Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Synthesis Of Biologically-Inspired Nanofiltration Membranes Using Protected, Mutated, And Simulated Aquaporins, Priyesh Ashokrao Wagh

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Gram-negative bacterial cells are surrounded by a cell membrane which protects the cell and controls the transport of nutrients and waste products in and out of the cells at a fast rate. This rapid transport of nutrients and wastes through the cell membrane is made possible by channel proteins called porins. Various types of porins present in the cell membrane have specific functions depending on their selectivity towards different nutrients, and channel proteins selective towards water are called aquaporins. These proteins restrict the passage of all entities except water molecules and they provide a fast transport rate of water molecules …

Surface Functionalization Via Photoinitiated Radical Polymerization For Rare Cell Isolation And Mechanical Protection, Calvin Frank Cahall

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Surface functionalization of living cells for cell therapeutics has gained substantial momentum in the last two decades. From encapsulating islets of Langerhans, to cell laden gels for tissue scaffolds, to individual cell encapsulation in thin hydrogels, to surface adhesives and inert surface camouflage, modification of living cell surfaces has a wide array of important applications. Here we use hydrogel encapsulation of individual cells as a mode of protection from mechanical forces for high throughput cell printing, and chemical stimuli for the isolation of rare cells in blood.

In the first study, we review methods of surface functionalization and establish a …

The Role Of Microenvironment Reagent Solubility On Reaction Kinetics Of 4-Nitrophenol Reduction, Michael P. Zeevi, Andrew Harrison, Christina Tang

UROP Posters

The Role of Microenvironment Reagent Solubility on Reaction Kinetics of 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

Michael Zeevi¹ with Andrew Harrison¹ and Christina Tang, PhD¹

¹Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, VCU School of Engineering

Introduction: Nanoparticles are of increasing interest due to their high surface area to volume ratio, as well as that they enable fine-tuning of the reaction microenvironment. Through flash nanoprecipitation, core-shell polymer nanoreactors were formed by directed self-assembly. Using the reduction of 4-nitrophenol as a model reduction reaction, we investigated the effect of reagent solubility in the nanoreactor microenvironment’s on nanoreactor kinetics.

Methods: The standard …

Effects Of Predation On The Biochemical Constituents Of The Bleached Soft Coral Sinularia Polydactyla, Carley Elizabeth Cole

Honors Theses

Climate change can indirectly affect the level of predation on soft corals. As sea temperatures rise, more and more bleaching events are occurring, which can affect the production of chemical defenses and the concentrations of the biochemical constituents that make up the soft corals. These changes may make the soft corals more attractive to predators. This phenomenon is suggested by the environmental stress theory (EST), which states that under stressful conditions, more of an organism's energy is allocated to survival rather than to other factors, such as reproduction or predator deterrence. To test the effect of predation on already bleached …

Technique For The Synthesis Of Difluorinated Organic Molecules Using Magnesium Bases, Cassidy S. Baldwin

Honors Theses

The presence of fluorine in organic molecules can confer biological advantages which are often exploited in drug development. For example, fluorine has been shown to limit drug metabolism and enhance drug distribution. However, the development of fluorinated pharmaceutics poses synthetic challenges. These challenges are especially pronounced when developing molecules with a difluoromethyl group. One difluoromethyl functional group of particular interest is the α,α-difluoro-β-amino carbonyl group, which has been seen in potential drug leads. The previous methods of accessing this group are inefficient and complex. The goal of this project was to develop a new technique to access this group by …

Inhibition Of Blood Coagulation Factor Xii: Evaluation Of Flavonoids As A Drug Candidate, Betsy Crosswhite

Honors Theses

This study investigated natural product inhibitors of blood coagulation Factor XII (FXII). FXII initiates the Kallikrein Kinin-System (KKS) within the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Increased expression of this system leads to proinflammatory and procoagulant activities. Inflammation occurs through downstream activation in the KKS. Following the activation of FXII-dependent pathway, bradykinin (BK) binds to the BK receptor 2 (B2) and produces inflammatory signaling. Abnormally increased BK can result in life threatening Hereditary Angioedema (HAE), characterized by severe reoccurring swelling. FXII is critical for pathogenic thrombosis, but is dispensable for hemostasis. This unique property of FXII makes it an attractive drug target. We …

Perceptions Regarding Concussions In Collegiate Football At The University Of Mississippi, Madison Frerker

Honors Theses

Concussions are a form of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that can occur from any force to the head or body that causes the brain to move within the skull. Concussions are common in the sport of football due to the highly physical nature of the sport, and injured athletes can experience a wide array of symptoms. Like other players participating with powerhouse football programs, those at the University of Mississippi are at risk of concussion throughout their collegiate career. Whether players and fans perceive the risks of concussion equally has not been previously studied. Considering the passionate history of …

Development Of A Scn1a Null Zebrafish Model For Screening Potential Anti-Epileptic Natural Products, Patricia Ann Lipson

Honors Theses

Epilepsy affects around 50 million people in the world. Thus, it is imperative that new more effective and safe treatments be found. This study was designed to use zebrafish to screen potential anti-epileptic natural products. We utilized two scn1Lab null zebrafish models (morpholino-injected fish where scn1Lab was transiently knocked down and a transgenic scn1Lab -/- fish line). Alternatively, we used AB wildtype fish to test compounds in a chemically-induced seizure model. Natural compounds including cannabidiol, CBD, and Tapinanthus globiferous, TG, extracts were screened for their anti-seizure activity. When scn1Lab -/- fish were treated with CBD (0.075 and 0.3 mg/L) from …

A Case Study On The Design And Optimization Of An Ethylbenzene Production Plant, William Grafton Peaster

Honors Theses

This thesis will detail two goals of my capstone design project. The first goal is to simulate a given base case of a vapor phase reaction ethylbenzene production facility in PRO/II simulation software and discretely optimize the process in order to increase the profitability of the plant. The second goal is to develop a base case process flow diagram, stream tables, utility tables, and equipment tables for an ethylbenzene facility with liquid phase reactions. The base case simulation and optimization is a group task with my assigned group members in Ch E 451. The first part of this study looks …

Process Design And Optimization: Analysis Of An Ethylbenzene Production Plant, Jonathan Butler Vanveckhoven

Honors Theses

This thesis will cover the steps I took to evaluate an ethylbenzene production plant. I, along with my senior design team, was first tasked with optimizing a vapor-phase ethylbenzene production plant based off of a given base case. Our team was able to improve the net present value of the plant from -$4.8 million to $70.4 million through discrete optimization. After the vapor-phase plant was evaluated, I was tasked with creating a base case, liquid-phase ethylbenzene production plant. I explain the theory behind process flow diagram development, then explain how I produced the process flow diagram and stream table for …

Stabilization Of Silicon And Germanium Based High Capacity Anodes For Lithium Ion Batteries, Kuber Mishra

Theses and Dissertations

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been the driver of the widespread application of portable electronics. As the electronic devices have been more powerful and versatile, the pressing demand for higher energy density batteries have led the extensive explorations of novel materials for high capacity electrodes. Despite several breakthroughs in literature, the current state of art LIBs still uses the battery chemistry developed in early 1990s.The keys challenges for switching to other high capacity electrodes have been high cost, non-linear scalability and poorer electrochemical performance. This dissertation focusses on development of high capacity electrodes in order to increase the energy density of …

Design, Synthesis, And Characterization Of Monometallic And Bimetallic Catalysts, Sonia Eskandari

Theses and Dissertations

Supported catalysts are used extensively in a variety of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions for industrial processes. Techniques for preparing supported noble metal catalysts are typically chosen to achieve high metal dispersions in order to obtain high activity for a given metal loading. Enhancing the catalytic performance of heterogeneous catalysts can be done by increasing active site count as well as modification of the physico-chemical characteristics of the catalyst material. For supported metal nanoparticles this can be achieved by decreasing particle size, thus increasing dispersion or metal utilization on the surface of the particles, while modification of metal properties can be attained …

Simulation Of Water Effect On Biodiesel Production Using Waste Cooking Oil Via Ester-Transesterification In A Reactive Distillation Column, Ajala Anantapinitwatna

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This research investigated the effect of water content in waste cooking oil (WCO) on the performance of a reactive distillation column for biodiesel production via ester-transesterification. A mixture of triolein and oleic acid was used as a WCO model compound. Amberlyst-15 was used to catalyze esterification while CaO was used for transesterification. From Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) kinetic model taking into account water absorption for esterification of oleic acid (FFA), biodiesel yield was decreased with increasing of water content in WCO feedstocks. On the other hand, the initial rate of transesterification was increased with increase of amount of water in WCO feedstocks …

Synthesis Of Activated Carbons From Coffee Ground Residues And Their Application As Catalysts For Ethanol Dehydrogenation, Jeerati Ob-Eye

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In this present study, characteristics and catalytic properties of activated carbon derived from coffee ground residue, cobalt metal (Co) supported-activated carbon and various metals (Ce, Co, Cu and Ni) supported-commercial activated carbon were determined and characterized. This study was divided into three parts. Regarding to the first part, the synthesis of activated carbon catalysts derived from coffee ground residues with different methods of physical activation was investigated. The results showed that the catalyst with physically activated by CO2 for 4 hours, exhibited the best catalytic activity of ethanol dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde. In the second part, the best catalyst from the …

Simulation And Evaluation Of Butadiene Production From Ethanol Via One-Step Reaction, Jirawat Imsaard

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

1,3-butadiene is an important compound produced from the steam cracking process. Raising demand for alternatives to fossil fuels has led to an increase in bio-derived ethanol production, which can also be used as a feedstock for 1,3-butadiene synthesis. This research investigated the simulation of 1,3-butadiene production from ethanol using one-step process with 1.AI2O3/ZnO (60:40), 2.MgO-SiO2-Na2O (1:1)(0.1%) and 3.Hf2.5ZM1.6/SiO2 as heterogeneous catalysts. The process simulation was carried out using commercial Aspen plus 8.0 program and the heat utilization efficiency was evaluated by Aspen energy analyzer software. The process optimal condition sequences were identified by adjusting the separation distillation parameters which include …

Effects Of Tio2 Support And Co Addition On Ni/Tio2 Catalysts In Selective Hydrogenation Of Furfural To Furfuryl Alcohol, Kittithad Wonglekha

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Furfuryl alcohol is an important chemical intermediate that can be converted into many value-added derivative molecules. It is typically produced by the hydrogenation of furfural using supported metal catalysts. In this work, 15%wt Ni catalysts supported on titania (TiO2) were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method. The effects of phase composition and average crystallite sizes of TiO2 and Co addition in the range of 1-3 wt% on the catalytic properties of 15 wt%Ni/TiO2 were investigated in the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol at 50°C, 20 bar of H2, and 2 h reaction time. It was found that Ni …

Hydrothermal Carbonization Carbon-Based Acid Catalyst For Biodiesel Production, Laddawan Tumkot

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aims to synthesize the production of biodiesel (oleic acid methyl ester) by esterification in the presence of sulfonated hydrothermal carbon based catalyst under microwave irradiation. The catalyst was prepared by hydrothermal carbonization, followed by sulfonation presenting sulfonic acid group as an active site. The catalyst characterization results confirmed good microwave-absorptivity of the catalyst which can be heated directly and accelerate the reaction immediately at the surface of the catalyst. Esterification of oleic acid (OA) with methanol experiments were optimized by using response surface methodology based on central composite design. Three variables: molar ratio of methanol to OA (2.5:1-7.5:1), …

Graphene Sheets Decorated With Silver Nanoparticles As An Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst For Zinc-Air Battery, Laksanaporn Poolnapol

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The aim of this thesis is to develop a catalyst for the cathode of a zinc-air battery and to investigate the effects of reduced graphene oxide decorated with silver nanoparticles on the cathode in the zinc-air battery. First, reduced graphene oxide (AgNPs/rGO) was synthesized using glucose reduction at 60 degrees Celsius. Next, the structure and morphology of AgNPs/rGO were checked using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Then, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyzes were carried out. The amount of silver (Ag) decorate in graphene oxide was confirmed by EDX. Next, the synthesized catalysts at 3 concentration, using a rotating disk electrode (RDE), led …

Effect Of Cu Modified Tio2 Catalysts Prepared By Incipient Wetness Impregnation And Sputtering For Photocatalytic Co2 Reduction In Aqueous Solution, Nantiya Jantarasorn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In this work, we investigated the photocatalytic CO2 reduction in aqueous solution and were carried out in a stirred slurry reactor using Cu/TiO2 catalysts synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation and sputtering method. Effects of Cu loading onto titania support enhancing efficiency of the photocatalytic CO2 reduction in aqueous solution under UV irradiation by a band gap energy modification appeared between valence band and conduction band are narrowed. Cu assisted a selective hydrocarbon compound, this is methane. A comparison between Cu/TiO2 catalysts synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation and sputtering method showed that both methods exhibited similar methane selectivity. Sputtered catalysts are …

Reactive Extraction Of Metal Ion And Simultaneous Stripping Using Nanofibers-Supported Liquid Membrane In A Microchannel, Nattakarn Chucherd

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Heavy metals in wastewater resulting from industries have become a prime concern for both environmental and economic reasons. This work intends to recover ions of heavy metal from wastewater using reactive extraction by nanofibers-supported liquid membrane (NSLM) in a microchannel. The use of supported liquid membrane enables simultaneous extraction and stripping (i.e., recovery of the extractant) processes. In this study, the NSLM was applied in a microchannel to minimize mass transfer resistance, hence improving overall performance of the extraction. Copper (II) ion was used as a model ion, while di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) dissolved in kerosene was used as the …