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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Optimal Surfactant Selection For Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery In Low Temperature, Low Salinity, High Hardness Reservoirs, Christian D. White, Ryan A. Mulvenna, Rituraj Borgohain, Cliff Johnston, Bryan Boudouris Aug 2015

Optimal Surfactant Selection For Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery In Low Temperature, Low Salinity, High Hardness Reservoirs, Christian D. White, Ryan A. Mulvenna, Rituraj Borgohain, Cliff Johnston, Bryan Boudouris

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Based on the environmental properties of a crude oil reservoir, only 20-30 % of oil product can be recovered using primary and secondary extraction methods. The remaining stranded oil can only be recovered via various enhanced oil recovery methods. Chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) uses specialty chemicals to extract trapped oil in rock layers by generating in-situ microemulsion in the presence of reservoir brine and oil. In this case study, phase behavior tests are conducted for microemulsion formation between the surfactant solution and the oil. The phase behavior tests model reservoirs with low temperature and low salinity. In order to …


Mechanical Dispersion Of A Semi-Solid Binder In A Wet Granulation Process, Justin W. Perry, James D. Litster, Nathan J. Davis Aug 2015

Mechanical Dispersion Of A Semi-Solid Binder In A Wet Granulation Process, Justin W. Perry, James D. Litster, Nathan J. Davis

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

High viscosity surfactant pastes have recently gained popularity in the production of high efficiency laundry detergents due to their ability to increase surfactant loading in granules. When using high viscosity semi-solid binders a unique challenge is presented because it forces granules to be formed primarily by mechanical dispersion; a relatively poorly understood process. Developing mechanistic models of this process will enhance knowledge of mechanical dispersion processes and improve process development for granules produced using this method. Experiments to determine the effect of three process parameters; paste temperature, impeller RPM, and time were carried out in a lab-scale granulator. Binder temperature …


Dissolution Of Chalcogens In Amine Thiol Solvents For Use In Nanoparticles, Gaurav A. Mittal, Caleb K. Miskin, Rakesh Agrawal Aug 2015

Dissolution Of Chalcogens In Amine Thiol Solvents For Use In Nanoparticles, Gaurav A. Mittal, Caleb K. Miskin, Rakesh Agrawal

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Lead chalcogenide quantum dots have been shown to be ideal materials for solar cells due to their tunable band gap. Developing a dissolution procedure for chalcogens will help lower the production cost of the solar cells produced by the associated nanoparticles. Dissolution was performed in both aqueous and nonaqueous solutions. Precursors for sulfur and selnium were dissolved in both the aqueous solution of ammonium thioglycolate and ammonium hydroxide and in combinations of amines and thiols. Precursors for tellurium were dissolved in ethylenediamine and different thiols. Lead telluride forms larger microparticles that can be suitable for thermoelectric devices. The optimum solutions …


Processing Methods And Storage Conditions On Chocolate And Coffee Powder Flow Properties, Sunland L. Gong, Andrea Della Bella, Teresa M. Carvajal Aug 2015

Processing Methods And Storage Conditions On Chocolate And Coffee Powder Flow Properties, Sunland L. Gong, Andrea Della Bella, Teresa M. Carvajal

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Powders are widely used in a countless number of industries, and are crucial to the quality control of products in areas such as pharmaceuticals and food. Particle physicochemical properties (morphology, solid state – crystalline, amorphous or both) are important factors for powder flow, which in turn can have significant impact on the stability, performance, and presentation of powders. Different processing methods as well as storage conditions such as relative humidity (RH) can drastically affect powder flow. Due to the widespread use of chocolate and coffee powder around the world, and their importance to the food industry, this work investigates two …


Molecular Precursors In Aqueous Solution For Cigse Solar Cells, Bethany L. Mcilrath, Rakesh Agrawal, Mark J. Koeper Aug 2015

Molecular Precursors In Aqueous Solution For Cigse Solar Cells, Bethany L. Mcilrath, Rakesh Agrawal, Mark J. Koeper

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Thin film solar cells are one of the most promising alternatives to traditional silicon based solar cells. Copper, indium, gallium, and sufur/selenium (CIGS) act as the absorber layer in one type of thin films. CIGS films are preferable to silicon because they can have wider applications, such as flexible solar cells. The highest efficiency CIGS solar cells have been made using either expensive vacuum equipment or highly toxic chemicals. This study investigates non-toxic molecular precursor solutions deposited by spray coating. Stoichiometric amounts of CIGS are dissolved in ammonium thioglycolate and ammonium hydroxide to create the molecular precursor solution. This solution …


Carbon Dioxide Sequestration To Form Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles, Krista E. Stump, Michael T. Harris Aug 2015

Carbon Dioxide Sequestration To Form Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles, Krista E. Stump, Michael T. Harris

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The emission of carbon dioxide caused by burning fossil fuels is one of the leading sources of global warming. Reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere through carbon sequestration can mitigate this problem. One method of carbon sequestration is the use of a carbon dioxide scrubber. Once captured, CO2 can be used to create a valuable chemical commodity such as calcium carbonate nanoparticles. To create CaCO3 particles in the 50-100 nanometer range, a chemical additive is necessary to limit particle size. The study used a laboratory scale carbon dioxide scrubber to react CO2 with …