Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Physico-Chemical Characteristics Of Ethanol–Diesel Blend Fuel, Tarek M. Aboul-Fotouh, Eslam Alaa, M. A. Sadek, Hany A. Elazab

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this research we are discussing the physicochemical characteristics of sweet diesel after desulphurization alone and also these characteristics are tested with the adding of high purity HPLC ethanol (99.9%). Those fuel properties of ethanol blended with diesel were experimentally determined to find their stability and to increase their properties and efficiency in the diesel engines. First, we made 4 blends of diesel with ethanol and the fifth sample was pure diesel. The samples were 0% ethanol and 100 % diesel, the second sample was 5% ethanol and 95 % diesel, the third sample was 10 % ethanol and 90% …

Advanced Measurement Techniques For Enabling Multiphase Reactors And Flow Systems For Sustainable And Cleaner Processes, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Notes On The Economics Of Residential Hybrid Energy System, Mahelet G. Fikru, Gregory M. Gelles, Ana M. Ichim, Joseph D. Smith

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Despite advances in small-scale hybrid renewable energy technologies, there are limited economic frameworks that model the different decisions made by a residential hybrid system owner. We present a comprehensive review of studies that examine the techno-economic feasibility of small-scale hybrid energy systems, and we find that the most common approach is to compare the annualized life-time costs to the expected energy output and choose the system with the lowest cost per output. While practical, this type of benefit—cost analysis misses out on other production and consumption decisions that are simultaneously made when adopting a hybrid energy system. In this paper, …

Method Of Forming Microparticles For Use In Cell Seeding, Sutapa Barua, Chase Herman

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The present invention is directed to methods for forming microparticles useful for cell seeding and for conjugating protein to the surface of the microparticles. The method comprises co-injecting an organic solution of PLGA or other polymer with an aqueous solution into a flow focusing tube.

Novel Coupling Smart Water-Co₂ Flooding For Sandstone Reservoirs; Smart Seawater-Alternating-Co₂ Flooding (Smsw-Agf), Hasan N. Al-Saedi, Ralph E. Flori

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

CO₂ flooding is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective EOR technique that can be used to unlock residual oil from oil reservoirs. Smart water is any water that is engineered by manipulating the ionic composition, regardless of the resulting salinity of the water. One CO₂ flooding mechanism is wettability alteration, which meets with the main smart water flooding function. Injecting CO₂ alone raise an early breakthrough and gravity override problems, which have already been solved using water alternating gas (WAG) using regular water. WAG is an emerging enhanced oil recovery process designed to enhance sweep efficiency during gas …

Follow-Up And Kinetic Model Selection Of Dinitro Pentamethylene Tetramine (Dpt), Hany A. Elazab, M. M. Seleet, Said M.A. Hassanein, M. A. Radwan, M. A. Sadek

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Synthetic route of Cyclotetramethylene Tetramine is implemented through the reaction of hexamine and nitrating mixture that is formed as a result of a reaction between ammonium nitrate and fuming nitric acid. The reaction medium includes acetic acid, acetic anhydride and p-formaldehyde. This synthetic pathway is relatively long and both of hexamine dinitrate and Dinitro Pentamethylene Tetramine (DPT) are considered as the two main intermediate compounds. The former compound (hexamine dinitrate) was prepared, purified, and then characterized. Conversion of hexamine dinitrate into DPT has been followed up experimentally at different temperatures. Various factors including temperature and time has been investigated. …

Slightly Fluorination Of Al₂O₃ Ald Coating On Li₁.₂Mn₀.₅₄Coo.₁₃Ni₀.₁₃O₂ Electrodes: Interface Reaction To Create Stable Solid Permeable Interphase Layer, Han Yu, Yan Gao, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Improving the performance of cathodes by using surface coatings has proven to be an effective method for improving the stability of Li-ion batteries (LIBs), while a high-quality film satisfying all requirements of electrochemical inertia, chemical stability, and lithium ion conductivity has not been found. In this study, a composite film composed of Al₂O₃ and AlF₃ layers was coated on the surface of Li_1.2Mn_0.54Co_0.13Ni_0.13O₂ (Li-rich NMC) based electrodes by atomic layer deposition (ALD). By varying the ratio of Al₂O₃ and AlF₃, an optimal …

Influence Of Frictional Or Rotational Kinetic Energy On Wellbore-Fluid/Temperature Profiles During Drilling Operations, Ahmed Q. Al Saedi, Ralph E. Flori, C. Shah Kabir

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Temperature-profile distributions in a wellbore during drilling operations might take different forms when applying the energy balance in the overall system. For steady-state conditions, wherein the wellbore is considered a closed system, adding any source of additional energy to this system can influence the predicted temperature profiles. This study presents a new analytical model to investigate the influence of rotational energy arising from the drillstring operation on the wellbore-temperature behavior.

A significant part of the drilling operation is rotation of the drillstring. Depending on the drilling rig, various equipment provides this kind of energy, such as the rotary table or …

Mud Loss Estimation Using Machine Learning Approach, Abo Taleb T. Al-Hameedi, Husam H. Alkinani, Shari Dunn-Norman, Ralph E. Flori, Steven Austin Hilgedick, Ahmed S. Amer, Mortadha Alsaba

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Lost circulation costs are a significant expense in drilling oil and gas wells. Drilling anywhere in the Rumaila field, one the world's largest oilfields, requires penetrating the Dammam formation, which is notorious for lost circulation issues and thus a great source of information on lost circulation events. This paper presents a new, more precise model to predict lost circulation volumes, equivalent circulation density (ECD), and rate of penetration (ROP) in the Dammam formation. A larger data set, more systematic statistical approach, and a machine-learning algorithm have produced statistical models that give a better prediction of the lost circulation volumes, ECD, …

The Effect Of Testing Conditions On The Performance Of Lost Circulation Materials: Understandable Sealing Mechanism, Montri Jeennakorn, Mortadha Alsaba, Runar Nygaard, Arild Saasen, Olav Magnar Nes

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Lost circulation materials (LCMs) are added to drilling fluids to mitigate lost circulation (LOC) problems. Designing the fluid requires a good understanding of sealing mechanisms and all the parameters affecting the sealing performance. Laboratory testing apparatus is the key concept for LCM evaluation ensuring successful treatment. The high-pressure test cell containing fracture discs is an effective tool among the broadly designed apparatus. A variety of formulations has been developed from the LCM physical properties. Recently, the testing conditions such as the slot wall angles, and the fracture disc thickness were found to have significant effects on the evaluation results. However, …

Investigation Of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis Of Palladium Nanoparticles Supported On Fe3o4 As Efficient Recyclable Magnetic Catalysts For Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling, Hany A. Elazab

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this research, a facile and reproducible approach was implemented for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles supported on Fe₃O₄ with remarkable activity as an ideal catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. Magnetite supported Pd nanoparticles reveal high activity in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions since they could be recycled up to seven times with the same high catalytic activity. This adopted method of catalyst synthesis has many advantages, including reproducibility and the reliability of the adopted synthetic method. The produced catalyst has unique magnetic properties to facilitate catalyst recovery from the reaction mixture by using a strong magnet as an external …

A Review Of Field Oil-Production Response Of Injection-Well Gel Treatments, Munqith Aldhaheri, Mingzhen Wei, Na Zhang, Baojun Bai

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As life-span extenders, bulk gels have been widely applied to rejuvenate oil production from uneconomic producers in mature oil fields by improving the sweep efficiency of improved-oil-recovery (IOR)/enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) floods. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the responses of injection-well gel treatments implemented between 1985 and 2014. The survey includes 61 field projects compiled from SPE papers and US Department of Energy reports. Seven parameters related to the oil-production response were evaluated according to the reservoir lithology, formation type, and recovery process, using univariate analysis and stacked histograms. The interquartile-range (IQR) method was used to detect the underperforming and …

Stabilized Interleukin-4-Loaded Poly(Lactic- Co-Glycolic) Acid Films Shift Proinflammatory Macrophages Toward A Regenerative Phenotype In Vitro, Alexis M. Ziemba, Anthony R. D'Amato, Taylor M. Macewen, Devan L. Puhl, Abigail N. Koppes, Ryan A. Koppes, Michelle R. Lennartz, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Macrophages are immune cells involved in wound healing and tissue regeneration; however, the sustained presence of proinflammatory macrophages in wound sites impairs healing. In this study, we shifted peritoneal macrophage polarization away from a proinflammatory (M1) phenotype through exposure to stabilized interleukin-4 (IL-4) in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) films in combination with topographical guidance from electro spun poly-l-lactic acid fibers. To our knowledge, this was the first study to stabilize IL-4 with bovine serum albumin (BSA) within a biomaterial. When IL-4 was coloaded with BSA for stabilization, we saw increased IL-4 bioactivity compared to no added stabilization, trehalose stabilization, or murine …

Revisiting The Butler-Mokrys Model For The Vapor-Extraction Process, Vijitha Mohan, Partho Neogi, Baojun Bai

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The dynamics of a process in which a solvent in the form of a vapor or gas is introduced in a heavy-oil reservoir is considered. The process is called the solvent vapor-extraction process (VAPEX). When the vapor dissolves in the oil, it reduces its viscosity, allowing oil to flow under gravity and be collected at the bottom producer well. The conservation-of-species equation is analyzed to obtain a more-appropriate equation that differentiates between the velocity within the oil and the velocity at the interface, which can be solved to obtain a concentration profile of the solvent in oil. We diverge from …

3d Printed Zeolite Monoliths For Co₂ Removal, Fateme Rezaei, Harshul V. Thakkar

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture materials comprising one or more 3D-printed zeolite monoliths for the capture and or removal of CO₂ from air or gases in enclosed compartments, including gases or mixtures of gases having less than about 5% CO₂. Methods for preparing 3D-printed zeolite monoliths useful as CO₂ capture materials and filters, as well as methods of removing CO₂ from a gas or mixture of gases in an enclosed compartment using 3D-printed zeolite monoliths are provided.

Controlled Anchoring Of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles On Polymeric Nanofibers: Easy Access To Core@Shell Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposites For Magneto-Scaffolds, Hussein Awada, Assala Al Samad, Danielle Laurencin, Ryan Gilbert, Xavier Dumail, Ayman El Jundi, Audrey Bethry, Rebecca Pomrenke, Christopher Johnson, Laurent Lemaire, Florence Franconi, Gautier Félix, Joulia Larionova, Yannick Guari, Benjamin Nottelet

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Composites combining superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and polymers are largely present in modern (bio)materials. However, although SPIONs embedded in polymer matrices are classically reported, the mechanical and degradation properties of the polymer scaffold are impacted by the SPIONs. Therefore, the controlled anchoring of SPIONs onto polymer surfaces is still a major challenge. Herein, we propose an efficient strategy for the direct and uniform anchoring of SPIONs on the surface of functionalized-polylactide (PLA) nanofibers via a simple free ligand exchange procedure to design PLA@SPIONs core@shell nanocomposites. The resulting PLA@SPIONs hybrid biomaterials are characterized by electron microscopy (scanning electron microscopy and …

3,7-Dinitro-1,3,5,7-Tetraazabicyclo[3,3,1]Nonane (Dpt): An Important Intermediate In The Synthesis Route Of One Of The Most Powerful Energetic Materials (Rdx/Hmx), Hany A. Elazab, M. M. Seleet, Said M. A. Hassanein, M. A. Radwan, M. A. Sadek

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Synthesis of Cyclotetramethylene Tetramine through the action of nitrating mixture formed of ammonium nitrate and fuming nitric acid on hexamine in presence of acetic acid, acetic anhydride and p-formaldehyde has been proven. The pathway is relatively long and Hexamine Dinitrate and Dinitro Pentamethylene Tetramine (DPT) are two of the main intermediate compounds. The former was prepared, purified, and then characterized. Conversion of this compound into the latter has been followed up experimentally. Herein, we report the Preparation of Dinitro Pentamethylene Tetramine (DPT) from Hexamine Dinitrate - as an alternative synthetic route - which is an important intermediate appears through preparation …

Cutter Elements For Drill Bits And Methods For Fabricating Same, Guodong Zhan, Biju P. Kumar, Russell C. Gilleylen, Michael D. Hughes, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A method of fabricating a PCD cutter element including a diamond table including a plurality of coated diamond particles fabricated using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process.

Characterization And Quantification Of Highly Sulfated Glycosaminoglycan Isomers By Gated-Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry Negative Electron Transfer Dissociation Ms/Ms, Juan Wei, Jiandong Wu, Yang Tang, Mark E. Ridgeway, Melvin A. Park, Catherine E. Costello, Joseph Zaia, Cheng Lin

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) Play Vital Roles in Many Biological Processes and Are Naturally Present as Complex Mixtures of Polysaccharides with Tremendous Structural Heterogeneity, Including Many Structural Isomers. Mass Spectrometric Analysis of GAG Isomers, in Particular Highly Sulfated Heparin (Hep) and Heparan Sulfate (HS), is Challenging Because of their Structural Similarity and Facile Sulfo Losses during Analysis. Herein, We Show that Highly Sulfated Hep/HS Isomers May Be Resolved by Gated-Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry (Gated-TIMS) with Negligible Sulfo Losses. Subsequent Negative Electron Transfer Dissociation (NETD) Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS) Analysis of TIMS-Separated Hep/HS Isomers Generated Extensive Glycosidic and Cross-Ring Fragments for Confident Isomer …

The Effect Of Calcination Rate On The Structure Of Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses, Saidur Rahman, Andrew Mendonca, Adel Alhalawani, Deanna Polintan, Owen M. Clarkin, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) are designed to have high specific surface area. They are formulated by a sol–gel process to formulate the glass followed by calcination. This study evaluates how calcination heating rate influences the porous architecture, and thereby the specific surface area, of MBGs. MBGs of molar ratio 80:15:5 for SiO₂ :CaO:P₂ O 5 were calcined using both low (1 °C/min) and high (20 °C/min) heating rates, termed as L-MBG and H-MBG, respectively. The results obtained from small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) confirm that the MBGs possess 2D hexagonal (P6mm) spacing groups and wide-angle XRD confirms the amorphicity …

Exploring The Effects Of Electrospun Fiber Surface Nanotopography On Neurite Outgrowth And Branching In Neuron Cultures, Anthony R. D'Amato, Devan L. Puhl, Alexis M. Ziemba, Christopher D.L. Johnson, Janneke Doedee, Jonathan Bao, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Three aligned, electro spun fiber scaffolds with unique surface features were created from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). Fibers without surface nano topography (smooth fibers), fibers with surface divots (shallow pits), and fibers with surface pits (deeper pits) were fabricated, and fiber alignment, diameter, and density were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Whole dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were isolated from rats and placed onto uncoated fibers or fibers coated with laminin. On uncoated fibers, neurite outgrowth was restricted by fibers displaying devoted or pitted nano topography when compared to neurite outgrowth on smooth fibers. However, neurites extending from whole DRG cultured …

Optimization Of The Catalytic Performance Of Pd/Fe 3 O 4 Nanoparticles Prepared Via Microwave-Assisted Synthesis For Pharmaceutical And Catalysis Applications, Hany A. Elazab, Tamer T. El-Idreesy

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microwave assisted synthesis technique was used to prepare palladium supported on iron oxide nanoparticles. The advantage of using microwave irradiation as a synthetic tool is due to its unique features as a one step, simple, versatile, and rapid process. The reactants are added simply at room temperature without using high-temperature injection. Hydrazine hydrate was added by the following ratios (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.6, and 3) ml to the different prepared samples at room temperature in order to investigate its effect on the catalytic performance of the prepared catalysts. The prepared catalyst could be used as an …

Raman Spectroscopy As A Predictive Tool For Monitoring Osteoporosis Therapy In A Rat Model Of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis, J. Renwick Beattie, Antonia Sophocleous, M. Clare Caraher, Olive O'Driscoll, Niamh M. Cummins, Steven E.J. Bell, Mark R. Towler, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Stuart H. Ralston, Aymen I. Idris

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Pharmacological therapy of osteoporosis reduces bone loss and risk of fracture in patients. Modulation of bone mineral density cannot explain all effects. Other aspects of bone quality affecting fragility and ways to monitor them need to be better understood. Keratinous tissue acts as surrogate marker for bone protein deterioration caused by oestrogen deficiency in rats. Ovariectomised rats were treated with alendronate (ALN), parathyroid hormone (PTH) or estrogen (E2). MicroCT assessed macro structural changes. Raman spectroscopy assessed biochemical changes. Micro CT confirmed that all treatments prevented ovariectomy-induced macro structural bone loss in rats. PTH induced macro structural changes unrelated to ovariectomy. …

Preformed Partial Gel Injection Chased By Low-Salinity Waterflooding In Fractured Carbonate Cores, Ali K. Alhuraishawy, Baojun Bai, Mingzhen Wei, Abdullah Almansour

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fractures and oil-wet conditions significantly limit oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs. Gel treatment has been applied in injector wells to modify the prevailing reservoir streamlines and significantly reduce fracture permeability, whereas low-salinity waterflooding has been applied experimentally to modify rock wettability toward water-wet for improved oil recovery. However, both processes have limitations that cannot be resolved using a single method. The objective of this study was to test whether low-salinity water could enable gel particles to move deeply into fractures to efficiently increase oil recovery and control water production. A semitransparent fracture model of carbonate cores and acrylic plates was …

The Effect Of Electrospun Fiber Diameter On Astrocyte-Mediated Neurite Guidance And Protection, Christopher D.L. Johnson, Jonathan M. Zuidema, Kathryn R. Kearns, Alianna B. Maguire, Gregory P. Desmond, Deanna M. Thompson, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The topography of electro spun fiber scaffolds modifies astrocytes toward in vivo-like morphologies and behaviors. However, little is known about how electro spun fiber diameter influences astrocyte behavior. In this work, aligned fibers with two distinct nanoscale fiber diameters (808 and 386 nm) were prepared, and the astrocyte response was measured over time. Astrocytes on the large diameter fibers showed significantly increased elongation as early as 2 h after seeding and remained significantly more elongated for up to 4 days compared to those on small diameter fibers. Astrocytes extending along larger diameter fibers were better equipped to support long neurite …

Injectable, Magnetically Orienting Electrospun Fiber Conduits For Neuron Guidance, Christopher D.L. Johnson, Debmalya Ganguly, Jonathan M. Zuidema, Thomas J. Cardinal, Alexis M. Ziemba, Kathryn R. Kearns, Simon M. Mccarthy, Deanna M. Thompson, Ganpati Ramanath, Diana A. Borca-Tasciuc, Silvio Dutz, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Magnetic electro spun fibers are of interest for minimally invasive biomaterial applications that also strive to provide cell guidance. Magnetic electro spun fibers can be injected and then magnetically positioned in situ, and the aligned fiber scaffolds provide consistent topographical guidance to cells. In this study, magnetically responsive aligned poly-l-lactic acid electro spun fiber scaffolds were developed and tested for neural applications. Incorporating oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles significantly increased neurite outgrowth, reduced the fiber alignment, and increased the surface nano topography of the electro spun fibers. After verifying neuron viability on two-dimensional scaffolds, the system was tested as an …

Zeolitic 3d Scaffolds With Tailored Surface Topography For Methanol Conversion With Light Olefins Selectivity, Ali A. Rownaghi, Xin Li, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The present disclosure relates to 3D printed zeolite scaffolds . The zeolite scaffolds can be used as a catalyst for methanol to olefin ( MTO ) conversion and hydrocarbon cracking processes.

Insights Into Well Performance And Completion Optimization Using A Coupled Fracfocus And Drillinginfo Database, Mustafa A. Al-Alwani

Doctoral Dissertations

“The hydraulic fracturing designs, drilling, and completion trends are undergoing continuous change as the oil and gas industry pushing the boundaries of the traditional designs to increase wells productivity and meet the energy demand. The lateral length in addition to the amount of proppant and water used in well stimulation have witnessed a paradigm shift over the past few years. The motivation for this work began with a desire to better understand well performance as a function of the type of fracturing fluid treatment applied. An early objective was to compare whether East Texas Cotton Valley wells stimulated with water …

Development Of Functional Ionic Liquids For Separation And Recovery Of Rare Earth Elements, Mostafa Khodakarami

Doctoral Dissertations

“This research focused on the design and synthesis of task-specific ionic liquids for enhanced extraction and separation of rare earth elements (REEs). Two novel ammonium-based functional ionic liquids (FILs) with oxygen donating groups: trioctyl(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)ammonium dihexyl diglycolamate, [OcGBOEt][DHDGA], and tricaprylmethylammonium dihexyl diglycolamate, [A336][DHDGA] were synthesized and tested for the recovery and separation of selected REEs from aqueous solutions. Functionalities with different denticities were incorporated into both anionic and cationic parts of ionic liquids, which are solely composed of incinerable atoms including C, H, O, and N. The structural, physical, and chemical properties of the synthesized FILs were studied using nuclear magnetic …

Intelligent Data-Driven Decision-Making To Mitigate Or Stop Lost Circulation, Husam Hasan Alkinani

Doctoral Dissertations

”Lost circulation is a challenging problem in the oil and gas industry. Each year, millions of dollars are spent to mitigate or stop this problem. The aim of this work is to utilize machine learning and other intelligent solutions to help to make better decision to mitigate or stop lost circulation. A detailed literature review on the applications of decision tree analysis, expected monetary value, and artificial neural networks in the oil and gas industry was provided. Data for more than 3000 wells were gathered from many sources around the world. Detailed economics and probability analyses for lost circulation treatments’ …