Engineering Commons^™

Removel Of Polluntants From Aqueous Solution Via Graphene Oxide/Magnesium Oxide Nanocomposites, Mahdi Heidarizad

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

In this study, a series of graphene oxide/magnesium oxide nanocomposites (GO/MgO NCs) were synthesized and applied for the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The prepared NCs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that MgO particles were successfully layered on GO. The impacts of different experimental variables on the removal of MB including GO/MgO NCs dosage, pH, contact time, and initial MB concentration were investigated.

Thereafter, we investigate the mechanism and kinetics of ozonation processes in the presence of GO/MgO NCs as a catalyst …

Evaluation Of The Mechanisms And Effectiveness Of Nano-Hydroxides, Wood And Dairy Manure-Derived Biochars To Remove Fluoride And Heavy Metals From Water, Anna Rose Wallace, Wenjie Sun Dr, Chunming Su Dr

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

The development of effective treatment processes for the removal contaminants, such as fluoride and heavy metals, from polluted water have been urgently needed due to serious environmental health and safety concerns. In this dissertation, a variety of materials including various (hydro)oxide nanomaterials, biochars and surface modified biochar were studied to evaluate their effectiveness and mechanism on removing fluoride or mixed heavy metals from water.

In the Chapter 2, this study investigated the adsorptive removal of fluoride from water using various (hydro)oxide nanomaterials, focusing on ferrihydrite, hydroxyapatite (HAP) and brucite, which have the potential to be used as sorbents for surface …

Generalized Relay Network Design And Collaborative Dispatching In Truckload Transportation, Amin Ziaeifar

Operations Research and Engineering Management Theses and Dissertations

The truckload industry faces a serious problem of high driver shortage and turnover rate which is typically around 100\%. Among the major causes of this problem are extended on-the-road times where drivers handle several truckload pickup and deliveries successively; non-regular schedules and get-home rates; and low utilization of drivers dedicated time. These are by-and-large consequences of the driver-to-load dispatching method, which is based on point-to-point dispatching or direct shipment from origin-to-destination, commonly employed in the industry. In this dissertation, we consider an alternative dispatching method that necessitates careful design of an underlying network. In this scheme, a truckload on its …

Equilibrium-Based Workload Balancing For Robust Emergency Response Operations In Metropolitan Areas, Parya Roustaee

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an equilibrium-based modeling framework for emergency response (ER) workload balancing to achieve robust operation in large-scale metropolitan areas. The problem is formulated as a non-linear mathematical program (NLP), which determines the optimal workload cutoff for each ER station such that the weighted sum of the area-wide expected response time and its variation are minimized. The concept of Marginal Cost of Uncertainty (MCU) is introduced to measure the impact of a station’s workload increase on the area-wide service performance. The solution of the NLP is proved to be equivalent to a state of equilibrium in which all stations …

Geo-Spatial Mapping As A Catalyst For Creative And Engaged Design In Engineering Education, Jessie Zarazaga

Multidisciplinary Studies Theses and Dissertations

Exploiting the technology of geo-spatial mapping student designers can develop deep understandings of the rich and layered data of a spatial context, a situational understanding essential to responsible civic design. However the actions inherent in the construction of spatial data armatures can simultaneously be harnessed as creative strategies, in which mapping processes become the context for generative spatial play. The ambition of this study is to propose efficient pedagogic structures to help prepare civil and environmental student engineers to be not only strong participants, but leaders, in the design of the built environment. The interpretation of site data, mapped as …

Behavior Of Geothermal Energy Piles Embedded In Rock, Ehab Sabi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Geothermal energy piles are categorized as closed systems. Energy piles are a relatively new technology which couples the structural role of traditional pile foundations to that of heat exchangers to fulfill the required energy demand of buildings and infrastructures. These foundations are equipped with pipes embedded in the concrete forming the pile. While connected to a heat pump, the fluid circulating inside these pipes provides the exchange of heat with the ground for heating and cooling purposes. As the undisturbed temperature at the shallower depths of the ground stays comparatively constant the whole year, being warmer than the surrounding temperature …