Engineering Commons^™

Green Synthesis Of Nanomaterials For Smart Biopolymer Packaging: Challenges And Outlooks, Shima Jafarzadeh, Majid Nooshkam, Masoumeh Zargar, Farhad Garavand, Sabyasachi Ghosh, Milad Hadidi, Mehrdad Forough

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There are several physical and chemical methods for synthesizing nanomaterials, while the most appropriate techniques involve using green chemistry and eco-friendly material. Recently, green synthesized materials for different applications have gained attention as a result of their environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. Applying green synthesized nanoparticles (NPS) in food packaging has been extensively investigated. Biopolymers require filler to enhance the optical, barrier, thermal, antimicrobial, and mechanical properties of packaging. Biopolymer packaging incorporated with green synthesized NPs is expected to simultaneously enhance performance while reducing environmental damage. The current review article focuses on biopolymer films with bio (green)-synthesized nanomaterials and their effectiveness …

Grain Boundary Engineering: An Emerging Pathway Toward Efficient Electrocatalysis, Xiaomin Xu, Yijun Zhong, Magdalena Wajrak, Tejas Bhatelia, San Ping Jiang, Zongping Shao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Electrochemical transformation processes involving carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and small-molecule chemistries represent a promising means to store renewable energy sources in the form of chemical energy. However, their widespread deployment is hindered by a lack of efficient, selective, durable, and affordable electrocatalysts. Recently, grain boundary (GB) engineering as one category of defect engineering, has emerged as a viable and powerful pathway to achieve improved electrocatalytic performances. This review presents a timely and comprehensive overview of recent advances in GB engineering for efficient electrocatalysis. The beneficial effects of introducing GBs into electrocatalysts are discussed, followed by an overview of the synthesis …

A Bi-Functional Air Electrode Developed From A Dual-Mof Strategy For High-Performance Zinc-Air Batteries, Yasir Arafat, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, Yijun Zhong, Xiaomin Xu, Moses O. Tadé, Zongping Shao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A durable, high-performing and cost-effective bi-functional catalyst toward oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) is the key towards the practical application of Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Here, we report a new concept of combining pristine and carbonized MOFs for developing a bifunctional electrocatalyst for ZABs, where the pristine MOF acts as a support for the OER catalysts and the carbonized MOF acts as the ORR catalyst and enhances the electronic conductivity. By electroless NiP-plating over the surface of the Fe-containing 3D MOF (MIL-100), the catalyst shows superior activity for the OER, delivering a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at an overpotential …

Assessing The Impact Of Geochemical Mechanism And Interpolation Factor Selection On The Precision Of Low-Salinity Waterflooding Modelling: A Comparative Study, Malek Jalilian, Sedigheh Mahdavi, Peyman Pourafshary, Zheinjiang You, Amir H. Mohammadi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The efficacy of low salinity waterflooding (LSWF) as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in carbonate formations has been well established; however, its geochemical modelling in such reservoirs remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to bridge this gap by conducting a comparative analysis of three well-recognised geochemical mechanisms including fines migration, rock dissolution/precipitation, and multi-ion exchange (MIE). Our research encompasses two parts: experimental and modelling. First, we conducted four coreflooding experiments to study the effect of LSWF on oil recovery in core scale as well as on rock wettability by measuring the contact angle of the crude oil-brine-rock system. In …

Sustainable Cementitious Materials For Building And Sorption Applications, Sukanta Kumar Mondal

Doctoral Dissertations

"Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most widely used cement material, but it contributes over 8% of the global CO₂ emission and the process is energy intensive. Moreover, OPC faces durability challenges, particularly in aggressive environments. Hence, there is rapidly increasing interest in sustainable alternative cements with lower carbon footprint, lower energy consumption, and those that offer superior properties that are beneficial for specific applications. Two sustainable cementitious materials that are frequently researched as an alternative to OPC are calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement and alkali-activated materials (AAMs). CSA cement lowers CO₂ emission by over 40% compared to OPC, …

Investigations Of Performance And Emissions Of A Fischer-Tropsch Gtl Sustainable Aerospace Fuel With Lubricity Improver In A Compression Ignition Engine With Butanol Port Fuel Injection, James B. Willis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As there is increasing concern over emissions of traditional fossil fuels, as well as the future of continued reliance on this dwindling resource, it is becoming increasingly evident that alternative fuels are a necessity. This research investigates the use of a Fischer-Tropsch fuel from natural gas feedstocks, S8, in an internal combustion research engine with a common rail fuel injection system. This synthetic kerosene fuel has a high DCN of 62, indicating high affinity to autoignition compared to conventional pump diesel (ULSD) at 48 DCN. However, due to the process by which it is produced, this fuel lacks the necessary …

Mathematical Modeling Of Coupled Heat And Mass Transfer In Metal-Hydride Hydrogen Storage Systems, Muhammad Hasnain

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As a promising clean energy carrier hydrogen has recently gained significant interest, but its efficient and safe storage is a major challenge. Compared to the gaseous state and liquid state, metal hydrides (MH) offer a potentially more effective storage approach for hydrogen. However, the main challenge in this approach is the low thermal conductivity of the MH bed that leads to low heat transfer and ultimately to higher charging and discharging times. The purpose of this work is to develop an in-house comprehensive heat and mass transfer model for hydrogen sorption in MH reactors to simulate the dynamic behavior of …

Numerical Modeling Of Thermal Runaway In Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Decomposition Kinetics And Inter-Cell Contact Resistance, Shehzad Khan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are central in numerous high-demand applications due to their high energy density and prolonged cycle life. Despite these advantages, their susceptibility to thermal runaway (TR) poses a significant safety risk, with the potential for catastrophic failures. This study focuses on the thermal behavior of prismatic lithium-ion cells, using a finite volume-based partial differential equation (PDE) solver developed in MATLAB and JULIA to model TR behavior. This solver accurately simulates transient behaviors, convection, diffusion, and source terms across various coordinate systems. By engaging in a series of increasing complex case studies, this research aims to identify the critical …

Carbon Dioxide Gasification Of Biochar: A Study On Utilizing Captured Co2 To Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emission And Improving Carbon Conversion Efficiency, Nnamdi Ofuani

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

With rapidly growing global economies and world population, fossil fuel continues to play a major role in meeting current energy demands. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have, hence, been implemented to reduce CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere. With the implementation of CCS technologies comes the need to utilize the captured CO₂. This research, therefore, proposes CO₂ gasification of biochar as a viable carbon utilization pathway. With captured CO₂ coming at various concentrations, there is a need to understand how CO₂ concentration affects biochar conversion to useful products. This study, therefore, evaluates the effects …

Investigation Of Asphaltene Instability Under Gas Injection In Unconventional Reservoirs And Its Impact On Oil Recovery Performance, Mukhtar Elturki

Doctoral Dissertations

"Unconventional reservoirs, such as shale gas and tight oil formations, have become an important source of energy in recent years. However, these reservoirs often contain high levels of asphaltenes, which can lead to deposition and blockages in production wells and reduce the flow of hydrocarbons during gas enhanced oil recovery (GEOR) techniques. This study aims to experimentally evaluate the impact of miscible and immiscible carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen (N₂) on asphaltene deposition and its impact on oil recovery performance in unconventional shale reservoirs.

This research began with a comprehensive literature review and data analysis of GEOR methods in unconventional …

Design And Development Of Biocompatible Mofs And Silica-Based Nanocarriers With Controlled Pharmacokinetics For Drug Delivery Applications, Neila Pederneira

Doctoral Dissertations

"In the past decade, a big interest has drawn into nanoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and silica-based materials as nanocarriers for drug delivery applications, owing to their exceptionally high surface area and highly structured porous network. The overall goal of this research was to optimize the pharmacokinetic behavior of several highly porous biocompatible drug carriers that have the potential to carry Ibuprofen, 5-Fluorouracil, and Curcumin to the desired tissue without creating a burst effect and minimizing the amount of dosage and size that conventional capsules require. The specific objectives of this study are to (i) assess the effect of drug solubility …

Lithospheric Drip And Mantle Thermal Upwelling Beneath Central Asia And The Southern Great Plains Of North America: Evidence From Receiver Function Imaging, Yangyang Liao

Doctoral Dissertations

"Investigating the depth of mantle transition zone (MTZ) discontinuities provides insights into mantle dynamics, including regional-scale downwelling of mantle lithosphere (i.e., lithospheric drip) and upwelling of thermal materials (i.e., mantle plume). In our study, we employ receiver functions to image the 410 km (d410) and 660 km (d660) mantle discontinuities and to ascertain thickness of the MTZ beneath Central Asia and the Great Plains in United States. The findings unveil a significantly thickened transition zone, exhibiting an average thickness of 284 km beneath East Sayan. When considered alongside geochemical observations, our results indicate that the descent of the lithosphere is …

Exploring Seismic Anisotropy In The Crust And Mantle Of The Tibetan Plateau And Analyzing Seismic Velocity Variations In Yellowstone, Cong Shen

Doctoral Dissertations

"Seismology is a scientific discipline that utilizes seismic waves to investigate the deep structures within the Earth's interior, which are otherwise inaccessible to direct observation by humans. These seismic waves can be categorized into two types: body waves and surface waves, each with distinct propagation modes and behaviors, carrying valuable information about their travel paths. The first paper concentrates on the analysis and inversion of body waves produced by large seismic events. It employs shear wave splitting and receiver function methods to explore the geodynamic structure of the south-central Tibetan Plateau, near the plate boundary. The investigation covers the depth …

Improving Syngas Quality In A Downdraft Biomass Gasifier With Blended Feedstocks, Rania Almusafir

Doctoral Dissertations

"Biomass gasification is the greatest potential renewable energy source and will play an important role in the energy mix of the future. To achieve a high quality of produced synthesis gas (syngas) in the gasification system, the syngas cleaning and cooling processes pose challenges. The main objectives of the present work are advancing the knowledge of the gasification process and producing syngas in the studied pilot-scale downdraft biomass gasifier.

A Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has been developed and utilized to experimentally investigate the impact of biomass feedstock diversity on the performance of the gasification process of hardwood (HW), softwood (SW) pellets, …

High Viscosity Friction Reducer Evaluation At High Temperature And High Tds Environments, Ghith Ali Ahmed Biheri

Doctoral Dissertations

"In unconventional reservoirs, proppant transport during hydraulic fracturing treatments could be successful when the proppant is placed further within the reservoir's fracture networks. This could increase the reservoir formation conductivities and improve the productivity of the wells. This job of improving the reservoir conductivity by distributing and transporting proppant can be conducted by reliable fracture fluids with excellent fluid rheology (e.g., viscosity and elasticity). However, several challenges, including the high temperatures and the presence of high TDS in produced water, may limit the capability of fracture fluids to transport proppant. Additionally, the use of fracture fluid has raised fears regarding …

Advancing Natural Hydrogen Exploration: Headspace Gas Analysis In Water-Logged Environments, Krista Davies, Lionel Esteban, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Natural hydrogen has gained prominence as a potential contributor to the low-carbon energy landscape; however, exploration techniques are still evolving. Current methods primarily rely on dry soil gas studies or gas vent measurements. Because gas vents are scarce and groundwater inhibits hydrogen gas flux from the soil, other field detection techniques are necessary. This research paper presents a novel approach for advancing natural hydrogen exploration through the analysis of headspace gas of agitated groundwater extracted from dedicated shallow boreholes to better estimate the hydrogen gas flux and its variations with time. Several shallow boreholes were drilled in Western Australia on …

A Critical Review Of Capillary Pressure Behavior And Characterization In Fractional-Wet Reservoirs, Yihang Xiao, Zhenjiang You, Lei Wang, Zhengtong Du

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Fractional wettability is common in oil and gas reservoirs, resulting in complex fluid distribution and transport phenomena. A precise understanding of capillary pressure behavior and characterization in fractional-wet reservoirs, including the two-phase flow mechanisms within pores and relationship between capillary pressure and saturation in porous media, is significant to enhanced oil recovery strategies. In this paper, an in-depth review of the two-phase flow mechanisms in fractional-wet pores and capillary entry pressures in various displacement processes was conducted. Furthermore, the effects of oil-wet proportion and contact angle on capillary pressure characterization were summarized, highlighting the emergence of similar capillary pressure curves …

Gradient Microstructures And Mechanical Properties Of Ti–6al–4v Alloy Induced By Laser Surface Quenching, Enqing Wang, Jinpeng Tuo, Fengqi Hou, Dongjie Li, Yuanhang Li, Lvhao Zheng, Kai Zhang, Longlong Dong, Yi Yang, Hao Wang, Aijun Huang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Laser surface quenching (LSQ) was employed to fabricate gradient microstructures in a Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The influence of the LSQ parameters on the surface morphology, the depth of the LSQ layer, gradient microstructure, and microhardness were investigated. The results showed that as the laser energy density increases, the surface roughness and thickness of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) increase. From the internal matrix to the surface, the microstructure in the HAZ changes from the equiaxed structure to the mixt structure, martensitic structure, Widmanstätten structure, and then the oxide layer. The size of the β grains gradually decreases as the distance from the …

Regeneration By Electrodialysis Of Secondary Spent Monoethanolamine Solution Obtained After Mineralisation Of Captured Carbon Dioxide With Calcium Sulfate, Ketwarang Nimnualrat

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The greenhouse effect has been impacting our planet further than we even realized. In recent years, the earth’s atmosphere has rapidly changed at a faster pace than ever. The main villain, mostly released from industry, is carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes about 79.7 percent of total greenhouse gases. Consequently, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) has now become an important role to mitigate this problem. A widely used industrial medium for capturing CO2 is aqueous solution of monoethanolamine (MEA), which is capable of capturing CO2 from fossil fuel-fired processes. However, current MEA regeneration by stripping has high energy requirements for …

Polylactic Acid-Carbon Quantum Dots Composite (Pla/Cqds) For 3d-Printing Filament: Thermal, Mechanical, Morphological, And Electrical Properties, Saran Inthirach

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates polylactic acid carbon quantum dots composite (PLA/CQDs) for 3D-printing filament. composites were prepared by extrusion technique to ensure homogeneous dispersion of CQDs within the PLA matrix with various CQDs loadings (0.25 to 5 wt.%), Thermal analysis showed that 3 wt.% CQDs increased decomposition temperature from 369 °C to 382 °C and raised residual mass, indicating better heat resistance. Mechanical analysis revealed that 1 wt.% CQDs significantly improved tensile strength and 3 wt.% CQDs increased Young’s modulus, though elongation at break fell at 5 wt.% due to CQD aggregation. SEM-EDX confirmed smooth, well dispersed CQDs at low loadings, …

Enhance Effectiveness Of Monitoring Scheme Using Insar On Tailings Storage Facility No. 2, Chatree Gold Mine, Thailand, Shanghai Chea

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Tailings storage facility (TSF) is a critical component of the mining industry, serving to safely contain waste generated during mineral extraction. At Chatree Gold Mine, the largest and only active gold mine in Thailand, TSF No.2 handles approximately 5 million tons of tailings annually. Effective monitoring of the facility is crucial for hazard prevention and regulatory compliance. This study aims to enhance the monitoring scheme of TSF No.2 by employing Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique, processed via MintPy software, to analyze ground deformation. Despite traditional monitoring methods, such as in-situ geodetic surveying, offering valuable insights, they …

Recovery Of Tin From Kaolin Mine Tailing, Rangoon, Thailand, Archana Pandit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates the recovery of tin from kaolin waste using gravity, electrostatic, and magnetic separation techniques. A total of 123.500 kg of sand and 103.200 kg of silt were processed using a shaking table, spiral concentrator, high-tension separator, induced roll magnetic separator, and Frantz magnetic separator. Mineralogical and chemical characterization was conducted using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and microscopic analysis to determine tin distribution and occurrence. Experimental results showed that the silt fractions generally exhibited higher tin content than the sand fractions. In this study, Case A refers to the samples (Sand A and Silt A) processed …

Ethanol-Assisted Co2 Hydrogenation To Methanol In A Trickle-Bed Reactor, Pattarapol Akeakkharanusorn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol is a promising approach for CO2 utilization. However, conventional methanol synthesis is thermodynamically limited at high temperatures. Alcohol-assisted methanol synthesis has emerged as a novel low-temperature method, using alcohol as a catalytic solvent to alter reaction pathways. Equilibrium analysis using Gibbs free energy minimization in Aspen Plus showed that increasing ethanol enhanced CO2 conversion and methanol yield. At high ethanol concentrations, ethanol remained in the liquid phase. This study investigated ethanol-assisted CO2 hydrogenation in a trickle-bed reactor using a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst. CO2 and H2 were introduced in gaseous form, while ethanol …

Simulation Study For Enhancing Thermal Performance Of Cotton Facemasks Through Integration Of Organic Phase Change Materials, Poptham Chaviengpop

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Climate change has caused temperature extremities around the world. Maintaining body temperature against cold temperatures is important for preventing long term health risks. PCM incorporated facemasks offers the solution to this problem. In this study, computational fluid dynamics utilizing laminar flow of air in a simulated wind chamber is used to model the human breathing cycle in cold environments (0-10°C) through four different types of PCM incorporation facemasks (random, coating, hollow fiber, and lamination) used in the industry and three separate PCM candidates (n-octadecane, capric acid, and PEG-600). The findings indicates that the facemask utilizing the coating PCM incorporation method …

Mg And Ce Doping On Cu/Zno/Al2o3 Catalysts For Methanol Synthesis From Ethanol-Assisted Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation In Fixed-Bed Reactor, Panisara Kampaeng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Currently, the world is facing the problem of global warming causing by excessive carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the WMO report, the global surface temperature is expected to increase if no serious mitigation strategies are implemented. Carbon capture utilization (CCU) of a low value greenhouse gas into high-value chemicals is an approach to reduce emissions and valuable chemical production. Among the various CO2 conversion technologies, thermo-catalytic reaction using hydrogen is the most suitable for industrial applications. Methanol is used as a fuel, solvent, and raw material for high value chemicals. Conventional methanol synthesis has thermodynamic limitations, as the reaction is …

Photocatalytic Activity Of N, S-Cqds/Tio2 Composites For The Degradation Of Methylene Blue Under Light Irradiation, Thanyapak Akkharaamnuay

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Water pollution from synthetic dyes like methylene blue (MB), especially from textile industries, poses serious environmental challenges due to their resistance to conventional treatment. This study focuses on the develops nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon quantum dots (N, S-CQDs) incorporated into titanium dioxide (TiO2) for the degradation of methylene blue under light irradiation. The composites were calcined at 400 °C and 500 °C to investigate the effect of calcination temperature on photocatalytic performance. Characterization was conducted using techniques such as XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, FT-IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, Photoluminescence, and BET analysis. The results revealed that increasing the calcination temperature enhanced crystallinity, …

Regeneration Of Carbon Dioxide-Rich Amines Via Mineralization, Tanasorn Thumpanisakool

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) a major driver of the increasing greenhouse effect, making the development of CO2 capture and utilization technologies. Although monoethanolamine (MEA) is a highly efficient sorbent, the energy cost of its thermal regeneration remains a significant challenge. This thesis investigates a low-energy regeneration route for MEA based on mineralized CO2. Especially, the study systematically investigates the effects of MEA concentration, calcium source selection, and amine regeneration mechanisms. A 5 M MEA solution achieved a CO2 loading capacity up to 2.9 mol/L. However, mineralization with CaSO4 alone resulted in irreversible MEA protonation and poor reusability. Mechanistic analysis revealed that …

Design And Development Of A Sustainable Ethylene Glycol Production Process Via Electrochemical Co2 Reduction, Nichapat Leelalertwong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Addressing the critical issue of rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and their impact on climate change necessitates innovative technological solutions. This study presents a novel and sustainable method for producing ethylene glycol, commonly used in antifreeze, polyester, and various industrial applications, through electrochemical CO2 reduction, offering a lower environmental impact compared to conventional coal-based or biomass-based processes. This process is known as the "OCEAN" technique, which utilizes oxalic acid as a key intermediate to enhance efficiency and minimize unwanted byproducts. The process was simulated in Aspen Plus to evaluate both technological performance and environmental impact. CO2 is converted to oxalic acid …

Development Of Calcium Oxide Sorbent From Waste Natural Materials For Co2 Capture, Muhammad Dody Isnaini

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aims to develop calcium oxide (CaO) sorbents for carbon oxide (CO2) capture by using various waste natural materials: eggshells, crab shells, and green mussel shells. These natural materials were used as precursors for the synthesis of CaO sorbents using the citric acid-assisted sol-gel method. Various characterization techniques, including N2 physisorption, XRD, XRF, CO2-TPD, TG/DTG, and FE-SEM, were performed to assess the physicochemical and thermal properties of the synthesized sorbents. The sorbent is investigated for its CO2 adsorption and recycle ability, as it has been a major issue for large-scale deployment of cyclic CO2 capture technology. This study also …

Design And Multi-Objective Optimization Of Methanol Reforming, High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell And Organic Rankine Cycle Integrated System, Supawat Taweekayujan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The growing demand for electricity across all sectors has led researchers to focus on developing advanced electric generation technologies that offer high performance and are environmentally friendly. This study presents the design and multi-objective optimization of an integrated system combining sorption-enhanced chemical looping reforming of methanol (SECL-OSRM), high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs), and a Recuperative-Regenerative Organic Rankine Cycle (RR-ORC). The hybrid system was simulated using Aspen Plus, focusing on energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic analyses. Sensitivity analyses of SECL-OSRM and ORC subsystems were performed to identify optimal operating conditions and working fluids. A Box-Behnken design of experiments approach generated …