Engineering Commons^™

Comparison Of Charged Sheets And Corrected 3-D Ewald Calculations Of Long-Range Forces In Slab Geometry Electrolyte Systems With Solvent Molecules, Richard L. Rowley, Paul S. Crozier, Eckhard Spoht, Douglas Henderson

Faculty Publications

Two methods of calculating long-range intermolecular potentials are compared for an approximately 3 M aqueous electrolyte solution confined between two charged surfaces. We investigate the ionic density profiles using the charged-sheets method and the corrected three-dimensional (3D) Ewald method at two different system sizes and also compare the Coulomb forces directly. The corrected 3D Ewald method is recommended for the calculation of long-range potentials in systems of this nature because it is less system size dependent than the charged sheets method and the resultant forces are more consistent with periodic boundaries. However, the charged-sheets method for estimating long-range potentials in …

Calibration Of Optical Digital Fragmentation Measuring Systems, Norbert H. Maerz, Wei Zhou

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Optical granulometry systems like WipFrag are required to measure fragments in situ. That is to say, the fragments are in piles where sorting takes place, where fragments are partially overlapped, and where fines may not be seen because they fall in and behind the coarser fragments, or where the fines are simply too small to be seen. As a result, optical systems tend typically to overestimate the size of the distribution, and underestimate the variability of the distribution. The wider the size distribution being measured, the more severe the problem is. This paper presents the results of a study that …

The Impact And Fate Of Aqueous Sodium Nitrate On Hydrocarbon Flames, Ann Marie Flynn

Dissertations

This study examined the impact and fate of sodium (fed as an aqueous nitrate solution) in fuel-rich methane/air and methane/methyl chloride/air flames as a function of equivalence ratios that experienced diffusion of air from the surroundings. The flames were stabilized on a slotted, uncooled burner. The data set was divided into profiles of relative sodium atom concentrations, temperatures, and selected stable species concentrations. The flames were simulated using a modified version of the Sandia FORTRAN program for modeling steady laminar one-dimensional premixed flames complete with detailed mechanisms. The results showed that maximum sodium atom concentration in the flame is decreased …

Endotoxin Removal From Protein Solutions By Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Chromatography, Yun Kang

Dissertations

In the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry, the removal of endotoxins from final protein product has always been a challenge. A novel method for endotoxin removal from protein solutions, immobilized metal (ion) affinity chromatography (IMAC) has been developed in this study. Fe³⁺ was charged to a chelating gel that contains iminodiacetic acid (IDA). The IDA- Fe³⁺ IMAC column was exploited to remove endotoxin from protein solutions. This method involves the adsorption of the endotoxin on IMAC column. More than 99% endotoxin is removed and protein yield is higher than 90%. IDA-Fe³⁺ IMAC has proved to be an economical and efficient …

Fluidization And Soot Filtration In A Rotating Fluidized Bed, Gui-Hua Qian

Dissertations

A horizontal rotating fluidized bed (RFB) has been investigated for the removal of soot from diesel engine exhaust. This requires necessitating an understanding of the nature of fluidization, particle mixing and filtration in the RFB.

In an RFB, particles are subject to a centrifugal force which can be much larger than the force of gravity. Therefore the Geldart classification for conventional fluidized beds must be modified for rotating fluidized beds. A theoretical analysis shows that group A particles (minimum bubbling velocity U_mb > minimum fluidization velocity U_mf can shift to group B U_mb = U_mf and group …

An Integrated Membrane-Based Chromatographic Process For Biomolecule Isolation And Purification, Xiaoping Dai

Dissertations

Biomolecules obtained from fermentation and cell-culture processes are present in low concentrations in a complex medium/broth. For intracellular products, cells are first harvested. Subsequently, cell lysis and homogenization are undertaken to produce a homogenate. The biomolecules are next separated from the cell debris by lysate clarification. For extracellular products, the biomolecules are separated from the whole cells by clarification. The overall yield is reduced with each additional step. As the cost of bioseparation process accounts for 50-80% of the final product cost, innovations in and improvement of bio-downstream processing are greatly needed.

In this research, a cyclic process integrating a …

Feasibility Study Of Rotating Fluidized Bed As A Dry Coater And Granulater, Manish Sawhney

Theses

This study is directed at enhancing our understanding of the mechanism of dry coating and granulation in a rotating fluidized bed (RFB). The main objective was to study the feasibility of the coating and granulation processes using an REB, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

A force balance and kinetic model is applied to explain the coating phenomenon and also to investigate why coating takes place in certain particle material systems and not in others. An equation for the resultant velocity with which one particle collides with another has been suggested for the rotating fluidized bed coater. A condition, which predicts whether …

Numerical Studies Of Deep Bed Filtration, Chan-Gyun Shin

Theses

Deep bed filtration is a process used to separate small solid particles suspended in a fluid by using granular solids as the collecting medium. The filter efficiency depends on many parameters such as the Reynolds number, particle drag coefficient, the ratio of the diameter of injected, and filter particles, etc.

In the present work we model the porous media flow (solution of the Navier-Stokes equations) by using a computer code developed by Dr. P. Singh and we restrict our analysis to the case of two dimensional periodic porous media. The computational domain is discretized using the finite element method. In …

Powder Microelectrode Modified With Nafion-Os(Bpy)3Â 2+ And Pvp Composite And Its Catalysis For No2- Reduction, Pei-Fang Liu, Jia-Wei Yan

Journal of Electrochemistry

The modified powder microelectrode was prepared by etching a Pt (0.1 mm diameter) disk microelectrode and filling in thus formed cavity with Nation-Os(bpy)₃²⁺/PVP composite modified carbon powder. The composite modified powder microelectrode showed cyclic voltammetric behaviors changing with the mole ratio (denoted X) of SO₃^- to Os(bpy)₃²⁺ in Nafion. When X=3, a single pair of current peaks appeared near 0.6V (vs. SCE) due to Os(bpy)₃^2+/3+ redox couple. In contrast, for X=20, a pair of additional current peaks occurred near 0.4V. Both X=3 and X=20 modified powder microelectrodes strongly catalyzed the first …

Template Synthesis And Uv-Vis Absorption Spectra Of The Nanowire Arrays Of Cadmium Chalcogenides, Shi-Min Xu, Kuan-Hong Xue, Jing-Lin Kong, Dong-Mei Sun, Yu-Ying Feng, Hai-Yan Lu, Guang-Hou Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The porous alumina membrane formed in the anodic oxidation of highly pure aluminum foil has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. It can be served as a desired template to prepare nanometer scale materials due to its unique structure of discrete and cylindrical nanopores, paralleled one another, with the homogeneous size and distribution. Chalcogenide semiconductors have promising prospect in the applications of photovoltaic and photoconducting devices and have been extensively exploited for many years. Olbright and his co-workers studied experimentally and theoretically the optical nonlinearties of CdS_xSe_1-x-doped glass; Britt and Ferekides reported that …

Activated Carbon And Process For Making Same, Francis John Derbyshire, Marit Jagtoyen

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

A process is described for the manufacture of activated carbon in the form of a powder, as granules or as extrudates. The process includes treating a biomass feedstock, such as woods, coconut shells, fruit pits, peats, lignites and all ranks of coal with a processing agent and an activation agent. The processing agent may be a natural or synthetic monomer, oligomer, polymer or mixtures thereof capable of interacting or co-polymerizing with the biomass feedstock. The activation agent may be, for example, phosphoric acid, zinc chloride or mixtures thereof. A high surface area, high hardness extruded activated carbon may be produced …

Piezoelectric Sensors/Actuators For Use In Refractory Environments, Hendrik J. Viljoen, Barend R. Jooste

Papers in Reaction Kinetics

Disclosed is a piezoelectric system which demonstrates piezoelectric properties over a large temperature range of from room temperature to approximately 1,360 degrees Centigrade. The piezoelectric system sequentially comprises a first electrically conductive layer, a layer of Ta₂O₅) in other than a monoclinic phase, (preferably orthorhombic demonstrating small X-ray crystallographic < 0 0 1> and < 1 11 0> peaks), and a second electrically conductive layer. A preferred method of fabrication involves sputter deposition of both said layer of Ta₂O₅ and said second electrically conductive layer.

Single Phase Flow Modeling In Packed Beds: Discrete Cell Approach Revisited, Y. Jiang, M. R. Khadilkar, M. (Muthanna) H. Al-Dahhan, M. P. Dudukovic

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Discrete Cell Model (DCM), based on the Minimization of the Total Rate of Energy Dissipation, is Applied to Compute the Fluid Velocity Field in Two-Dimensional Packed Beds. the Analysis of the Individual Terms of the Energy Dissipation Rate Equation is Also Presented. the Results Obtained by DCM Are Validated Both by Comparing Them with the Solutions of Ensemble-Averaged Momentum and Mass Conservation Equations (CFDLIB Code) and by Available Experimental Results. the Differences between DCM and CFD Simulations Were Found to Be Confined to within a 10% Band over a Wide Range of Reynolds Numbers (Re' = 5-171). Thus, a …

Bending Instability Of Electrically Charged Liquid Jets Of Polymer Solutions In Electrospinning, Darrell Hyson Reneker, Alexander L. Yarin, Hao Fong, Sureeporn Koombhongse

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

Nanofibers of polymers were electrospun by creating an electrically charged jet of polymer solution at a pendent droplet. After the jet flowed away from the droplet in a nearly straight line, it bent into a complex path and other changes in shape occurred, during which electrical forces stretched and thinned it by very large ratios. After the solvent evaporated, birefringent nanofibers were left. In this article the reasons for the instability are analyzed and explained using a mathematical model. The rheological complexity of the polymer solution is included, which allows consideration of viscoelastic jets. It is shown that the longitudinal …

Infrared Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Measurement Of Gas Phase Radicals In C₄F Discharges For Plasma Model Validation, Karla Waters

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

The etching characteristics of oxide and photoresist thin films in C₄F₈ discharges in an inductively coupled GEC Reference cell have been determined. Infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy (IR-DLAS) measured absolute concentrations of CF_x radicals in C₄F₈ discharges and correlated their behavior to the oxide etch process. Additionally, Langmuir probe and OES data were collected to aid in characterizing the plasma and the oxide/photoresist etch processes.

A central composite design of experiment was employed. The factors were source power, chuck bias power, and total pressure. The source power varied from 200 to 500 W, …

Spatiotemporal Growth Of Faceted And Curved Single Crystals, Thein Kyu, Rujul Mehta, Hao-Wen Chiu

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

The spatiotemporal growth of single crystals in a crystalline polymer has been investigated theoretically based on a nonconserved time dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation (known as TDGL model A). In the description of the total free energy, a double-well local foe energy density signifying metastability of crystal ordering is combined with a nonlocal free energy term representing an interface gradient. The resulting nonlinear reaction diffusion equation after renormalization possesses a solitary wave property. Two-dimensional numerical calculations were performed to elucidate the faceted single crystal growth including square, rectangular, diamond-shaped, and curved single crystals. A three-dimensional simulation was also undertaken for the emergence …

Immunoaffinity Chomatography, Anuradha Subramanian

Papers in Biotechnology

Recent devclopments in recombinant DNA technology have enabled the synthesis of valuable therapeutic proteins in bacterial cells as well as in novel eucaryotic expression systems. However, the purification of proteins of interest from either the conventional sources, cell culture, or novel routes in a highly purified form necessitates the development of separation tcchniques capable of recovering proteins from these feed streams in a highly purified form (1,2). Purification of therapeutic proteins from biological sources is usually complicated by the presence of endogenous proteins (2). Purification methodologies based on ion exchange or adsorption serve as excellent prepurification steps, but they fail …

Apparatus And Method For The Generation And Use Of Ferric Ions, Donald R. Lueking, Carl C. Nesbitt

Michigan Tech Patents

An apparatus and method for the generation and use of ferric ions produced by acidophilic, chemoautotrophic bacteria.

The Character Of Ash Deposits And The Thermal Performance Of Furnaces, T. F. Wall, S. P. Bhattacharya, Larry Lin Baxter 8507091, G. Richards, J. N. Harb

Faculty Publications

The character of fireside ash deposits depend on the processes by which deposits are formed and subsequent reactions within the deposit and with furnace gases. The properties influencing furnace heat transfer, absorptivity for radiative transfer and thermal conductivity for conductive transfer are shown from many measurements to depend on this character. Illustrative trends in these properties as deposits mature and grow are presented together with their effect on furnace exit temperature and efficiency. The reflective character of initial deposits from particular coals is then considered with predictions and measurements of the spectral character of such deposits, during the first three …

Numerical Investigation Of Boundary Conditions For Moving Contact Line Problems, Sandesh Somalinga, Arijit Bose

Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

When boundary conditions arising from the usual hydrodynamic assumptions are applied, analyses of dynamic wetting processes lead to a well-known nonintegrable stress singularity at the dynamic contact line, necessitating new ways to model this problem. In this paper, numerical simulations for a set of representative problems are used to explore the possibility of providing material boundary conditions for predictive models of inertialess moving contact line processes. The calculations reveal that up to Capillary number Ca=0.15, the velocity along an arc of radius 10L_i (L_i is an inner, microscopic length scale! from the dynamic contact line is independent of …

The Technical And Economic Feasibility Of Constructing An Artificial Wetland For Burra-Burra Creek In Ducktown Tennessee, Ileana M. Speer

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Copper Hill Basin area in Polk County, Tennessee has been severely impacted by more than a century of mining. The water found in the streams in this area is polluted with dissolved metals and sulfates. Burra-Burra Creek is one of the various waterways impacted and is located within the 130 km2 area of deserted mines in the Copper Basin. This stream is fed from runoff and mine seepage; the stream is acidic and the metal concentration is high in comparison to the concentrations in other streams in the immediate area. The use of constructed wetlands to treat acidic mine …

Pulsed Ultrasound Enhances The Killing Of Escherichia Coli Biofilms By Aminoglycoside Antibiotics In Vivo, Andrea M. Rediske, Beverly L. Roeder, Jared L. Nelson, Rachel L. Robison, Bruce Schaaije, Richard A. Robison, William G. Pitt

Faculty Publications

Escherichia coli biofilms on two polyethylene disks were implanted subcutaneously into rabbits receiving systemic gentamicin. Ultrasound was applied for 24 h to one disk. Both disks were removed, and viable bacteria were counted. Pulsed ultrasound significantly reduced bacterial viability below that of nontreated biofilms without damage to the skin.

Cathodic Indirect Electro-Oxidation——Organic Electro-Synthesis Dimethyl Sulfone, Deng-Ping Gu, Rui-Zhi Wang, Hong-Kun Zhang, Xue-Ying Zhang, Wei Li, Bao-Qiu Cui

Journal of Electrochemistry

A cathodic indirect electro-oxidation system was established for indirect electro-oxidize dimethyl sulfoxide to dimethyl sulfone with electro-eduction generated H₂O₂ catalyzed by the pertungstate/tungstate (WO₅^2-/WO₄^2-) redox mediator. Influences of current density, pH, temperature, and the current efficiencies etc. On the cathodic indirect electro-oxidation of dimethyl sulfone were investigated for determining optimum reaction conditions. The current efficiency reached more than 70%. Mother-liquid could be recycled to use without pollution.

Effect Of Different Species Of Cobalt Additive On Performance Of Nickel Hydroxide Electrode, Xian-Xia Yuan, Yin-Dong Wang, Feng Zhan

Journal of Electrochemistry

Performances of nickel electrodes when adding or without adding Cobalt in different forms were studied, the results were interpreted by cyclic voltammetry(CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscope (EIS). It was demonstrated that the additions of Co, CoO, CoO+Co by mechanically mixing with Ni(OH)₂ all can improve the performance of nickel electrode to some extent, and when Co is added in the form of CoO the best performance can be obtained. This can be mainly attributed to the fact that three kinds of Co additives all improved the structure of nickel hydroxide and the ability of H⁺ in electrolyte transporting …

The Study On Fabricating Thin Electrodes For Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (Pemfc), Yong-Sheng Yang, Jing-Hua Liu, Chang-Peng Liu, Gong-Quan Sun, Chang-Zhi Li, Tian-Hong Lu

Journal of Electrochemistry

To lower platinum loading in electrodes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, a new thin electrode fabrication technique (TEFT) was developed in this work. A series of low Pt loading electrodes with smooth and uniformed surface were fabricated by the TEFT. As a result, the maximum power density of the cell with platinum loading of 1 mg/cm² and Nafion 117 membrane as electrolyte was up to 0.3 W.cm^-2. Moreover, the effects of PTFE and Nafion content in cathodes on the performance of PEMFC with low Pt loading electrodes (1 mg Pt/cm²) were examined systematically.

Studies On Electrochemical Synthesis Of 4,5-Disubstituted-1,2- Benzoquinones And The Reaction Mechanism, Xian-Zhang Bu, Gui-Wu Xiao, Lin Ma, Xing-Chum He, Ling-Quan Gu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The oxidation peak potentials (E_p) of alinine derivates and catechol in 0.1 mol/L KCl+15% alcohol solution were measured by cyclic voltammograms technique. The electrochemical oxidation condition was set according to the E_p. Three derivates of 4,5-disubstituted -1,2-benzoquinones were prepared via electrochemical oxidation-Michael addition reaction. The possible mechanism of electrochemical oxidation-Michael addition reaction is presented.

Electrochemical Characterization Of Ir-Ta-Ti Metal Oxide Coated Titanium Anodes, Ting-Yong Wang, Li-Kun Xu, Guang-Zhang Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Ir-Ta-Ti metal oxide coated titanium anodes of variable composition were prepared by thermal decomposition. Their micro morphorogies and electrochemical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscope, open circuit potential, cyclic voltammetry, consumption rate measurements and accelerated life test. The SEM results indicated that all coatings were of a porous and cracked-mud microstructure influenced greatly by the composition of coatings. The electrochemical measurements showed that the Ir-Ta-Ti ternary oxide-coated anodes exhibited excellent electrochemical activity and electrochemical stability in both acidic media and seawater which were affected by the composition and microstructure of the coatings. Owing to good corrosion resistance and low …

Fabrication And Examination Of Reduced Temperatrue Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Using A Supported Thin Ysz Electrolyte Substrate, Yi-Huang Zhang, Yong-Lei Dong, Yi Jiang, Zhi-Gui Lu, Jing-Wang Yan

Journal of Electrochemistry

By using a cost-effective wet process,dense yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) films on Ni-YSZ anode substrates have been prepared successfully. The YSZ film was characterized to be around 10 μm in thickness, sufficiently dense, uniform and crack free. A single solid oxide fuel cell fabricated from the supported YSZ film electrolyte on the anode substrate and a LSM cathode prepared on the YSZ film was tested. The power density reached to 0.1 W/cm² at 800 ℃, showing a reasonable performance. Further analysis on both electrodes shows that the anodic overpotential was much larger than IR drop (including YSZ resistance and …

Electro-Oxidation Of Glyoxal To Glyoxalic Acid, Yin-Sheng Chen, Xin-Sheng Zhang, Jun Hu, Ying-Chun Dai

Journal of Electrochemistry

An investigation has been made to obtain the glyoxalic acid by the electrochemical oxidation of glyoxal solution with hydrochloric acid under various experimental conditions.The cell used consists of a lead cathode, a DSA anode and a cation-exchange membrane of model CM001. The current efficiency and yield for glyoxalic acid generation were 80.0% and 91.1% respectively, under optimal operating conditions: velocity of electrolyte flow 1.4 m·s^-1 ,current density 450 A·m^-2, temperature 30～40 ℃, initial concentration of glyoxal and hydrochloric acid 9.1%～16.0%, 4%～6%, respectively.

Reactor And Method For Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, Nicholas Stepanluk, Keith Tomazi, Michael C. Stapleton

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A solid phase peptide synthesis reactor system and method of operating the reactor are provided. The reactor system includes a basket rotatable about an axis within a housing and a receiver which delivers fluid to; and collects fluid from; the housing. The basket has a perforate side wall against which a resin cake for the peptide synthesis formed. The reactor and receiver form a loop or circuit through which solutions are circulated. The circulation of the solutions prevents the reactor from flooding so that the basket Will not be submerged in solution and allows for the use of less liquid. …