Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Pyrolysis Of Foliage From 24 U.S. Plant Species With Recommendations For Physics-Basedwildland Fire Models, Mahsa Alizadeh, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

Pyrolysis of 24 samples of foliage from three U.S. regions with frequent wildland fires (Southeastern U.S., northern Utah and Southern California) was studied in a fuel-rich flat-flame burner system at 765 ◦C (for Southeastern U.S. samples) and 725 ◦C (for northern Utah and Southern California species), with a heating rate of approximately 180 ◦C/s. These conditions were selected to mimic the conditions of wildland fires. Individual plant samples were introduced to the high temperature zone in a flat-flame burner and pyrolysis products were collected. Tar was extracted and later analyzed by GC/MS. Light gases were collected and analyzed by GC/TCD. …

Cross-Linked Cellulose Ester/Linseed Oil Composites For Controlled Release Fertilizers, Ian Stark

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food scarcity is an ever-present concern for a growing population but can be mitigated through innovations in agriculture. Fertilizers are required to produce a sufficient amount of food, and while they contain key nutrients for crop growth, these nutrients can leech into the surrounding environment. Controlled release fertilizers slow the release of nutrients, encasing the prills in a semi permeable coating. Current coatings are non-biodegradable, causing microplastic soil contamination, which is very difficult to remove. Cellulose esters offer a compelling alternative, with an ability to cross-link into thin films that can be applied as coatings. The cellulose esterification was completed …

Development Trends And Priority Research Fields Of Electrochemical Discipline In The 15th Five Year Plan Period, Lin Zhuang, Wen-Bin Cai, Heng-Xing Ji, Qing Li, Gong-Wei Wang, Sen Xin, Qing Zhao, Fang-Yi Cheng, Yu-Guo Guo, Lan-Qun Mao, Yang Tian, Fei Wu, Li-Min Zhang, Yan Xiang, Jin-Song Hu, Rui Cao, Li Xiao, Hua-Bing Tao, Wei Xing, Dong-Ping Zhan, Hong-Gang Liao, Mei-Ling Xiao, Bin Ren, Zhang-Quan Peng, Rui Wen, Xiang Wang, Yue-Feng Song, Hou-Fu Lv, Bao-Yu Xia, Guo-Xiong Wang, Jun Cheng, Zhi-Pan Liu, Min Zhou, Bing Huang, Cun-Pu Li, Yu-Qin Zou, Shuang-Yin Wang, Hai-Bo Lin, Zi-Dong Wei

Journal of Electrochemistry

In fulfillment of the national science-and-technology development agenda, the Department of Chemical Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) convened the Strategic Symposium on the Fifteenth Five-Year (2026–2030) Development Plan for Electrochemistry held in Xiamen on 29 August, 2025—the culminating year of the Fourteenth Five-Year (2021–2025) Development Plan. More than forty leading experts in the field of electrochemistry participated with spanning nine thematic fronts: Interfacial Electrocatalysis, Interfacial Electrochemistry for Energy Storage, Bioelectrochemistry, Electrochemistry of Hydrogen Energy, Electrochemical Micro-/Nano-Manufacturing, Operando Electrochemical Characterization, Electro-Thermal Coupling Catalysis, Theoretical and Computational Electrochemistry, and Electrochemical Synthesis. The forum assembled China’s foremost electrochemical …

Ai-Assisted Spectral Fingerprinting Of Mg-Doped Zno Tracer Phosphors: Tuning Photoluminescence Emission And Investigating Lifetime Via Sol-Gel Synthesis Parameters, Thomas M. Brandte

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plastic sorting remains a major driver of recycling costs, and existing infrared (IR) optical identification systems cannot determine material prominence or quality, nor reliably identify dark polymers [1]. This work explores a PVA-stabilized sol–gel and thermal synthesis route for magnesium-doped zinc oxide (Mg:ZnO) as a tunable photoluminescent tracer phosphor.

Lattice-defect control forms the foundation of phosphorescent emission tuning, enabling unique spectral fingerprints to be generated based on synthesis parameters—Mg molar ratio (Mg%), PVA mass (g), and calcination temperature (°C). Photoluminescence (PL) spectra (400–850 nm) were analyzed using Gaussian peak fitting and principal component analysis (PCA), reducing hundreds of spectral features …

Evaluating Platinum, Gold, Glassy Carbon, And Graphite Anodes For Chlorine Evolution In Molten Calcium Chloride Salt, Cameron Vann, Shelssie Klvacek, Carlos Mejia, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

The chlorine evolution reaction (CER) in molten CaCl₂ plays a critical role in high-temperature electrochemical processes, including chlorination, metal refining, and used nuclear fuel treatment. This study evaluates the performance of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), glassy carbon (GC), and graphite anodes for the CER under consistent electrochemical conditions. Anode performance was assessed based on chlorine (Cl₂) gas evolution, material robustness, and kinetic parameters. Cl₂ generation was directly confirmed using quadrupole mass spectrometry for Pt, GC, and graphite anodes. GC and graphite demonstrated stable and sustained CER activity. Pt and Au were shown to have significant mass …

Structural And Biological Properties Of Chitosan/Copper Polymetallic Complexes Synthesized From Apis Mellifera-Derved Chitosan, Dilnoza Sohibovna Isomitdinova, Gulnora Akmalovna Ikhtiyarova, Nazira Madusmanovna Kuchkarbayeva, Nafisa Akhrorovna Ergasheva

Technical science and innovation

In this study, a chitosan/copper (Ch/Cu²⁺) polymetallic complex was synthesized from chitosan obtained by the cryogenic method from Apis mellifera bees. The structural and physicochemical properties of the complex were investigated using FTIR, UV-Vis, XRD, TGA, and DLS analyses. FTIR spectra showed shifts in absorption bands at 1400-1339 cm⁻¹ and 1640-1550 cm⁻¹, confirming the coordination of Cu²⁺ ions with amino and hydroxyl groups. UV-Vis spectra revealed absorption peaks in the 410-540 nm range, while XRD analysis indicated new crystalline peaks at 2θ = 24°, 27°, and 37°. Thermal analysis demonstrated high thermal stability of the complex, and DLS confirmed a …

Improvement Of Ultrasonic-Convective Equipment And Beetroot (Beta Vulgaris L.) Drying Process, Jasur Esirgapovich Safarov, Shakhnoza Abduvaxitovna Sultanova, R. M. Najafli

Technical science and innovation

In the world, the air-dried food market is seeing rapid expansion, valued at USD 103.26 billion in 2021, out of which the Asia Pacific region consumed the maximum amount. The freeze-dried vegetable and fruit market is predicted to reach USD 132.7 billion by 2027. Processed vegetables are also exported to a large extent from India. Uzbekistan recorded excellent development in agriculture in 2024, with record harvests, better yields, and use of advanced machinery. Azerbaijan also demonstrated good agriculture growth and export performance. Beetroot has now been identified as a functional food containing bioactive compounds like betaines and dietary fiber that …

Treating Low-Concentration Methane Emissions Via A Methanotroph-Based Biotrickling Filter: Techno-Economic And Life Cycle Assessment, Waaseyaaban Landgren, Robert Handler, David Shonnard, Mary E. Lidstrom

Michigan Tech Publications

Methane, a greenhouse gas which has a global warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide on a 20-year time scale, greatly contributes to global warming. Removing 1 Gt of atmospheric methane by 2050 would limit global temperature increase from reaching 1.5 °C. Currently, biotrickling filter systems for removing atmospheric methane via methanotrophs exist, but not for very low methane concentrations (< 1 v%). Recent work at the University of Washington to isolate and improve a microbial strain which thrives at 500 ppmv CH4 has removed one obstacle in making this technology feasible. In this study, techno-economic and environmental life cycle assessment analyses conducted on this process have assessed its economic feasibility, greenhouse gas reduction potential, and possible areas of improvement. Study results show that at 500 ppmv CH4, this process could remove atmospheric methane at a cost of USD 3992–5224/tCH4. The best-performing case also produces annual net reductions in warming potential by 276–311 tCO2e/120 m3 process unit deployed. Many opportunities exist to improve the outcomes of the baseline analysis even further, especially related to reducing the transport distance of media and harvested biomass.

Using Serial Open Circuit Potentiometry To Study Ce And Gd Deposition In Molten Licl-Kcl Eutectic, Ranon G. Fuller, Guy L. Fredrickson, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

The ability to electrochemically separate individual species in a pyrochemical reprocessing salt relies on first being able to detect a separation in their reaction potentials. This requires the ability to measure reaction potentials with extreme precision. In this work, we introduce a novel technique called serial open circuit potentiometry (SOCP) and demonstrate its effectiveness at precisely measuring metal deposition reaction potentials. SOCP has several advantages over traditional open circuit potentiometry, including its abilities to quantify the error of measured equilibrium potentials by averaging many individual OCP measurements, determine overpotential deposition nucleation potentials to instrument precision, and simultaneously determine the nucleation …

Magnetically Recoverable And Adsorptive Alginate Hydrogel Composite Beads Reinforced With Cellulose Nanocrystals, Corbon M. Moss, Mohammad Jahid Hasan, Monishita Deb, Sarah Watzmann, Esteban Ureña-Benavides, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1.9 million deaths occur annually due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable, biobased materials for water purification. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of magnetically responsive, alginate-based hydrogels designed for pollutant adsorption and magnetic recovery. Magnetic cellulose nanocrystals (mCNC) were produced by coprecipitating Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and subsequently embedded into an alginate hydrogel matrix at two loading concentrations (0.1 and 1% w/v). The resulting mCNC–alginate hydrogels, along with CNC–alginate and pure alginate hydrogels as controls, were fabricated in both thin film and …

Control Of Ferroelectric And Dielectric Properties Of Undoped, Fe, And Nb-Doped Single-Crystalline (001) Oriented Pb (Zr0.5ti0.5) O3 Thin Films, Mahamudu H. Mtebwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

While several factors that influence the properties of ferroelectric devices have been extensively studied in bulk ceramics and polycrystalline thin films, limited is known about the same on single crystalline thin films which have great potential in memory and energy applications. This knowledge gap is largely due to the limited availability of substrates with lattice parameters suitable for supporting high-quality epitaxial growth. In this study, undoped, Fe-doped, and Nb-doped (001)-oriented Pb(Zr₀.₅Ti₀.₅)O₃ thin films were deposited using pulsed laser deposition, each with a SrRuO₃ bottom electrode and a PrScO₃ substrate. The doping concentration used is 1% for both Fe and Nb. …

Condition Optimization For The Synthesis Of Castor Oil Templated Mesoporous Silica, Godlisten Namwel Shao

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The present work provides suitable conditions for the synthesis of mesoporous materials with improved porosity using an optimization technique. The proposed preparation method involves forming final products by varying the amount of castor oil, media, and template removal. The obtained samples were examined by TGA, XRD, DRIFT and nitrogen physisorption studies. It was observed that the porosity of the obtained samples was dependent on the conditions under which the materials were synthesized. All synthesized materials showed the Type IV adsorption-desorption isotherm features of mesoporous, regardless of the conditions utilized during the synthesis. The sample synthesized using 2.5 g of a …

Enhancing 6g Network Security With Quantum Key Distribution: A Comprehensive Review, Bassma M. Kamil

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

With the considerable progress of sixth-generation (6G) networks further on the horizon, security has attracted much attention in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats, especially from quantum computing. Classical cryptographic schemes based on computational hardness are becoming more and more brittle, as they can easily be attacked with a quantum computer. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) arises as a promising tool for information-theoretic security through quantum mechanics to obtain an unbreakable key by exchanging unknown bit sequences. In this paper, we provide an extensive survey on the integration of QKD both in the envisioned 6G architecture, including current implementations, technical feasibility, …

Protection The Nfv Net-Work Using The Random Forest Classification, Mustafa H. Taha, Ibtesam Jomaa Hawi, Wafaa Waheeb Abdullah Ali

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

A misuse attack is the most common and dangerous type of attack that could target NFV (Network Function Virtualization). In a misuse attack, the attacker attempts to consume the NVF environment’s resources by sending a large amount of traffic. To protect the NFV environment, an early and accurate misuse attack detection system has been proposed based on NFV and Random Forest Classifier. The proposed model starts with importing the dataset and analyzing it then pre-processing and feature selection using a PSO (particle swarm optimization) Test algorithm, classification is based on the most common and efficient machine learning technique, which is …

Design Of A Hybrid System For Powering Wireless Communication Units, Samer Rabih, Ahed Alboody

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Wireless and optical communication units are becoming more widespread nowadays, especially in rural areas. Therefore, feeding electricity has become essential for the continuity of services. As a result of economic and social development, there has been an urgent need to supply electrical power for the basic requirements of wired and wireless telecommunications equipment. This is linked to public safety, long life, and connection to uninterruptible power systems to ensure continuous power supply, whether from renewable energy sources or traditional diesel systems. This research studies and designs a renewable energy (solar) power system to power telecommunications equipment. The proposed power system …

Dynamic Ris-Enabled Massive Mimo Noma Systems Power Allocation Optimization For 6g Using Machin Learning Approach, Mohamed Hassan, Khalid Hamid, Salah Hagahmoodi, Elmuntaser Hassan

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This study examines spectral efficiency (SE) and throughput throughout a spectrum of user densities (from 50 to 1000 users), user mobility speeds (0 to 350 km/h), latency, packet loss, and fairness index, within a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). The analysis includes a number of different situations, such as (i) cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) with massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO), (ii) mMIMO cooperative NOMA integrated with cognitive radio (CR), and (iii) CR-assisted mMIMO cooperative NOMA enhanced with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS). All of these are part of 6G millimeter-wave (mmWave) networks. The study investigates the enhancement of latency, packet …

Harnessing Waste Heat From Solar Cells Using Advanced Energy Storage Systems, Hayder Ibrahim Ismael

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Renewable energy is largely produced by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, but such a process is greatly impacted with thermal buildup as the solar cells work. Redundant heat not only lowers the level of electrical production, but also hastens deterioration and decreases the life-time of PV modules. In this study, we suggest a hybrid system which combines high-performance energy storage devices, namely, super-capacitors, and PV modules coupled with the use of waste heat as a source of useful energy and which increases efficiency of the system in conjunction. In order to estimate the potential amount of thermal energy recovery, as well …

Empirical Research Of A Greenhouse Monitoring And Controlling System Using Zigbee Protocol, Mohammed Hijazeh, Salah Hagahmoodi

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Greenhouses are of great importance in the agricultural field as they provide the appropriate and important environment for the growth and production of various plants regardless of the surrounding environmental conditions. Monitoring and controlling these houses are considered necessary and important in order to provide the required environment and obtain the best production. Therefore, the aim of this project is to study the monitoring and control of these houses using wireless sensor networks, which are considered modern and simple methods due to the accuracy of work and little effort they provide, and thus better production. The study will be for …

Designing An Efficient Deduplication Algorithm For Audio Files In Cloud Storage, Ammar Zakzouk, Alaa Al Sebae, Hasan Hasan

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Data duplication is a significant challenge in large-scale data storage systems, as it consumes storage space and impacts data organization, management, and processing. An optimal storage system effectively utilizes available storage space. To solve this problem, hash algorithms are employed to generate hash keys for files. Matching files have the same hash key. However, the hash key for two different files in the data may match, and this is what we refer to as a collision. The collision issue is related to the length of the hash key. As the length of the hash key increases, the probability of a …

The Future Of Al-Driven Cybersecurity For Advanced Iot, Estqlal Hammad Dhahi, Sanaa Hammad Dhahi, Ohood Fadil Alwan

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Internet of Things technologies experience rapid advancement because of 5G networks and upcoming 6G technologies, which resulted in transformational changes to security dynamics. This study examines the functionality of artificial intelligence through platforms developed to secure Internet of Things systems. The demand for improved security capabilities has become essential because IoT devices generate new assault channels, and their market penetration speed is escalating. Machine learning algorithms, together with deep learning and natural language processing methods, are investigated in this paper for enhancing the security protocols of IoT systems through studies found in academic literature. The paper explores upcoming developments and …