphy And Diagenesis Of The Paleoproterozoic Bushy Park Zinc-Lead Deposit, South Africa, William Daniel Baugaard

Masters Theses

“The Bushy Park zinc-lead deposit is located in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. The sulfides are hosted by karst-related breccias that were formed in carbonate shelf deposits of the Neoarchean (2.55 Ga) Campbellrand Subgroup. These rocks are dolomitized completely and silicified partially but have not undergone major metamorphism and thus display remarkable preservation of depositional fabrics. The stratigraphic interval includes the Papkuil and Klippan Formations (> 210 m), a sequence of cyclic microbial laminates interbedded with domed and columnar stromatolites. The Klippan is distinguished from other formations b intense silicification and brecciation. These strata are overlain by the Kogelbeen …