Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Smart And Sustainable Regeneration Of Fouled Desalination Membranes Using Artificial Intelligence, Muhammad Mubashir, Mustakeem Mustakeem, Ammar Alnumani, Abdulrahman Abutaleb, Ali Hamoud Naji Sumayli, Tausif Ahmad, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

During the desalination process, scaling, fouling, and degradation are associated issues that lead to a drop in the separation performance of membranes. Membrane regeneration emerges as a critical technology in which upcycling and downcycling can offer a promising avenue for promoting sustainable membrane lifecycle management. Multiple research papers and reviews have critically analyzed the regeneration of membranes, which explains the end-of-cycle assessment and cost analysis of membrane recycling. However, challenges associated with the conventional and innovative regeneration processes are not yet analyzed. The potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on membrane regeneration is not explained in the literature. This review …

Fatigue Properties Of 3d-Printed Polymeric Metamaterials: A Review, Ani Daniel, Hamed Bakhtiari, Alireza Nouri, Barun K. Das, Muhammad Aamir, Majid Tolouei-Rad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The present article provides an in-depth review of the fatigue properties of polymeric metamaterials, with particular emphasis on those manufactured using 3D printing techniques. Despite the significant potential of 3D-printed metamaterial polymers in the biomedical field, there has been limited studies dedicated to their fatigue behaviour. The article highlights the significance of fatigue behaviour in determining the reliability and longevity of polymeric materials under cyclic loading, which is crucial for biomedical applications. The effects of different 3D printing parameters, metamaterial designs, and polymer properties on fatigue life are explored. The fatigue response of metamaterials depends on material properties, geometric factors, …

Challenges And Perspectives On Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors For Volatile Organic Compounds Degradation And Nitrogen Oxides Treatment, Muhammad Hassnain, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, Asad Ali, Muhammad Mubashir, Abdulrahman Abutaleb

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Air pollution is a pressing environmental and public health issue, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) being among the most hazardous airborne pollutants. Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) have emerged as a promising technology for air purification due to their ability to integrate photocatalytic degradation and membrane separation in a single system. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the advancements, challenges, and future prospects of PMR technology for VOC degradation and NOx treatment. Various photocatalytic membranes and their fabrication techniques, including material selection, structural modifications, and catalyst immobilization strategies, are critically analyzed. The study further explores different …

3d Printing Parameter Optimisation Combined With Heat Treatment For Achieving High Density And Enhanced Performance In Refractory High-Entropy Alloys, Deyu Jiang, Miao Luo, Changxi Liu, Yashuo Zhang, Lai Chang Zhang, Kuaishe Wang, Wen Wang, Lechun Xie, Liqiang Wang, Weijie Lu, Di Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this study, a Ti1.5Nb1Ta0.5Zr1Mo0.5 (TNTZM) high-entropy alloy was fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). By integrating 63 sets of parameter trials with machine learning (ML) models, an optimised process window was identified, achieving a density of up to 99.9%. The combination of relatively high laser power and low scanning speed resulted in the formation of a stable cellular structure. Subsequent heat treatments at 700, 850, and 1000°C showed that while small-angle misorientations developed at cell-wall interfaces and medium-entropy (Ti–Zr–Mo) second-phase particles precipitated preferentially in the cell walls, the overall cellular architecture remained intact. Mechanical testing showed that these …

Photo-Thermal Conversion Properties Of Hybrid Nh2-Mil-125/Tin/Eg Nanofluids For Solar Energy Harvesting, Seyedeh Zahra Haeri, Mehdi Khiadani, Bahram Ramezanzadeh, Hamed Kariman, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Nanofluids, engineered by dispersing nanoparticles into base fluids, have demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the performance of solar collectors. Their superior thermal conductivity and improved heat transfer properties lead to more efficient energy absorption and utilization in solar thermal systems. This study comprehensively investigated and compared the performance of ethylene glycol (EG)-based NH2-MIL-125/TiN (MIL/TiN) composite nanofluids, fabricated by a two-step method, with single-component nanofluids in photothermal utilization. The results illustrated that incorporating NH2-MIL-125 (MIL) nanoparticles enhances the stability of TiN nanofluids in EG. Additionally, the thermal conductivity and optical absorption properties of the hybrid nanofluids exhibited a positive correlation with …

Advances, Limitations, And Future Perspectives In 3d Printing Of Porous Glasses: A Technical Note, Hamed Bakhtiari, Mostafa Omidi Bidgoli, Mohammad Hosseini

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this study, the latest developments in 3D printing of porous glasses are discussed. Current challenges in 3D printing of porous-based microfluidic devices mostly include the printing resolution which is correlated with the processing time, post treating, and developing tailored materials for porous glasses. Although the latter issue has been resolved to some extent recently, the former has remained a challenge. Currently, the smallest 3D printed feature in a microfluidic structure is 200µm while higher resolutions are required in some applications. On the other hand, previous reports have shown intensive printing time for higher resolutions. To achieve an optimal compromise, …

Evaluation Of Physical And Chemical Stability In Liposomes Composed Of Mixed Phospholipids, Sharareh Rezaei, Kenny Mineart

Master’s Theses

Liposomes, spherical vesicles composed of lipid bilayers, are widely used in drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to interact with biological membranes. Despite these advantages, liposomes remain moderately unstable systems, highly susceptible to environmental stressors such as pH fluctuations, ionic strength variations, temperature changes, and interactions with other components. Addressing both chemical and physical instability is essential for translating liposomal formulations from experimental formulation to viable pharmaceutical products.

This study investigates the physicochemical characteristics of a mixed-phospholipid system in which one lipid is saturated, and the other is unsaturated (DMPC and DOPC respectively). Liposomes are prepared using …

Polymorphism And Mechanical Behavior In Hot-Pressed 3d-Printed Polyamide Composite: Effects Of Pressure And Temperature, John Barber, Patricia Revolinsky, Jimesh Bhagatji, Diego Pedrazzoli, Sergii Kravchenko, Oleksandr Kravchenko

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The aim of this work is to study the effect of high-temperature compaction (HTC) upon the polymorphism and the mechanical behavior of an additively manufactured (AM) carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide (PA6). Different pressure and temperature levels during HTC were tested to determine the overall effect on the mechanical behavior and material crystalline composition. Treated, carbon fiber-reinforced PA6 samples were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and three-point bending testing. When considered with respect to as-printed samples, an HTC temperature of 190 °C combined with 80 psi pressure resulted in an increased flexural modulus and strength …

A Comprehensive Review Of Piezoelectric Pvdf Polymer Fabrications And Characteristics, Nadia Ahbab, Sidra Naz, Tian-Bing Xu, Shihai Zhang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer films, renowned for their exceptional piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties, offer a versatile platform for the development of cutting-edge micro-scale functional devices, enabling innovative applications ranging from energy harvesting and sensing to medical diagnostics and actuation. This paper presents an in-depth review of the material properties, fabrication methodologies, and characterization of PVDF films. Initially, a comprehensive description of the physical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, electrical, and electromechanical properties is provided. The unique combination of piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties, coupled with its excellent chemical resistance and mechanical strength, makes PVDF a highly valuable material for a wide …

Transfection Of Ionizable Lipid Nanoparticles On Raw 264.7 And Mda-Mb-231, Lavanya Bhargava

Masters Theses

"This thesis investigates the preparation, characterization, and transfection efficiency of various ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) formulated for the delivery of mRNA encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in RAW 264.7 macrophages and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. The ionizable cationic lipid studied are ALC-035, C12-200, C14-4, PPZ-A10, DLin-MC3-DMA. The study addresses the need for effective gene delivery systems to provide a safe and versatile platform that protects and transports nucleic acids into target cells. LNPs were synthesized using microfluidic mixing methods, incorporating lipid components such as the cationic lipids, DSPE, DOPE, cholesterol and PEG lipids to achieve controlled particle sizes, …

Extraction And Separation Of Metal Cations From Synthetic Acidic Solutions Using Emulsion Liquid Membrane, Nouhaila Filali

Masters Theses

The work is organized into two main papers supported by experimental and comparative studies using Emulsion Liquid Membrane (ELM) systems. The first paper explores the individual extraction of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, Ni) from synthetic phosphoric acid using Alamine 336 and D2EHPA as carriers. Alamine 336 achieved the highest extraction efficiency (>90%) and stability, offering a promising route to reduce toxic impurities in fertilizer-grade acid. The second paper examines the selective separation of Ni2+ and Co2+ from various acidic solutions using the ELM configuration. Systematic variation of carriers, stripping agent and feed acidity, clarified transport mechanisms and stability, …

Transport And Plugging Behavior Of Co2-Resistant Preformed Particle Gels In High Conductive Channels For Conformance Control, Adel Alotibi

Doctoral Dissertations

"Improving oil recovery is essential with rising global oil demand and declining production in mature fields. CO₂ flooding has been widely applied as a major Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) method due to its effectiveness in boosting oil recovery while enabling safe carbon storage in the subsurface. However, in fractured and highly heterogeneous reservoirs, CO₂ often flows through paths of least resistance, leading to early breakthrough or quick excessive CO₂ production and leaving substantial oil in unswept zones or areas. Traditional in-situ polymer gels have been applied to control CO₂ flooding conformance, their performance has been varied, …

Investigation Of The Transport And Plugging Behavior Of Preformed Particle Gels (Ppgs) In Fractures For Conformance Control In Carbonate Reservoirs, Abdulaziz A. Almakimi

Doctoral Dissertations

This study aims to systematically evaluate the performance of preformed particle gels (PPGs) in fractured carbonates mainly through a series of core flooding experiments. Carbonate reservoirs exhibit unique features of heterogeneity and pore geometry, while (PPGs) are known for their plugging efficiency, deformability, and dehydratable nature. The main goal of gel injection in fractured reservoirs is to place a gel pack appropriately into the fracture, diverting injected fluid to the oil-bearing matrix and reducing excessive water production. However, considerable dehydration of (PPGs) is possible at the adjacent matrix and within the fracture, which could lead to a filter-cake formation and/or …

On The Importance Of Novel Adsorption Processes And Structured Adsorbents For Biogas Upgrading And Storage, Kyle Newport

Doctoral Dissertations

The current adsorption processes investigated for biogas upgrading encounter severe challenges with regards to both adsorbents and processes, which necessitate the design and development of novel approaches to effectively separate carbon dioxide from methane and, hence, produce pipeline-grade renewable natural gas (RNG) as a fuel. These key challenges include (i) moderate CO2/CH4 selectivity, (ii) relatively long cycle times, (iii) high regeneration energy requirements, (iv) high-pressure drop, and (v) short adsorbent lifetime. The current biogas upgrading processes typically rely on pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or temperature swing adsorption (TSA). While PSA cycles are fast, the system requires large amounts of energy …

Synthesis Of Graphene Using Carbonaceous Materials In An Ultrasonic Reactor, Paul Chukwuma Ani

Doctoral Dissertations

The synthesis of high-quality graphene from sustainable carbonaceous feedstocks offers an avenue to reduce the environmental and economic costs associated with conventional graphite-based production. This research investigates the co-utilization of biochar and graphite as precursors for graphene fabrication in an ultrasonic reactor. Biochar was produced from biomass via downdraft gasification at 850 °C, yielding a high fixed-carbon, partially graphitized material with favorable surface area and porosity. Graphite, selected for its crystalline structure, was investigated with biochar to assess the influence of precursor composition on exfoliation efficiency, layer thickness distribution, and defect density. Ultrasonic-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation was employed, with process parameters …

A Pyrrole Modified 3,4-Propylenedioxythiophene Conjugated Polymer As Hole Transport Layer For Efficient And Stable Perovskite Solar Cells, Yuanhao Tang, Ke Ma, Wenhao Shao, Yoon Ho Lee, Ashkan Abtahi, Jiaonan Sun, Hanjun Yang, Aidan H. Coffey, Harindi R. Atapattu, Mustafa Ahmed, Qixuan Hu, Wenzhan Xu, Raunak Dani, Limei Wang, Chenhui Zhu, Kenneth R. Graham, Jianguo Mei, Letian Dou

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Despite the outstanding electric properties and cost-effectiveness of poly- (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and its derivatives, their performance as hole transport layer (HTL) materials in conventional perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has lagged behind that of widely used spirobifluorene-based molecules or poly(triaryl amine). This gap is mainly from their poor solubility and energy alignment mismatch. In this work, the design and synthesis of a pyrrole-modified HTL (PPr) based on 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) are presented for efficient and stable PSCs. As a result of the superior defects passivation ability, excellent contact with perovskite, enhanced hole extraction, and high hydrophobicity, the unencapsulated PPr-based PSCs showed the …

Analysis Of Tar And Oil Derived From Pyrolysis And Copyrolysis Of Waste Plastics And Biomass, Anitha Shankaralinge Gowda, Dimitrios Karadimas, Jeffrey Seay

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Pyrolysis has been proposed as a potential technology for managing the growing volume of plastic waste generated worldwide. Co-pyrolysis of plastic waste with biomass is a promising technology for generating fuel and chemical products. However, this process generates tar as a waste product. The chemical properties of this tar have yet to be thoroughly analyzed. This study presents the results of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of oil and tar obtained from the pyrolysis of pure plastics including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and plastic-biomass mixtures. GC–MS analysis …

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 E. Dutch, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Malgorzata Chwatko, Dibakar Bhattacharyya

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

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. …

Fundamental And Application Of Co-Assembly Of Peptides And Proteins: Experiment And Computation, Newton A. Ihoeghian, Qing Shao

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Peptides and proteins can co-assemble into various nanostructures based on complementary non-covalent interactions such as electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic associations. These co-assemblies create a design space of functional materials for a wide spectrum of energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. This review focuses on the fundamentals and applications of three co-assembling systems: ultra-short peptides, peptides, and proteins. We will present and discuss experimental studies demonstrating applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biomaterials development. We will also discuss the contribution of computational research, including molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning, to enhance our understanding of assembly mechanisms. Integrating experimental …

Metathesis Or Isomerization: Counteranion Directed Reactivity Of Grubbs I, Paul D. Miller, Joe B. Calkins, Craig A. Bayse, Trandon A. Bender

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Catalytic isomerization of alkenes has garnered interest for many years, but there are remaining challenges when it comes to thermodynamic selectivity and uncontrolled isomerization. Nonbiased substrates, be it sterically or thermodynamically, remain challenging for many catalysts, with a few examples available in the more modern literature. Herein, we present the controlled isomerization of linear alkenes with a cocatalytic mixture of commercially available catalyst and reagents: Grubbs I, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, and triethylsilane. DFT calculations indicate that an observed alkylidyne hydride intermediate is in rapid equilibrium with an alkylidene that binds the alkene substrate. This combination results in a pi-acidic metal and a …