Chemical Engineering Commons^™

An Experimental And Computational Evaluation Of The Importance Of Molecular Diffusion In Gas Gravity Currents, Jeremy Jac Herman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The accidental release of hazardous, denser-than-air gases during their transport or manufacture is a vital area of study for process safety researchers. This project examines the importance of molecular diffusion on the developing concentration field of a gas gravity current released into a calm environment. Questions which arose from the unexpectedly severe explosion in 2005 at Buncefield, England were of particular interest. The accidental overfilling of a large tank with gasoline on a completely calm morning led to a massive open air explosion. Forensic evidence showed that at the time of ignition, a vapor cloud, most of which now appears …

Manufacturing The Next Generation Of Vaccines: Non-Egg Based Platform For Influenza Vaccine, Andrew B. Price

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This report explores the design of an influenza vaccine manufacturing facility using a non-egg based expression platform. The current standard procedure in flu vaccine production is to grow the virus in bird eggs. However, recently there is evidence that supports production by other expression platforms. The Sf9 insect cell is considered in this report. Facility design including cell culture media formulation through product storage for shipment and final formulation is considered based on the use of an existing facility. The new design also employs the use of disposable equipment such as bioreactors and purification unit operations. These disposables help reduce …

Formulation And Evaluation Of Resistive Inks For Applications In Printed Electronics, Sughosh Satish Bhore

Masters Theses

In the 21^st century, it has been shown that printing methodologies can be used to print electrically functional devices on a variety of substrates. In comparison to conventional electronic manufacturing methods, printing is a more cost effective and less complex process. The requirements for manufacturing Printed Electronics (PE) components are much more demanding than graphic printing applications due to the additional requirement of easy electron flow. This additional requirement increases the need for print uniformity and layer-to-layer registration to a much higher degree. In this work, hybrid UV-curable, water-based, electrical resistive inks were formulated. Inkjet inks were prepared by …

Fuctional Properties Of Phthalocyanine Dye Based Inks, Yumeizhi Jia

Masters Theses

Currently, inkjet printing techniques are getting more attention. They have the features of non-contact and additive patterning feasibility, compatibility with different substrates (the materials on which the ink is printed), low temperature processing, and low cost (1) (2). They can be used for patterning solution processable polymers or nanoparticle inks on various substrates including conductive materials, paper and glass (3). The need for proper functional inks is increasing every year. The goal of my work was to formulate a phthalocyanine water based ink, which can work as a dielectric ink. In my research, all the materials which were used to …

Investigation Of Recycled Paper Deinking Mechanisms, Veronika Husovska

Dissertations

The use of water-based inks is on the rise. Sub-micron pigment particles are used for flexographic and inkjet water-based inks. Conventional deinking eliminates larger particles than those from these new ink systems. Therefore, water-based inks represent recycling difficulty.

Deinking experiments of water-based inks are carried out. The deinking strategy initially investigated elimination of pressure sensitive adhesive due to similar acrylic polymer chemistry used in water based inks. The impact of pH on stickies and ink agglomeration during deinking is studied. Experiments in acidic regions show growth of acrylic inks and stickies agglomerates, simplifying elimination.

Pre-recycling of water-based inks is explored. …

Biodegradation Of Cresols Using Pseudomonas Putida Immobilized In Poly Vinyl Alcohol (Pva) Gel, Riham Mohamed Sorkatti Abu Bakr

Theses

The characteristics and viability of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a support material for biomass immobilization and utilization for the biodegradation of cresols have been evaluated. PVA gel pellets were prepared by repeated freezing-thawing method using different PVA compositions. The porous structures of the PVA pellets were examined using a Compound Microscope and SEM and revealed that the matrix structure and pore size distribution were affected by PVA composition. Mechanical properties of the PVA gel were also characterized to evaluate the PVA integrity as a matrix for immobilizing microbial cells and found to be dependent on the PVA mass composition. The …

Synthesis Of Ferrocene Copolymers And Investigation Of Their Electrochemical Properties., Alzharani Ahmed

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Ferrocene is an organometallic compound. It is a classical metallocene consisting of two cyclopentadienyl rings bound on opposite sides of a central iron atom. Such organometallic compounds are also called sandwich compounds. Ferrocene copolymers have well known electrochemical capabilities. The main objective of this thesis is to synthesize vinyl ferrocene copolymers and test their electrochemical properties in aqueous solutions with different electrolytes (sodium nitrate, sodium perchlorate, and phosphate buffered saline). Vinylferrocene and 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5- dimethylene were synthesized using a Wittig reaction. Both ferrocene monomers were copolymerized with N-ethylmaleimide and N-phenylmaleimide and the resulting polymers were analyzed by Gel Permeation chromatography, IR …

Uv-Assisted Stabilization Of Polyacrylonitrile-Based Carbon Fiber Precursors, Marlon Salvador Morales Sandoval

All Dissertations

Due to their high strength and stiffness coupled with low density, carbon fibers are the preferred reinforcing fibers used in high-performance polymer matrix composites. Consequently, the demand for carbon fibers is expected to grow from 40,000 metric tons to about 150,000 metric tons over the next decade. A large fraction of the increase is anticipated in the industrial sector that is cost-sensitive. Therefore, there is a need for the development of novel processes and precursors to reduce the carbon fiber production cost and expand the use of carbon fibers. This research focuses on the development of an alternative, rapid stabilization …

Reassessment Of Biowish Activation Procedure For Denitrification, William Wah Yee

Master's Theses

BiOWiSH^TM – Aqua is a blend of preserved multi-bacteria culture with the capability of denitrification. If an anaerobic nitrate rich activation procedure is used instead of the standard aerobic activation procedure, the denitrification rate is increased by 28 percent under the conditions of 30°C, 1C:1N, 200mg/L of carbon, and 200mg/L nitrogen.

Structure, Rheology And Optical Properties Of Plasmonic Fluids, Tao Cong

Dissertations - ALL

Fluids with tunable optical and rheological properties are of fundamental and practical interest. They can be easily processed to manufacture thin films and interfaces for applications such as molecular detection and light trapping in photovoltaics. Cationic surfactants such as cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide have the ability to self assemble with metallic nanoparticles to form a corona or a double-layer vesicular structure. These structures upon further interaction with wormlike micelle fragments are hypothesized to form micelle-nanoparticle elastic networks. In this dissertation, solution phase self-assembly is utilized to uniformly distribute various metallic nanoparticles to produce stable multicomponent plasmonic fluids with remarkable color uniformity. The …

Pyrene Oligomers: Their Isolation, Molecular Characterization, And Phase Behavior, David Esguerra Taborda

All Dissertations

Carbonaceous pitches can serve as attractive precursors for advanced carbon materials such as high thermal conductivity fibers or carbon-carbon composites. Yet the effects of composition and molecular structure on the bulk properties (e.g., mesophase content and melting point) of these precursors remain only partly known, mainly because of the difficulties associated with the isolation, identification, and quantification of the large (i.e., molecular weight (mol wt) > 350-400 Da) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) oligomers comprising these pitches. In this study, oligomeric fractions were isolated via supercritical extraction (SCE) from two representative pitches: a petroleum pitch (M-50) produced by the thermal polymerization of …

Effect Of Graphitic Carbon Nanomodifiers On The Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness Of Linear Low Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites, Byron Villacorta Hernandez

All Dissertations

Conductive polymer composites have become alternative materials for providing electromagnetic and electrostatic shielding where metals are not suitable. In this study, the effect of crystallinity, morphology, concentration and orientation of carbon nanomodifiers on shielding provided by their polyethylene-based composites has been investigated relative to their transport properties.

First, the electrical properties and EM SE of composites consisting of heat-treated carbon nanofibers (Pyrograf^® -III PR-19 CNF) in a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix were assessed. Heat treatment (HT) of CNF at 2500°C significantly improved their graphitic crystallinity and intrinsic transport properties, thereby increasing the EM SE of the nanocomposites. …

Tin Sensitization For Electroless Plating, Xingfei Wei

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The tin sensitization process has been used in electroless plating since 1940s Brenner and Riddell developed the electroless plating for surface metallization method. It was found to be an interesting topic to study tin sensitization for chemically controlling metal deposition on different substrates, because the tin sensitization process had critical effects on the electroless plated metal thin films. Nowadays electroless plating metal deposition is still an important method for depositing metals. It has a few advantages over the vapor deposition and electrodeposition method, such as work in an ambient condition, on nonconductive substrates, and without extra power input. Applying electroless …

Developing Process Control Experiments For Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Laboratories, Chase M. Swaffar

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It is the intent of this work to develop a process control apparatus and series of experiments that will help students visualize the PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control of a process and enhance their understanding of the subject. The apparatus is a computer-controlled PID mixing system that responds quickly to set point changes and process disturbances which are directly observable. The system can easily be simulated with a transfer function model in Matlab's Simulink, so that the controller can be optimized for the desired system response. Four experiments can be conducted with this system including: exploration of system modeling and controller optimization …

Characteristics Of Glass Ionomer Cements Composed Of Glass Powders In Cao-Sro-Zno-Sio2 System Prepared By Two Different Synthetic Routes, Ill Yong Kim, Chikara Ohtsuki, Aisling Coughlan, Lana Placek, Anthony W. Wren, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are composed of an acid degradable glass, polyacrylic acid and water. Sol-gel processing to prepare the glass phase has certain advantages, such as the ability to employ lower synthesis temperatures than melt quenching and glasses that are reported to have higher purity. A previous study reported the effects of glass synthesis route on GIC fabrication. However, in that study, the sol-gel derived glass exhibited a reduced concentration of cations. This study investigates increasing the cation content of a sol-gel derived glass, 12CaO·4SrO·36ZnO·48SiO₂ (molar ratio) by heating before aging to reduce dissolution of cations. This glass …

In-Situ Study Of E-Beam Al And Hf Metal Deposition On Native Oxide Inp (100), H. Dong, Santosh Kc, A. Azcatl, W. Cabrera, X. Qin, B. Brennan, D. Zhernokletov, K. Cho, R. Wallace

Faculty Publications

The interfacial chemistry of thin Al (∼3 nm) and Hf (∼2 nm) metal films deposited by electron beam (e-beam) evaporation on native oxide InP (100) samples at room temperature and after annealing has been studied by in situ angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low energy ion scattering spectroscopy. The In-oxides are completely scavenged forming In-In/In-(Al/Hf) bonding after Al and Hf metal deposition. The P-oxide concentration is significantly decreased, and the P-oxide chemical states have been changed to more P-rich oxides upon metal deposition. Indium diffusion through these metals before and after annealing at 250 °C has also been characterized. …

Binding, Transcytosis And Biodistribution Of Anti-Pecam-1 Iron Oxide Nanoparticles For Brain-Targeted Delivery, Mo Dan, David B. Cochran, Robert A. Yokel, Thomas D. Dziubla

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: Characterize the flux of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) antibody-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its biodistribution in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS: Anti-PECAM-1 IONPs and IgG IONPs were prepared and characterized in house. The binding affinity of these nanoparticles was investigated using human cortical microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3). Flux assays were performed using a hCMEC/D3 BBB model. To test their immunospecificity index and biodistribution, nanoparticles were given to Sprague Dawley rats by intra-carotid infusion. The capillary depletion method was used to elucidate their distribution between the BBB and brain parenchyma.

RESULTS: Anti-PECAM-1 …

Novel Liposomes For Targeted Delivery Of Drugs And Plasmids, Marjan Javadi

Theses and Dissertations

People receiving chemotherapy not only suffer from side effects of therapeutics but also must buy expensive drugs. Targeted drug and gene delivery directed to specific tumor-cells is one way to reduce the side effect of drugs and use less amount of therapeutics. In this research, two novel liposomal nanocarriers were developed. This nanocarrier, called an eLiposome, is basically one or more emulsion droplets inside a liposome. Emulsion droplets are made of perfluorocarbons which usually have a high vapor pressure. Calcein (as a model drug) and Paclitaxel were used to demonstrate drug delivery, and plasmids and siRNA were used to exemplify …

Compounds And Methods For Reducing The Occurrence Of Post-Surgical Adhesions, Thomas Dziubla, Eugene Kaplan, John Mark Medley Jr.

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

Compounds and methods for reducing the occurrence of a post-surgical adhesion are provided. The compounds can include acrylic acid groups and ethylene glycol groups, and can be directed to an area of damaged tissue by the incorporation of a fibrin targeting peptide. The compounds can further include a brush-like portion, capable of creating a steric barrier between a damaged tissue or organ and adjacent tissues or organs, and a targeting portion, capable of directing the compounds to a damaged tissue or organ. Methods of detecting damaged tissue and kits are also provided.

Relating Ph And Ion Release From Ga2o3-Na 2o-Cao-Zno-Sio2 Bioactive Glasses, T. J. Keenan, A. W. Wren, A. Coughlan, Mark R. Towler, M. M. Hall

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Three glasses were designed for this study, including one Ga-free glass (Control), and two Ga-containing glasses (TGa-1, TGa-2). In the Ga-containing glasses, Ga₂O₃ is included at the expense of ZnO. This study focuses on the relation between pH and ion concentration present in solution in which these bioactive glasses have been submerged for periods of 1, 7, and 14 days. © 2013 IEEE.