Engineering Commons^™

A Novel Laboratory Course On Advanced Chemical Engineering Experiments, Jochen A. Lauterbach, S. White, X. Lui, G. M. Bodner, W. N. Delgass

Faculty Publications

The chemical engineering curriculum in the United States has trained generations of technical experts who have successfully optimized chemical processes and products once they entered the chemical industry. The U.S. chemical industry, however, has entered a critical stage in which it must be able to create new and differentiated value through technical innovations that arc essential for long-term survival. This innovation process will require new skills that go far beyond the traditional expertise for the optimization of tasks possessed by young chemical engineers. The innovators must be able to identify new opportunities, explore the boundaries of technology, evaluate critical issues, …

An Empirical Relation Between The Mark-Houwink-Sakurada Constants, P. Rai, Stephen L. Rosen

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Electrocatalytic Oxidation Of Methanol On The Stearate Nickel L-B Film, Benzeng Hua, Wenyan Hu, Yanzhen Chen, Yanhong Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The stearate nickel L-B films is good electroacatlyst for the oxidation of methanol MeOH in alkaline. The electrochemical behaviors of stearate nickel L-B films is affected by the concentration of KOH. The rate of quantity of mickel ion and stearic acid in L-B films is 1∶1, which means that the nickel ion may exist in -COONi(OH) form. The electrocatalytic process is influenced by the concentration of OH^-, it involves the penetration of MeOH into the films. The oxidative currents of MeOH are linearly dependent on the bulk concentration.

Investigation On Electro Reduction Behaviour Of Copper Anodic Products In Concentrated Naoh Solutions Ⅱ. Electro Reduction Of Cu(Ⅱ) Products, Jianbo He, Hanhe Chen, Jianxin Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

Potentiostatic oxidation potentiodynamic or galvanostatic reduction methods have been used to study the cathodic reduction behaviour of various products anodically formed on the second stage of copper oxidation in concentrated NaOH solutions. Seven cathodic current peaks and the corresponding cathodic potential plateaus are observed on the potentiodynamic E/i curves and the galvanostatic E/t curves, respectively. In the negative potential scan, there are three couples of voltammetric peaks which have been attributed to the formation and reduction of CuO, Cu(OH)₂ and Cu(Ⅱ) ion, respectively. The complicated mechanism for the electro formation of the three Cu(Ⅱ) species are discussed.

Preparation And Examination Of Planar Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Yi Jiang, Jingwang Yan, Shizhong Wang, Chunying Yu, Wenzhao Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The solid oxide fuel cells of planar type (SOFC) have been developed after successfully preparing La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ cathodes and Ni-YSZ ceramic anodes on YSZ plates and solving the high temperature sealing technical problem. Examination of the single cells fabricated showed that the maximum power output at 950 ℃ for H₂ as fuel and air as oxidant reached 0.12 W/cm². It was found that the large polarization overpotential of the Ni-YSZ anode and the Ohmic losses of the cells were two main factors responsible for the relative low output power density.

Study On Electrochemical Methods Of Controlled Convolution ——A Simple Electron Transfer Reaction Followed By A Homogeneous Catalytic Reaction(Ⅰ), Ming Ma, Naixian Xie, Qianlei Gao, Yue Zeng

Journal of Electrochemistry

A simple electron transfer reaction followed by a homogeneous catalytic reaction is studied in this paper by three kinds of controlled convolution electrochemical experimental methods, which are the constant semi integral (CSI), linear semi integral sweep (LSIS) and linear semi differential sweep (LSDS). According to the three methods, the following equations can be obtained. With these equations, the theoretical curves of the above three methods can be computed. Experiments of the ferrocyanide ascorbic acid catalytic system have confirmed that kinetic rate constant in catalytic reaction is in good agreement with the previously reported values.

Plasticized, Antiplasticized And Crystalline Conducting Polymers, Ravi F. Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Funded Proposals

Materials containing precursors to electrically conductive polymers and electrically conductive polymers are described which have a high degree of crystallinity. The high degree of crystallinity is achieved by preparing the materials under conditions which provide a high degree of mobility to the polymer molecules permitting them to associate with one another to form a crystalline state. High levels of electrical conductivity are achieved in in the electrically conductive materials without stretch orienting the material. The enhanced electrical conductivity is isotropic as compared to a stretch oriented film which has isotropic electrical conductivity.

Model Discrimination And Estimation Of The Intraparticle Mass Transfer Parameters For The Adsorption Of Bovine Serum Albumin Onto Porous Adsorbent Particles By The Use Of Experimental Frontal Analysis Data, G. A. Heeter, Athanasios I. Liapis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Experimental data from a chromatographic system involving the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto porous anion-exchange adsorbent particles packed in a column are presented. The parameters that characterize the mass transfer mechanisms of intraparticle diffusion and convection are estimated by fitting the predictions of dynamic mathematical models describing adsorption in column systems having spherical perfusive and purely diffusive adsorbent Particles to the experimental breakthrough data obtained from the column adsorption system. Both linear and nonlinear expressions for the equilibrium isotherm are considered. The values of the transport parameters are estimated in the time domain for the nonlinear adsorption models …

Accumulation Of Lead By Anabaena Cylindrica: Mathematical Modeling And An Energy Dispersive X-Ray Study, David T. Swift, Daniel Forciniti

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The ability of microorganisms to selectively adsorb various heavy metal ions has been recognized for over a decade. We have investigated the biosorption of lead by an active culture of the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis was used to evaluate the different uptake mechanisms in the various subcellular regions. Three were identified; a very fast adsorption mechanism in the cell envelope; a time- dependent deposition reaction on the cell surface; and an adsorption mechanism, also time dependent, on the polyphosphate body inside the cell. Atomic absorption spectrometry was then used to quantify the changes with time of bulk …

Effect Of Temperature On Wetting Angle, Guna S. Selvaduray, R. Brindos

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Chromatographic Separation Apparatus, Lynn S. Penn, Donna L. Scott, Howard H. Weetall, Anne L. Plant, Marion F. Mccurley, Scott A. Glazier

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

An apparatus for the monitoring of a column chromatography separation process includes a segmented column with a seal positioned at the joint defined by the segments of the column. A connector is provided for connecting the segments of the column together. The apparatus further includes a sensor for monitoring an analyte in an eluant within a separation zone of the column. The sensor includes a mesh grid made of optical fibers or metal wires which is placed so as to extend through the separation zone of the column. The metal wires or optical fibers extend through the seal of the …

Predicting The Viscosity Of Alkanes Using Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics: Evaluation Of Intermolecular Potential Models, Richard L. Rowley, William Allen

Faculty Publications

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) viscosity simulations of branched and linear alkanes at liquid densities were performed using both united-atom (UA) and all-atom (AA) intermolecular potential models in order to study the relative efficacy of the models in predicting fluid viscosity. Both models were used in conjunction with fixed bond lengths and bond angles, but different torsional potentials were investigated. The commonly used Ryckaert—Bellemans intermolecular potential model, which accurately predicts viscosities for short straight-chain alkanes, produced values for branched and long-chain alkanes that were significantly below experimental values. Likewise, a more complex UA model that uses transferrable site potentials and is …

Membrane-Based Reactors For Ozonolysis Of Organic Pollutants In Aqueous And Gaseous Streams, Purushottam V. Shanbhag

Dissertations

Many gaseous and aqueous waste streams contain multiple organic pollutants at low concentration levels. It is not economical to recover and reuse these compounds; it would be advantageous to destroy them efficiently within the waste stream. This work employed ozone, a powerful oxidizing agent, in concert with a compact membrane-based phase-contacting device. Three types of membrane devices were studied: two of them (the single-phase membrane ozonator and the two-phase membrane ozonator) treated organic pollutants in wastewater, while the third (the integrated absorption-oxidation membrane ozonator) removed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a gaseous waste stream.

In the single-phase membrane ozonator, the …

Growth Of Grass Shrimp, Palaemonetes Pugio, In A Contaminated And An Uncontaminated Site, Suruchi Bhan

Theses

Previous experiments have found that grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, from a contaminated site, Piles Creek (PC). in Linden. New Jersey, are larger than those from a relatively pristine reference site, Sheepshead Creek, located in Tuckerton (T), New Jersey.

This study investigated the possibility that PC conditions provide more food for the shrimp, possibly by being a eutrophic environment. thus allowing for greater growth. or that salinity, toxicants, or other factors at. PC stimulate growth. The current experiment indicated that PC conditions do not foster greater growth for the shrimp than T conditions and that PC shrimp are not inherently …

An Investigation Into The Feasibility Of Utilizing Pneumatic Ultrasonic Devices Coupled With Pneumatic Fracturing In Enhancing Removal Of Volatile Organic Compounds From Soils, Hugo J. Fernandez

Theses

A bench scale investigation was conducted in a Plexiglass ™ Test cell 1 foot square by 2 feet in height, packed with 400 mesh sand to a density of 100 lb. /ft³. The sand was contaminated with a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% water by weight having a total weight of 11.1 pounds, before it was packed in the test cell. A geotextile 1/2 inch thick was used as a simulated fracture and was placed 3 inches from the bottom of the tank. A siren and a whistle were tested in this fracture.

The data were divided …

Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition Of Silicon Carbonitride Films From Tri(Dimethylamino) Silane, Rajive Shah

Theses

A literature study to investigate the incorporation of silicon into SiC and Si₃N₄ films from various organosilanes was carried out. The Arrhenius activation energy for the synthesis of silicon, silicon carbide and silicon nitride films from various organosilanes range from 165-210 kJ/mol. A review of recent studies have indicated that silicon deposition is the rate determining step in the synthesis of silicon from silane. It is proposed here that this hypothesis can be established for the synthesis of silicon carbide, silicon nitride and silicon carbonitride film. Limited experiments indicated that the silicon deposition is a rate determining …

Decontamination Of Aquifers Via Air Sparging/Biofiltration : An Experimental Study, Armando Mora Tellez

Theses

In this study experiments were performed in order to show feasibility of an integrated air sparging/biofiltration process for cleaning contaminated groundwater. Feasibility was also meant in the sense of meeting regulatory constraints. Using toluene as model compound and changing flowrates for the sparged air, it was shown that despite fluctuations in the toluene concentration at the inlet of the biofilter, the concentrations at the outlet of the unit were essentially constant over long periods of time and remained below the levels dictated by environmental regulations. However an increase in outlet concentrations at levels not meeting regulatory constraints was observed after …

Studies Of Electrocatalytic Properties Of Electrode Of Dispersed Pt On Gc Support In Ethylene Glycol Oxidation, Shengpei Chen, Shigang Sun, Zhiyou Zhou, Shuanjing Hong

Journal of Electrochemistry

The structures and properties of electrocatalyst of dispersed Plutinum (Pt) on glassy carbon (GC) support under different conditions were studied using cyclic voltammetry, potential step technique, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning Electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that after having been treated in high temperature,the dispersed Pt on GC support was recrystallised with preferented orientation, and the grain of Pt microcrystal become large and regular. It was illustrated that the dispersed Pt on GC support after high temperature treatment exhibited better stability and high activity for ethylene glycol oxidation.

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Powered Vehicles, Naichao Li, Baolian Yi

Journal of Electrochemistry

The background, status and commercialization prospect of polymer electrolyte fuel cell vehicles are surveyed in this paper. The technology of this cell and system used in vehicles is discussed.

Electrochemical Behavior Of Superoxide Dismutase On Gold Minigrid With Thin Layer Cell, Xiaqin Wu, Qian Liu, Bin Xu, Xiaoyun Men, Zongrang Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrochemical behavior of superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD) was investigated on gold wire electrode and gold minigrid with thin layer cell by cyclic voltammetry. A quasi reversible redox wave of SOD has obtained on gold minigrid thin layer electrode, but only oxidation peak has observed on gold wire electrode. The electrochemical reaction parameters, such as the formal potential E^0′, diffusion coefficient D and standard rate constant k^0′ were estimated.

Surface Modification Of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Anode, Baizeng Fang, Xinyu Liu, Xindong Wang, Shuzhen Duan

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this study, the anode material of molten carbonate fuel cell was modified by the deposition of niobium on nickel surface. The results of polarization experiments reveal that the corrosion resistant properties as well as electrocatalytic activity have been improved greatly.

Tnt-Contaminated Soils Remediation For Volunteer Army Ammunitions Plant, Janice Tevonia Russell Horn

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Many facilities involved in the production of munitions, or with a history of munitions production or storage, are faced with the remediation of residual explosives in soil, groundwater and process wastewater. This requirement has become particularly prevalent with the closing of many military installations across the country. The Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant (V AAP) is a 6,681 acre Government owned and contractor-operated facility for the production and storage of trinitrotoluene (TNT). Two (2) technologies were investigated for TNT (nitroaromatic explosive) contaminated soils remediation. The technologies are phytoremediation and thermal incineration. Phytoremediation is an in-site wetlands-type remediation which uses plants. Thermal …

Electrochemical Synthesis And Characterization Of Ba-Pb-O And Bi-Pb-O Oxides, Min Xie, Liangzhong Zhao, Cuiying Xu, Jinbiao Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Pb-based oxides Ba-Pb-O and Bi-Pb-O were synthesized from aqueous solutions by using electrochemical method. The resulting Ba-Pb-O and Bi-Pb-O were characterized using XPS, EDX and XRD. The results show that perovskite BaPb_0.9O₃ can be electrodeposited on the anode only from strong alkaline solution. In acid aqueous solution, conducting BiPb₂O_z oxide is fromed on the anode. In these oxides the nominal valence of lead is +4.

Estimation Of Pore Diameter For Intraparticle Fluid Flow In Hidisperse Porous Chromatographic Particles, G. A. Heeter, Athanasios I. Liapis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A quantitative method is developed and presented for estimating the mean pore diameter, d(pore), that could allow intraparticle fluid flow in the macroporous region of adsorbent particles with a bidisperse porous structure packed in a column. The method is used to estimate the value of d(pore) that is required to obtain specified values of the fraction, F, of the column superficial fluid velocity that is flowing through the macroporous region of the adsorbent particles and the value of d(pore) that is required to obtain specified values of the intraparticle Peclet number, Pe(intra).

Optimization Of Ion-Exchange Chromotography With Multiple Gradient Inputs For Protein Separations, Tariq Mahmood

Theses

Gradient elution chromatography is an efficient technique for adjusting the retention of sample components during liquid chromatographic separations. However, the optimization of gradient elution is usually done by trial and error. Thus, for large scale processes this results in expensive and time consuming design and operations. Peak resolution that describes the degree of separation is a commonly used parameter for chromatographic processes. However, in processes where operating time and product dilution are of great importance, resolution alone is not adequate for describing the separation efficiency.

A new parameter "resolution optimization factor" is used for the optimization of gradient elution processes. …

A Student Training Manual For Running The Hysim Computer Simulation Program, Roberta Rosty

Theses

Hyprotech's HYSIM computer simulation program is used in the chemical processing industry (CPI) to simulate unit operations, which aid in the design of various different kinds of processing plants. It is important then that chemical engineering students should gain early exposure to a simulation program such as HYSIM, in order to facilitate their comprehension of process engineering design work using this type of program, and to bridge the gap between the textbook knowledge they gain of unit operations in the classroom with some of the actual process engineering work-a-day methods available for solving problems.

The objective of this work was …

Affinity Adsorption Of Adsorbates Into Spherical Monodisperse And Bidisperse Porous Perfusive And Purely Diffusive Adsorbent Particles Packed In A Column. Parameter Estimation In The Laplace Transform Domain, G. A. Heeter, Athanasios I. Liapis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel mathematical method for parameter estimation is proposed and used to estimate in the Laplace transform domain the values of the parameters that characterize the mechanisms of intraparticle diffusion and convection in spherical perfusive or purely diffusive adsorbent particles with a monodisperse or with a bidisperse porous structure when the adsorbent particles are packed in a column. The parameter estimation method in the Laplace transform domain presented in this work is significantly simpler, easier to use and dramatically faster than the conventional parameter estimation procedure in the time domain, which requires the repeated numerical solution of the partial differential …

Effects Of Monomer Structure Ontheir Organization And Polymerizationin A Smectic Liquid Crystal, C. Allan Guymon, Erik N. Hoggan, Noal A. Clark, Thomas P. Rieker, David M. Walba, Christopher N. Bowman

Faculty Publications

Photopolymerizable diacrylate monomers dissolved in fluid-layer smectic A and smectic C liquid crystal (LC) hosts exhibited significant spatial segregation and orientation that depend strongly on monomer structure. Small, flexible monomers such as 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) oriented parallel to the smectic layers and intercalated, whereas rod-shaped mesogen-like monomers such as 1,4-di-(4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoyloxy)-2-methylbenzene (C6M) oriented normal to the smectic layers and collected within them. Such spatial segregation caused by the smectic layering dramatically enhanced photopolymerization rates; for HDDA, termination rates were reduced, whereas for C6M, both the termination and propagation rates were increased. These polymerization precursor structures suggest novel materials-design paradigms for gel …

Rheology Of Dense Bubble Suspensions, Ashok S. Sangani, Sang-Yoon Kang, Heng-Kwong Tsao, Donald L. Koch

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering - All Scholarship

The rheological behavior of rapidly sheared bubble suspensions is examined through numerical simulations and kinetic theory. The limiting case of spherical bubbles at large Reynolds number Re and small Weber number We is examined in detail. Here, Re = p y a^2 / u and We = p y^2 a^3 / s, a being the bubble radius, g the imposed shear, s the interfacial tension, and m and r , respectively, the viscosity and density of the liquid. The bubbles are assumed to undergo elastic bounces when they come into contact; coalescence can be prevented in practice by addition of …

Nusselt Number For Flow Perpendicular To Arrays Of Cylinders In The Limit Of Small Reynolds And Large Peclet Numbers, Ashok S. Sangani, Wei Wang

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering - All Scholarship

The problem of determining the Nusselt number N, the nondimensional rate of heat or mass transfer, from an array of cylindrical particles to the surrounding fluid is examined in the limit of small Reynolds number Re and large Peclet number Pe. N in this limit can be determined from the details of flow in the immediate vicinity of the particles. These are determined accurately using a method of multipole expansions for both ordered and random arrays of cylinders. The results for N/Pe^1/3 are presented for the complete range of the area fraction of cylinders. The results of numerical simulations for …