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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Forensic Soil Analysis: Characterization Of The Sand Fraction, John Baize Dec 1997

Forensic Soil Analysis: Characterization Of The Sand Fraction, John Baize

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive analytical method for the characterization of soil by examining particle size, elemental composition, and percent organic matter in soil, and to determine its forensic applicability. In this study, five soils of varying geological locations were examined including two samples from Kentucky; two samples from Pennsylvania; and one from Washington D C A Gilson sonic sieve shaker was used to separate fractions of soil to determine particle size, and a JEOL scanning electron microscope with a Kevex EDS detector was used to determine elemental composition. These techniques coupled with percent total …


A Study Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Combustion In An Afbc System, Laura Dicken Dec 1997

A Study Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Combustion In An Afbc System, Laura Dicken

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop the on-line method of analysis which leads to the study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during combustion in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (AFBC) system. The study of PAHs is important because they may be produced upon the combustion of coal. The US EPA prioritizes PAHs as major pollutants due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Standards of PAHs were analyzed by injection into the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). These standards were then analyzed using the on-line method. Two coals were burned in the AFBC system and effluent samples were collected. These …


Development Of An Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustor (Afbc), William Orndorff Dec 1997

Development Of An Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustor (Afbc), William Orndorff

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The relatively recent interest in the U.S. in the development of atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) has been preceded by two main factors. First of these is the ever present problem of acid rain and growing public support for cleaner burning fossil fuels. Second is the increasing demand on public landfills and subsequent need for burning of municipal solid waste. From these factors and their corresponding influences, Western Kentucky University has the impetus and has received the financial assistance necessary to build and develop a laboratory scale AFBC system. A brief history of the events leading to this development, as …


Studies On Resolution Of Enantiomeric Dialkylaryl Sulfonium Ions With Nmr Shift Reagents, Ea-Ji-Ru Son Dec 1997

Studies On Resolution Of Enantiomeric Dialkylaryl Sulfonium Ions With Nmr Shift Reagents, Ea-Ji-Ru Son

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Praseodymium(III) NMR shift reagent, which is an upfield shift reagent, is focused on for assessment of enantiomeric excess and resolution of methyl sulfonium ions. A series of alkylmethylphenylsulfonium ions were analyzed, where alkyl is ethyl (I), butyl(H), octyl (III), and benzyl(IY). The praseodymium agent gives base-lined resolution of the ortho hydrogens resonance for I and IH. All spectra are strongly temperature-dependent. I is shifted more than ED, consistent with a steric effect. Assignments for I were made by gradually increasing the concentration of the shift reagent and by analyzing R-enriched I. Racemization of R-enriched isomer of I by pyramidal inversion …


Fundamental Investigations Of Mechanistic Pathways Of Selected Organic Reactive Intermediates, Carl Whittle Dec 1997

Fundamental Investigations Of Mechanistic Pathways Of Selected Organic Reactive Intermediates, Carl Whittle

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Part 1 of this thesis deals with the role that it -electron density plays in the formation of it -complexes in electrophilic aromatic substitution. Using commercial and synthetic compounds of varying it-electron density, the fact that % -complexes actually exist in these species was determined by a mass spectral investigation that was designed to monitor alkyl side-chain isomerizaitons. Also, the amount of it-complex was determined for each compound by measuring the amount of alkyl carbenium ion loss in each compound's mass spectrum. Found within the systems was an internal trend showing that the greater the amount of 7t-electron density in …


A Study Of The Volatile Matter Of Coal As A Function Of The Heating Rate, Enrique Santos Aug 1997

A Study Of The Volatile Matter Of Coal As A Function Of The Heating Rate, Enrique Santos

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A study of volatile matter yields as a function of the heating rate was conducted. A suite of 21 coal and coke samples varying in rank from anthracitic to lignitic and heating rates from 10°C/min to about 450°C/min were used in the study. Heating rates up to 60°C per minute, which are typically used in ASTM Test Method 5142 (instrumental Proximate Analysis), were achieved in a macro thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) system. Heating rates of 50-200°C/min were obtained in a micro TGA system. All measurements were made in a nitrogen atmosphere. The results of the study illustrate the dependance of the …


Development Of Methods For The Determination Of Major And Minor Elements And Hydrocarbon Residues In Solid Combustion Products, Xiaoliu Chi May 1997

Development Of Methods For The Determination Of Major And Minor Elements And Hydrocarbon Residues In Solid Combustion Products, Xiaoliu Chi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Methods for the determination of inorganic constituents in coal fly ash by glow discharge spectrometry (GDS) and for the extraction of the organic compounds from coal and ash by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) at temperatures below 150°C are reviewed. The inorganic elements studied included Al, Ca, C, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, S, Si and Ti. The organic compounds were measured by weight loss of the sample. The goal of this research was to find easier and faster ways to measure the concentration of inorganic elements in coal ash and to measure extractability of the coal itself, to make coal …


A Study Of Combustion Profiles Of Co-Fired Coal/Biomass/Limestone Samples In A Fluidized Bed Combustor, Beverly Campbell May 1997

A Study Of Combustion Profiles Of Co-Fired Coal/Biomass/Limestone Samples In A Fluidized Bed Combustor, Beverly Campbell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Concerns over declining landfill space and a renewed interest in waste-toenergy technologies have increased the possibilities of co-firing different types of fuels in atmospheric fluidized bed combustion systems. The laboratory sized atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (AFBC) at Western Kentucky University was designed to serve as a highly flexible research and development facility to gain operating experience, evaluate combustion performance, and estimate the effect of flue gas emissions on the atmosphere. The operating conditions for the AFBC system are similar to those used at the TVA 160-MW AFBC Pilot Plant located near Paducah, Kentucky. AFBC systems are ideal for co-firing because …


Mass Balance Of Major, Minor And Trace Elements During Afbc Combustion Of Fuels, Qianwen Cao May 1997

Mass Balance Of Major, Minor And Trace Elements During Afbc Combustion Of Fuels, Qianwen Cao

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The proposed ASTM procedures for the determination of 13 major and minor., and 11 trace elements, in solid coal and coke combustion residues by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were checked for routine use. In this study, the ICP analysis values and XRF analysis values of major and minor elements in two kinds of coal and two kinds of limestone were compared. It was shown that over 95% closure of the mass balances of the 24 major, minor, and trace elements was obtained with the proposed ASTM procedure. Also, it was demonstrated that trace elements may be lost through …


The Resolution Of Chiral Dialkylarylsufonium Ions By 1h Nmr Spectroscopy, Johnathan Whetstine Jan 1997

The Resolution Of Chiral Dialkylarylsufonium Ions By 1h Nmr Spectroscopy, Johnathan Whetstine

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The goal of this research was to design a rapid Nuclear Magnetic Resonance method to measure enantiomeric excess of chiral sulfonium ions by using chiral lanthanide shift reagents. The sulfonium ions studied were dialkylarylsulfonium ions. The shift reagent that was employed was Europium (III) surrounded by chiral ligands of 3-trifluoroacetyl-d-camphor (tfc), which is derived from (+)-camphor. Ethylmcthylphenylsulfonium ion was synthesized for study as a racemic and enantiomerically enriched mixture. The sulfonium ion was then ion-paired with the shift reagent for resolution of R and S enantiomers. The best resolution was obtained with the Eu(fod)4- shift reagent, with nearly baseline resolution …