Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Biobased Acrylate Composites With Enhanced Strength For Additive Manufacturing, Nicole Wagner, Joseph Mcwherter

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

With the expanding use of polymers in additive manufacturing, sustainable resins for use in vat photopolymerization are required to reduce their environmental impact. One promising approach to achieve this is to incorporate biobased fillers that replace the acrylates in photopolymer resins as ‘green’ alternatives. In this study, photopolymer composites consisting of a methacrylate resin with varying calcium carbonate powder content between 0 and 50 wt.% were investigated. A digital light processing technique was used to fabricate tensile test specimens for mechanical testing. Good printability, dimensional accuracy, and good interlayer adhesion were observed for composite resin formulations that incorporated calcium carbonate …

A Comparative Study On Natural Vs. Synthesized Polymers Combined With Silica Nanoparticles To Maximize Secondary Oil Recovery, Attia Attia, Mohamed Sadek Hamedi Al, Waleed Abd-Alsabour Ali Eng., Zeyad Tamer Elshony Eng.

Petroleum Engineering and Gas

Polymer flooding is a well-established technique for enhancing oil recovery from reservoirs. In this study, we investigate the performance of two different polymers, Xanthan Gum, and HPAM for secondary oil recovery in the sand pack. The effects of polymer concentration and high salinity on oil recovery are studied. The polymers are characterized using various measurements and tests, including viscosity, shear rate, and interfacial tension. The sand pack flooding experiments are conducted under various conditions, including varying polymer slugs, and nanosilica (silicon dioxide SiO2) concentration. The results are analyzed to determine the optimal conditions for polymer flooding for enhanced oil recovery. …

Evaluating Flue Gas Geo-Sequestration And Eor In Fractured Reservoirs Through Simulated Synergistic Reservoir Characteristics And Injection Kinetics, Mehdi Nassabeh, Zhenjiang You, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The global reliance on hydrocarbon resources and fossil fuels has resulted in a significant surge in carbon dioxide emissions, necessitating urgent measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating CO2 storage with enhanced oil recovery (EOR) presents a promising solution for reducing emissions and enhancing oil recovery by sequestering CO2 within oil reservoirs, especially in fractured carbonate reservoirs. The research utilized the Eclipse simulator to model different gas injection scenarios in a crude oil reservoir, focusing on assessing the effectiveness of CO2 and flue gas geo-sequestration and EOR, performing sensitivity analyses on reservoir characteristics, and evaluating the impact of varying injection …

Membrane Filtration Of Nanoscale Biomaterials: Model System And Membrane Performance Evaluation For Aav2 Viral Vector Clarification And Recovery, Mara Leach, Kearstin Edmonds, Emily Ingram, Rebecca Dutch, Sumith R. Wickramasinghe, Malgorzata Chwatko, Dibakar Bhattacharyya

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The growing demand for viral vectors as nanoscale therapeutic agents in gene therapy necessitates efficient and scalable purification methods. This study examined the role of nanoscale biomaterials in optimizing viral vector clarification through a model system mimicking real AAV2 crude harvest material. Using lysed HEK293 cells and silica nanoparticles (20 nm) as surrogates for AAV2 crude harvest, we evaluated primary (depth filters) and secondary (membrane-based) filtration processes under different process parameters and solution conditions. These filtration systems were then assessed for their ability to recover nanoscale viral vectors while reducing DNA (without the need for endonuclease treatment), protein, and turbidity. …

Reinforcing Polymer Flooding System With Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles For Improved Oil Recovery, Di Li, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Ning Xu, Wenjing Shi, Yu Zhang, Wenhui Ding, Peixu Ma, Zan Gao

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs), characterized by a high specific surface area and abundant hydroxyl groups, offer a promising approach to enhancing the performance of amphiphilic polymers in challenging enhanced oil recovery (EOR) conditions. In this study, DMSNs were successfully synthesized, and systematically evaluated for their impact on the solution properties of a betaine amphiphilic polymer (PADC). The unique "flower-like" mesoporous structure of DMSNs provided approximately 7-fold higher surface area than conventional SiO2, facilitating enhanced polymer-nanoparticle interactions. The DMSN/PADC composite system exhibited significantly improved viscosity, salt resistance, thermal tolerance, and shear resistance compared to PADC and SiO2/PADC systems. Quantum chemical …

Nanostructured Graphitic Carbon Nitride For Photocatalytic And Electrochemical Applications, Muhammad Abdul Qadeer, Iqra Fareed, Asif Hussaine, Muhammad Asim Farid, Sadia Nazir, Faheem K. Butt, Ji-Jun Zou, Muhammad Tahir, Shang-Feng Du

Journal of Electrochemistry

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) exhibits great mechanical as well as thermal characteristics, making it a valuable material for use in photoelectric conversion devices, an accelerator for synthesis of organic compounds, an electrolyte for fuel cell applications or power sources, and a hydrogen storage substance and a fluorescence detector. It is fabricated using different methods, and there is a variety of morphologies and nanostructures such as zero to three dimensions that have been designed for different purposes. There are many reports about g-C₃N₄ in recent years, but a comprehensive review which covers nanostructure dimensions …

A Cnt Intercalated Co Porphyrin-Based Metal Organic Framework Catalyst For Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Pei-Pei He, Jin-Hua Shi, Xiao-Yu Li, Ming-Jie Liu, Zhou Fang, Jing He, Zhong-Jian Li, Xin-Sheng Peng, Qing-Gang He

Journal of Electrochemistry

The poor electronic conductivity of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials hinders their direct application in the field of electrocatalysis in fuel cells. Herein, we proposed a strategy of embedding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) during the growth process of MOF crystals, synthesizing a metalloporphyrin-based MOF catalyst TCPPCo-MOF-CNT with a unique CNT-intercalated MOF structure. Physical characterization revealed that the CNTs enhance the overall conductivity while retaining the original characteristics of the MOF and metalloporphyrin. Simultaneously, the insertion of CNTs generated adequate mesopores and created a hierarchical porous structure that enhances mass transfer efficiency. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis confirmed that the C atom in CNT …

New Insights Into Controlling The Functional Properties Of Tin Oxide-Based Materials, Alexandra Kuriganova, Nina Smirnova

Journal of Electrochemistry

Development of methodologies for fabrications of nanostructured materials that provide control over their microstructural features and compositions represents a fundamental step in the advancement of technologies for productions of materials with well-defined functional properties. Pulse electrolysis, a top-down electrochemical approach, has been demonstrated to be a viable method for producing nanostructured materials with a particular efficacy in the synthesis of tin oxides. This method allows for significant control over the composition and shape of the resulting tin oxides particles by modifying the anionic composition of the aqueous electrolyte, obviating the need for additional capping agents in the synthesis process and …

The Design And Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Of A Pembrolizumab Single-Chain Variable Fragment, Landon E. Ebbert, Tyler J. Free, Mehran Soltani, Bradley Charles Bundy

Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Cancer is a leading cause of death. However, recently developed immunotherapies have shown significant promise to improve cancer treatment outcomes and survival rates. Pembrolizumab, a cancer immunotherapy drug, enables a strong T-cell response specifically targeting cancer cells to improve patient outcomes in more than 16 types of cancer. The increasing demand for pembrolizumab, the highest selling drug in 2023, increases global dependence on drug production, which can be vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. Methods: Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a rapid in vitro protein production method that could provide the production of an immunotherapy drug in an emergency and …

An Innovative Nh2-Uio-66/Nh2-Mil-125 Mof-On-Mof Structure To Improve The Performance And Antifouling Properties Of Ultrafiltration Membranes, Javad Farahbakhsh, Mitra Golgoli, Mohadeseh Najafi, Seyedeh Zahra Haeri, Mehdi Khiadani, Amir Razmjou, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The careful design of distinctive membrane layers with specific pore structures is a crucial aspect of membrane fabrication. Previous efforts in metal–organic framework (MOF) based membranes have predominantly employed a single MOF material for improving membrane resistance to fouling due to microplastics and proteins. Here, a novel, highly specialised ultrafiltration (UF) membrane is developed through the in-situ growth of NH2-UiO-66 on the NH2-MIL-125 (MOF-on-MOF) crystals to improve membranes’ performance such as pure water flux (PWF), rejection, and antifouling properties. The developed membranes displayed multidimensional pores, leading to a significant enhancement in fouling resistance while achieving remarkable improvements in water flux. …

Optimization And Dft Study For Boosted Electooxidation Of Formic Acid At Niox Modified Pt Using Urea Derivatives As Blending Fuels, Aya Saada

Biochemical Engineering

This paper addresses the enhancement of formic acid electrooxidation (FAO) at Pt and Pt-NiOx nanoparticles based-catalysts assisted with urea derivatives as blending fuels. Blending formic acid with various ratios of urea derivatives showed noticeable enhancements of FAO as demonstrated by a favorable negative shift of its onset potential (Eonset) and increase of its peak current density concurrently with suppression of the amount of CO poisoning reaction intermediate. Among all the used derivatives, phenyl urea (PU) showed superior enhancing effect towards the direct FAO with a minimal CO formation together with a favorable negative shift of Eonset by 150 mV. The …

Modeling Virus Filtration: Materials, Applications, And Mechanism, Hironobu Shiritaki, Linda Gudex, Sumith R. Wickramasinghe

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

While various methods are employed to ensure the virus safety of finished products, virus filtration (VF) stands out as the preferred method for virus removal and purification of a wide variety of products owing to its capability of separating product molecules with more than 90% recovery and no change in molecule characteristics. The modeling of the virus removal process for VF membranes is based on the principles of microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF), but with modifications for the much narrower separation difference, which is less than 2-fold for the separation of product molecules and virus particles. In this review, we …

Cold-Plasma-Driven Ammonia Synthesis Over Porous Silica: The Role Of The Morphology, Fnu Gorky, Vashantu Storr, Jacek B. Jasinski, Maria L. Carreon

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) has opened unexplored routes for small-scale, decentralized ammonia production. However, understanding the ammonia formation pathways when employing NTP-driven processes is challenging due to the complex nature of the process. In this work, we report the effects of the morphology and textural properties on ammonia production. Herein, we explore mesoporous and macroporous regimes in silica. Performance of mesoporous silica with a gyroid morphology displays the highest ammonia production rate of 160.7 mu mol/ming-cat at a plasma power of 15 W. The findings from this work provide insights into tailoring porous structures and morphology for ammonia production powered by …

Transfer Learning For Thickener Control, Samuel Arce Munoz, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

Thickener control is a key area of focus in the minerals processing industry, particularly due to its crucial role in water recovery, which is essential for sustainable resource management. The highly nonlinear nature of thickener dynamics presents significant challenges in modeling and optimization, making it a strong candidate for advanced surrogate modeling techniques. However, traditional data-driven approaches often require extensive datasets, which are frequently unavailable, especially in new plants or unexplored operational domains. Developing data-driven models without enough data representative of the dynamics of the system could result in incorrect predictions and consequently, unstable response of the controller. This paper …

Effectiveness Of Natural Coagulants In Purification Of Industrial Wastewater: A Case Of Cactus Pads And Watermelon Seeds, Neema O. Msuya

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study assessed the potential of cactus pads and watermelon seeds as natural coagulants in industrial wastewater treatment. The global characterization of the two coagulants was done by using the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) to determine the specific functional groups and by zeta potential measurements. A full factorial design was used to design the experiment and analyze the effect of three factors: coagulant dosage, settling time and particle size with three levels each and one replicate on the turbidity removal. ANOVA analyses were used to determine the significance of the factors. Results show that the amino and hydroxyl groups in …

Non-Catalytic Direct Partial Oxidation Of Methane To Methanol In A Wall-Coated Microreactor, Kelly Cohen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This project used an integrated mixer-reactor-heat exchanger microtube scalable module for the non-catalytic direct partial oxidation of methane in natural gas to methanol at elevated pressures (70-95 bar), reaction temperatures of 380-460C, reactant methane:air ratios of 0.5-4.4 and reaction zone residence times on the order of 1 min. Currently, methane in remote locations is often flared in large quantities rather than transported or converted to the more easily transportable methanol. However, if this gaseous methane were converted to liquid methanol at the wellhead, it could be transported in ways other than pipeline or used onsite.

Additionally, methane is currently converted …

Development And Characterization Of Polysaccharide-Based Controlled Drug Delivery Platforms, Amanda Pepler

Open Access Dissertations

Drug delivery research focuses on overcoming challenges in patient treatment. Most therapeutics are delivered systemically through oral or intravenous routes. However, these administration methods are often inefficient due to therapeutic hydrophobicity, poor bioavailability, and liver metabolic clearance, necessitating frequent dosing. When treatment plans require frequent dosing, patients experience significant fluctuations in therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream, which can increase adverse side effects. These factors contribute to low patient compliance. Therefore, the core focus of drug delivery research is to develop new administration routes for therapeutics. Drug delivery systems (DDS) that can target therapeutics to a localized region offer advantages over …

Handling Emerging Sources Of Non-Determinism: Proportional Control With Quantum Noise, And Lyapunov-Based Economic Model Predictive Control To Address Stability, Profitability, And Dynamics Of Nonlinear Systems Under Cyberattack, Keshav Kasturi Rangan

Wayne State University Dissertations

The fundamental objective of process control is to establish safe process operating conditions while ensuring minimal economic loss. One of the fundamental challenges of achieving this objective is non-determinism from various sources that can create unexpected process behavior. A traditional goal in industrial process control is the rejection of disturbances, which are time-varying process inputs that are not directly modified by the control system. Other sources of uncertainty can include measurement inaccuracies/noise and changes in process dynamics as a plant operates. Many techniques have been developed to ensure notions of stabilization and safety despite these sources of stochasticity for both …

Rhamnolipid As An Effective Srb Biocide – Determining A Solution To Replicate Anticipated Conditions, Elizabeth Zimmerer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aimed to develop a laboratory-scale solution that replicates produced water conditions (CO₂ + brine) found in crude pipelines, with the added requirement of promoting the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). A previously successful study was used as a reference, which employed a hybrid salt solution containing essential nutrients and environmental factors. The proposed solution included 10 g sodium chloride, 1 g sodium pyruvate, 0.2 g ammonium chloride, and 0.8 g sodium sulfate per liter of deionized water. Electrochemical testing (Linear Polarization Resistance and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) was performed on solutions with and without rhamnolipid. Results from the …

A New Deep Decoder Type Cascaded Feedforward Neural Network For Critical Heat Flux Prediction In Power Reactors, Rehan Zubair Khalid, Atta Ullah, Asifullah Khan, Mansoor Hameed Inayat, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Critical Heat Flux (CHF) is a fundamental parameter for ensuring the performance, reliability, safety, and economic viability of water-cooled nuclear reactors. Despite its significance, the absence of a deterministic theory for CHF prediction poses a substantial challenge in thermal engineering. Consequently, various experimental and numerical models have been developed, yet no universally accepted model comprehensively addresses the wide range of flow conditions encountered in practical applications. The accurate prediction of CHF remains a complex and critical task. This work introduces a novel Deep Decoder Type Cascaded feedforward Neural Network (DD-CFNN) to predict CHF across a broad spectrum of operating conditions. …