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Full-Text Articles in Chemical Engineering

Phosphate Removal By Spent Low Temperature Shift Catalyst Through Process Optimization And Mechanistic Study, Fatma A. Hashem Eng., Abeer M. Shoaib Prof., Walaa Omar Dr., Mai H. Roushdy Sep 2026

Phosphate Removal By Spent Low Temperature Shift Catalyst Through Process Optimization And Mechanistic Study, Fatma A. Hashem Eng., Abeer M. Shoaib Prof., Walaa Omar Dr., Mai H. Roushdy

Chemical Engineering

Natural water bodies become eutrophic due to phosphate pollution from industrial and agricultural sectors. This research addresses waste disposal and water pollution at the same time by recycling spent low-temperature shift catalyst (LTSSC) from the fertilizer industry as a sustainable phosphate adsorbent. High surface area (247±5 m2/g), mesoporous structure, and many metal oxide sites (CuO 49%, ZnO 32.2%, and Al2O₃ 13.9%) were shown by characterization using XRF, XRD, BET, SEM–EDX, FTIR, particle size analysis, and zeta potential. Under optimum conditions (contact time 1.64 h, dose 5 g/L, initial concentration 9.58 mg/L, stirring 278 rpm), Response Surface Methodology optimization achieved 92.95±2.8% …


Synergistic Reinforcement Of Lignin–Chitosan Hydrogels Using Vanillin As A Sustainable Green Crosslinker, Moses Ayitey-Adjin Jr., Mohammad Jahid Hasan, Jeremy Erb, Kishore Chand, Garry S. Crosson, Kenya Crosson, Esteban Ureña-Benavides, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado Aug 2026

Synergistic Reinforcement Of Lignin–Chitosan Hydrogels Using Vanillin As A Sustainable Green Crosslinker, Moses Ayitey-Adjin Jr., Mohammad Jahid Hasan, Jeremy Erb, Kishore Chand, Garry S. Crosson, Kenya Crosson, Esteban Ureña-Benavides, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

While bio-based hydrogels derived from lignin and chitosan are promising sustainable adsorbents, their practical application is hindered by poor mechanical stability. This study addresses this limitation by synthesizing lignin-chitosan hydrogels using vanillin as a green, bio-derived crosslinker via a facile solution-casting method. The formation of imine (Schiff base) linkages between the aldehyde groups of vanillin and the primary amines of chitosan was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy (C = N stretching at ~ 1602 cm− 1). SEM and TGA results demonstrated a reduction in the pore size of the crosslinked hydrogel and an enhanced residual thermal mass. Rheological and …


Neural Network Technologies In The Automatical Control Systems Of Absorption Process For Pureficating Natural Gas, Abdishukurov Maqsudovich Shavkat Mr, Xuecheng Li Li Xuecheng Mr Jul 2026

Neural Network Technologies In The Automatical Control Systems Of Absorption Process For Pureficating Natural Gas, Abdishukurov Maqsudovich Shavkat Mr, Xuecheng Li Li Xuecheng Mr

Technical science and innovation

Analysis of methods and algorithms for synthesizing adaptive control systems for technological processes based on the neural network approach is carried out in this search. The stages of mathematical modeling of complex technological processes using neural network technology were considered. Additionally, an algorithm for solving the interpolation and extrapolation problem that arises in the training process a neural network to control system was proposed. At the final stage of this article, algorithms based on neural network technology are synthesized for the control system for the parameters of the technological process of natural gas purification by absorption


Magnetic Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites: Synthesis, Properties, Applications, And Opportunities, Mohammad Jahid Hasan, Kishore Chand, Esteban E. Ureña-Benavides, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado Jun 2026

Magnetic Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites: Synthesis, Properties, Applications, And Opportunities, Mohammad Jahid Hasan, Kishore Chand, Esteban E. Ureña-Benavides, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

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Magnetic Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites: Synthesis, Properties, Applications, and Opportunities

by Mohammad Jahid Hasan 1,†, Kishore Chand 2,†, Esteban E. Ureña-Benavides 1 and Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado 2,3,*     1 Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA 2 Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Dayton, 300 College Park Ave., Dayton, OH 45469, USA 3 Hanley Sustainability Institute, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469, USA * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. † These authors contributed equally to this …


Integrasi Metodologi Hazop Dalam Pengendalian Risiko Dan Keberlanjutan Operasional Pada Unit Pemulihan Urea: Studi Kasus Pada Industri Pupuk, Riny Yolandha Parapat, Arin Nur'aini Putri, Aryasatya Ramadhan Sukresno Jun 2026

Integrasi Metodologi Hazop Dalam Pengendalian Risiko Dan Keberlanjutan Operasional Pada Unit Pemulihan Urea: Studi Kasus Pada Industri Pupuk, Riny Yolandha Parapat, Arin Nur'aini Putri, Aryasatya Ramadhan Sukresno

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

The fertilizer industry is one of the chemical sectors with high-risk potential due to its operational processes involving hazardous materials as well as extreme pressure and temperature conditions. This study aims to identify and analyze hazards in the urea recovery unit using the Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) method, while also formulating effective risk control strategies to support the operational sustainability of the plant. The study was conducted directly at a commercial fertilizer plant in West Java using a semi-quantitative approach, which included field observations, review of technical documents such as Process Flow Diagrams (PFD), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID), …


Polymer-Derived Silicon Oxycarbide (Sioc) And Silicon Carbonitride (Sicn) Ceramics For Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications, Saja Al Ajrash, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado May 2026

Polymer-Derived Silicon Oxycarbide (Sioc) And Silicon Carbonitride (Sicn) Ceramics For Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications, Saja Al Ajrash, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Preceramic polymers, especially silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) and silicon carbonitride (SiCN) ceramics, have gained significant attention due to their wide range of applications in many fields, particularly in energy storage devices beyond conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This review focuses on the synthesis, structural characteristics, and properties of SiOC and SiCN ceramics as electrodes for battery applications. Furthermore, their promising applications as electrode materials for energy storage systems are explored, along with the most recent advances in the development of such materials and their use in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), and supercapacitors. This review …


High-Surface-Area Ficus Leaf-Extracted Cuo-Zno-Nio Ternary Nanocomposites For Rapid Adsorption-Assisted Uv-A Degradation Of Direct Blue 15, Kafa’A H. Ali, Mohammed A. Atiya, Ahmed K. Hassan May 2026

High-Surface-Area Ficus Leaf-Extracted Cuo-Zno-Nio Ternary Nanocomposites For Rapid Adsorption-Assisted Uv-A Degradation Of Direct Blue 15, Kafa’A H. Ali, Mohammed A. Atiya, Ahmed K. Hassan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Direct Blue 15 (DB15) is a long-lasting synthetic dye that pollutes water and is difficult to remove during wastewater treatment. Conventional treatments fail to remove DB15 adequately due to rapid electron-hole recombination, which necessitates photocatalysts with reduced recombination rates for effective dye removal. The study aims to synthesize and evaluate a CuO-ZnO-NiO ternary system as an integrated adsorption and UV-A photocatalysis platform for DB15 removal. Ficus leaf-extracted CuO-ZnO-NiO nanocomposites with four Cu:Zn:Ni ratios (1:1:1, 1:1:2, 1:2:1, 2:1:1) were prepared by co-precipitation, followed by extensive chemical and physical characterization and dye-removal performance measurements. The CuO-ZnO-NiO nanocomposite exhibited hexagonal zinc oxide, cubic …


Valorization Of Ductile Cast Iron Solid Waste As A High-Performance Adsorbent For Crystal Violet Removal: Characterization, Optimization, And Mechanistic Insights, Ibrahim Ibrahim Mr., Abdel Mohsen Turky Dr., Nasser Mostafa Prof., Mai H. Roushdy May 2026

Valorization Of Ductile Cast Iron Solid Waste As A High-Performance Adsorbent For Crystal Violet Removal: Characterization, Optimization, And Mechanistic Insights, Ibrahim Ibrahim Mr., Abdel Mohsen Turky Dr., Nasser Mostafa Prof., Mai H. Roushdy

Chemical Engineering

Industrial textile wastewater containing synthetic dyes cause serious environmental and health risk, whereas ductile cast iron (DCI) foundries generate over 500 000 tons of waste annually. This study utilizes DCI solid waste as an adsorbent to remove the crystal violet (CV) dye from wastewater. Techniques (XRF, XRD, BET, SEM-EDX, FTIR, TGA-DTG, zeta potential) proved that the waste contains 88.0 wt% periclase (MgO) with nanoscale, high surface area, and abundant surface hydroxyl groups. Response surface methodology showed that the most significant parameters were the adsorbent dose and time contact. The optimal conditions give 93.7% removal efficiency at initial concentration: 38.7 mg …


Optimization And Dynamic Control Of Acetone Production From Isopropyl Alcohol, Thomas W. Wasson May 2026

Optimization And Dynamic Control Of Acetone Production From Isopropyl Alcohol, Thomas W. Wasson

Honors Theses

This paper investigates the optimization and dynamic control of acetone production via catalytic dehydrogenation of isopropyl alcohol. Optimization was conducted using steady-state Aspen Plus modeling with product specifications of 30,000 metric tons per year of 99.9% pure acetone by weight. Dynamic modeling of the feed preparation and reaction portions of the process was conducted in Aspen Plus Dynamic. Through optimization efforts the primary economic factor, net present value (NPV), was increased from $(126.6) million to $(83.2) million, representing a $43.4 million increase. This was primarily accomplished through a switch to low temperature catalyst, optimization of reactor dimensions, pressurization of key …


Shooting For The Stars: Stem Outreach Strategies Between 2nd And 7th Grade, Paige Miller May 2026

Shooting For The Stars: Stem Outreach Strategies Between 2nd And 7th Grade, Paige Miller

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Engineering and planetary science outreach programs are increasingly important as industries and research organizations face growing demand for STEM professionals. Despite the importance of these fields, many students receive little exposure to engineering careers during their early educational experiences. This honors thesis examines the effectiveness of interactive STEM outreach presentations designed for elementary and middle school students. Specifically, this study evaluates outreach activities centered on chemical engineering applications and the NASA M2M CO₂ regeneration project for Martian environments.

Two student age groups participated in this study: 2nd grade students at Butterfield Elementary School and 7th grade students at Woodland Junior …


Performance Of Zirconia-Based Catalysts For Cold Plasma-Assisted Dry Methane Reforming, Levi Pile May 2026

Performance Of Zirconia-Based Catalysts For Cold Plasma-Assisted Dry Methane Reforming, Levi Pile

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates the performance of zirconia-based catalysts in non-thermal plasma (NTP)–assisted dry methane reforming (DMR) for synthesis gas (syngas) production. This work explores an alternative pathway for converting carbon dioxide and methane into valuable products under milder conditions than conventional thermal processes. Experiments were conducted in a radiofrequency plasma reactor to evaluate the effects of plasma power, feed flow rate, and reactant ratios on conversion efficiency. The performance of plasma-only conditions was compared with packed-bed systems using zirconia catalysts. Results show that plasma-only systems achieved modest conversion rates (~16.5% for CH4 and ~12.0% for CO2), while …


Demonstration Of The Relationship Between Irwin Spire Quantity And Boundary Layer Depth In The Chemical Hazards Research Center Wind Tunnel, Jace D. Beckwith May 2026

Demonstration Of The Relationship Between Irwin Spire Quantity And Boundary Layer Depth In The Chemical Hazards Research Center Wind Tunnel, Jace D. Beckwith

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Atmospheric Dispersion Models (ADMs) are computer-based simulations used to model gas releases for enforcing regulatory compliance, designing facilities, and responding to emergencies. Because ADMs rely on complex mathematical models, they require experimental validation to ensure accuracy. Wind tunnels offer a controlled, repeatable method for gathering validation data. The Chemical Hazards Research Center (CHRC) at the University of Arkansas operates an ultra-low speed wind tunnel for this purpose. A key feature of this tunnel is its simulated Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL). The simulated ABL is a turbulent layer in which wind speed increases logarithmically with height from near zero at the …


Design Of Aluminum-Air Battery Systems And Optimization Of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide And 8-Hydroxyquinoline Additives In Alkaline Electrolytes, Steve Chen May 2026

Design Of Aluminum-Air Battery Systems And Optimization Of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide And 8-Hydroxyquinoline Additives In Alkaline Electrolytes, Steve Chen

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The first portion of this thesis focuses on the design and component optimization of aluminum-air batteries to power a car for the Chem-E-Car competition. A range of separators, cathodes, and current collectors was evaluated to determine the optimal configuration for maximizing output. The resulting system consisted of 1000 series aluminum as the anode, cellulose separators saturated in 1 M potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte, and composite PVDF and graphite as the cathode. The improved batteries achieved a power density of 2.14 x 10-4 W/cm2 and were utilized for the Chem-E-Car competition. The second portion of the thesis investigates …


Optimization Of Renewable Energy-Based Alkaline Electrolysis Systems For Sustainable Hydrogen Production, Shokhrukhbek Kozimjon Ugli Bakhramov Apr 2026

Optimization Of Renewable Energy-Based Alkaline Electrolysis Systems For Sustainable Hydrogen Production, Shokhrukhbek Kozimjon Ugli Bakhramov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper presents a comprehensive optimization study of hydrogen production systems through alkaline water electrolysis powered by photovoltaic energy sources, with a specific focus on Central Asian applications. The research systematically investigates critical operating parameters including KOH electrolyte concentration (25-30 wt%), temperature effects (25-80°C), current density optimization (100-500 mA/cm²), and electrode material performance using cost-effective 316L stainless steel. Experimental results demonstrate that optimized systems achieve solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 13-15%, with hydrogen production costs ranging from $2-8/kg depending on system scale. The study reveals that maximum performance occurs at 30 wt% KOH concentration, 60-80°C operating temperature, and 200-400 mA/cm² current density. …


A Comparative Study Of Tin Electrorefining In Molten Licl–Kcl–Cacl₂: Experimental Two-Electrode Current Control And Theoretical Three-Electrode Potential Control, Bryant Johnson, George Ankrah, Ander Fuller, Devin Rappleye Apr 2026

A Comparative Study Of Tin Electrorefining In Molten Licl–Kcl–Cacl₂: Experimental Two-Electrode Current Control And Theoretical Three-Electrode Potential Control, Bryant Johnson, George Ankrah, Ander Fuller, Devin Rappleye

Reviews, Analyses, and Instructional Studies in Electrochemistry (RAISE)

Molten salt electrorefining is a mature technology for metal recovery, yet conventional current‑controlled, two‑electrode operation provides limited electrochemical selectivity and restricted insight into electrode‑specific behavior. In this work, a simplified model is developed to compare current‑controlled two‑electrode electrorefining data with a potential‑controlled three‑electrode electrorefining simulation using tin in molten LiCl–KCl–CaCl₂ as a surrogate for plutonium processing. The model examines anodic and cathodic limitations under fixed‑potential operation and evaluates implications for selectivity, efficiency, and runtime relative to experimentally demonstrated two‑electrode performance. Results indicate that independent potential control enables operation closer to thermodynamic selectivity limits, with the potential to suppress impurity oxidation …


Modified Anodic Stripping Voltammetry For In Situ Analysis Of Liquid Metal Composition In Molten Salt Electrorefining Systems, James H. Manner Apr 2026

Modified Anodic Stripping Voltammetry For In Situ Analysis Of Liquid Metal Composition In Molten Salt Electrorefining Systems, James H. Manner

Reviews, Analyses, and Instructional Studies in Electrochemistry (RAISE)

The development of in-situ analytical techniques for high-temperature molten salt systems is critical for advancing electrorefining in nuclear fuel recycling and metallurgical purification. This study proposes Modified Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (MASV), using a “dip-and-strip” approach where a tungsten electrode captures molten Sn–Ni alloy before stripping in LiCl–KCl–CaCl₂ at 415 °C. OCP results showed rapid loss of the metal layer due to poor wetting, and stripping peaks gave compositions inconsistent with the alloy, likely reflecting Sn/Sn²⁺ and Sn²⁺/Sn⁴⁺ redox processes. These results highlight interfacial limitations and the need for improved electrode materials and surface modification.


Self-Assembly Interactions In Magnetite-Coated Cellulose Nanocrystals: Implications For Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications, Mohammad J. Hasan, Erin L. Mcneill, Kishore Chand, Juganta Roy, Monishita Deb, Katherine Schlaak, Sydney Herzog, Yvonne Sun, Sarah Watzman, Esteban E. Ureña-Benavides, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado Apr 2026

Self-Assembly Interactions In Magnetite-Coated Cellulose Nanocrystals: Implications For Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications, Mohammad J. Hasan, Erin L. Mcneill, Kishore Chand, Juganta Roy, Monishita Deb, Katherine Schlaak, Sydney Herzog, Yvonne Sun, Sarah Watzman, Esteban E. Ureña-Benavides, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Magnetic cellulose nanocrystal (MCNC) nanocomposites are promising sustainable and biocompatible platforms for magnetic hyperthermia; however, the molecular mechanisms governing Fe3O4 adsorption and deposition onto CNCs remain poorly understood. Here, sulfated (S-CNC) and TEMPO-oxidized CNCs (T-CNC) were used to prepare nanocomposites at 1:2 and 1:4 CNC:Fe3O4 mass ratios, enabling a systematic evaluation of how surface chemistry and nanoparticle loading dictate interfacial interactions and magneto-colloidal behavior. Bare magnetite nanoparticles were 21 ± 5 nm by TEM but grew to 144 ± 18 in the DLS measurement at pH 7. The S-CNC nanocomposites had hydrodynamic sizes between 144 and 210 nm, not much …


Deep Learning Approaches For Voltammetric Analysis Of Coffee, Ryan Koes Jan 2026

Deep Learning Approaches For Voltammetric Analysis Of Coffee, Ryan Koes

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates deep learning approaches for voltammetric analysis of brewed coffee using a low-cost electrochemical system and screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). Traditional analytical methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), provide precise quantification of key compounds but require expensive instrumentation and specialized expertise, limiting accessibility. While SPEs offer a more accessible alternative, they yielded poor results with traditional processing; however, when combined with a neural network, the system proved more effective. In experiments with 132 coffee samples, mean errors for caffeine, CGA, and TDS predictions were 52.98 ppm, 70.48 ppm, and 0.08%, respectively. These findings …


Microscopic Insights On Shear Rheology Of Polyampholyte Ionomers Via Molecular Simulations, Kyle Vonscio Jan 2026

Microscopic Insights On Shear Rheology Of Polyampholyte Ionomers Via Molecular Simulations, Kyle Vonscio

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Ionomers are polymers that contain a small fraction of charged groups. The ionic attraction of charged groups allows ionomers to act similarly to crosslinked polymers. Depending on the strength of electrostatic interactions and structure of the ionomers, different dynamics and rheological responses can be observed. With moderate attraction between ions, these noncovalent crosslinks can be broken when heated, allowing ionomers to flow and show the strength of a crosslinked network at low temperatures. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations will be performed under shear in the xy-plane and the macroscopic rheology and conformation of the polyampholyte ionomer will be determined. The …


Determining Critical Micelle Concentrations Of Standard Surfactants And Rhamnolipids, Kathryn E. Kunz Jan 2026

Determining Critical Micelle Concentrations Of Standard Surfactants And Rhamnolipids, Kathryn E. Kunz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My proposed project will study the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of rhamnolipids using the pendant-drop and drop-weight methods. First, the critical micelle concentrations of ionic and nonionic common surfactants will be tested. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) will be used as an ionic surfactant and Tween 20 will be used as a nonionic surfactant. The critical micelle concentrations will be determined using the pendant-drop and drop-weight methods. The experimental results from the standard surfactants compared to their accepted values will be tested to assist with determining a more suitable approach. Completing the tests will provide a better understanding of critical micelle …


Effects Of Hofmeister Ions On Lower Critical Solution Temperatures Of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) And Poly(Vinyl Methyl Ether), Joseph Joaquin Jan 2026

Effects Of Hofmeister Ions On Lower Critical Solution Temperatures Of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) And Poly(Vinyl Methyl Ether), Joseph Joaquin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this study is to compare how four different Hofmeister anions (Cl-, SCN-, F-, and I-) affect the Lower Critical Solution temperature (LCST) on two thermo-responsive polymers: poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAM) and poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME). pNIPAAm is commonly used in the environmental applications such as monitoring, oil-water separations, or antifouling materials, and in medical industry from drug delivery to tissue engineering. When pNIPAAM or PVME reaches a temperature above their LCST, they become hydrophobic, and the polymer chains coiled, leading to their aqueous solutions turn opaque. PVME exhibits a similar LCST as that of pNIPAAM, so it can be …


Analysis Of Sessile Drop And Captive Bubble Contact Angle Measurements On Metallic And Hydrophobic Surfaces, Jack H. Darnell Jan 2026

Analysis Of Sessile Drop And Captive Bubble Contact Angle Measurements On Metallic And Hydrophobic Surfaces, Jack H. Darnell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Contact angle measurements are widely used to characterize surface wettability and determine changes in surface energy, yet the choice of measurement technique can significantly influence the results. This study compares the sessile drop and captive bubble methods for measuring contact angles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions on carbon steel, stainless steel, and a hydrophobic wafer. Additionally, the time‑dependent wetting behavior of water, SDS, polysorbate 20 (commercial name Tween 20), and rhamnolipids on a hydrophobic wafer was evaluated over a five‑minute period. Results show that the sessile drop method consistently produced higher contact angles than the captive bubble method on …


Effects Of Coupling Agents On An Epoxy Coating And Consequent Corrosion Resistance Of Carbon Steel, Breck A. Mooney Jan 2026

Effects Of Coupling Agents On An Epoxy Coating And Consequent Corrosion Resistance Of Carbon Steel, Breck A. Mooney

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will include the determination of how coupling agents affect corrosion resistance on select carbon steel when combined with a polymer coating. This research will explore 2 different silane coupling agents: 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and 3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS). 1 polymer coating, Bispenol A diglicidyl ether (BADGE), will be explored as well. These coatings will be applied to select carbon steels in various ratios to determine their effects on corrosion.


Computer-Aided Molecular Design To Identify More Environmentally Friendly Pfas, Melvin M. Keita Jan 2026

Computer-Aided Molecular Design To Identify More Environmentally Friendly Pfas, Melvin M. Keita

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this project is to inversely design alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using Computer-Aided Molecular Design (CAMD). PFAS, also described as “forever chemicals”, have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS can be found in drinking water, food, food packaging, waste sites, and other sources. Exposure to different PFAS can lead to increased risks of some cancers, immune effects, and reproductive effects. Pulling from existing data, this project will use quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) to design PFAS alternatives that possess optimal properties to prevent adsorption into drinking water and other potential sources …


Aqueous Iron Electrowinning: From Electrolyte Engineering To The Unexplored Potential Of Acetate Systems, Chodwell N. Verenga Jan 2026

Aqueous Iron Electrowinning: From Electrolyte Engineering To The Unexplored Potential Of Acetate Systems, Chodwell N. Verenga

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Iron electrowinning and electrodeposition sit at the intersection of classical metallurgy and developing sustainable manufacturing. With the iron and steel industry responsible for 7 - 9% of global CO₂ emissions, low-temperature electrochemical pathways for iron production have garnered significant research interest. This review examines the fundamental electrochemical principles governing iron deposition, the thermodynamic constraints imposed by the iron-water system, and the kinetic challenges posed by the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The three key electrolyte systems are objectively evaluated: acidic sulfate and chloride electrolytes, alkaline suspension electrolytes and water-in-salt electrolytes. Their operating parameters, faradaic efficiencies, energy consumption and deposit characteristics …


Mechanical Fractionation Of Wheat Middlings For Application In Pyrolysis And Animal Feed, Okwudili I. Obiakor Jan 2026

Mechanical Fractionation Of Wheat Middlings For Application In Pyrolysis And Animal Feed, Okwudili I. Obiakor

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Wheat middlings are grain byproducts that are underused for bioenergy production despite having a high lignocellulose content. Its use as a feedstock for catalytic pyrolysis depends on effective and sustainable fractionation to enhance efficiency and product yield. This study tested mechanical pre-fractionation (sieving and air classification) to reduce ash content of certain fractions to < 1% for catalytic pyrolysis and enrich nutrient levels of other fractions for feed applications. Wheat middlings were separated into 11 fractions using screen sizes from 106 µm to 1651 µm, and the composition of each fraction was characterized (ash, protein, structural carbohydrates, lignin, starch, and simple sugars). For cyclone separation, a full factorial design was used to study the effect of air velocity (15,18, 20 m/s) and feed rate (33, 35, 38 kg/h) on the amount of material collected in the underflow and overflow, and the composition of these fractions was characterized. Sieving showed a pronounced segregation of ash content, from 4.5% to 6.5% in wheat middlings fractions, with 5.7% being the lowest for coarse fractions which has higher lignocellulose content, and 4.5% in the fine fraction (150-212 µm). The same defined enrichment was observed in all nutrients except for protein. Starch enrichment zone were defined in the fine fractions (212 µm and below), for structural carbohydrates and lignin in the coarse fractions (600 µm and above), and for ash in coarse fractions (1180-1651 µm). In contrast, protein content was not significantly different between various fractions (p value=0.787). The fiber rich fraction (> 600 µm), suitable for pyrolysis, which have a composite ash value of 6.0% can be sorted and mixed with intermediate fractions to reduce ash to 5.3% and the remaining fractions rich in digestible nutrients used for animal feed formulation. Compared to sieving, cyclone separations did not …


Review And Analysis Of Methods And Techniques For Refining Vegetable Oils, Umidjon Ruziev, Marufjon K. Shodiev Dec 2025

Review And Analysis Of Methods And Techniques For Refining Vegetable Oils, Umidjon Ruziev, Marufjon K. Shodiev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article provides a comparative analysis of the main methods of vegetable oil refining: alkaline (chemical), physical, and combined. It examines the stages of the technological process and the applicability of each method for various types of oils (palm, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, rapeseed, etc.). Attention is paid to energy consumption at the stages of neutralization, washing, drying, and deodorization, as well as the impact of equipment performance on specific energy consumption. Approximate calculations of the distribution of thermal and electrical energy during the processing of 1 kg of oil are provided. It is noted that physical refining, despite the high …


Advancing Sustainable Co2 Mitigation: Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Thermal Carbon Chitosan Sorbent For Automotive Exhaust Capture, Dalia A. Ali Dr., Amir Ahmed Elgamal Eng., Rania Rushdy Moussa Dr. Dec 2025

Advancing Sustainable Co2 Mitigation: Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Thermal Carbon Chitosan Sorbent For Automotive Exhaust Capture, Dalia A. Ali Dr., Amir Ahmed Elgamal Eng., Rania Rushdy Moussa Dr.

Chemical Engineering

This study investigated the efficiency of thermal carbon chitosan (TCCS) sorbent for CO2 capture from vehicle exhaust emissions within a designed adsorption system. TCCS was synthesized and meticulously characterized using a series of analytical techniques, including Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Ther- mogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Differential Scanning Calo- rimetry (DSC). The TCCS adsorbent showed high thermal stability and a heating value (HHV) of 23.5 MJ/kg. Adsorption isotherm study demonstrated that the maximum capacity of CO2 adsorption is 0.084 kg.CO2/kg. TCCS, as well …


Experimental Measurement Demonstration Of Initial And Steady-State Heights Of A Co2 Vertical Jet Fountain In Still Air, Brock Mcrae Dec 2025

Experimental Measurement Demonstration Of Initial And Steady-State Heights Of A Co2 Vertical Jet Fountain In Still Air, Brock Mcrae

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Atmospheric releases of heavier-than-air gases pose acute near-field hazards in low wind, yet the near-source behavior of vertical dense-gas jets in still air is sparsely documented. This thesis demonstrates a repeatable laboratory method for measuring the initial and steady-state rise heights of a carbon dioxide (CO₂) jet issued vertically from a floor nozzle in the CHRC ultra-low-speed wind tunnel under still-air conditions. Controlled mixtures (pure CO₂, 50/50 CO₂-air, 25/75 CO₂-air) were released at four flow rates (75, 100, 125, 150 LPM) with five repeats per condition. A fixed camera and tape-measure scale enabled video extraction of jet height using Kinovea …


Predicting Simulation Times For Multiphase Thermal-Hydraulic Models, Andrew Yule, Andrew Taylor Nov 2025

Predicting Simulation Times For Multiphase Thermal-Hydraulic Models, Andrew Yule, Andrew Taylor

SMU Data Science Review

Addressing the challenge of computationally intensive OLGA

simulations in the oil and gas industry, a machine learning framework is

developed for accurate runtime prediction. A specialized feature extraction

pipeline identifies key parameters—such as simulation time, time step,

number of branches, and section count—from OLGA input files that serve as

high-impact predictors. Multiple predictive models, including regression,

tree-based ensembles, and neural networks, are implemented to validate

accuracy and robustness. Results reveal that prioritizing simulations based on

predicted runtimes optimizes licensing resources and reduces operational

costs, making real-time scheduling more efficient. This research demonstrates

the effectiveness of data-driven runtime prediction in enhancing …