Engineering Commons^™

Surface And Bulk Modification Of Poly(Lactic Acid), Rahul Rasal

All Dissertations

The major drawbacks of PLA are its poor toughness and lack of readily reactable groups. Unfortunately, typical methods of PLA toughening are associated with significant modulus and/or ultimate tensile strength (UTS) loss. The main objective of this research was to toughen PLA, with minimal modulus and/or UTS loss, and introduce reactive groups into the PLA matrix in one step. Initially, this objective was divided into two separate parts: PLA surface modification followed by toughening.
PLA film was solvent cast from chloroform solution and was surface modified using a sequential two-step photografting approach. Benzophenone was photografted onto the film surface in …

Understanding Performance--Limiting Mechanisms In Li-Ion Batteries For High-Rate Applications, Indrajeet Vilasrao Thorat

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents novel modeling and experimental techniques that provide insight into liquid-phase mass transport and electron transfer processes in lithium-ion batteries. These included liquid-phase ionic mass transport (conduction and diffusion), lithium diffuion in the solid phase and electronic transport in the solid phase. Fundamental understanding of these processes is necessary to efficiently design and optimize lithium-ion batteries for different applications. To understand the effect of electrode structure on the electronic resistance of the cathode, we tested power performance of cathodes with combinations of three different carbon conductivity additives: vapor-grown carbon fibers (CF), carbon black (CB) and graphite (GR). With …

Ultrasonic Drug Delivery To Tumors Via Stealth Liposomes, Peter Jones, Ghaleb A. Husseini, William G. Pitt, Beverly L. Roeder

Faculty Publications

Our research develops ultrasonically-controlled drug delivery systems. Previous micellar drug carriers released the drug upon ultrasonication. We have developed a liposomal drug carrier that is even more effective upon insonation in reducing tumors.

A Parallel Molecular Dynamics Program For Simulation Of Water In Ion Channels, Laxmi Mullapudi

Theses and Dissertations

With a modest beginning from developing a model of dynamics of hard liquid spheres (Alder et al., 1957), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have come to a point where complex biomolecules can be simulated with precision close to reality (Noskov et al., 2007). In this context, a parallel molecular dynamics program for simulation of ion channels associated with cellular membranes has been developed. The parallel MD code developed is simple, efficient, and easily coupled to other codes such as the hybrid molecular dynamics/ brownian dynamics (MD/BD) code developed for the study of protein interactions (Ying et al., 2005). The Atom Decomposition …

Letter To The Editor, Sridhar Ungarala

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ptau Bimetallic Heteronanostructures Made By Post-Synthesis Modification Of Pt-On-Au Nanoparticles, Zhenmeng Peng

Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering Faculty Research

imetallic PtAu heteronanostructures have been synthesized from Pt-on-Au nanoparticles, which were made from platinum acetylacetonate and gold nanoparticles. Using the Pt-on-Au nanoparticles as precursors, Ptsurface rich PtAu bimetallic heteronanostructures can be produced through controlled thermal treatments, as confirmed by field emission high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and elemental mapping using a high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscope (HAADF-STEM). Oxidation of formic acid was used as a model reaction to demonstrate the effects of varying composition and surface structure on the catalytic performance of PtAu bimetallic nanostructures. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that these carbon-supported PtAu heteronanostructures were much more active …

Comments On "Robust And Reliable Estimation Via Unscented Recursive Nonlinear Dynamic Data Reconciliation", Sridhar Ungarala

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Improved Predictive Power Control Of Cdma System In Rayleigh Fading Channel, Adit Kurniawan, Iskandar Iskandar, Sayid Machdar

Makara Journal of Technology

In this paper an improved prediction-based power control is proposed for code division multiple access (CDMA) systems in Rayleigh fading channel environments. One of the most serious problems which degrades the performance of power control algorithm is the effect of feedback delay. To overcome the effect of feedback delay, power control needs to employ prediction algorithm which utilises the correlation property of the past channel samples measurements to predict the future sample values. In CDMA power control, however, the correlation property of channel measurements is destroyed because the transmit power is continuously updated for each power control interval. The prediction …

On The Performance Of Svd-Dwt Based Digital Video Watermarking Technique With Semi-Blind Detector, Tarzan Basaruddin, Della Maulidiya

Makara Journal of Technology

On the Performance of SVD-DWT Based Digital Video Watermarking Technique with Semi-Blind Detector. This paper presents a watermarking technique for digital video. The proposed scheme is developed based on the work of Ganic and Chan which took the virtue of SVD and DWT. While the previous works of Chan has the blind detector property, our attempt is to develop a scheme with semi-blind detector, by using the merit of the DWT-SDV technique proposed by Ganic which was originally applied to still image. Overall, our experimental results show that our proposed scheme has a very good imperceptibility and is reasonably robust …

Lipid Production From Microalgae As A Promising Candidate For Biodiesel Production, Arief Widjaja

Makara Journal of Technology

Recently, several strains of microalgae have been studied as they contain high lipid content capable to be converted to biodiesel. Fresh water microalgae Chlorella vulgaris studied in this research was one of the proof as it contained high triacyl glyceride which made it a potential candidate for biodiesel production. Factors responsible for good growing of microalgae such as CO2 and nitrogen concentration were investigated. It was found that total lipid content was increased after exposing to media with not enough nitrogen concentration. However, under this nitrogen depletion media, the growth rate was very slow leading to lower lipid productivity. The …

A Bipolar Clamp Mechanism For Activation Of Jak-Family Protein Tyrosine Kinases, Dipak Barua, James R. Faeder, Jason M. Haugh

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Most cell surface receptors for growth factors and cytokines dimerize in order to mediate signal transduction. For many such receptors, the Janus kinase (Jak) family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases are recruited in pairs and juxtaposed by dimerized receptor complexes in order to activate one another by trans-phosphorylation. An alternative mechanism for Jak trans-phosphorylation has been proposed in which the phosphorylated kinase interacts with the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of SH2-B, a unique adaptor protein with the capacity to homo-dimerize. Building on a rule-based kinetic modeling approach that considers the concerted nature and combinatorial complexity of modular protein domain …

Environmental Remediation Full-Scale Implementation: Back To Simple Microbial Massive Culture Approaches, Agung Dhamar Syakti, Mohamad Yani

Makara Journal of Technology

Using bioaugmentation and biostimulation approach for contaminated soil bioremediation were investigated and implemented on field scale. We combine those approaches by culturing massively the petrophilic indigenous microorganisms from chronically contaminated soil enriched by mixed manure. Through these methods, bioremediation performance revealed promising results in removing the petroleum hydrocarbons comparatively using metabolite by product such as biosurfactant, specific enzymes and other extra-cellular product which are considered as a difficult task and will impact on cost increase.

Preparation Of Radioactive Gold Nanoparticle By Neutron Activation, Rohadi Awaludin

Makara Journal of Technology

Preparation of Radioactive Gold Nanoparticle by Neutron Activation. It was reported that gold nanoparticle could be used for cancer therapy using thermal effect. It is possible to kill cancer cells using radiation of radioisotope. Study on preparation of radioactive gold by neutron activation at central irradiation position (CIP) of G.A. Siwabessy reactor with neutron flux 1.26 x 1014 neutron s-1cm-2 has been carried out. It was revealed that a radioisotop of gold (198Au) was produced by neutron activation from natural gold. Calculation results showed that 198Au with radioactivity of 0.366 Bq, 2.93 Bq, 9.90 Bq and 23.4 Bq was produced …

Implementation Of Web Cam As Motion Detector With Directshow Interfacing, Yonatan Santoso, Iwan Setiyawan, Victor N. Papilaya

Makara Journal of Technology

Implementation of Web Cam as Motion Detector with DirectShow Interfacing. One of many ways to take control a web cam is by using DirectShow which is integrated in DirectX. DirectShow acts like an API therefore it is easier to use. Afterwards, web cam will be implemented to detect object’s motion as well as camera surveillance. The method is by comparing a reference image with other image which is taken lately. If there are differences between those image it means motion has been detected.

Thermal Stability Of Clay's Galleries In Polypropylene - Clay (Montmorillonite) Nanocomposites Using Polypropylene-Gmaleic Anhydride As Compatibilizer, Sotya Astutiningsih, Pandu Lanang Kinasih, Arief Cahyo Wibowo

Makara Journal of Technology

Thermal Stability of Clay's Galleries in Polypropylene - Clay (montmorillonite) Nanocomposites using Polypropylene-g- Maleic Anhydride as Compatibilizer. Superior properties of food packaging can be achieved using nanocomposite technology. However, fabrication of this materials are complex and expensive. Long term objectives of this research is the synthesis of low cost polypropylene clay nanocomposites (PPCN) via a short-cut method known as ‘cascade engineering’. Cascade engineering principle in PPCN fabrication is performed by using compatibilizer (to enable the mixing of PP and clay) masterbatch, and PPCN in one pot process using melt mixer. This paper present the experimental results using small-angle x-ray diffraction …

Induction And Conduction Electromagnetic Waves Caused By Lightning Strike On The Low Voltage Network, Reynaldo Zoro

Makara Journal of Technology

Induction and Conduction Electromagnetic Waves Caused by Lightning Strike on the Low Voltage Network. Direct and indirect lightning strikes can disturb and induce low voltage overheadlines and it can produced overvoltage due to traveling waves along the lines. This overvoltage can damage the equipments connected to it. It was recorded that there were already a lot of damages of electronic equipments and arrestesr located inside the building of Lightning Measurement Station at Mnt. Tangkuban Perahu. Most of the overvoltage which was developed on the low voltage lines were coming from indirect lightning strike nearby due to the fact that most …

Muara Bekasi – Muara Tawar Offshore Transmission Pipeline Routing And Economic Analysis., Asep Handaya Saputra, Ardiansyah Ardiansyah

Makara Journal of Technology

Muara Bekasi – Muara Tawar Offshore Transmission Pipeline Routing and Economic Analysis. Power plant Muara Tawar will substitute the need of oil fuel to gas as form of economizing and energy conservation. The nearest supply point to fulfill natural gas needed on Muara Bekasi. So that Power Plant Company needed to develop gas pipeline infrastructure to joining the point.The purpose of this study is to create a system of gas transmission pipeline from gas supply point at Muara Bekasi to Power Plant Muara Tawar trough to offshore area. Design of gas transmission pipeline is started with technical data collection and …

Laser Levitation Of Solid Particles For Combustion And Gasification Applications, Skigh E. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation details theoretical and experimental work in the development of a novel combustion diagnostic: laser levitation of solid particles. Theoretical analyses of the forces involved in the suspension of solid particles in a laser beam provide a comprehensive description of the levitation mechanism. Experimental work provides extensive observations and data that describe each of the forces involved, including results from detailed models. Theoretical models establish that a free-convective drag force, light scattering, photon momentum, and other minor forces contribute to the trapping mechanism. The theory quantitatively predicts particle temperature and magnitudes of each of the forces involved. Experimental measurements …

Application Of The Thermal Flash Technique For Low Thermal Diffusivity Micro/Nanofibers, Michael T. Demko, Zhenting Dai, Han Yan, William P. King, Miko Cakmak, Alexis R. Abramson

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

The thermal flash method was developed to characterize the thermal diffusivity of micro/nanofibers without concern for thermal contact resistance, which is commonly a barrier to accurate thermal measurement of these materials. Within a scanning electron microscope, a micromanipulator supplies instantaneous heating to the micro/nanofiber, and the resulting transient thermal response is detected at a microfabricated silicon sensor. These data are used to determine thermal diffusivity. Glass fibers of diameter 15 mu m had a measured diffusivity of 1.21x10(-7) m(2)/s; polyimide fibers of diameters 570 and 271 nm exhibited diffusivities of 5.97x10(-8) and 6.28x10(-8) m(2)/s, respectively, which compare favorably with bulk …

Novel Design Of Multiphase Reactors For Biomass-To-Liquid Synthesis, Ahmed Youssef, Milorad Dudukovic, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Generation of liquid fuels from renewable sources such as biomass has been practiced since early 1900’s. In view of the skyrocketing oil prices and the depleting reserves of natural gas, it has gained further interest. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is one of the main processes considered. It involves the reaction of syngas in presence of a catalyst to produce liquid fuels. Syngas sources are numerous ranging from waste gasification, anaerobic digestion to clean coal. The reactor of choice for gas to liquid conversion is a slurry bubble column. Although, these multiphase reactors offer several advantages including good heat and mass transfer, …

Effects Of Prior Aging At 316°C In Argon On Inelastic Deformation Behavior Of Pmr-15 Polymer At 316°C: Experiment And Modeling, Ozgur Ozmen

Theses and Dissertations

The inelastic deformation behavior of PMR-15 neat resin, a high-temperature polymer, was investigated at 316 deg C. The experimental program was designed to explore the influence of strain rate on tensile loading, unloading, and strain recovery behaviors. In addition, the effect of the prior strain rate on the relaxation response of the material, as well as on the creep behavior following strain controlled loading were examined. The material exhibits positive, nonlinear strain rate sensitivity in monotonic loading and unloading. Early failures occur in the inelastic regime. The recovery of strain at zero stress and creep response are strongly affected by …

Temperature Effect On Hydrogen Production From Reactions Between Ethanol And Steam In The Presence Of Pd-Ru/Nb2o5-Tio2 Catalyst, Nadia Regina C. Fernandes-Machado, Christian Gonçalves Alonso, Andréia C. Furtado Onélia Aparecida Andreo Dos Santos, Maurício Pereira Cantão

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

The concern regarding the environment, especially with gases emission by burning fossil fuels, and the increase of energy demand have influenced the development of cleaner and more efficient technologies for energy generation. In this context, studies involving hydrogen and fuel cells are remarkable among future technologies due to its great commercial potential and high energetic efficiency of the process. Theoretically speaking, hydrogen production from biomass or liquids derived from biomass such as ethanol can be considered a carbon emission free process since all the carbon dioxide produced can be recycled by the plants using sun power [1]. Obtaining hydrogen from …

Photosynthetic – Fermentative Fuel Cell Used In A Biofuel Processing Facility, Erin E. Powell, G.A. Hill, R.W. Evitts, J. C. Bolster

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

N/A

Anaerobic Digestion Of Olive Mill Wastewater: Anaerobic Filter Vs. Hybrid, Isabel Paula Marques, Marta Gonçalves, Paulo Freitas

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

Two types of anaerobic digesters - a filter (AF) and a hybrid (H) - are tested in the treatment of original olive mill wastewater (OMW), without any pre-treatment or chemical correction of this substrate. The anaerobic filter is equipped with a packed bed material that fills the entire column of digestion; the hybrid digester results from the combination of anaerobic filter with the up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket and the packed bed only occupies the top section of the column.

OMW is the effluent generated from olive oil industries, which activity has a great economic and social importance in the olive …

Hydrogen Production By Aqueous-Phase Reforming, Lucía García, Ana Valiente, José Antonio Medrano, Miriam Oliva, Joaquín Ruiz, Jesús Arauzo

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

Nowadays, there is a great interest in hydrogen production because of its chemical uses in industry and its utilization as a clean fuel in high energetic efficiency systems like fuel cells. At present, fossil fuels (natural gas, naphtha, coal …) are the main feedstock for hydrogen production, but they have the inconvenience of a net increase of CO2 emissions and other environmental problems. The use of different types of biomass, among them waste streams, should be considered.

In the present work, aqueous-phase reforming (APR) process will be studied. The APR process has some advantages in comparison to the current steam …

Comparative Fast Pyrolysis Of Agricultural Residues For Use In Biorefineries, Dietrich Meier, Jens Markgraf

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

In the light of depleting fossil resources, biomass is gaining renewed interest as a source of renewable carbon, which can be used for energy and chemicals. The production of biofuels such as ethanol, palm oil and bio-diesel has come under criticism for its likely competition with food. These production systems need either huge areas of monocultures or use some parts of plant material such as the carbohydrate fraction only for fermentation to produce ethanol. Other technologies such as fast pyrolysis offer the advantage of using whole plant material for the production of so called 'bio-oils', which adheres to the condensates …

Production Of Ethylic Biodiesel From Hydrolysis And Esterification Of Acid Animal Fat, Jose Geraldo Pacheco, Ligia Martinelli, Jadson P. A. Silva, Luiz Stragevitch, Donato Aranda

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

Biodiesel is a fuel derived from the oils and fats of plants and animals. Some vegetable oils after extraction and seed storing may have high acidity due to the conversion of triglycerides into free faty acids. Transesterification of high acidic oils with basic catalyst will form a large amount of soap as residue. The objective of this work is to study hydrolysis of tallow fats estherification free fatty acids followed by estherification of free fatty acids with ethanol using homogeneous catalyst. Tallow fat was hydrolyzed by enzyme lipase extracted from Ricinius Communs seeds. Estherification was done in a pressurizes reactor, …

Bio-Energy Ii - Conference Program, José Duarte, Cedric Briens

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

List of speakers, talks and more.

Transtersterfication Of Jatropha Curcas Oil Radiated With The Microwave, Zahira Yaakob, Irwan S. Sukarman, Faizal Mohamed

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

N/A

Thermophilic Enzymes For Biomass Conversion, Mosè Rossi

Bioenergy - II: Fuels and Chemicals from Renewable Resources

There is a growing interest in the conversion of lignocellulose biomasses into useful products since the exploitation of agro-industrial waste could provide alternative substrates for low-cost fuels and chemical productions. A key factor for the fruitful utilization of the biomasses is represented by an efficient hydrolysis (saccharification step) of cellulose and hemicellulose using enymes as alternative to the chemical hydrolysis. Since in lignocelluloses the chains of carbohydrates are embedded in a lignin matrix which hinders the enzyme action, a pre-treatment of the biomasses is required for a more effective saccharification.

The drastic conditions required by many pre-treatment techniques, give rise …