Chemical Engineering Commons^™

A Novel Rheological Technique To Measure The Yield Stress In Equibiaxial Elongation, Asher Segal

Theses

Yield stress measurement in non-Newtonian fluids, particularly under complex flow conditions such as equibiaxial elongation, remains a significant challenge in experimental rheology. This work presents the development of a novel method, Continuous Lubricated Squeezing Flow (CLSF), designed to quantify the normal yield stress of viscoelastic materials while minimizing boundary artifacts.

The CLSF method was implemented and validated using Carbopol 940, a model yield-stress gel, at concentrations of 1 wt% and 2 wt%. Comparative shear rheology was first performed to establish baseline yield stresses and verify sample integrity. CLSF experiments were then conducted over controlled flow rate increments and gap distances …

Core-Scale Study Of Miscible Co2 Foam–Oil Interactions, Kuvonchbek Abdirakhmonov

Theses

Foam is currently the most effective means for gas mobility control in a variety of geo-energy applications, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR), carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and aquifer/soil remediation. This study investigates the mobility control of miscible CO₂ foam in the presence of oil.

The primary objective is to quantify the impact of oil on CO₂ foam behavior under miscible conditions, specifically examining foam stability, strength, and flow regimes as influenced by oil composition and reservoir permeability. While most oils destabilize foam, few studies explore the coarsening mechanisms of CO₂ foam in the presence of miscible oils, which …

Experimental Evaluation Of Novel Nano Polymer Hybrid Enhanced Oil Recovery In Carbonate Reservoir, Altamish Ahmed Pakeer

Theses

Innovative enhanced oil recovery (EOR) strategies are needed to unlock additional reserves in heterogeneous, oil-wet carbonate reservoirs. This study evaluates hybrid nano-polymer flooding by integrating silica nanoparticles (SiO₂) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) with novel HPAM polymers (Sav10 and Sav10 VHM) to optimize wettability alteration, rheological parameters, and recovery mechanisms.

A comprehensive experimental approach was employed, where rheological tests assessed viscosity enhancement under varying shear conditions, and wettability alteration was quantified via contact angle measurements using HPAM-SiO₂, HPAM-CNT, Sav10 VHM-SiO₂, and Sav10 VHM-CNT systems. Core floods were performed in three consecutive phases; waterflooding (baseline), standalone nanoparticle flooding, and hybrid nano-polymer …

Investigation And Prediction Of Excessive Water Production In Bottom Water-Drive Naturally Fractured Reservoirs Using Machine And Deep Learning, Sami Abderraouf Belkhir

Theses

Naturally Fractured Reservoirs (NFRs) are characterized by dual-porosity and dual-permeability systems, posing significant challenges in managing water production due to highly conductive fracture networks that facilitate rapid water migration from bottom aquifers, often bypassing oil stored in the matrix, thus resulting in early water breakthrough and water channeling phenomena. The main objective of this thesis is to develop and validate deep learning and machine learning models to predict water production, water breakthrough time (tbt), and ultimate water cut (WCult) in NFRs, thereby enabling more effective reservoir management strategies. This work also aims to evaluate the sensitivity of water behavior to …

Data-Driven Machine Learning Applications For Predictive Modeling Of Petrochemical And Ecofriendly Systems, Noora Saleh Al Mansoori

Theses

Traditional experimental approaches in industrial processes, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and well-drilling operations, are often constrained by time, cost, and operational limitations. This research explores the application of data-driven Machine Learning (ML)-based predictive modeling to improve efficiency and reduce dependency on resource-intensive experimentation. The study develops ML models for three distinct processes: FTIR intensity prediction of bitumen thermal cracking products, thermal degradation of Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) using TGA data, and Rate of Penetration (ROP) prediction in petrochemical industry. Six algorithms: Linear Regression (LinReg), Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Gradient …

Utilizing Date Fruit Pomace As A Corrosion Green Inhibitor For Non Ferrous Alloys, Sardor Rustam Odilov

Theses

This thesis explores a novel green corrosion inhibitor derived from date fruit pomace extract (DFPE) for the protection of aluminum alloy 3003 in highly corrosive environments, specifically hydrochloric acid (HCl) and natural seawater. The central aim is to promote the sustainable reuse of agro-waste as an effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional toxic inhibitors, aligning with environmental and industrial safety goals.

A comprehensive methodology was employed, including Soxhlet extraction (using both non-polar n-hexane and polar methanol-water solvents), rotary evaporation, and FTIR analysis to identify the active functional groups responsible for inhibition. Corrosion behavior was systematically evaluated using both mechanical (weight …

Interaction Of Liquid Phase Diisopropyl Methyl Phosphonate (Dimp) With Material Surrogates For Components Of Soil And Combustion Products Of Metal Fuels, Khushi Sunil Patel

Theses

Combustion products of three different Al-based materials, Al-CaCO₃, Al-SiO₂, and Al-Fe₂O₃ , have been produced to understand their interaction with liquid diisopropyl methyl phosphonate (DIMP), a surrogate for chemical weapon agents. The purpose of this is to see which materials were more effective at DIMP adsorption and decomposition at different temperatures. Prepared materials were characterized using electron microscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption. Prepared powders were submerged in DIMP and heated in a thermal analyzer, tracking the mass changes as a function of temperature. Surfaces of the recovered materials were studied using …

Bayesian Networks For Safety-Critical Systems, Joseph Mietkiewicz

Theses

This thesis addresses a operational challenge in modern industrial operations: the increasing complexity of systems and the consequent cognitive burden on operators. As industrial technologies advance, the human-computer interface has become the primary conduit for information flow, playing a pivotal role in operational decision-making. However, the proliferation of data often leads to information overload, potentially compromising rather than enhancing operator performance. This research explores an approach to this pressing issue through the application of Bayesian networks as decision support systems in safety- critical scenarios. Our study employs a multi-faceted approach, combining theoretical modeling with empirical testing. Through collaboration with industry …

Kinetics, Thermodynamics, And Biological Characterizations Of Hydrolysates Enzymatically Produced From Proteins Extracted From Microalgae, Hebah Al-Amodi

Theses

This thesis aims to explore the use of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-L (ZIF-L) as a support for immobilizing alcalase and its potency in producing protein hydrolysates. ZIF-L was synthesized at room temperature using an aqueous solution, and alcalase was immobilized through adsorption batch experiment. The successful immobilization of alcalase on ZIF-L was confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The maximum adsorption capacity of alcalase on ZIF-L was determined to be 672.1 ± 5.5 mg g^-1 at 40°C using an initial protein concentration of 5 mg mL-1. Adsorption equilibrium data …

Targeted Drug Delivery: Investigating Protein Corona Behavior, Atharva Markale

Theses

Due to high specificity and less toxicity, nanoparticles have become promising for targeted drug delivery against cancer, although they face challenges when they enter the bloodstream, making their behavior unpredictable. The deposition of proteins on nanoparticles, the protein corona, changes their biosignature, affecting their circulation, drug release potency, targeting ability, and immunogenicity. The continuous exchange of protein layers on a nanoscale is complex to analyze.

Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) is a method to characterize nanoparticles in blood plasma by combining principles of light scattering microscopy and Brownian motion. In this work, time-dependent experiments with plasma were conducted to analyze the …

Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction To Ammonia On Cu Based Nanoparticles Using Quantum Mechanical Simulations, Kathan Bhavin Shukla

Theses

Nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) is critical for environmental remediation and energy conservation, as it can remove harmful nitrate (NO₃^-) from water sources while producing usable ammonia (NH₃). Cu represents one of the most promising non-noble-metal NRA electrocatalysts. However, the intrinsic catalytic activity of Cu facets and their influence under different pH conditions remain unclear, particularly in the presence of ions commonly found in wastewater such as Cl^-, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we evaluated the nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) pathways …

A Computational Investigation Into Thermo-Kinetic Parameters Governing The Decomposition Of Bio-Oil Model Compounds, Ali Huseein Aljefri

Theses

Among notable products from thermal degradation of biomass are simple oxygen-containing aromatics. These compounds typically appear in high loads in collected bio-oil derived from biomass. As such, it is important to comprehend the decomposition chemistry of this category of compounds. This thesis takes on board a general approach to report thermo-kinetic parameters that govern decomposition of a selected set of bio-oil model compounds in two distinct systems: firstly radical-derived pathways in the gas phase and secondly thermal degradation in their condensed media. The first is attained through accurate density functional calculations while the second is accomplished through the use of …

Development Of Tio2/Nh2-Mil-125 Nanocomposite For The Removal Of Ciprofloxacin Under Induced Solar Irradiation, Bilkis Mojisola Ajiwokewu

Theses

This research focuses on the development and application of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)-based nanocomposites for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceutical contaminants, with a specific emphasis on ciprofloxacin (CIP). The photocatalytic degradation of CIP was investigated using as-synthesized photocatalysts of TiO₂ nanowires (TiO₂NWs), bare MOF of NH₂-MIL-125, TiO₂NW/NH₂-MIL-125 composite, and Lanthanum (La)-doped composite. Intriguingly, the TiO₂NW/NH₂-MIL-125 composite exhibited the highest efficiency, achieving a photodegradation rate of 0.0111 min-1, surpassing the independent performances of bare MOF of NH₂-MIL-125 and TiO₂NW. The observed efficiency was attributed to …

Thermo-Kinetic Parameters Governing Decomposition Of Amino Acids: A Computational Study, Mubarak Taleb Alkwradi

Theses

Amino acid model compounds are important nitrogenated species that in various categories of biomass. These compounds exhibit unique fragmentation pathways because of their adjacent amino and hydroxyl groups. Comprehending the decomposition chemistry of amino acids is essential to reduce harmful nitrogen emissions during biomass thermal treatment. This research reports the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of amino acids, and sulfur-containing amino acid, based on accurate density functional theory calculations coupled with kinetic modelling. The first part of the thesis provides comprehensive thermochemical parameters for the complete set of amino acids in the gas phase. The optimized geometries of amino acid compounds …

Selective Production Of Levoglucosan (Lg) From Pyrolysis Of Date Pits And Its Catalytic Transformation Into Transportation Fuels, Ala Hamid Higazi

Theses

Levoglucosan (LG) or (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose) signifies important sugar derivatives produces in appreciable quantities from thermochemical and biochemical degradation of biomass. It is often regarded as an important platform chemical for the synthesis of value-added products, most notably styrene and furans. The work in this thesis entails two broad aims; to produce LG from pyrolysis of date pits; and then convert the LG into transportation fuels through a hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction. The particular choice of date pits stems from its local relative abundance as a waste biomass. Aiming to further improve the yield of levoglucosan yields from pyrolysis of date pits, pre-treatment …

Development Of Popcorn Thermal Insulation Panels, Yonis Hussein Mohamud

Theses

The research and development of sustainable and renewable materials that can take the place of conventional plastics derived from petroleum has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Polylactic acid (PLA) and Polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) are viable alternatives biopolymers due to their biodegradability. Also, the enhancement of material properties can be achieved through the incorporation of fillers. In this study, the utilization of popcorn in developing of insulation materials has been employed in two distinct methodologies. The first involves the coating of popcorn with varying percentages of PLA using the solvent casting method, while the second involves the integration of popcorn …

Development Of Unsaturated Polyester Resin Mortar Utilizing Industrial Wastes, Fatema Ahmed Alahmed

Theses

In recent years, polymer mortar (PM) has played a crucial role in the modern construction industry. It is gaining recognition as an effective and quick repair material in construction applications because it has several benefits over traditional Portland cement concrete. Various types of polymer binders, such as unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), have been used in these materials owing to their low cost, excellent strength, high workability, and rapid curing. This study investigates the feasibility of reutilizing locally available waste in the production of UPR-based polymer mortar, which facilitates the development of mortars with less environmental impact. In this study, the …

Selection Of Natural Surfactants For Possible Use In Improving Oil Recovery Of Carbonate Oil Reservoirs, Hiba Hachem Limam

Theses

Middle East petroleum industry is currently searching for the most suitable enhanced oil technique to improve the oil recovery from local oil reservoirs. The biggest challenge for the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the Middle East is the harsh environment (high salinity and temperature). Surfactant (synthetic or natural) is one of the EOR major players considered for application in the Middle East. However, synthetic surfactants have several drawbacks, such as economically unattractive and environmental impacts. This study investigated the possible use of natural surfactant extracted from the leaves of three types of plants, namely Aloe Vera, Tetraena qatarensis, …

Upgrading Biomass To Bio-Oil: Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation And Pyrolysis Of Vanillin And Anisole Biomass Model Compounds, Ahmad J. Yaghi

Theses

The purpose of this project is to investigate capacity of selected formulations of catalysts toward the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of biomass model compounds in the gas phase with the underlying aim to produce hydrocarbon cuts that can be directly used as transportation fuels. The first part of this project is to devoted to illustrate procedures for the synthesis of potent (HDO) catalysts. Synthesized catalysts encompass nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and palladium (Pd) supported on zeolite, cerium oxide (CeO₂) or alumina (Al₂O₃). Various characterization techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR) were deployed …

Investigating The Rheological Behavior Of A Simple Yield Stress Fluid Under Shear Flows, Francesco Accetta

Theses

Many soft materials display unique and complex rheological behavior characterized by a transition from a solid-like to a fluid-like state upon the application of a force that exceeds the threshold to flow, known as the yield stress. Yield stress fluids are found in a wide range of commonly encountered materials including microgels, emulsions, and foams, and have been widely studied by rheologists over the last several decades. Carbopol is a popular polymeric microgel system as it displays simple, non-thixotropic rheological behavior and is typically seen as an ideal yield stress fluid. Previous research has demonstrated the reproducible behavior of shear …

Novel Investigation Of Catalytic Hydrogenation And Oxidation Of 1,3-Butadiene, Ali M. Alabedkhalil

Theses

The hydrogenation of 1,3 Butadiene (BD) is an important industrial process that is generally used to generate butene, which is a key feedstock to produce a variety of chemicals such as polymers, plastic, and synthetic rubber. This process involves reacting BD with hydrogen using different metallic Ni-based catalysts. In this study, Ni/Al₂O₃ and Ni/Nb₂O5 catalysts were used and investigated to perform the hydrogenation reaction because of their commercial availability, effective hydrogenation activity, and affordability compared to Platinum Group Metal (PGM) catalysts.

The catalytic reactions were conducted using a quartz tube reactor between a temperature range …

Using Switchable Solvents For Enhanced Biodiesel Production, Eyad Abdel Rahman Sowan

Theses

This thesis presents a sustainable approach to biodiesel production using in-situ technology for direct conversion of microalgae-to-biodiesel. The proposed method operates on wet, untreated microalgae, thereby eliminating the cost/energy intensive drying and cell disruption steps. Owing to their favorable properties, the use of enzymes, specifically lipase, as a catalyst for the process was suggested over acid/base catalysts. However, the high cost of the enzyme necessitates its reuse at sustained activity for the process to be economically feasible. The use of non-toxic green solvents, such as switchable solvents, as an alternative to conventional organic solvents was a significant challenge for the …

Biodegradable Heat Insulation Composites Based On Poly(Β-Hydroxybutyrate) And Date Palm Wood, Amal Ibrahim Mlhem

Theses

Residential buildings contribute the most to energy consumption. It was found that energy savings of 20% can be achieved through the thermal insulation of residential buildings in the United Arab Emirates. For this reason, research has been conducted in the field of sustainable thermal insulation materials. Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC) are a relatively new generation of biocomposites and are particularly suitable for construction and building applications, which offers high thermal and acoustic insulation properties., reducing carbon emissions and decreasing negative impacts on the environment due to their biodegradability, sustainability, renewability, and recyclability. The first part of this study investigated the thermal …

Utilizing Date Pits In Microencapsulation: Effect Of Different Variations On Probiotic Survivability Under In Vitro Digestion, Asmaa Samir Al Hamayda

Theses

This work deals with the medicinal use of date pit powder, which turns it from a waste product to a useful stabilizer for the release of beneficial probiotics in the human intestine. The main objective of this work is to encapsulate probiotics with date pit beads and their subsequent release in the human intestine. The beads were formed using gravitational dripping technique, while INFOGEST protocol was used to test the digested beads and the release of viable probiotic cells. For the three date varieties Raziz, Naghal and Khadrawy, it was found that 0.1 g of date pit powder per 0.2 …

Effects Of Wettability, Lithology, And Permeability On The Optimum Slug Size Of Low Salinity Water Flooding In Carbonates: An Experimental Approach, Hala Khaled Hasan Alshadafan

Theses

Low salinity water flooding has attracted academic and industry communities due to its relatively simple and applicable technology. One of the drawbacks of applying the IOR/EOR technique is the lack of the availability of low salinity water in large quantities at the reasonable cost required for a technically and environmentally successful project. To overcome this problem, the industry proposed to use produced water/sea water after dilution, and reverse osmosis filter technology to achieve the required salinity. Both techniques are quite costly and might hinder the project's economic success. Low salinity water as slug size followed by high salinity water was …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Graphene Oxide-Based High-Density Polyethylene / Polypropylene Nanocomposites For Biomedical Applications, Albaina Ali Aldhaheri

Theses

Polymeric nanocomposites have recently become one of the most essential sought-after materials for biomedical applications. Among many others, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is being widely used as a bearing material for the artificial hip and knee joints. However, the weak surface properties of HDPE limit the total artificial hip joints’ survival chances. The addition of polypropylene (PP) improves the surface properties of HDPE composites along with their thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties which are crucial in biomedical applications. Moreover, PP can be easily blended with polyethylene (PE) as it has an almost similar chemical resistance to PE. However, PP is more …

A Detailed Parameter Study Into The Dermal Absorption Of Chemical Warfare Agents And The Effects Of Pharmacokinetics, Koko Lear

Theses

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are substances of varying toxicity profiles. These chemicals exhibit complex dynamics and pose a serious health risk when released into the environment. A mathematical model based on Fick’s second law of diffusion was developed to comprehend how these compounds were absorbed into the skin. The analysis applied to both small and large doses and, successfully, predicted experimental results. This work also includes the effects of CWA physicochemical properties on evaporation and dermal absorption through the stratum corneum. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the impacts of small variations in the initial dose, environmental conditions, and …

Desalination Waste Revitalization Using Carbon Capture: Process Optimization Using Machine Learning, Ahmed Mohamed Elsayed

Theses

Over the next five to ten years, desalination will play an ever-important role in our society. Developing nations will look at desalination from the point of water scarcity, while developed nations will consider the perspective of the Water-Energy-Food nexus. With current technology, for every liter of freshwater produced, one and a half liters is thrown away as waste. This body of research proposes to employ chemical precipitation in ammoniated brine solutions, that have reasonably high ionic concentrations. CO2 absorption in Bubble Column Reactors can reduce sodium ions by precipitating NaHCO3. Also, the absorbed CO2 can reduce chloride ions and induce …

Possible Storage Of Co₂ In Saline Aquifer: Storage Factor Estimation, Sarah Abdul Aziz Al-Tamimi

Theses

The objective of this study is to perform laboratory measurements and a CO₂ underground storage study to cover the knowledge gap on CO₂-Brine relative permeability and assess various variables on the storage of CO₂ in a selected aquifer. Several factors that affect CO₂ storage have been discussed in the literature. These include both macroscopic and microscopic displacement efficiency of brine as a function of CO₂ pore volume injected. It is clear from the literature that there is still more work needed to investigate the effect of various variables such as formation temperature, brine viscosity, and the possible presence of free …

Flexible Microfluidic Device With Nonplanar Interdigitated Microelectrodes, Saud Alssaidy

Theses

The lab-on-a-chip concept has improved significantly in recent years to meet global demand for various applications with the advent of new technologies. Much progress has been achieved, but many microfluidic devices still suffer from design limitations in terms of sensitivity and selectivity because they use rigid, fragile substrate materials and conventional electrodes, which do not provide high sensitivity or selectivity and suffer from signal-to-noise ratio issues. This work proposes a novel device architecture that uses flexible, transparent top and bottom layers integrated with (nonplanar interdigitated microelectrodes) to create a sandwich-like flexible substrate base. The top and bottom layers consist of …