Engineering Commons^™

Pd-Based Electrocatalysts For Oxygen Reduction And Ethanol Oxidation Reactions: Some Recent Insights Into Structures And Mechanisms, Zhi-Peng Wu, Chuan-Jian Zhong

Journal of Electrochemistry

The development of efficient electrocatalysts for applications in fuel cells, including proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), has attracted extensive research attention in recent years. Oxygen reduction reaction and ethanol oxidation reaction are two of the key reactions where the design of active, stable and low-cost electrocatalysts is critical for the mass commercializations of PEMFCs and DEFCs. This challenge stems largely from the limited understanding of the catalyst structures and reaction mechanisms. Progress has been made in investigations of electrocatalysts derived from Pd-based alloy nanomaterials both experimentally and computationally. We highlight herein some of the …

Detection And Aggregation Of Listeria Monocytogenes Using Polyclonal Antibody Gold-Coated Magnetic Nanoshells Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrates, Robert T. Busch, Farzia Karim, Yvonne Sun, H. Christopher Fry, Yuzi Liu, Chenglong Zhao, Erick S. Vasquez

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Magnetic nanoshells with tailored surface chemistry can enhance bacterial detection and separation technologies. This work demonstrated a simple technique to detect, capture, and aggregate bacteria with the aid of end-functionalized polyclonal antibody gold-coated magnetic nanoshells (pAb-Lis-AuMNs) as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probes. Listeria monocytogenes were used as the pathogenic bacteria and the pAb-Lis-AuMNs, 300 nm diameter, were used as probes allowing facile magnetic separation and aggregation. An optimized covalent bioconjugation procedure between the magnetic nanoshells and the polyclonal antibody was performed at pH six via a carbodiimide crosslinking reaction. Spectroscopic and morphological characterization techniques confirmed the fabrication of stable pAb-Lis-AuMNs. …

Editors’ Choice-Examining Performance And Durability Of Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells With Novel Spirocyclic Anion Exchange Membranes, Ami C. Yang-Neyerlin, Samantha Medina, Kelly M. Meek, Derek J. Strasser, Cheng He, Daniel M. Knauss, Mustain E William, Svitlana Pylypenko, Bryan S. Pivovar

Faculty Publications

A series of spirocyclic copolymer membranes with varying ion exchange capacities (IECs) were investigated to probe the impact of polymer properties on in situ fuel cell performance and stability. In-situ electrochemical tests and post-mortem electron microscopy analysis of cross-sectioned membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) have been combined with voltage loss breakdown analysis to evaluate the performance and degradation of different MEAs, and to probe the catalyst morphology and electrode structure at different stages of operation. Voltage loss breakdown results show that membrane degradation and kinetic losses played only a minor role in observed performance degradation and that performance losses were primarily …

Sorption-Spectrometric Determination Of Nickel By Monoammonium Salt Of Glycirrizic Acid, Ugilay Abdurakhmanova, Khabibjon Kushiev

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to develop a sensitive, selective and rapid method for the determination of nickel ions using the monoammonium salt of glycyrrhizic acid as an analytical reagent. There obtained IR spectra of the nickel diglycyrrhizinate complex. A simple and express spectral method for determination of the nickel ion is presented. The optimal conditions for the determination of the nickel ion are found. Under optimal conditions, a gradual graph was drawn up, which is linear in the concentration range for nickel of 20.0–40.0 μg/25 ml, the composition of the complex of nickel with the monoammonium salt …

The Role Of The 2,7-Dinitroso-1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-Disulfonic Acid Reagent In Determining The Thorium Ion (Iv), Nigora Qutlimurotova, Salohiddin Mahmadoliyev, Khabibullo Todjimukhamedov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim is to develop a method for the amperometric determination of thorium (IV) ion with 2,7-dinitroso-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfoxyl reagent. Methods of amperometric determination of thorium by solution of 2,7-dinitrozo-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid on different acid-base properties of background electrolytes and buffer mixtures are considered. The half-wave potential of new reagent was found by logarithmic analysis equal 0.72 V at pH 2.82, which once again indicates on the irreversibility of the process of electrooxidation of the studied organic reagent in used acid-base medias. The conditions for amperometric titration of thorium are optimized, and the influence of outside accompanying metals on the shape of curves …

Synthesis Of Some N-Oxides Of Pyridylacethylene Amines Based On 2-Methyl-5-Ethynylpyridine, Abduvakhab Ikramov, Odiljon Ziyadullayev, Adkham Khamidjanov, Shavkat Bojariev, Davron Khandamov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to study the reaction of 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine N-oxide with some aliphatic and aromatic amines to obtain N-oxides of pyridylacetylenic amines. 2-Methyl-5-ethylpyridine converted to 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine by dehydrogenation, and 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine obtained by bromination and dehydrobromination. 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine N-oxide synthesized by oxidation of 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine with perhydrol in acetic anhydride. The synthesis of N-oxides of pyridylacetylenic amines by the Mannich reaction carried out. The effect of the solvents: methanol, ethanol and n-dioxane, the catalyst, and the reaction time on the yield of the final product studied. The structure and composition of the synthesized PAA N-oxides were established using IR and …

The Role Of Hydrogen Bonds In Diluted Ethanol Solutions Of Cyclohexane And Dimethylformamide, Dilbar Bozorova, Shukur Gofurov, Mavlonbek Ziyayev, Dildora Mirtojiyeva, Odina Ismanova, Oksana Ismoilova

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The refractometric method and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the optical features of the concentration characteristics of diluted ethanol solutions of cyclohexane and dimethylformamide. It was found for the first time that at some concentrations the hydrogen bond is stronger than for a pure ethanol solution. The first maximum of the excess refractive index of solutions is formed at a concentration of 0.02 mole fraction of cyclohexane and dimethylformamide, which is in good correlation with IR spectroscopy, indicating the largest number of formed hydrogen bonds.

Polymers And Solvents Used In Membrane Fabrication: A Review Focusing On Sustainable Membrane Development, Xiaobo Dong, David Lu, Tequila A. L. Harris, Isabel C. Escobar

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

(1) Different methods have been applied to fabricate polymeric membranes with non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) being one of the mostly widely used. In NIPS, a solvent or solvent blend is required to dissolve a polymer or polymer blend. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethylformamide (DMF) and other petroleum-derived solvents are commonly used to dissolve some petroleum-based polymers. However, these components may have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, using greener and less toxic components is of great interest for increasing membrane fabrication sustainability. The chemical structure of membranes is not affected by the use of different solvents, …

Peptoid Microsphere Coatings To Improve Performance In Sandwich Elisa Microarrays, Jesse L. Roberts, German R. Perez Bakovic, Shannon L. Servoss

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) microarray performance is limited by low assay sensitivity and dynamic range. Increasing the surface area for reagent binding can help to improve performance, but standard techniques such as roughening the surface or adding a polymer coating lead to increased non-specific fluorescence and do not have reproducibly improved performance. Another approach to increase surface area is adding a microsphere coating on the surface. Poly-N-substituted glycine (peptoid) microspheres are ideal for this application due to low immunogenicity, protease-resistance, and biocompatibility. Peptoids are polymers with a backbone similar to peptides, but with the side chains appended to nitrogen rather …

Design Of A Full-Scale Plant For Plastic Pyrolysis, Hannah Sargent

Honors Theses

With over thirty million tons of plastic accumulating in the United States every year, the need for an environmentally safe means of disposal is increasing. Only ten percent of this plastic is recycled while the majority is disposed of via landfill. With recent advances in pyrolysis research, a permanent solution is presented. By creating a pyrolysis plant, not only could billions of pounds of plastic be prevented from contributing to landfills, but also be converted to oil resulting in an environmentally beneficial and lucrative solution to plastic waste.

Melamine Derivatives As Highly Flame Retardant Additives For Bio-Based Rigid Polyurethane Foams, Niloofar Arastehnejad

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

MELAMINE DERIVATIVES AS HIGHLY FLAME RETARDANT ADDITIVES FOR BIO-BASED RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS

Rigid foams, which are mainly used in construction, refrigerators, automotive industries are one of the important types of polyurethanes with great potential in insulation and energy efficiency. Unfortunately, rigid polyurethane foams are highly flammable and catch fire in a short amount of time as well as spread the flame quickly. Hence, rigid foams are considered hazardous materials due to life-threatening situations and environmental issues.

To counter that, nitrogen-based compounds as non-halogenated flame retardants are an effective, low-cost, and eco-friendly option. It has been shown that melamine derivates as …

Controlling The Orientation Of Fluorescent Dyes Using External Electric Fields, Henry J. Kantrow

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Graphical Design And Analysis Of Mass Exchange Networks Using Composition Driving Forces, Nessren Mohamed Farrag, Dina Ahmed Kamel, Ayat Ossama Ghallab, Mamdouh Ayad Gadalla, Mai Kamal Fouad

Chemical Engineering

Pinch analysis is a methodology for minimizing energy and mass consumption in different industries. It has been widely applied for more efficient processes. This study presents a new graphical-approach to analyze and design Mass Integration (MI) and exchange networks that follows Pinch principles to guarantee maximum mass recovery with minimum losses. This technique uses the composition driving forces in network representation as it rules the mass transfer between streams. The proposed approach can be applied on both existing mass networks as well as new ones. This graphical representation a visual descriptive design tool to describe and explain the details of …

Effect Of Humic Acid On Co2-Wettability In Sandstone Formation, Mujahid Ali, Faisal Ur Rahman Awan, Muhammad Ali, Ahmed Al-Yaseri, Muhammad Arif, Mónica Sánchez-Román, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Hypothesis: Millions of tons of CO2 are stored in CO2 geological storage (CGS) formations (depleted oil reservoirs and deep saline aquifers) every year. These CGS formations naturally contain small concentrations of water-soluble organic components in particular humic acid (HA), which may drastically affect the rock wettability - a significant factor determining storage capacities and containment security. Hence, it is essential to characterise the effect of humic acid concentration on CO2-wettability and its associated impact on storage capacity.

Experimental: To achieve this, we measured advancing and receding contact angles at reservoir conditions using the pendant drop tilted plate method for various …

A Barker Type Approach For Measuring And Interpreting Vle Of Polymer Mixed Solvent Systems, Vaishali Jain

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The environment around us has a great impact on human health. A polluted environment can adversely impact human health and cause diseases like cancer, skin diseases, breathing problems and many more and hence altering the quality of life. Hence it is very important to develop sensors that can efficiently detect these harmful substances from environment. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemical substances that are volatile even at ambient temperature and pressure conditions which enter the atmosphere through industrial processes, building materials, etc.

Acoustic wave devices can detect very low concentrations (ppm, ppb) of organic compounds in the environment. A …

Anomaly-Handling In Lyapunov-Based Economic Model Predictive Control Via Empirical Models, Helen Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

A question that faces data-driven autonomous systems is verification that they will perform in a safe manner despite changes in the environment on which they act over time or incomplete knowledge of the system model. This work analyzes closed-loop stability of nonlinear systems under Lyapunov-based economic model predictive control (LEMPC) with data-driven models in the case where it is desirable to have the ability to detect when the data-driven model is or becomes insufficiently accurate for maintaining the closed-loop state in an expected region of state-space. Implications of the results for false sensor measurement cyberattacks seeking to impact the fidelity …

High Temperature Polymer Electrolytes For Hydrogen Fuel Cells And Electrochemical Pumps, Gokul Venugopalan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Hydrogen fuel cell and separation technologies such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and electrochemical hydrogen pump (ECHP) offer a profound advantage in the transition to a low-carbon economy. An imperative hitch in hydrogen fuel cells and ECHP technology has been the electrocatalyst poisoning by carbon monoxide (CO) and other contaminants in the reactant mixture. By operating, hydrogen fuel cells and ECHPs at high temperatures (>200 °C), the effect of CO adsorption on the electrocatalyst surface could be curtailed. The high-temperature operation of devices necessitates a proton exchange membrane (PEM) to operate under anhydrous conditions.

In this work, …

Hybrid Lattice Boltzmann Agglomeration Method For Modeling Transport Phenomena In Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells, P. Satjaritanun, F. C. Cetinbas, S. Hirano, I. V. Zenyuk, R. K. Ahluwalia, Sirivatch Shimpalee

Faculty Publications

The Hybrid Lattice Boltzmann Agglomeration Method (HLBAM) was employed to model transport phenomena and electrochemical kinetics in the catalyst layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). This work showed the advantages of using a direct modeling-based HLBAM approach, which incorporates the detailed structure of catalyst layers from X-ray computed tomography as well as local transport variables related characteristics and effective properties from the hybrid catalyst microstructure. The local transport variables and effective properties from the hybrid catalyst model were used to simulate the electrochemical kinetics inside the detailed structure of the catalyst layer. HLBAM can predict the distribution …

Evaluation Of Vertical And Horizontal Wells For Utilization In Carbon Sequestration, Michael R. Bohnet

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Bulk And Surface Interactions From Thick, Porous, Soil-Based Substrates On The Spreading Behavior Of Different Viscosity Oils, Firoz Ahmed, Brenda Hutton-Prager

Faculty and Student Publications

Crude oils and motor oils are commonly identified in oil spills on land. Controlling and understanding their flow both across and into land is of paramount importance to minimize spread and subsequent damage to the ecosystem. Spreading kinetics and surface energy studies were conducted with these oils over several realistic soil-based matrixes, consisting of topsoil (silt-dominant), sand, clay, and moisture. Spreading area through a 1.3 cm deep matrix was reduced with increased moisture content, densely packed matrixes, and higher viscosity oils. Initial contact angle (CA) measurements for all oils was typically lower on clay matrixes due to its sheet-like structure …

Relationship Between Thermal Conductivity And Free Electrons In Metal, Yansong Liu

Senior Theses

An experiment was designed and conducted to explore the relationship between thermal conductivity with free electrons in metal. In the experiment, copper, iron, aluminum, and titanium rods with close diameters were used to carry out the experiment. Each rod was heated up by a heat unit at one end while cooled on the other end with a heat sink to maintain a steady state. DC current was applied to rods in the direction along, as well as against, the heat flow. Thermal conductivities were measured in these two situations for each rod. Results showed electrons do dominate thermal flow inside …

Hydrothermal Synthesis And Structural Investigation Of A Crystalline Uranyl Borosilicate, Kristen A. Pace, Vladislav V. Klepov, Mark D. Smith, Travis Williams, Gregory Morrison, Jochen A. Lauterbach, Scott T. Misture, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

The relevance of multidimensional and porous crystalline materials to nuclear waste reme-diation and storage applications has motivated exploratory research focused on materials discovery of compounds, such as actinide mixed-oxoanion phases, which exhibit rich structural chemistry. The novel phase K1.8 Na1.2 [(UO2)BSi4 O12 ] has been synthesized using hydrothermal methods, rep-resenting the first example of a uranyl borosilicate. The three-dimensional structure crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmce with lattice parameters a = 15.5471(19) Å, b = 14.3403(17) Å, c = 11.7315(15) Å, and V = 2615.5(6) Å3, and is composed of UO6 octahedra linked by [BSi4 O12 ]5− chains to …

Gagrank: Software For Glycosaminoglycan Sequence Ranking Using A Bipartite Graph Model, John D. Hogan, Jiandong Wu, Joshua A. Klein, Cheng Lin, Luis Carvalho, Joseph Zaia

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) Are Long, Linear Polysaccharide Chains that Are Typically Found as the Glycan Portion of Proteoglycans. These GAGs Are Characterized by Repeating Disaccharide Units with Variable Sulfation and Acetylation Patterns Along the Chain. GAG Length and Modification Patterns Have Profound Impacts on Growth Factor Signaling Mechanisms Central to Numerous Physiological Processes. Electron Activated Dissociation Tandem Mass Spectrometry is a Very Effective Technique for Assigning the Structures of GAG Saccharides; However, Manual Interpretation of the Resulting Complex Tandem Mass Spectra is a Difficult and Time-Consuming Process that Drives the Development of Computational Methods for Accurate and Efficient Sequencing. …

Experimental Study Of Hollow-Core Slab Containing Waste Pet Bottles, Mulia Orientilize, Josia Irwan Rastandi, R. M. Dimas Aries C., Marsha Niken P., Krisna Adi S.S., Abimantrana Abimantrana

Makara Journal of Technology

This study investigated the utilization of plastic-waste concrete as an effort to reduce urban waste problems. The waste plastic bottles were utilized to form the hollows of the hollow-core slabs (HCSs). The bottles were made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As a part of green research to reuse waste material, shredded PET was also added to the concrete mixture to improve the HCS strength. The cast-in-site HCS could be constructed without any difficulties. Three parameters were investigated: the effects of void content, shredded PET content, and steel-fiber (SF) content on the HCS ultimate bending capacity (Mu). Fifteen specimens were tested under …

Laboratory-Scale Research Of Non-Catalyzed Supercritical Alcohol Process For Continuous Biodiesel Production, Aso A. Hassan, Joseph D. Smith

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This work investigates the non-catalyzed supercritical methanol (SCM) process for continuous biodiesel production. The lab-scale setup was designed and used for biodiesel production in the temperature range of 520–650 K and 83–380 bar with an oil-to-methanol molar ratio ranging from 1:5 to 1:45. The experiments were performed in the coiled plug flow tubular reactor. The volumetric flow rate of the methanol/oil ranged from 0.1-10 mL/min. This work examines a new reactor technology involving preheating and pre-mixing of the methanol/oil mixture to reduce setup cost and increase biodiesel yield under the same reaction conditions. Work performed showed that FAME’s yield increased …

Polymer Microparticles For Encapsulation And Presentation Of Anti-Inflammatory Agents For Inflammatory Diseases, Christopher Isely

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammatory diseases have a huge economic impact on the healthcare system. Incidence of obesity and muscle atrophy, two high profile inflammatory diseases, continues to increase. Anti-inflammatory agents are potential therapeutics for these diseases. Resveratrol is a polyphenol that has anti-inflammatory effects; however, resveratrol suffers from low bioavailability and hasn’t had impressive clinical results when delivered orally. Mannose is a monosaccharide that also has anti-inflammatory effects, however, effects are highest when mannose is presented on the surface of a support the size of a bacteria. Incorporation of resveratrol and mannose into biodegradable polymer microparticles could be a feasible approach to overcome …

Hydrothermal Synthesis And Structural Investigation Of A Crystalline Uranyl Borosilicate, Kristen A. Pace, Vladislav V. Klepov, Mark D. Smith, Travis Williams, Gregory Morrison, Jochen A. Lauterbach, Scott T. Misture, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

The relevance of multidimensional and porous crystalline materials to nuclear waste reme-diation and storage applications has motivated exploratory research focused on materials discovery of compounds, such as actinide mixed-oxoanion phases, which exhibit rich structural chemistry. The novel phase K1.8 Na1.2 [(UO2)BSi4 O12 ] has been synthesized using hydrothermal methods, rep-resenting the first example of a uranyl borosilicate. The three-dimensional structure crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmce with lattice parameters a = 15.5471(19) Å, b = 14.3403(17) Å, c = 11.7315(15) Å, and V = 2615.5(6) Å3, and is composed of UO6 octahedra linked by [BSi4 O12 ]5− chains to …

Electrodeposition Study Of Alloys For Solar Energy, Corrosion Resistance, And Battery Applications, Thaier Tawfeek Alawadh

Theses

Copper-Zinc-Tin sulphide (CZTS) compound is one of the alloys, which has significantly caught the attention of a considerable number of researchers since the beginning of the century. Consequently, academic laboratories started investigating the alloy in-depth with its various combination due to its valuable applications with high potential usage. The CZTS alloy has a high tendency to replace the current copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cell system due to scarcity of CIGS components, and toxic manufacturing procedures compared to CZTS. Nevertheless, CZTS is a new studied compound with exceptionally low photovoltaic empirical efficiency and an inadequate understanding of its …

Conversion Of Lignocellulose Biomass From Date Palm Waste To High Value Chemicals, Emmanuel Galiwango

Dissertations

Lignocellulose biomass has gained growing popularity because of its low cost of production compared to food crops, it solves problems of food and energy security, can grow in various climates and land, and it is CO₂ neutral. Date palm trees produce large amounts of fibrous wastes that are good sources of lignocellulose. There are over 40 million date palm trees in UAE and most of their lignocellulosic wastes (i.e., leaves, surface fibers, bunches, etc.) are currently used for low value applications such as compost or electric generation. However, the lignocellulosic components of this waste stream have the potential to …

Experimental And Computational Investigations Of Type Iii Deep Eutectic Solvents For Btx Removal From Light Naphtha, Kyle Mcgaughy

Theses and Dissertations

Light naphtha is a crucial chemical feedstock that is used to make value-added products from plastic to fuels. Whether it is derived from fossil fuels or renewable resources, naphtha typically contains small fraction of aromatic contaminants such as benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). Polar solvents such as sulfolane, ethylene glycol, and glycerol are industrially used to separate BTX from naphtha. Each of these solvents has some processing difficulties though, whether it be sulfolane degrading and corroding equipment or ethylene glycol and glycerol not being particularly selective for BTX over light naphtha. Some of the traditional solvents used for naphtha purification …