Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Comparing Fishbone Drilling And Hydraulic Fracturing In Ultra-Low Permeability Geothermal Reservoirs, Aimene Aihar, Nassim Bouabdallah, Ghoulem Ifrene, Doina Irofti

Petroleum Engineering Posters and Presentations

Harnessing geothermal energy through Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) offers a sustainable and renewable means of tapping the Earth's subsurface heat. However, in ultra-low permeability formations like those found in the Williston Basin, the effectiveness of conventional hydraulic fracturing techniques is limited. This study evaluates the potential of fishbone drilling technology as an alternative approach, focusing on the efficiency and engineering aspects of both methods in the context of geothermal reservoirs with extremely low permeability.

We carried out an extensive literature review, numerical simulations, and case studies to compare fishbone drilling and hydraulic fracturing in EGS applications. Fishbone drilling, which involves …

Evaluation Of Hybrid Prediction Models For Accurate Rate Of Penetration (Rop) Prediction In Drilling Operations, Abdelhakim Khouissat, Mohamed Riad Youcefi, Ghoulem Ifrene, Doina Irofti

Petroleum Engineering Posters and Presentations

The precise prediction of the rate of penetration (ROP) is of utmost importance for optimizing drilling operations and minimizing costs while increasing efficiency. However, the complex and nonlinear nature of the drilling process can pose significant challenges in achieving accurate ROP predictions. To address this challenge, multiple hybrid prediction models have been developed, and their accuracy in ROP prediction has been compared.

To accomplish this objective, we created three different hybrid models, including Artificial Neural Network – Genetic Algorithm (ANN-GA), Artificial Neural Network-Particle Swarm Optimization (ANN-PSO), and Support Vector Regression (SVR) to estimate ROP. These models were trained and tested …

Liposomes For The Treatment Of Brain Cancer—A Review, Richu Raju, Waad H. Abuwatfa, William G. Pitt, Ghaleb A. Husseini

Faculty Publications

Due to their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and surface-conjugation capabilities, liposomes are effective nanocarriers that can encapsulate chemotherapeutic drugs and facilitate targeted delivery across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Additionally, strategies have been explored to synthesize liposomes that respond to internal and/or external stimuli to release their payload controllably. Although research into liposomes for brain cancer treatment is still in its infancy, these systems have great potential to fundamentally change the drug delivery landscape. This review paper attempts to consolidate relevant literature regarding the delivery to the brain using nanocarriers, particularly liposomes. The paper first briefly explains conventional treatment modalities for cancer, followed …

Investigation Of The Performance Of Anti-Corrosive Coating Materials Derived From Bio-Based Feedstocks, Sarah Anne Salazar

Theses and Dissertations

Corrosion is a costly phenomenon that is largely responsible for the deterioration of various infrastructures. While there are many corrosion prevention techniques, polymeric coatings are the most cost-effective and frequently used methods for protection of metal surfaces. The most commonly employed polymeric coatings are non-renewable BPA-based epoxide resins. Common curing agents are also the derivatives of hazardous amines such as ethylene di-amine and methylene dianiline. Therefore, there is a growing demand to develop renewable and less-harmful precursors from biomass to replace rapidly depleting petrochemicals. This thesis focuses on the characterization and optimization of anti-corrosive polymeric coating formulations derived from renewable …

A Review On Membrane Fouling Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks (Anns), Waad H. Abuwatfa, Nour Al Sawaftah, Naif Darwish, William G. Pitt, Ghaleb A. Husseini

Faculty Publications

Membrane fouling is a major hurdle to effective pressure-driven membrane processes, such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO). Fouling refers to the accumulation of particles, organic and inorganic matter, and microbial cells on the membrane’s external and internal surface, which reduces the permeate flux and increases the needed transmembrane pressure. Various factors affect membrane fouling, including feed water quality, membrane characteristics, operating conditions, and cleaning protocols. Several models have been developed to predict membrane fouling in pressure-driven processes. These models can be divided into traditional empirical, mechanistic, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based models. Artificial neural networks …

Physiologically Relevant Fluid Shear Stress Induced Receptor Conversion In Hormone Receptor-Positive (Hr+) Breast Cancer, Jonathan James Cuccia

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among all people in the United States as of 2023 and often has devastating impacts on afflicted patients. Although some treatments show great efficacy against primary breast tumors, none have been able to significantly reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer once it has metastasized to distant sites. In primary, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancers, endocrine therapies are often used as first-line treatments and are generally well-tolerated. However, as the disease progresses, these previously sensitive cancers can become resistant to endocrine therapies and continue proliferating despite them. Therefore, there is a …

From Waste To Energy: The Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2 Using Recycled Nanostructured Catalysts, Ibrahim Badawy

Theses and Dissertations

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂RR) using electrochemistry is a promising solution for the burgeoning global energy crisis. The overall vision of its implementation relies on renewable energy sources to power the reaction creating carbon neutral products and effectively closing the carbon cycle. Research in this field has come a long way since its inception in the mid-1900s. However, there remain significant hurdles and important considerations to overcome in order to reach full commercialization. Most electrocatalysts tested for CO₂RR have been designed solely for maximum performance while ignoring the environmental consequences if such a material were …

Computational Design Of Electro-Organocatalysts And Transition Metal Sulfides For The Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2, Foroogh Khezeli

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECO₂RR) has emerged as a promising approach for generating carbon-neutral liquid fuels by utilizing excess renewable electricity to convert CO₂. This thesis aims to employ atomistic simulations by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) to investigate the mechanistic details of how transition metal sulfides and electro-organocatalysts can enhance the activity and selectivity towards desired products, including those containing C-H bonds and molecules with C-C bonds. For this project, three different electrocatalysts were designed computationally.

Firstly, MoS₂ was chosen as a transition metal sulfide catalyst with the objective of understanding the kinetics …

Tailoring The Inherent Properties Of Biobased Nanoparticles For Nanomedicine, Alap Ali Zahid, Aishik Chakraborty, Wei Luo, Ali Coyle, Arghya Paul

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Publications

Biobased nanoparticles are at the leading edge of the rapidly developing field of nanomedicine and biotherapeutics. Their unique size, shape, and biophysical properties make them attractive tools for biomedical research, including vaccination, targeted drug delivery, and immune therapy. These nanoparticles are engineered to present native cell receptors and proteins on their surfaces, providing a biomimicking camouflage for therapeutic cargo to evade rapid degradation, immune rejection, inflammation, and clearance. Despite showing promising clinical relevance, commercial implementation of these biobased nanoparticles is yet to be fully realized. In this perspective, we discuss advanced biobased nanoparticle designs used in medical applications, such as …

The Effect Of Heat Treatment And Chemical Treatment On Natural Fibre To The Durability Of Wood Plastic Composites – A Review, Nuratiqah Asyiqin Mohd Nasharudin, Nur Fatihah Sulaiman, Nurul Aziemah Mohammad, Wan Nor Raihan Wan Jaafar, Falah Abu Dr., Siti Norasmah Surip

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The application of WPC is not only limited to indoor applications but has been extended to exterior applications where properties of WPC could compromise during service life. WPC was derived from wood fiber of various sizes to reinforce polymers. Wood fiber has the advantage of a cheaper price, being abundantly available, and ease of processing, however, the critical factor is its hydrophilic nature, where moisture absorption is likely to occur. Thus, treatments for reducing the hydrophilicity of wood fibers are applied. By treatment of wood fiber, the surface impurities were removed, leaving the roughened surface of fibers, thus providing a …

Enhanced Degradation Of Methyl Orange And Trichloroethylene With Pnipam-Pmma-Fe/Pd-Functionalized Hollow Fiber Membranes, Rollie Mills, Cameron Tvrdik, Andrew Lin, Dibakar Bhattacharyya

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a prominent groundwater pollutant due to its stability, widespread contamination, and negative health effects upon human exposure; thus, an immense need exists for enhanced environmental remediation techniques. Temperature-responsive domains and catalyst incorporation in membrane domains bring significant advantages for toxic organic decontamination. In this study, hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) were functionalized with stimuli-responsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAm), poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA), and catalytic zero- valent iron/palladium (Fe/Pd) for heightened reductive degradation of such pollutants, utilizing methyl orange (MO) as a model compound. By utilizing PNIPAm’s transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic expression above the LCST of 32 ◦C, increased pollutant diffusion …

Effects Of The Applied Potential On The Performance Of Polysulfone Membranes Functionalized With Sulfonated Polyether Ether Ketone Polymers, Abelline Katusiime Fionah, Kate Mclarney, Aviana Judd, Isabel C. Escobar

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The global water crisis growth has led to a tremendous increase in membrane technology research. Membranes are favored over many other technologies for water treatment because, in principle, they require no chemical additives and can be used isothermally at low temperatures. Membranes that can reject contaminants and salts, produce adequate permeate flux values, and require minimal cleaning are highly demanded. However, most synthesized membranes on the market have associated problems, such as membrane fouling; inverse relationships between flux and solute rejection; and the high cost of synthesis, operation, and maintenance. Therefore, there is a continuied need to produce membranes with …

New Methodology For Benchmarking Hydrodynamics In Bubble Columns With Intense Internals Using The Radioactive Particle Tracking (Rpt) Technique, Omar J. Farid, Alexandre França Velo, Binbin Qi, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A new methodology for implementing radioactive particle tracking (RPT) in bubble columns with intense vertical rod internals was developed and implemented to investigate the effect of dense internals on hydrodynamics. The methodology utilizes a hybrid of Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulation and an automated RPT calibration device to generate a large number of calibration points for accurate reconstruction of the instantaneous positions of radioactive particles using a similarity algorithm. Measurements were conducted in a 6-inch (15.24 cm) Plexiglas column using an air–water system at a superficial gas velocity of 40 cm/s. Vertical Plexiglas rods 0.5 in (1.27 cm) in diameter …

The Plastics Collection Reference Packet, Special Collections Research Center

Special Collections Research Center

This reference packet is an informational tool to support further research into the history of plastics—whether interested in companies, individuals within the plastics industry's history, historical plastics materials, essays, and more. All content featured within this packet was previously published on the former plastics.syr.edu website as part of a Syracuse University Libraries and Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) partnership established in 2007 with the Plastics Pioneers Association (PPA)—an association of plastics industry professionals interested in preserving the plastics industry's past.

High Flux Novel Polymeric Membrane For Renal Applications, Christa N. Hestekin, Efecan Pakkaner, Jamie Hestekin, Leticia Santos De Souza, Partha Pratim Chowdhury, Juliana Louzada Marçal, John Moore, Sarah A. Hesse, Christopher J. Takacs, Christopher J. Tassone, Soma Shekar Dachavaram, Peter A. Crooks, Kate Williams, Ira Kurtz

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Biocompatibility and the ability to mediate the appropriate flux of ions, urea, and uremic toxins between blood and dialysate components are key parameters for membranes used in dialysis. Oxone-mediated TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanomaterials have been demonstrated to be excellent additives in the production and tunability of ultrafiltration and dialysis membranes. In the present study, nanocellulose ionic liquid membranes (NC-ILMs) were tested in vitro and ex vivo. An increase in flux of up to two orders of magnitude was observed with increased rejection (about 99.6%) of key proteins compared to that of polysulfone (PSf) and other commercial membranes. NC-ILMs have a sharper …

Freestanding Graphene Heat Engine Analyzed Using Stochastic Thermodynamics, J. Durbin, J. M. Mangum, M. N. Gikunda, F. Harerimana, P. Kumar, L. L. Bonilla, P. M. Thibado

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present an Ito-Langevin model for freestanding graphene connected to an electrical circuit. The graphene is treated as a Brownian particle in a double-well potential and is adjacent to a fixed electrode to form a variable capacitor. The capacitor is connected in series with a battery and a load resistor. The capacitor and resistor are given separate thermal reservoirs. We have solved the coupled Ito-Langevin equations for a broad range of temperature differences between the two reservoirs. Using ensemble averages, we report the rate of change in energy, heat, and work using stochastic thermodynamics. When the resistor is held at …

Dechlorination Of Waste Pvc (Polyvinyl Chloride) Using Hydrothermal Liquefaction Method, Vahab Ghalandari

Theses and Dissertations

In 2019, waste plastic production in the United States (U.S.) amounted to approximately 73 million metric tons. Projections indicate that by 2030, the generation of waste plastic in the U.S. will increase to nearly 90 million metric tons, and by 2060, it is expected to surpass 140 million metric tons. One prominent type of waste plastic is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), characterized by its high chlorine content, making it a halogenated plastic. This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation of the dechlorination of waste PVC (WPVC) through various hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) methods to produce environmentally friendly solid and liquid products. In this …

First Principles Doping Analysis Of Perovskite- And Ruddlesden-Popper-Based Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Nicholas Alexander Szaro

Theses and Dissertations

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have shown significant promise as a high efficiency energy conversion technology. SOFCs are solid-state, high temperature (600 – 1000 °C), and electrochemical conversion devices that can operate with a wide variety of fuels such as hydrogen, syngas, and hydrocarbon feedstocks. The state-of-the-art SOFC is manufactured with a lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) cathode, an yttria-stabilizedzirconia electrolyte (YSZ), and a nickel on yttria-stabilized-zirconia (Ni/YSZ) cermet anode. LSM || YSZ || Ni/YSZ SOFCs operate at or above 800 °C to achieve sufficient oxide mobility. The high temperatures introduce problems such as long device start-up, particle sintering, and material …

Revisiting The Volumetric Swing Frequency Response Method For The Determination Of Limiting Mass Transfer Mechanisms Of N2 And O2 In Carbon Molecular Sieve 3k172, Adam Marshall Burke

Theses and Dissertations

Adsorption-based separations processes, along with the adsorbents that enable them, have benefited from a greater particular focus in recent years, following a desire to improve process energy efficiencies and cost economics. One such adsorbent, carbon molecular sieves (CMS), have likewise been a greater focus. CMS materials offer several key practical uses, such as the separation of nitrogen and oxygen, and the removal of carbon dioxide from methane process streams. In order to effectively design and implement an industrial scale process using a CMS material, the behavior of these gases on the chosen material must be known, including the limiting mass …

Impact Of Microplastics On Organic Fouling Of Hollow Fiber Membranes, Sahar Ghasemi, Bin Yan, Masoumeh Zargar, Nicholas N.A. Ling, Einar O. Fridjonsson, Michael L. Johns

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Given the potential hazards of microplastics (MPs), it is desirable to efficiently remove them during wastewater treatment processes. To this end, ultrafiltration (UF) membranes can significantly increase the removal of MPs, however the fouling of such membrane modules can also be impacted by the presence of MPs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used here to non-invasively quantify the effect of polyethylene (PE) MPs accumulation in a 3D UF hollow fiber (HF) membrane module containing 400 fibers, via direct non-invasive velocity imaging of the flow distribution between individual fibers during module operation. The co-effect of MPs and alginate (a common organic …