Engineering Commons^™

The Rheology, Degradation, Processing, And Characterization Of Renewable Resource Polymers, Jason Conrad

All Dissertations

Renewable resource polymers have become an increasingly popular alternative to conventional fossil fuel based polymers over the past couple decades. The push by the government as well as both industrial and consumer markets to go 'green' has provided the drive for companies to research and develop new materials that are more environmentally friendly and which are derived from renewable materials. Two polymers that are currently being produced commercially are poly-lactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers, both of which can be derived from renewable feedstocks and have shown to exhibit similar properties to conventional materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, …

Simulation, Synthesis, And Characterization Of Hydrogels And Nanocomposite Gels., Kamleshkumar J. Suthar

Dissertations

Stimuli-responsive gels are three-dimensional, cross-linked polymeric materials that undergo large physical change in response to the environmental stimuli, like temperature, pH, electrical potential, and irradiation. Ferrogels are colloidaldispersion of magnetic nanoparticles in the hydrogel network. The magnetic nanoparticles are attached to the polymeric network by different adhesive forces; as a result, it becomes sensitive to the applied magnetic field.

The main objective of this research is the simulation, synthesis, and characterization of the hydrogel and ferrogel. Simulation of the hydrogel response was performed for various environmental stimuli using a multiphysics finite element analysis software, COMSOL. The pH and electrical response …

Studies Of Coal Nitrogen Release Chemistry For Oxyfuel Combustion And Chemical Additives, John M. Sowa

Theses and Dissertations

Pollution is one of the greatest concerns with pulverized coal combustion. With tightening standards on pollution emissions, more information is needed to create better design models. Burner modifications are the most efficient changes that can be made to assure sufficient carbon burnout and low NOx emissions. Experiments were performed in the BYU Flat Flame Burner (FFB) lab, operating under fuel rich conditions for pyrolysis experiments and fuel lean conditions for char oxidation experiments. Effects of temperature, coal rank, residence time, and post flame oxygen content on mass release, nitrogen release, and reactivity were examined. Elemental and Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) …

Indirect Electrosynthesis Of Double Aldehyde Starch Using Pb-(Bro3-/Br-) As Electro-Catalytic Mediator, Ni-Na Chen, Ri-Yao Chen, Xi Zheng, Xiao Chen, Zhen Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper,Nafion membrane was used as the separator in the electrolysis cell to indirectly electro-generating the double aldehyde starch(DAS) with BrO₃^-/Br^-as a redox mediator and Pb as an anode.Effects of temperature,concentration of sulfuric acid and starch on the electro-oxidation of DAS were discussed.The steady state polarization curves were obtained.The experiment results showed that the current efficiency was over 50% when the electrolysis current density was 15mA/ cm².

Progresses In Electrocatalysis Of Nanomaterials—Tuning The Surface Structure And Property Of Electrocatalysts, Yan-Xia Jiang, Na Tian, Zhi-You Zhou, Sheng-Pei Chen, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

The property of an electrocatalyst depends strongly on its surface structure.The study of surface structure-catalytic functionality is the base of design and preparation of electrocatalysts of high activity,high stability and high selectivity at microstructure level.In this paper,based mainly on our results concering hydrogen and oxygen adsorption-desorption,ethylene glycol oxidation and CO₂ reduction,the research progresses in tuning the surface structure and property of electrocatalysts are summarized.This paper overviews firstly the cyclic voltammetric characteristics,electrocatalytic properties of platinum single crystal planes lying on different crystallographic zones of the unit stereographic triangle of face-centered cubic(fcc) metals.Next,the innovation of electrochemical methods to control the surface …

Electrooxidation Of Formic Acid On Pd-Ni Alloy Film Electrode-The Effect Of Dealloying, Chao Wang, Fei-Fei Shi, Jin-Yi Wang, Han-Xuan Zhang, Wen-Bin Cai

Journal of Electrochemistry

A Pd-Ni alloy film was electrodeposited on Au disc electrode at a constant potential from a weakly basic bath containing PdCl₂,NiSO₄ and ethylenediamine.The as-deposited film was then subjected to potential cycling in a perchloric acid solution for surface dealloying treatment.The dealloyed Pd-Ni film electrode was examined for the electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid,and compared with the as-deposited one as well as a Pd film electrode.The FE-SEM and electrochemical measurements on the Pd-Ni films revealed that the dealloying treatment caused a surface roughening and an increase in specific surface reaction area.The ICP-AES and XPS analyses demonstrated that the …

Electrocatalysis In Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells, Li Li, Si-Guo Chen, Xue-Qiang Qi, Yao-Qiong Wang, Meng-Bo Ji, Lan-Lan Li, Zi-Dong Wei

Journal of Electrochemistry

This review presents the study of Chongqing University in electrocatalysis for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs).Based on the understanding to the performance degradation of PEMFCs' catalysts,the university has being concentrated on how to increase the activity,stability and utility of noble metal catalysts.It covers the molecular design of near-surface alloy catalysts for improvement of activity to oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) and resistance to foreign poison species,selective deposition of Pt on the so-called "three-phase interface" for a high Pt utility,and invention of anti-flooding electrode against water flooding in the catalyst layer of the membrane assemble electrode(MEA),and so on.The catalytic mechanism of electrode reactions …

Highly Durable Pt/Ruo2/C Catalyst For The Cathode Of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, Chun-Yu Du, Tao Dong, Ge-Ping Yin, Peng-Fei Shi

Journal of Electrochemistry

Instability of the carbon-supported Pt(Pt/C) catalyst at the cathode is one of the key technical challenges for the development of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells(DMFCs).In this paper,an efficient approach to enhancing the stability of the cathode catalyst was explored by designing and synthesizing a novel nanocomposite support,RuO₂ coated carbon black(RuO₂/C).Firstly,a wet chemical method was employed to synthesize the RuO₂/C nanocomposite,from which Pt/RuO₂/C catalyst was further prepared by a microwave method.The morphology and crystalline structure of the RuO₂/C support and Pt/RuO₂/C catalyst were then characterized by TEM and XRD.Finally,the electrochemical performance …

Synthesis And Electrocatalytic Properties Of Ni-Pd/C Catalysts With Pd-Enriched Surface, Yu-Mei Chen, Zhi-Xiu Liang, Sheng-Li Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Ni-Pd alloy catalysts with Pd-enriched surface were synthesized through a modified polyol process.The synthesized materials were investigated by XRD and electrochemical methods,and tested as electrocatalysts for CH₃OH-tolerant oxygen reduction.The results indicated that the synthesized Ni-Pd nanoparticles possess multiple phases containing Pd-Ni alloy and pure Ni.Comparing with Pd/C,the prepared Ni-Pd/C nanoparticles exhibited better resolved voltammetric peaks between the hydrogen absorption and adsorption,and positively shifted current peaks for the reduction of Pd oxide.The prepared Ni-Pd alloys with Pd-enriched surface have significantly enhanced ORR activity and improved CH₃OH tolerance as comparing with Pd/C catalysts.

Complex Reduction Preparation Of Carbon Supported Pd Nanoparticle Catalyst And Its Electrocatalysis For Formic Acid Oxidation, Wei He, Yong-Yin Kang, Chong Du, Zhi-Qing Zou, Xiao-Gang Zhang, Hui Yang

Journal of Electrochemistry

A simple procedure involved the complexing of PdCl₂ with sodium citrate followed by ethylene glycol reduction has been employed for the preparation of carbon-supported Pd nanoparticles(Pd/C).The XRD and TEM characterizations indicate that Pd nanoparticles with a small particle size were well-dispersed on carbon support.The mean particle sizes of the Pd/C catalysts were found to be increased from 2.7 to 5.8 nm with heat-treatments at different temperature.The mass activity of the Pd/C catalyst for formic acid electrooxidation increased with the decrease in Pd particle size.However,the specific activity increased with Pd particle size.Furthermore,the Pd/C catalyst with a particle size of ca.3.6 …

Electrocatalytic Performance Of Carbon Supported Ir Catalysts With Different Ir Loadings For Ammonia Oxidation, Yu-Zhi Jiang, Qing-Mei Kong, Tian-Hong Lu, Yi-Ming Zhou, Ya-Wen Tang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrocatalytic performance of the Ir/C catalyst as the anodic catalyst in the amperometric and electrochemical NH₃ sensor was investigated.The experimental results illustrated that in the NaClO₄ neutral electrolyte,the electrocatalytic performance of the Ir/C catalyst for the NH₃ oxidation is related to the Ir loading in the Ir/C catalyst.Among the Ir/C catalysts with different Ir loading,the best electrocatalytic activity,stability and sensitivity were achieved by the Ir/C catalyst with 10% Ir loadings.In addition,the current densities of the NH₃ oxidation at the Ir/C catalysts with the different Ir loadings were linearly proportional to the NH₃ concentration.The Ir/C …

Cyclic Voltammetric And In-Situ Ftir Spectroscopic Studies Of Adsorption And Reduction Of No On Electrode Of Pt Nanoparticles, Qian Cheng, Yan-Xia Jiang, Dong-Mei Zeng, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

Adsorption and reduction of NO on electrode of Pt nanoparticles in acid solutions were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry(CV) and in-situ FTIR spectroscopy.The results indicated that the reduction of NO is a complicated process including the adsorption of NO on electrode surface.Two types of surface-bonded NO were determined on Pt nanoparticles.The weakly adsorbed NO was reduced between 0.6 V and-0.05 V,which yielded nitrous oxide(N₂O) and ammonium(NH₄⁺) as products;while the strongly bonded NO was reduced at more negative potentials between-0.05V and-0.15V,producing only NH₄⁺ species.

Research Progress Of Synergistic Effect Of Metal Oxides On Pt-Based Catalysts, Hui-Ping Yuan, Xun Guo, Xin-Ping Qiu, Wen-Tao Zhu, Li-Quan Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper,the work of Pt-based catalysts modified by metal oxides as the anode catalysts of direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC) is reviewed.The relationship between the structure and the composition of the catalysts and the reaction mechanism,exiting problems and developing direction are discussed.

Platinum Modified With Hydrogen Molybdenum/Tungsten Bronze As Electrocatalysts For Direct Small Organic Molecule Fuel Cell, Wei-Shan Li, Li-Peng Tian, Jun-Hua Du, Hong-Liang Huang, Wei Li, Li-Xia Zhang, Hong-Yan Yang, Pan-Pan Guo, Zhi-Hui Zhou, Xing-De Xiang, Zhao Fu

Journal of Electrochemistry

There are several problems that limit the application of direct small organic fuel cell,including the use of precious platinum and the activity loss of platinum due to the intermediates poisons from the oxidation of small organic molecules.These problems have attracted wide interest and many solutions have been proposed.We have developed a new method to reduce the platinum usage and improve its activity,based on the modification of platinum with hydrogen molybdenum/tungsten bronze(HxMo(W)O₃) was reviewed.

Preparation Of Pt Nanoflower/Zno Composites Arrays And Their Electrocatalysis For Methanol Oxidation, Li Gao, Yi-Feng E, Lou-Zhen Fan

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Pt nanoflower/ZnO(PtNF/ZnO) nanorod composites arrays were electrochemically prepared by controlling the hydrophobicity and the hydrophilicity of ZnO nanorods arrays.The Pt nanoflowers grew on the tip of ZnO nanorods,which maintain the vertical array of Zno nanorods with a high degree of size uniformity and high surface area.Compared with Pt nanoparticle covered ZnO nanorod arrays,which were prepared by controlling the hydrophilicities of ZnO nanorods and Pt nanoparticles,the PtNF/ZnO displayed highest electrocatalytic activities for the oxidation of methanol.

Synthesis Of α-Mno2 Microspheres For The Application In Supercapacitor, Liang Wang, Gui-Chang Liu, Zhi-Cong Shi

Journal of Electrochemistry

The MnO₂ microspheres were prepared through the oxidation of KMnO₄ and MnCO₃ microspheres precursor.The microstructure and supercapacitor properties of MnO₂ were characterized by XRD,SEM and CV.The results show that MnO₂ was in a poorly crystalline state with α-crystallographic form,the size of microspheres typically ranged from 0.5 to 2 μm.Loading 5 mg·cm^-2 MnO₂ microspheres had excellent capacitance behaviors in 2 mol·L^-1(NH₄)₂SO₄ solution.The specific capacitance was 135.6 F·g^-1 with the scan rate at 2 mV·s^-1,and 118.8 F·g^-1 with the large scan rate at 100 …

Enhanced [Ru(Bpy)3]2+-Mediated Oxidation Of Guanine Prompted By Dhp, Bao-Lian Zhang, Wei Hong, Bao-Yi Lu, Hong Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The effects of dihexadecyl phosphate(DHP) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs) on the oxidation of guanine mediated by[Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ on the ITO electrode have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry.The results showed that [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ can mediate the oxidation.In the range from 0.01 to 0.15 mmol·L^-1,peak currents for guanine oxidation mediated by [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ increased with the rise of DHP concentrations.On the contrary,cationic surfactant HTAC has the ability to weaken the mediated oxidation of guanine.In addition,the oxidative mechanism of guanine mediated by [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ with the participation of DHP …

Electrocatalytic Activities Of Au-Mmni(3.2)Al(0.2)Mn(0.6)Co(1.00) For Borohydride Oxidation, Gui-Ling Wang, Jin-Cheng Liu, Ke-Ning Sun, Dian-Xue Cao

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this work,the electrocatalytic activities of MmNi_3.2Al_0.2Mn_0.6Co_1.0, NaOH treated MmNi_3.2Al_0.2Mn_0.6Co_1.0 and Au-MmNi_3.2Al_0.2Mn_0.6Co_1.0 obtained after NaOH treatment(Mm: misch metal) for NaBH₄ oxidation were reported. The electrodes were prepared by electrodeposition, their morphologies were analysized by SEM, their electrocatalytic properties were studied by the linear sweeping test. It was found that the oxidation current density of the Au-MmNi_3.2Al_0.2Mn_0.6Co_1.0 was 60 mA·cm^-2, it was 3.5 times higher than that at the …

Electrocatalysis Of Myoglobin-Chitosan-Au Colloid Film Modified Glass Carbon Electrode, Yu-Hua Qin, Jun Guo, Hui Xu, Li-Heng Zhou, Sheng-Tian Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The cyclic voltammgram of Mb/AAO/Au Colloid/GCE shows a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible peaks at about-0.20 V(vs.Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 mol/L NaAc-HAc buffer(pH = 5.4),being the characteristic peaks of the Mb heme Fe(Ⅲ) / Fe(Ⅱ)redox couples.The electron transfer between Mb and the electrode was greatly enhanced under present testing conditions.The effects of scan rate,pH and buffers concentration on the electrochemical behaviors of Mb were studied in detail.Position of the Soret absorbance band suggested that Mb in chitosan-colloidal gold hept its secondary structure similar to the native states.Oxygen was catalytically reduced by Mb in chitosan-colloidal gold films.

Improved Implementation Of Kirkwood-Buff Solution Theory In Periodic Molecular Simulations, Joseph W. Nichols, Stan G. Moore, Dean R. Wheeler

Faculty Publications

Kirkwood-Buff (KB) solution theory is a means to obtain certain thermodynamic derivatives from knowledge of molecular distributions. In actual practice the required integrals over radial distribution functions suffer inaccuracies due to finite-distance truncation effects and their use in closed systems. In this work we discuss how best to minimize these inaccuracies under traditional KB theory. In addition we implement a method for calculating KB quantities in molecular simulations with periodic boundary conditions and particularly within the canonical ensemble. The method is based on a finite-Fourier-series expansion of molecular concentration fluctuations and leads to more reliable results for a given computational …

Quantifying And Resolving Multiple Vector Transformants In S. Cerevisiae Plasmid Libraries, Thomas C. Scanlon, Elizabeth C. Gray, Karl E. Griswold

Dartmouth Scholarship

In addition to providing the molecular machinery for transcription and translation, recombinant microbial expression hosts maintain the critical genotype-phenotype link that is essential for high throughput screening and recovery of proteins encoded by plasmid libraries. It is known that Escherichia coli cells can be simultaneously transformed with multiple unique plasmids and thusly complicate recombinant library screening experiments. As a result of their potential to yield misleading results, bacterial multiple vector transformants have been thoroughly characterized in previous model studies. In contrast to bacterial systems, there is little quantitative information available regarding multiple vector transformants in yeast. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the …

Unraveling The Intricacies Of Spatial Organization Of The Erbb Receptors And Downstream Signaling Pathways, Michelle Costa

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Faced with the complexity of diseases such as cancer which has 1012 mutations, altering gene expression, and disrupting regulatory networks, there has been a paradigm shift in the biological sciences and what has emerged is a much more quantitative field of biology. Mathematical modeling can aid in biological discovery with the development of predictive models that provide future direction for experimentalist. In this work, I have contributed to the development of novel computational approaches which explore mechanisms of receptor aggregation and predict the effects of downstream signaling. The coupled spatial non-spatial simulation algorithm, CSNSA is a tool that I took …

Pegylation Of Niosomes, John A. Elliott

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The research presented in this dissertation describes the creation and characterization of a novel antibody-vesicle conjugate modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) that possesses enhanced binding to and uptake by inflammation-activated endothelial cells with improved storage stability and longer shelf-life and potential reduction in immunogenic potential compared to previous designs.

Targeted drug delivery provides an effective means of delivering therapeutic concentrations of a drug to the site or organ of action. The drug is delivered using a niosome, a vesicle with an aqueous core and a bilayer membrane composed of non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol. Antibodies that recognize specific cell antigens are …

Dilute Sulfuric Acid Pretreatment Of Switchgrass In Microwave Reactor For Biofuel Conversion: An Investigation Of Yields, Kinetics,, Oscar Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Lignocellulosic materials provide a raw material source for biofuel conversion and offer several advantages over fossil fuels- usage of a renewable resource, reduced greenhouse emissions, a decreased dependence on foreign oil, and stimulation of the agricultural sector. However, a primary technological challenge in converting lignocellulosic biomass into fuel is overcoming the recalcitrance of its matrix to enzymatic hydrolysis. To overcome these problems for chemical processing, naturally occurring cellulose biomass must be pretreated before it can be further processed using enzymatic hydrolysis or bioconversion. The goal of this work was to develop a model that predicts the glucose yield (pretreatment and …

Temperature-Induced Restructuring Of Self-Assembled Ptpd Nanoparticle Superlattices, Guoqiang Ren, Yangchuan Xing

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

PtPd nanoparticle superlattices were prepared at room temperature and investigated for their restructuring at elevated temperatures. the PtPd nanoparticles were spherical with a diameter of 3.5±0.3nm and were capped with surfactants of oleic acids and oleylamine. Images of the nanoparticle superlattices were taken using a transmission electron microscope. Analysis of the images with fast Fourier transform (FFT) revealed whether the superlattices were crystalline or amorphous. It was found that the critical temperature that induced a phase transition of PtPd superlattices from a crystalline state to an amorphous state fall in the range of 100-110 °C. Meanwhile, heat-induced restructuring transformed less-ordered …

Aligned Nanotubule Membranes, Bruce J. Hinds Iii

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

A method is provided for producing a permeable membrane, comprising the steps of aligning a plurality of hollow nanotubules to form a mat, coating the mat with a continuous polymer matrix to form a membrane. The membrane is etched (a) to open the plurality of hollow nanotubules and form pores and (b) to oxidize the carboxyl groups to carboxylate groups. At least one additional functional unit having at least one available amine group to bind the at least one additional functional unit to the nanotubule end carboxylate group may be provided. Membranes fabricated in accordance with the method of the …

Semi-Automatic Image Segmentation For Volumetric Visualization Of Pelvis Ct Scan-Images, Suprijanto Suprijanto, Farida I. Muchtadi, Irwan Setiawan

Makara Journal of Technology

Semi-Automatic Image Segmentation for Volumetric Visualization of Pelvis CT Scan-Images. The current development of computerized tomography (CT) has enable us to obtain cross sectional image using multi slicing techniques in an order of few seconds. The obtained images represent several tissue structures on cross section slice being imaged. One challenge to help diagnosis using CT images is extracting an anatomic structure of interest using a method of image segmentation and volumetric visualization with the assistance of computers. In case of volumetric visualization of pelvis bones extracted from multi-slice CT images, whole images which are containing part of pelvis bone structures …

Implementation Of Six Sigma Method To Maintain The Quality Of Construction Projects, Yusuf Latief, Retyaning Puji Utami

Makara Journal of Technology

Implementation of Six Sigma Method to Maintain The Quality of Construction Projects. Six sigma (6-sigma) is a method that widely developed in the world, especially in manufacturing industry to decrease failures in achieving good quality in construction projects. The objective of this research is to explore the existing condition of quality management and the aplication of 6-sigma method in maintaining quality of construction projects. Structured interviews to experienced experts and people who were recommended by their companies were conducted. Non-parametric analysis using frequencies distribution procedures were used for analysis. The result shows that existing condition in quality management of construction …

Mechanical Properties Of Ramie Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Lamina Composite For Socket Prosthesis, Tresna P. Soemardi, Widjajalaksmi Kusumaningsih, Agustinus Purna Irawan

Makara Journal of Technology

Mechanical properties of ramie fiber reinforced epoxy lamina composite for socket prosthesis. This paper presents an investigation into the application of natural fiber composite especially ramie fiber reinforced epoxy lamina composite for socket prosthesis. The research focuses on the tensile and shear strength from ramie fiber reinforced epoxy lamina composite which will be applied as alternative material for socket prosthesis. The research based on American Society for Testing Material (ASTM) standard D 3039/D 3039M for tensile strength and ASTM D 4255/D 4255M-83 for shear strength. The ramie fiber applied is a fiber continue 100 % Ne14'S with Epoxy Resin Bakelite …

Potency Of Thermoelectric Generator For Hybrid Vehicle, Nandy Putra, Raldi Artono Koestoer, Mohammad Adhitya, Ardian Roekettino, Bayu Trianto

Makara Journal of Technology

Potency of Thermoelectric Generator for Hybrid Vehicle. Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) has been known as electricity generation for many years. If the temperature difference occurred between two difference semi conductor materials, the current will flow in the material and produced difference voltage. This principle is known as Seebeck effect that is the opposite of Peltier effect Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC). This research was conducted to test the potential of electric source from twelve peltier modules. Then, these thermoelectric generators were applied in hybrid car by using waste heat from the combustion engine. The experiment has been conducted with variations of peltier module …