Engineering Commons^™

Effects Of Adding Sodium And Fluoride Ions To Glass Ionomer On Its Interactions With Sodium Fluoride Solution, R. W. Billington, P. C. Hadley, Mark R. Towler, G. J. Pearson, J. A. Williams

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This investigates the effects of the addition of Na and F ions to a glass ionomer cement in which those ions are not inherently present on its interactions with dilute (0.2%) NaF solution. Both the effect of the solution on the cement's surface morphology and the effect of the cement on the solution in terms of take up of Na⁺ and F^- and of change in pH are to be investigated. These results are to be compared to previous results obtained with glasses which contained both, one, or neither of the ions as components of their glasses. NaF …

In-Line Measurement Of Solibility Of Physical Blowing Agents In Thermoplastic Melts As Related To Extrusion Foaming, Qiang Zhang

Dissertations

A novel in-line method for measuring physical blowing agent solubility in thermoplastic melts in extrusion foaming equipment has been developed in this study. This method uses video microscopy in connection with a foaming extruder (single or twin-screw) to generate solubility data by observing the onset of gas bubble formation/dissolution. This method offers a number of advantages over the existing conventional methods. It can be easily used to obtain solubility data for many foamable thermoplastic-physical blowing agent systems at high pressure and temperature near actual foaming conditions. Data generated using this method could be directly used to characterize and control a …

A Study Of Sound Attenuation Using Sonic Energy Focussed At An Artificial Soil Fracture, Minhaz Bootwala

Theses

Several laws have been passed over the past two decades to control contamination and to remediate already existing contaminated sites. There are a large number of these sites and several ex-situ and in-situ techniques have been developed to decontaminate these sites. These techniques can be quite expensive, especially the ex-situ clean-up operations, and there has always been a need for cheap, quick remediation methods.

This study investigates the attenuation of sound used in the in situ remediation technique coupling Sonic Energy with Pneumatic Fracturing and Vapor Extraction. Preliminary attenuation studies were performed in the laboratory with a microphone made at …

Ultra High Density Storage Media And Method Thereof, Ravi F. Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

A storage media for storing information having a substrate. The substrate has an upper surface and a molecular weight greater than 5,000. Preferably the material is a polymer. The material has a plurality of piles of molecular chains in selected areas formed by pushing the molecular chains of the material on its upper surface to the selected area mechanically with a mechanical tool. The piles represent written information. The mechanical tool is preferably an atomic force microscope. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for storing information having the steps of selecting a material substrate having an upper …

Process For Producing Biodiesel Fuel With Reduced Viscosity And A Cloud Point Below Thirty-Two (32) Degrees Fahrenheit, Hossein Noureddini

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

Triglycerides are reacted in a liquid phase reaction with methanol and a homogeneous basic catalyst. The reaction yields a spatially separated two phase result with an upper located non-polar phase consisting principally of non-polar methyl esters and a lower located phase consisting principally of glycerol and residual methyl esters. The glycerol phase is passed through a strong cationic ion exchanger to remove anions, resulting in a neutral product which is flashed to remove methanol and which is reacted with isobutylene in the presence of a strong acid catalyst to produce glycerol ethers. The glycerol ethers are then added back to …

Purification Of Immunoglobulins From Serum Using Thiophilic Cellulose Beads, Anuradha Subramanian

Papers in Biotechnology

This study evaluates the chromatographic performance of a support obtained by the reaction of mercaptoethanol with cellulose beads activated with divinyl sulfone. Cellulose beads 500-800 microns (pm) in diameter and with a solids content of 3.5% were selected for this study. A two-step sequence of permeation and reaction was used to install thiophilic sites throughout the cross section of the bead. The distribution of thiophilic sites was visualized by immobilizing fluorescent antibodies. Human and porcine serum proteins were separated on the thiophilic support at different linear velocities. Thiophilic cellulose beads were observed to bind human and porcine immunoglobulins (IgG) selectively …

Composition Containing A Polymer And Conductive Filler And Use Thereof, Ravi F. Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

A composition containing a polymeric matrix and a conductive filler component is provided. The conductive filler component comprises conductive particles and a polymer selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines, substituted and unsubstituted polyparaphenylenevinylenes, substituted and unsubstituted polythiophenes, substituted and unsubstituted polyazines, substituted and unsubstituted polyparaphenylenes, substituted and unsubstituted polyfuranes, substituted and unsubstituted polypyrroles, substituted and unsubstituted polyselenophene, substituted and unsubstituted poly-p-phenylene sulfides and substituted and unsubstituted polyacetylenes, and mixtures thereof, and copolymers thereof. Compositions of the present invention are useful as corrosion protecting layers for metal substrates, for electrostatic discharge protection, electromagnetic interference shielding, and as …

Electrode Modification Using An Unzippable Polymer Paste, Ravi F. Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

A paste is described for capping electrodes with an oxide free metal layer incorporating a solvent, an unzippable polymer and particles. The electrode could be an interconnect such as a C4 bump. A method for forming a coating and for testing integrated circuit chips is also described. The invention overcomes the problem of interconnecting Pb containing electrodes that are covered with an insulating oxide on integrated circuit chips by coating the Pb containing electrode with Au to provide an oxide free surface for testing and interconnection.

Production Of 2,3-Butanediol From Molasses, Isita Sengupta

Student Works (2000-2009)

2,3-Butanediol is an important chemical, which is used in the manufacture of products such as synthetic rubber, printing inks, perfumes, fumigants, moistening and softening agents, explosives and plasticizers. It has been known as a bacterial fermentation product since early part of the 20th century. Klebsiella oxytoca Is an organism, which can convert a variety of sugars to 2,3-butanediol. Available literature shows that principal monosaccharides of cellulosic substances as well as major hemicellulosic compounds have been used as carbon source. However, there is very little information on the application of waste material as carbon source for fermentation of butanediol. In this …

Production Of Polyhydroaxyalkanoate (Pha) From Palm Oil By Pseudomonas Oleovorans And Indigenous Bacterial Isolate, Pseudomonas Sp., Zazali Alias

Student Works (2000-2009)

In this study, the yield of biomass and polyhydroxyalkanoate  (PHA) of Pseudomonas oleovorans grown in batch and fed-batch cultivations were compared. When oleic acid (QA) (0.5% w/v) was used as carbon source, a significant increase in biomass.and PHA content were observed through fedbatch cultivation. The biomass and PHA content obtained from batch cultivation were 1.45±0.19 g/I and 2.50±0.77 % cell dry weight (CDW) respectively, while in the fed-batch cultivation, the biomass and PHA content increased significantly to 3.35±0.78 g/I and 32.72±0.30 %CDW respectively.  When saponified palm olein (SPO) (0.5% w/v) was used as a carbon source, the batch cultivation yielded …

Urea Hydrolysis Using Immobilized Urease, Anita Arullan

Student Works (2000-2009)

An inexpensive carrier matrix. vermiculite was used for immobilizing urease. A cost effective and simple method of coupling was developed using vermiculite. Immobilization of urease on Amberlite MB-land Nylon-6 tube were also studied. Activities of free and immobilized urease were studied and compared: Among all methods used for immobilization of urease. the method of coupling the enzyme to vermiculite gave the highest retained activity of 82% (Method I) and 89% (Method 2) at pH 6.0 and 5.5 respectively. Urease immobilized by Method I retained 69% and 30% of its original activity and Method 2 (using glutaraldehyde as coupling agent) retained …

Clinical Waste Management In The Northern States Of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah And Sarawak, Abdul Hai Akbar Ali

Student Works (2000-2009)

Clinical waste management and disposal methods are quite unique due to their infectious and harmful nature. Unlike municipal waste, clinical waste is pathogenic which jeopardizes the biotic community including human beings, if not quelled of its pathogenic effect.. However, shortcomings or drawbacks are still possible in areas of source separation. inappropriate containment and labeling. Improper incineration may also lead to incomplete combustion ultimately leading to air pollution. Though existing system of clinical waste disposal and management in Malaysia seem adequate, still efficient and cost effective mechanisms are needed. The focus of this research is to survey and study the administrative …

Ethics Exercises For Civil, Environmental, And Geological Engineers, Paul Michael Santi

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The practices of civil, environmental, and geological engineering share many common ethical dilemmas. These fields typically require extensive interaction with clients and regulatory agencies, while dealing with unpredictable earth materials for design and uncertain design parameters. Consequently, a capstone design course must address not only technical issues, but also a wide range of ethical and behavioral issues. This study presents a series of exercises used in the classroom to teach these issues through dealing with "gray" ethical areas, concepts of advocacy and the use of compromise, relating specific stories to global concepts, proper behavior in the corporate environment, and the …

Ranking The Factors Impacting Lmmunosorbent Performance, Anuradha Subramanian, William H. Velander

Papers in Biotechnology

This work addresses the relative impact of the phenomena of orientation, multipoint attachment, and local density of the immobilized antibody 011 immunosorbent perfornnance. The masking of the antigen binding domains of monoclonal antibodies (Mab) by Fab Masking Antigens (FMAs) was used as a tool to determine the impact of orientation on the perforn~anceo f Emphaze, Affiprep'M, and Cellulose bead-based immunosorbents. A two-step antibody immobilization inethod involving permeation of the beaded matrix followed by a fast coupling reaction was used to study the effect of local density of the Mnh on immunosorbent efficiency. Lysyl groups on Mabs were covalently modified to …

The Influence Of Poly(Acrylic Acid) Molar Mass On The Properties Of Polyalkenoate Cements Formed From Zinc Oxide/Apatite Mixtures, Sinead Kenny, Robert G. Hill, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The influence of poly (acrylic acid) molar mass was investigated on cements formed from zinc oxide-apatite mixtures at three aging times: one, seven and 28 days. Cements based on both hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite were investigated. The compressive strength, un-notched fracture strength and fracture toughness increased markedly with poly (acrylic acid) molar mass. The fracture toughness and un-notched fracture strength increased with aging time for the two highest molar mass cements but decreased with time for the two lowest molar mass cements. The greater chain entanglement density present in the higher molar mass cements is thought to contribute significantly to the …

Discriminating Trickle-Flow Hydrodynamic Models: Some Recommendations, F. Larachi, I. Iliuta, M. (Muthanna) H. Al-Dahhan, M. P. Dudukovic

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Forecasting Ability of Five One-Dimensional (1-D) Two-Fluid Phenomenological Models for Liquid Holdup and Two-Phase Pressure Drop in Trickle-Flow Reactors Was Evaluated using the Most Comprehensive Trickle-Flow Regime Database. All of These Models, Namely, the Permeability Model, the Slit Model, the Extended Slit Model, the 1-D CFD Model, and the Double-Slit Model Can Be Used to Predict Liquid Holdup. among Them, the Permeability and the Slit Models, Because of a Much Simpler Structure, Are Recommended. the Extended Slit Model based on Iliuta Et Al. (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1998, 37, 4542) Shear and Slip Constitutive Relationships Can Be Employed for …

Effects Of Cosolvents And Ph On Protein Adsorption On Polystyrene Latex: A Dynamic Light Scattering Study, Da Song, Daniel Forciniti

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dynamic light scattering was used to study the adsorption of two proteins with different surface properties (IgG and HSA) on negatively charged polystyrene latex. The proteins were adsorbed from water and from water/methanol and water/glycerol mixtures at various pH. Some striking differences between the adsorption behaviors of the proteins were observed. Whereas the thickness of the adsorbed layer of HSA was extremely sensitive to pH and solvent composition, that of IgG was not. IgG mainly showed an end-on orientation on polystyrene whereas several different surface orientations are suggested for HSA under different conditions. The addition of methanol inhibited the adsorption …

Drawbacks Of The Dissolution Method For Measurement Of The Liquid-Solid Mass-Transfer Coefficients In Two-Phase Flow Packed-Bed Reactors Operated At Low And High Pressures, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Wes Highfill, Boon Tee Ong

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Dissolution Method Was Used Predominantly at Atmospheric Conditions to Measure the Liquid-Solid Mass-Transfer Coefficient in Two-Phase Flow Packed-Bed Reactors. in an Attempt to Investigate the Effect of Reactor Pressure and Gas Flow Rate on the Liquid-Solid Mass-Transfer Coefficient in a Trickle-Bed Reactor using the Dissolution Method, Difficulties Were Encountered in Implementing This Method at Low- to High-Pressure Operation. Noticeable Losses in the Dissolved Material Were Observed as a Result of Flashing/stripping from the Liquid Phase to the Atmosphere and the Effluent Gas Stream. This Leads to Misinterpretation of the Effect of Reactor Pressure and to Improper Conclusions. in This …

Double-Slit Model For Partially Wetted Trickle Flow Hydrodynamics, I. Iliuta, F. Larachi, M. (Muthanna) H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Double-Slit Model Developed Can Predict the Frictional Two-Phase Pressure Drop, External Liquid Holdup, Pellet-Scale External Wetting Efficiency, and Gas - Liquid Interfacial Area in Cocurrent Downflow Trickle-Bed Reactors Operated under Partially Wetted Conditions in the Trickle Flow Regime. the Model, an Extension of the Holub Et Al. (1992, 1993) Mechanistic Pore-Scale Phenomenological Approach, Was Designed to Mimic the Actual Bed Void by Two Inclined and Interconnected Slits: Wet and Dry Slit. the External Wetting Efficiency is Linked to Both the Pressure Drop and External Liquid Holdup. the Model Also Predicts Gas - Liquid Interfacial Areas in Partially Wetted Conditions. …

Diffusion Of Water In Nafion 115 Membranes, Sathya Motupally, Aaron J. Becker, John W. Weidner

Faculty Publications

In this paper, experimental and simulated data for the diffusion of water across Nafion membranes as a function of the water activity gradient are presented. The gradient in the activity of water across the membrane was varied by changing the flow rate and pressure of nitrogen gas on one side of the membrane. The other side of the membrane was equilibrated with liquid water. It was found that the model predictions are very sensitive to the value of the diffusion coefficient of water in Nafion. Using the Fickian diffusion coefficient extracted from self-diffusion measurements reported in the literature, the model …

Modeling The Effects Of Ion Association On Direct-Current Polarization Of Solid Polymer Electrolytes, Changqing Lin, Ralph E. White, Harry J. Ploehn

Faculty Publications

Considerable experimental evidence indicates that ion association occurs in solid polymer electrolytes. This work provides a thorough theoretical analysis of the effect of ion association on the conductivity, general current-potential behavior, and limiting current density in a solid polymer electrolyte. The model employs dilute solution theory to describe the fluxes of cations, anions, and ion pairs in a motionless continuum but neglects higher order association. The predictions of the model highlight the effects of the relative diffusion coefficients and dimensionless association constant on concentration distributions of simple ions and ion pairs, the limiting current density, and the potential drop required …

Oxygen Diffusion Coefficient And Solubility In A New Proton Exchange Membrane, Andrew T. Haug, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Self‐Discharge Model Of A Nickel‐Hydrogen Cell, B. Wu, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Modeling Nitrogen Evolution During Coal Pyrolysis Based On A Global Free-Radical Mechanism, Steven T. Perry, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

A global free-radical mechanism and an associated rate equation for the evolution of light gas nitrogen during coal devolatilization are presented. The light gas nitrogen rate equation was used to modify an existing nitrogen model so that only a network devolatilization model and coal-specific chemical structural input data are required to adequately predict light gas nitrogen release at a variety of pyrolysis conditions. Model predictions show good agreement with nitrogen release data from pyrolysis of coals of rank from lignite to low volatile bituminous at heating rates from 0.5 to 10⁵ K/s, temperatures as high as 2300 K, and …

Reconstitution And Characterization Of Membrane Proteins, Sarah Mia Pates

Masters Theses

“A membrane protein, cytochrome c reductase, was crystallized and examined using transmission electron microscopy. Two-dimensional crystals were prepared by two methods. In Method 1, the protein was solubilized in 50 mM Tris-Acetate (pH 6.0)/0.5 mM EDTA70.05% (w/v) Triton X-100 and reconstituted into a mixture of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine (4:1), dissolved in the same buffer. The Triton X-100 was removed from the mixture by dialysis in the presence of Bio-beads (SM-2) at approximately 25-30 °C. Method 2 was the same as Method 1, except that the vesicles were fractionated before reconstitution, and the pH and temperature for crystallization were 7.0 and …

Studies On The Capacitance Of Nickel Oxide Films: Effect Of Heating Temperature And Electrolyte Concentration, Venkat Srinivasan, John W. Weidner

Faculty Publications

Nickel oxide films were prepared by electrochemically precipitating the hydroxide and heating it in air to form the oxide. The resulting oxide films behave as a capacitor. The capacitance of the oxide depends on the heating temperature, showing a maximum at 300°C. The mechanism of charge storage was studied by measuring the capacitance and surface area as a function of heating temperature, and the capacitance in different electrolytes and potential windows. The charge-storage mechanism is believed to be a surface redox reaction involving adsorbed hydroxyl ions.

Production And Purification Of The Heavy Chain Fragment C Of Botulinum Neurotoxin, Serotype A, Expressed In The Methylotrophic Yeast Pichia Pastoris, Karen J. Potter, Wenhui Zhang, Leonard A. Smith, Michael M. Meagher

Michael Meagher Publications

A recombinant Hc fragment of botulinum neurotoxin, serotype A (rBoNTA(Hc)), has been successfully expressed in a Mutt strain of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris for use as an antigen in a proposed human vaccine. Fermentation employed glycerol batch, glycerol-fed batch, and methanol-fed batch phases to achieve high cell density. Induction times were short to maximize rBoNTA(H_c) production while minimizing proteolytic degradation. Concentration of rBoNTA(H_c) in yeast cell lysates was generally 1-2% of the total protein based on ELISA analysis. The H_c fragment was purified from cell lysates using a multistep ion-exchange (IEC) chromatographic process, including …

Development Of A New Electrodeposition Process For Plating Of Zn-Ni-X (X = Cd, P) Alloys: I. Corrosion Characteristics Of Zn-Ni-Cd Ternary Alloys, Anand Durairajan, Bala S. Haran, Ralph E. White, Branko N. Popov

Faculty Publications

A new Zn-Ni-Cd plating process was developed which offers a unique way of controlling and optimizing the Ni and Cd contents in the final deposit. Zinc-nickel-cadmium alloy was deposited from a 0.5 M NiSO₄ + 0.2 M ZnSO₄ bath in the presence of 0.015 M CdSO₄ and 1 g/L nonyl phenyl polyethylene oxide. Using this process a Zn-Ni-Cd ternary alloy, with a higher nickel content as compared to that obtained from conventional Zn-Ni baths, was synthesized. The Zn-Ni-Cd alloy coatings deposited from an electrolyte containing 0.015 M (0.3%) CdSO₄ has a Zn to Ni ratio of …

Ni-Composite Microencapsulated Graphite As The Negative Electrode In Lithium-Ion Batteries Ii: Electrochemical Impedance And Self-Discharge Studies, P. Yu, James A. Ritter, Ralph E. White, Branko N. Popov

Faculty Publications

Electrochemical impedance and self-discharge studies were carried out to investigate lithium intercalation into bare and Ni-coated KS10 graphite. Values of the charge-transfer resistances, exchange current densities, surface film resistances, and lithium-ion diffusion coefficients as functions of the state of charge (SOC) all favored the 10 wt % Ni composite KS10 graphite over bare KS10 graphite when these materials were used as the negative electrode in a Li-ion cell with mixed organic electrolyte. The charge-transfer resistances were always lower and gave rise to between 26 and 27% larger exchange current densities, which increased from 137 to 614 mA/g as the SOC …

A Semianalytical Method For Predicting Primary And Secondary Current Density Distributions: Linear And Nonlinear Boundary Conditions, Dhanwa Thirumalai, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.