Experimental Study Of Co2 Recycling Using Metal-Oxide Enhanced Coconut Char Gasification: Catalytic Effect Of Potassium Carbonate On Gasification,
2013
Purdue University
Experimental Study Of Co2 Recycling Using Metal-Oxide Enhanced Coconut Char Gasification: Catalytic Effect Of Potassium Carbonate On Gasification, Mengqi Gao, Indraneel Sircar, Jay P. Gore
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Biomass gasification is an important process in the production of bio-derived fuels and renewable energy. Biomass gasification with CO2 is an endothermic process requiring high temperatures, resulting in low process-efficiency. Metals found in the ash in biomass feedstock have shown rate-promoting effects on the C-CO2 reaction and have motivated the study of low-temperature catalytic gasification. The present study investigates the catalytic effects of potassium (K) on the biomass gasification reactivity of a coconut-derived char (>99.9% carbon) within the temperature range of 600 – 1000 oC. A wet-impregnation technique is used to prepare K-treated chars. Gasification of …
Database For Solar Energy Group,
2013
Purdue University
Database For Solar Energy Group, Lei Zhong, Rakesh Agrawal
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) is the abundant quaternary semiconducting compound which could be used to make solar thin film. Even though its efficiency is lower than the silicon based film, the cost of CZTS solar film will be lower compared to the current silicon based film. Therefore it is really worth to do research and make improvement on its efficiency. So far, the solar energy group already collected a great bunch of data, which could be employed to guide the future experiment. Hence, it is really necessary to build a database to arrange the information we got. Our project …
Biomarkers For Vincristine-Induced Neuropathy,
2013
Purdue University
Biomarkers For Vincristine-Induced Neuropathy, Danni Li, Jayachandran Devaraj, Doraiswami Ramkrishna
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Vincristine is a vinca alkaloid, a commonly used chemotherapy drug for treating leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and some pediatric cancers. Its major dose-limiting side effect is peripheral neuropathy. The current dosing of “standard-dose-for-all” ignores the genetic and phenotypic variations among different patients, and causes severe neuropathy in some patients while ineffectively treats the others. In the present study, we aim to discover novel biomarkers involved in vincristine-induced neuropathy and identify patients with varied metabolic characteristics. Thus treatment can be tailored accordingly to improve outcomes of vincristine treatment. Pre-dose and post-dose serum samples were collected from two groups of patients (low …
Adhesive Elastomeric Proteins,
2013
Purdue University
Adhesive Elastomeric Proteins, Haefa Mansour, Julie Liu
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Sutures and staples commonly used to close surgical wounds tend to be much stiffer than the surrounding tissue, often resulting in external tissue damage. Surgical adhesives provide a promising alternative to these sutures and staples. Ideal surgical adhesives are biocompatible, able to set well and remain sticky in moist conditions, possess strong adhesive and cohesive properties, and exhibit mechanical properties that mimic those of the surrounding tissue. Unfortunately, the adhesives available today are unable to satisfactorily meet all of these criteria. We are utilizing protein engineering techniques to design, create, and test a new surgical adhesive that combines the adhesive …
Photolithography In Fabrication Of Thin-Film Solar Cells,
2013
Purdue University
Photolithography In Fabrication Of Thin-Film Solar Cells, Yusheng Zhu, Rakesh Agrawal
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Solar energy has steadily increased its efficiency and cost-effectiveness throughout the past three decades and seems poised to compete with current primary energy (natural gas, oil, coal) as the need for alternative energy sources rises. One type of solar cell, thin-film cells, often relies on use of permanent photomasks in order to imprint a pattern onto the front metal contact. However, these machined metal masks are rigid and do not allow for different designs to be explored as current masks encounter difficulties in machining grids thin enough for optimization. Photolithography, traditionally used in the microfabrication field, provides a method in …
Solvent Selection For Liquid-Liquid Extraction Of Acetic Acid From Biomass Hydrolysate,
2013
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Solvent Selection For Liquid-Liquid Extraction Of Acetic Acid From Biomass Hydrolysate, Emma A. Barber, Mahdieh Aghazadeh, Abigail Engelberth
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Biofuels are one of the most hopeful alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. However, the processing and production of biofuels needs improvement to be economically competitive in the current market. One drawback is the presence of naturally occurring compounds that decrease the bioethanol production rate and yield; these are called inhibitors. A resolution to this problem is to remove the inhibitors from biomass fermentation broth prior to fermentation. This project examined liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) for removal of acetic acid, a major inhibitor. Initially, a stock solution of glucose, xylose, acetic acid, and water was combined with an additional organic solvent …
Characterization Of The Saturation Level Of Nucleosome Arrays And Plasmids By Mnase Digestion,
2013
Purdue University
Characterization Of The Saturation Level Of Nucleosome Arrays And Plasmids By Mnase Digestion, Wenjie Liu, Nathan Nurse, Chongli Yuan
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Studying processes involving DNA such as DNA replication and transcription is best done in the context of chromatin because the structure of DNA influences the efficiency of such processes. Chromatin structure is derived from DNA wrapping around histone octamers with the histone octamer density termed saturation level. For in vitro studies on DNA replication and transcription, it is important to maintain a constant saturation level so that saturation level can be removed as a variable. Our goal is to characterize the saturation level of plasmids using the rate of MNase digestion. MNase digestions were first performed on reconstituted nucleosome arrays …
In Situ Study Of The Role Of Substrate Temperature During Atomic Layer Deposition Of Hfo2 On Inp,
2013
University of Texas at Dallas
In Situ Study Of The Role Of Substrate Temperature During Atomic Layer Deposition Of Hfo2 On Inp, H. Dong, Santosh Kc, X. Qin, B. Brennan, S. Mcdonnell, D. Zhernokletov, C. Hinkle, J. Kim, K. Cho, R. Wallace
Faculty Publications
The dependence of the “self cleaning” effect of the substrate oxides on substrate temperature during atomic layer deposition (ALD) of HfO2 on various chemically treated and native oxide InP (100) substrates is investigated using in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The removal of In-oxide is found to be more efficient at higher ALD temperatures. The P oxidation states on native oxide and acid etched samples are seen to change, with the total P-oxide concentration remaining constant, after 10 cycles of ALD HfO2 at different temperatures. An (NH4)2 S treatment is seen to effectively remove native oxides and passivate the InP surfaces …
Design And Preparation Of A Ni Steam Reforming Catalyst,
2013
Brigham Young University
Design And Preparation Of A Ni Steam Reforming Catalyst, Phillip R. Smith, Dr. Calvin H. Bartholomew
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Steam reforming catalysts play an essential role in the production of hydrogen, which is an essential fuel, feedstock, and reactant in the worldwide chemical industry. These steam reforming catalysts use a finely dispersed metal, supported on a porous ceramic material, to produce hydrogen from hydrocarbon sources. This is shown in reaction 1, where HC denotes hydrocarbon, H2O denotes water, H2 denotes dihydrogen, CO denotes carbon monoxide, CO2 denotes carbon dioxide, and CH4 denotes methane.
Determining Biomass Particle Properties Via Digital Imaging,
2013
Brigham Young University
Determining Biomass Particle Properties Via Digital Imaging, Justin Scott, Dr. Larry Baxter
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Understanding the devolatilization and combustion of biomass (sawdust, agricultural waste, etc.) will lead to better use of this renewable fuel source. The overall goal of the project is to write a computer model that can accurately predict what will occur during biomass combustion. The research conducted over the past year has focused on developing an apparatus capable of determining the needed data for model development. The apparatus, once completed, will consist of an entrained flow reactor, an optical measurement system, and a computer algorithm to process the needed data from the images.
Polymers Functioning As Artificial Muscles,
2013
Brigham Young University
Polymers Functioning As Artificial Muscles, Nicholas Stanonis, William Pitt
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Current research in the field of polymers has led to the development of synthetic muscles that function similar to biological muscles. Scientists have engineered polymers to contract up to one thousand times their original volume when exposed to changes in light, temperature, voltage, or pH. The ability to contract and relax makes these polymers ideal artificial muscles. Currently, artificial muscles are being applied in the field of robotics. NASA is in the process of developing a dust wiper for their planetary rovers that operates with an artificial muscle. A common goal that many scientists are working towards is the implementation …
Black Liquor Pyrolysis,
2013
Brigham Young University
Black Liquor Pyrolysis, Jarom D. Webster, Dr. Thomas H. Fletcher
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The black liquor recovery boiler is the largest and most expensive piece of equipment in a modern pulp mill. Inside this boiler, black liquor is burned to produce electricity for the mill and also to recover spent chemicals. Black liquor combustion occurs in three stages: drying, pyrolysis, and char combustion. Understanding black liquor pyrolysis is an important step to controlling and improving the efficiency of the recovery boiler.
Catalyst Regeneration/Wax Solubility,
2013
Brigham Young University
Catalyst Regeneration/Wax Solubility, Steven Gale Smith, Dr. Calvin Bartholomew
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Catalysts are widely used throughout many industries to decrease reaction time and make processes economically favorable. In the synthetic fuels industry a catalyst is used to convert carbon monoxide gases (CO) to hydrocarbon liquids (CnH2n+2). In this process, the catalyst becomes coated with the heavier hydrocarbon products. This coating is a wax and deactivates the catalyst (inhibits the catalyst from reacting). The catalyst is currently one of the largest expenses for this process and prevents the process from being competitive with natural fuels. Hence, a method to remove the waxes from the catalysts was studied. The process of removing the …
Is Dna A Good Model Polymer?,
2013
Brigham Young University - Provo
Is Dna A Good Model Polymer?, Douglas R. Tree, Abhiram Muralidhar, Patrick S. Doyle, Kevin D. Dorfman
Faculty Publications
The details surrounding the crossover from wormlike-specific to universal polymeric behavior has been the subject of debate and confusion even for the simple case of a dilute, unconfined wormlike chain. We have directly computed the polymer size, form factor, free energy, and Kirkwood diffusivity for unconfined wormlike chains as a function of molecular weight, focusing on persistence lengths and effective widths that represent single-stranded and double-stranded DNA in a high ionic strength buffer. To do so, we use a chain-growth Monte Carlo algorithm, the pruned-enriched Rosenbluth method (PERM), which allows us to estimate equilibrium and near-equilibrium dynamic properties of wormlike …
Computer Simulated Multi-Component Aerosol Thermodynamics And Chemistry,
2013
Brigham Young University
Computer Simulated Multi-Component Aerosol Thermodynamics And Chemistry, Eric Halpenny, Dr. Larry Baxter
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Aerosols are small (sub-micron) particles formed mainly in combustion processes by the vaporization and subsequent re-condensation of volatile, inorganic compounds. Cloud formation is an example of an aerosol process. However, unlike clouds, most aerosol-generating processes produce negative effects on both the process that forms them and the environment. Aerosols represent major process and emissions issues for essentially all systems employing low-grade fuel (coal, biomass, and black liquor). An accurate, predictive understanding of aerosol formation and chemistry would substantially improve the efficiency and environmental performance of many processes.
Streamline-Based Novel Dynamic Grid Reservoir Simulation,
2013
Brigham Young University
Streamline-Based Novel Dynamic Grid Reservoir Simulation, Bradley C. Bundy, Dr. Larry Lin Baxter, Dr. Hugh Bradley Hales
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Oil is one of the most important commodities we have. It provides energy, transportation, and chemicals to provide a better life for mankind. However, it is a depleting recourse that is getting harder and harder to find and recover. Simulation techniques have been used for many years to determine the best place to drill wells and when it is the best time economically to stop pumping slurry. Unfortunately, current simulators often take weeks to months to complete and are only an estimate of what may occur. The industry is currently limited by slow, inaccurate simulation techniques. Faster simulators with increased …
Three-Dimensional Cfd Model Of A Reacting Char Bed,
2013
Brigham Young University
Three-Dimensional Cfd Model Of A Reacting Char Bed, Michael M. Choi, Dr. Larry Baxter
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Black liquor is a recycled byproduct formed during the pulping of wood in the papermaking industry. In this process, cellulose is used to form paper fibers while lignin is combined with water and chemical used for the extraction to form black liquor. Black liquor is burned in a recovery boiler to produce steam and electricity and is the second largest renewable energy next to hydro energy.
Bacteriorhodopsin-Based Sensors,
2013
Michigan Technological University
Bacteriorhodopsin-Based Sensors, Craig Friedrich, Donald Lueking, Mark Griep
Michigan Tech Patents
A sensor comprising a membrane containing bacteriorhodopsin. In one embodiment, the sensor comprises a layer of purple membrane between a first and a second electrode, wherein the electrodes are connected to a circuit such that a signal is produced when a charge is transferred across the membrane. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises a field effect transistor with a layer of purple membrane deposited on the gate. The layer of purple membrane may be further functionalized by adding fluorophores to the layer of purple membrane. The fluorophores may be deposited adjacent to the layer of purple membrane, or the fluorophores …
Analysis Of Electrical Current As An Agent For Bacterial Killing,
2013
Brigham Young University
Analysis Of Electrical Current As An Agent For Bacterial Killing, Taylor Turner, Dr. William Pitt
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Previously it has been shown that antibiotic killing of bacteria, especially biofilms, can be enhanced by various non-invasive treatments. Low-level electric current has been shown to increase killing of Streptococcus gordonii biofilms when applied during treatment with gentamicin.1 Others have partially tested the feasibility of electrically killing bacteria on prosthetic joints.2 Ultrasonic exposure has also been shown to increase killing of bacterial biofilms.3 Our group previously observed that ultrasound increased the transport of gentamicin through biofilms.4 Electrical treatment of S. gordonii in the absence of gentamicin also generates a 1.9 log reduction in biofilm cell counts.1 Our previous findings showed …
An Experimental Study Of The Mechanisms Of Fine Particle Deposition In Kraft Recovery Boilers,
2013
Brigham Young University
An Experimental Study Of The Mechanisms Of Fine Particle Deposition In Kraft Recovery Boilers, Larry Baxter
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Experiments on the deposition of fume (submicron) and particles produced during black liquor combustion indicate that deposit mass accumulation increases linearly with time and is independent of temperature gradient – results that are inconsistent with the classical explanation of thermophoresis as a driving force. Temperature-controlled, cylindrical probes in cross flow collected particles for periods up to ten hours and at Reynolds and Stokes numbers comparable to those in commercial boilers. Fume deposits appear dense and smooth to the unaided eye but under microscopic examination prove to have filamentary structures, with individual filaments radiating from the probe center and consisting of …
