Chemical Engineering Commons^™

The 9th National Conference Of Solid State Battery Successfully Held In Xiamen, Fujian, Zheng-Liang Gong

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Development Of Novel Nanobiocatalysts For Enhancing Carbon Dioxide Capture, Merna Tarek Farag

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere cause a climate change that has devastating impacts. Therefore, reaching the net zero goal, which is the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emitted to the atmosphere and that removed from it, is critical for the future of our planet unless the net-zero goal is achieved soon, the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen, with severe consequences for ecosystems, human health, and global security. Achieving this goal requires a fundamental shift in the way we produce and consume energy, including the rapid transition to renewable energy sources with improvements …

Kinetics, Thermodynamics, And Biological Characterizations Of Hydrolysates Enzymatically Produced From Proteins Extracted From Microalgae, Hebah Al Amodi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis aims to explore the use of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-L (ZIF-L) as a support for immobilizing alcalase and its potency in producing protein hydrolysates. ZIF-L was synthesized at room temperature using an aqueous solution, and alcalase was immobilized through adsorption batch experiment. The successful immobilization of alcalase on ZIF-L was confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The maximum adsorption capacity of alcalase on ZIF-L was determined to be 672.1 ± 5.5 mg g-1 at 40°C using an initial protein concentration of 5 mg mL-1. Adsorption equilibrium data suggested …

Novel Nanocomposite Of Carbonized Chitosan-Zinc Oxide-Magnetite For Adsorption Of Toxic Elements From Aqueous Solutions, Dalia A. Ali Eng, Ganna Gaber Ismail Eng.

Chemical Engineering

Herein, a novel nanocomposite (carbonized chitosan-zinc oxide-magnetite, CCZF) was developed to effectively remove toxic elements in water remediation. Combining the high adsorption capacities of chitosan with the magnetic properties of magnetite and the chemical stability of zinc oxide, the combination of these unique properties makes it an efficient and versatile material that offers a sustainable solution for water purification. The (CCZF) nanocomposite was synthesized through the coprecipitation method and characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The results showed …

Analysis Of Dual, Onboard Storage And Separation Of Biogas In Carbon-Based Adsorbed Gas Systems, Kyle Newport, Carlos Wexler, Peter Pfeifer, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Direct utilization of "low-grade" biogas, as an important sustainable energy resource, provides a viable approach to avoid the energy-intensive upgrading step that is often required to separate CO₂ from CH₄ in order to produce a pipeline-grade fuel gas. This study investigated dual, onboard storage and separation of biogas in an adsorbed gas system (AGS) over two highly porous carbon sorbents, Br-318 and Nuchar, in the pressure range of 0-55 bar. The AGS was pressurized with a 50/50 vol % CH₄/CO₂ feed and working capacities as a function of charge-discharge pressures and temperatures were determined and …

Sound Innovations For Biofabrication And Tissue Engineering, Mengxi Wu, Zhiteng Ma, Zhenhua Tian, Joseph Rich, Xin He, Jianping Xia, Ye He, Kaichun Yang, Shujie Yang, Kam W. Leong, Luke P. Lee, Tony Jun Huang

Faculty Publications

Advanced biofabrication techniques can create tissue-like constructs that can be applied for reconstructive surgery or as in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models for disease modeling and drug screening. While various biofabrication techniques have recently been widely reviewed in the literature, acoustics-based technologies still need to be explored. The rapidly increasing number of publications in the past two decades exploring the application of acoustic technologies highlights the tremendous potential of these technologies. In this review, we contend that acoustics-based methods can address many limitations inherent in other biofabrication techniques due to their unique advantages: noncontact manipulation, biocompatibility, deep tissue penetrability, versatility, precision …

Nonequilibrium Plasma Synthesis And Processing Of Iii-Nitride Materials, Dillon Patrick Moher

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nitrogen is abundant on Earth as its diatomic form, and human activity has generated a significant demand for nitrogen-containing compounds. However, its triple bond energy of 941 kJ/mol makes it a poor reactive species in the ground state. Nitrogen-containing nonequilibrium plasmas are made up of background gas, electrons, ions, and a multitude of excited states of nitrogen or even atomic nitrogen. Many of these species have rather high reactivity. As such, the plasma medium is of great potential for driving chemical reactions that involve nitrogen as a reactant, i.e., nitrogen fixation into compounds like ammonia, high-energy-density polynitrogen compounds, and metal-nitride …

Nonequilibrium Plasma Synthesis And Processing Of Iii-Nitride Materials, Dillon Patrick Moher

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nitrogen is abundant on Earth as its diatomic form, and human activity has generated a significant demand for nitrogen-containing compounds. However, its triple bond energy of 941 kJ/mol makes it a poor reactive species in the ground state. Nitrogen-containing nonequilibrium plasmas are made up of background gas, electrons, ions, and a multitude of excited states of nitrogen or even atomic nitrogen. Many of these species have rather high reactivity. As such, the plasma medium is of great potential for driving chemical reactions that involve nitrogen as a reactant, i.e., nitrogen fixation into compounds like ammonia, high-energy-density polynitrogen compounds, and metal-nitride …

Techno-Economic Analysis Of Waste Plastic Gasification, Henrik Don-Yor Ketting

Master's Theses

The increasing generation of plastic waste and its environmental impact has driven interest in alternative disposal methods such as gasification. This study presents a techno-economic analysis of the gasification of waste plastics, specifically polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), to produce syngas. A two-stage process—thermal decomposition followed by steam reforming—was simulated using Aspen Plus. The simulation results were validated against experimental data available in the literature. The economic analysis was conducted by estimating the capital and operating costs of the gasification plant, considering factors such as feedstock costs, energy requirements, and syngas purification systems. Net Present Value Calculations were used to …

Antimicrobial Activity And Photostability Of Cationic Conjugated Polyelectrolytes, Mohammed Ismael Khalil

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health concern, driving the need for novel

therapeutic strategies. This study explores the antimicrobial efficacy of conjugated

polyelectrolytes (CPEs) and oligo-phenylene ethynylenes (OPEs) in bacterial and viral

inactivation. Quantitative analysis revealed that light-activated CPEs and OPEs

effectively reduced bacterial viability within minutes, with significant log reductions

observed under both light and dark conditions. Additionally, the antiviral potential of a

cationic conjugated oligomer was investigated, demonstrating rapid and near-complete

inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 under visible light, both in solution and on filter materials.

Further analysis of their photophysical properties revealed that, even after

photobleaching, the compounds …

Cactus Infused Beads For Off-Flavor Mitigation In Aquaculture Systems, Rama Mahita Kambhampati

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aquaculture has become a vital component of global food production, now providing 50% of the world's fish supply. However, the industry encounters major challenges due to off-flavor compounds like Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB), which give fish an unpleasant earthy or musty smell. These compounds are detectable by humans at extremely low levels 0.7 parts per billion (ppb) for MIB and ten parts per trillion (ppt) for Geosmin—making them a persistent problem. Their presence not only reduces the sensory quality of aquaculture products but also results in significant economic losses, with U.S. catfish production incurring an additional $15–$23 million annually due …

Effect Of Specimen Size On The Tensile Properties Of Selective Laser Melted Ti-6ai-4v, Timothy L. Tan

Master's Theses

Metal additive manufacturing (MAM) is a burgeoning industry. It is capable of manufacturing metal components with fine, intricate features and enables localized microstructural control. Due to its fine resolution and compatibility with common engineering alloys, selective laser melting (SLM) is one particular MAM process popular in academia and industry. The biomedical and aerospace industries have shown exceptional interest in the capabilities of SLM with the alloy Ti-6Al-4V. Because SLM Ti-6Al-4V components are aimed for use in critical applications, it is necessary to understand how SLM processing characteristics affect final part performance. One characteristic of SLM Ti-6Al- 4V that requires further …

Collapse Of Pre-Covid-19 Differences In Performance In Online Vs. In-Person College Science Classes, And Continued Decline In Student Learning, Gregg R. Davidson, Hong Xiao, Kristin Davidson

Faculty and Student Publications

Abstract: Studies comparing student outcomes for online vs. in-person classes have reported mixed results, though with a majority finding that lower-performing students, on average, fare worse in online classes, attributed to the lack of built-in structure provided by in-person instruction. The online/in-person outcome disparity was normative for non-major geology classes at the University of Mississippi prior to COVID-19, but the difference disappeared in the years after 2020. Previously distinct trendlines of GPA-based predictions of earned-grade for online and in-person classes merged. Of particular concern, outcomes for in-person classes declined to match pre-COVID-19 online expectations, with lower-GPA students disproportionally impacted. Objective …

Study Of Different Treatment Strategies In Epidemic Models Using Nonlinear Model Predictive Control, Hector Puebla, Luis A. Ricardez-Sandoval, Priti Kumar Roy

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Boosting The Power Performance Of Microbial Fuel Cells By Using Dual Nanomaterial-Modified Carbon Felt Electrodes, Krishna Thapa, Wenyan Liu, Yuwei Zhang, David J. Westenberg, Yishu Zhou, Risheng Wang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Innovative design enhancements to microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are pivotal for improving their viability as renewable energy sources. This study introduces a dual approach to electrode modification, integrating polyaniline (PANI) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on carbon felt (CF) anodes coupled with a unique cathode composed of DNA origami and chitosan. The synergistic effect of PANI and AuNPs significantly increases the hydrophilicity and conductivity of the anode, leading to a considerable surge in power density. Concurrently, the biocompatible DNA origami and chitosan-functionalized cathode facilitates efficient electron transfer without relying on conventional catalysts. Together, these modifications yield a 52.42% increase in the …

Ignis: A One-Dimensional Laminar Flame Code, Jansen P. Berryhill, Jacob K. Spinti, David O. Lignell

Faculty Publications

Laminar flame codes have an important role in combustion modeling. They can provide a fundamental understanding of flame dynamics and provide a basis for building subgrid scale models in turbulent flow simulations. This paper presents Ignis, an open-source laminar flame code with the capability to offload submodels, like soot formation and radiation, using external packages and libraries. Ignis is written in C++, is documented with Doxygen, and is available on GitHub. It contains three different flame formulations: diffusion flames, premixed flames, and laminar flamelets solved in the mixture fraction coordinate. An option to facilitate creation of a diffusion flame table …

The Effect Of Organic Semiconductor Electron Affinity On Preventing Parasitic Oxidation Reactions Limiting Performance Of N-Type Organic Electrochemical Transistors, Maryam Alsufyani, Benjamin Moss, Claudia E. Tait, William K. Myers, Maryam Shahi, Katherine Stewart, Xiaolei Zhao, Reem B. Rashid, Dilara Meli, Ruiheng Wu, Bryan D. Paulsen, Karl J. Thorley, Yuanbao Lin, Craig Combe, Charlie Kniebe-Evans, Sahika Inal, Sang Young Jeong, Han Young Woo, Grant Ritchie, Ji-Seon Kim, Jonathan Rivnay, Alexandra F. Paterson, James R. Durrant, Iain Mcculloch

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

A key challenge in the development of organic mixed ionic-electronic conducting materials (OMIEC) for high performance electrochemical transistors is their stable performance in ambient. When operating in aqueous electrolyte, potential reactions of the electrochemically injected electrons with air and water could hinder their persistence, leading to a reduction in charge transport. Here, the impact of deepening the LUMO energy level of a series of electron-transporting semiconducting polymers is evaluated, and subsequently rendering the most common oxidation processes of electron polarons thermodynamically unfavorable, on organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) performance. Employing time resolved spectroelectrochemistry with three analogous polymers having varying electron affinities …

Size And Shape Dependence Of Hydrogen-Induced Phase Transformation And Sorption Hysteresis In Palladium Nanoparticles, Xingsheng Sun, Rong Jin

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Phase transitions of metals in hydrogen (H) environments are critically import- ant for applications in energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. Nanostructured metallic particles can lead to faster charging and discharging kinetics, increased lifespan, and enhanced catalytic activities. However, establishing a direct causal link between nanoparticle structure and function remains challenging. In this work, we establish a computational framework to explore the atomic config- uration of a metal-hydrogen system when in equilibrium with a H environ- ment. This approach combines Diffusive Molecular Dynamics with an itera- tion strategy, aiming to minimize the system’s free energy and ensure uniform chemical potential across …

Process Development And Techno-Economic Analysis For Combined And Separated Co2 Capture-Electrochemical Utilization, Abdullah Al Moinee, Ali A. Rownaghi, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Combining CO₂ capture and utilization into a single unit operation offers a feasible solution for converting a sustainable feedstock into marketable commodity chemicals, while reducing energy requirements from separated processes. In this research, we developed a process model and performed a techno-economic analysis (TEA) for point-source CO₂ capture and electrochemical-based utilization in light olefins production under both separated and integrated scenarios. CO₂ containing flue gas from a 500 MW power plant was utilized as a feed while CO₂ utilization involved electrochemical reduction reactions to produce light olefins directly from CO₂. A meticulous analysis was …

Characterization Of Aromatic Stationary Phases For Uses In High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Anastasia Davis

Honors Theses

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical chemist technique used to separate a sample into its components to characterize and study a specific molecule or compound. Traditionally, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in different industries, such as the environmental and pharmaceutical fields, uses stationary phases that are already well characterized, such as the C18 stationary phase for separation. However, aromatic stationary phases have recently been produced, which have phenyl groups bonded to the interior surface of the column. Still, they have not been well characterized because of how modern they are. This project characterized several aromatic stationary phases (Biphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, and …