Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Engineering Of Lipid Nanoparticles For Advanced Drug Deilvery Applications, Stephen L. Hayward

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

‘Nanomedicine’, the application of nanotechnology principles to the field of medicine, has stimulated the development of nano-platforms for next generation drug delivery. By exploiting nanoscale properties of materials to selectively alter intrinsic characteristics of therapeutics, researchers have improved the efficacy and pharmacokinetic profiles for a variety of drug types. Despite preliminary commercial and clinical success, there still remains a need to develop an improved delivery platform that can provide high cargo entrapment, efficient intracellular delivery, evasion of intracellular degradation pathways, and provide cell population specific targeting.

In this study we engineered a nanocarrier system composed of a core bilayer structure …

Nanoscale Electrode Architectures For Electrochemical Energy Conversion And Storage., Venkat Kalyan Vendra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanoscale electrode architectures are at the heart of photoelectrochemical devices converting sunlight into electricity and electrochemical devices that store energy. Advanced nanomaterials encompassing 1-D architectures such as single crystalline metal oxide nanowires, 2-D architectures such graphene nanosheets and nanoparticle-nanowire hybrids have garnered significant interest as promising materials for fabricating thicker electrodes due their unique electronic, phase transformation and strain relaxation properties. However, electrode architectures incorporating these advanced nanomaterials will have a transformational impact on large scale electrode manufacturing only if the challenges associated with the electrode durability are addressed. At a fundamental level, the reactions happening at the electrode-electrolyte interface …

Feasibility Testing Of Chill Filtration Of Brown Spirits To Increase Product Stability., Juan Cristobal Merizalde Carrillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis summarizes a feasibility study focused on filtering American whiskey, matured in new toasted and charred casks, at 25 ºF in order to remove haze which forms when product is diluted from cask strength (62% ABV) to bottling strength (40 – 50% ABV). Chill filtration is a process already implemented in the brown spirits industry in order to guarantee the stability of products at different ethyl alcohol concentrations. The filtration trials and cellulose-pad performance were evaluated in terms of economics, turbidity reduction, test time, throughput, color reduction, and shelf life stability. Those trials with satisfactory overall color and stability …

Thermal Invisibility Based On Scattering Cancellation And Mantle Cloaking, M Farhat, P.-Y. Chen, H Bagci, C. Amra, S Guenneau, A Alù

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research Publications

We theoretically and numerically analyze thermal invisibility based on the concept of scattering cancellation and mantle cloaking. We show that a small object can be made completely invisible to heat diffusion waves, by tailoring the heat conductivity of the spherical shell enclosing the object. This means that the thermal scattering from the object is suppressed, and the heat flow outside the object and the cloak made of these spherical shells behaves as if the object is not present. Thermal invisibility may open new vistas in hiding hot spots in infrared thermography, military furtivity, and electronics heating reduction.

Recent Research Progress For Non-Pt-Based Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysts In Fuel Cell, Ping Song, Ming-Bo Ruan, Jing Liu, Guang-Jun Ran, Wei-Lin Xu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The expensive Pt-based catalyst suffers from its susceptibility to time-dependent drift, methanol crossover, and carbon monoxide (CO) deactivation, which will block the large-scale commercial application of fuel cells. It is, therefore, necessary to develop efficient, low-cost, highly stable non-precious metal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with high catalytic performance. Here, we will pay attention to the research progress of non-precious metal and heteroatom-doped (N, B, P, S, F) metal-free ORR catalysts. Importantly, we mainly focus on the work developed by Xu’s group with the Fe-based non-precious metal and F/NF-doped metal-free ORR catalysts. The purpose of these works is to improve …

Preparation And Properties Of Binary Oxides CoXCr1-XO3/2 Electrocatalysts For Oxygen Evolution Reaction, Tai-Lai Yang, Wen-Yan Dong, Hui-Min Yang, Li Zhang, Zhen-Hai Liang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Binary metal mixed oxides of Co and Cr with nominal compositional formulas, Co_xCr_1-xO_3/2 (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0), were obtained by thermal decomposition method. The morphologies, crystal forms and valence states of the catalyst powders were analyzed by SEM, XRD and XPS, respectively. And the electrochemical properties, overpotentials and stabilities of Co_xCr_1-xO_3/2 electrodes for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline solution were evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), staircase voltammetry and chronoamperometry, respectively. The results indicated that the mixtures of Co₃O₄ and eskolaite-Cr_{2 …}

Synthesis And Electrochemical Properties Of Cnts/V2O5 Hollow Microspheres, Liang Hao, Lai-Fa Shen, Jie Wang, Jia-Jia Zhu, Xiao-Chen Zhao, Xiao-Gang Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The carbon nanotubes/vanadium oxides (CNTs/V₂O₅) hollow microspheres (VOC) were prepared via solvothermal process. The effects of the ratio for CNTs to V₂O₅ on the morphologies, structures and electrochemical performances were systemically investigated. The results indicate that CNTs dramatically enhanced the rate performances of VOC composite electrodes. When the ratio of CNTs is 7.1%, the VOC composite electrode exhibited the best electrochemical performance, which delivered a specific capacitance of 346 F·g^-1 at 0.5 A·g^-1 and maintained 75% at 8 A·g^-1 in 5 mol L^-1 LiNO₃. A hybrid capacitor …

Porous Co3O4 Hollow Nanospheres Cathode Catalyst For High-Capacity And Long-Cycle Li-Air Batteries, Tong Liu, Na Li, Qing-Chao Liu, Xin-Bo Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this paper, a high specific surface area of porous Co3O4 hollow nanospheres was successfully synthesized via hydrothermal carbonization at 140 °C, followed by calcination using cobalt nitrate hexahydrate (Co(NO3)2·6H2O), hexamethylenetetramine (HMT), sucrose, and sodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7). The porous Co3O4 hollow nanospheres consisted of nanoparticles with high specific surface area of mesoporous structure, and could provide active reaction sites for OER and ORR. When used as lithium-air battery cathode catalyst, the Co3O4/Super P (SP) electrode exhibited excellent cycle performance, resulting in high capacity and long life of lithium-air batteries.

Syntheses And Electrochemical Performances Of Li4Ti5O12 Anode Materials For Lithium Ion Battery, Yong-Long Zhang, Xue-Bu Hu, Yao-Qiong Wang, Dong-Hai Huang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Series of spinel lithium titanate (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) materials were synthesized by one-step solid-state reaction using lithium acetate and TiO₂ as raw materials under different temperatures (750/800/850 °C) and atmospheres (N₂/air). The as-prepared Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ materials were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammotry and charge-discharge test to analyze their crystal structures, microstructures and electrochemical performances. The results show that the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂（L-800N）material obtained at 800 °C under nitrogen atmosphere exhibited better electrochemical performance and smaller particle size. The initial …

Simulation Of Deformation Of Red Blood Cells, Tai-Hsien Wu

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Using simulation to discuss the deformation of cells is not only efficient, but also inexpensive. In this study, a red blood cell (RBC) model is introduced which is simple but rigorous. This RBC model has been stretched to examine its properties and its results agree well with an experiment which was conducted in 2003. Therefore, the model allows researchers to conduct studies related to deformation of RBCs or investigate properties of RBCs. Based on this RBC model, we can couple it with the computational fluid dynamics to investigate the interaction between cells and flows, as well as mimic other cells …

Life-Cycle Energy And Ghg Emissions Of Forest Biomass Harvest And Transport For Biofuel Production In Michigan, Fengli Zhang, Dana M. Johnson, Jinjiang Wang

College of Business Publications

High dependence on imported oil has increased U.S. strategic vulnerability and prompted more research in the area of renewable energy production. Ethanol production from renewable woody biomass, which could be a substitute for gasoline, has seen increased interest. This study analysed energy use and greenhouse gas emission impacts on the forest biomass supply chain activities within the State of Michigan. A life-cycle assessment of harvesting and transportation stages was completed utilizing peer-reviewed literature. Results for forest-delivered ethanol were compared with those for petroleum gasoline using data specific to the U.S. The analysis from a woody biomass feedstock supply perspective uncovered …

Substantiate Percent Yield Within Aerosol Personal Care Plant, Gregory Maxwell

Honors Theses

The project identified losses of bulk product throughout the mix and packaging process substantiating percent yield. Support data for yield calculations was found by mapping multiple equipment trains, collecting and weighing samples, tracking waste streams, and executing engineering studies. The completed studies identified and verified product loss ensuring the accuracy of yield calculations. This project identified potential cost savings to the facilities.

The Effects Of Colorimetry And Spectroscopy Using The Iso M0, M1 And M2 Modes, Kaylee Flannery

Honors Theses

The use of Optical Brightening Agents (OBA’s) in printing and proofing papers has drastically increased and, while the use of OBA’s has improved the appearance for end-use consumers, it represents great challenges to those attempting to successfully color manage the print. Therefore, standards have been created in order to assist in the measurement of these papers, and can be found within ISO 13655-2009: Spectral Measurement and Colorimetric Computation for Graphic Arts Images. This newly defined measurement standard is referred to as the “M” series. While this new standard has its advantages, it also poses some disadvantages. This report will …

Flavour Chemicals In Electronic Cigarette Fluids, Peyton A. Tierney, Clarissa D. Karpinski, Jessica E. Brown, Wentai Luo, James F. Pankow

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Most e-cigarette liquids contain flavour chemicals. Flavour chemicals certified as safe for ingestion by the Flavor Extracts Manufacturers Association may not be safe for use in e-cigarettes. This study identified and measured flavour chemicals in 30 e-cigarette fluids.

Methods: Two brands of single-use e-cigarettes were selected and their fluids in multiple flavour types analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. For the same flavour types, and for selected confectionary flavours (eg, bubble gum and cotton candy), also analysed were convenience samples of e-cigarette fluids in refill bottles from local ‘vape’ shops and online retailers.

Results: In many liquids, total flavour chemicals …

Enhancing Grain Boundary Ionic Conductivity In Mixed Ionic–Electronic Conductors, Ye Lin, Shumin Fang, Dong Su, Kyle S. Brinkman, Fanglin Chen

Faculty Publications

Mixed ionic–electronic conductors are widely used in devices for energy conversion and storage. Grain boundaries in these materials have nanoscale spatial dimensions, which can generate substantial resistance to ionic transport due to dopant segregation. Here, we report the concept of targeted phase formation in a Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ–CoFe2O4 composite that serves to enhance the grain boundary ionic conductivity. Using transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy approaches, we probe the grain boundary charge distribution and chemical environments altered by the phase reaction between the two constituents. The formation of an emergent phase successfully avoids segregation of the Gd dopant and depletion of oxygen vacancies …

Surface Modifications Of Polymers Via Acidic Solutions, Brittany Stanley, Kenya Wallace

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

A Metal-Free Approach To Biaryl Compounds: Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation From Diaryliodonium Salts And Aryl Triolborates, Kuruppu Lilanthi Jayatissa

Dissertations and Theses

Biaryl moieties are important structural motifs in many industries, including pharmaceutical, agrochemical, energy and technology. The development of novel and efficient methods to synthesize these carbon-carbon bonds is at the forefront of synthetic methodology. Since Ullmann’s first report of stoichiometric Cu-mediated homo-coupling of aryl halides, there has been a dramatic evolution in transition metal catalyzed biaryl cross-coupling reactions.

Our work focuses on the discovery and development of an unprecedented reagent combination for metal-free cross-coupling. It is hypothesized that direct carbon-carbon bond formation occurs via a triaryl-λ³-iodane and that electrophile/nucleophile pairing is critical for success in the reaction. Proof-of-concept …

Parameter Estimation For Towed Cable Systems Using Moving Horizon Estimation, Liang Sun, Jeremy Castagno, John Hedengren, Randall Beard

Faculty Publications

This paper presents a strategy for optimal estimation of parameters for towed cable systems using moving horizon estimation (MHE). The main contributions of the work include a novel formulation of MHE using a dead-band that explicitly rejects measurement noise, real-time implementation results, and the investigation of time-varying stochastic disturbances as well as unknown yet constant disturbances. Further analysis is conducted on the observability and sensitivity of key parameters to determine which parameters can be estimated by the proposed approach using real-time streaming data from experiments. In addition to the real-time results, an offline multiobjective optimization is conducted to reveal the …

Mechanism And Kinetics Of Homogeneous Catalysis, Silei Xiong

Open Access Dissertations

A model-based approach using a diverse set of data including monomer consumption, evolution of molecular weight, and end-group analysis was employed to determine each of the reaction specific rate constants involved in 1-hexene polymerization process catalyzed by a family of group IV single-site catalysts. The primary set of elementary reaction steps included initiation, normal propagation, misinsertion, recovery from misinsertion, monomer independent and dependent chain transfer. Robust determination of kinetic constants and reaction mechanisms for a series of Group IV amine bis-phenolate complexes led to the development of several structure−activity relationships.^ For some of the catalysts of the bis-phenolate family the …

Optimal Design Of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems, Alphonse Hakizimana, Joseph Scott

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

Utilization of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar can overcome environmental threats associated with fossil fuels. But expensive power producing and storage components are required to harness and store renewable energy. In addition renewable sources are intermittent, thus unreliable when used independently.

Alternative Sample Loading Preparation For Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry, Scott M. Husson, Brian Powell, Glenn Fugate, David Locklair, Joseph Mannion

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

This contribution describes a new sample loading method for Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS), which is used in nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation efforts worldwide and is known as the “gold standard” in isotopic ratio measurements of plutonium. TIMS analysis is used to determine grades of nuclear material and the extent of enrichment at production sites. The current sample loading method for TIMS analysis is known as “bead-loading”. While it provides the lowest detection limit of any known method for plutonium analysis, bead-loading is a difficult, time consuming, and expensive method that results in up to 20% sample loss. The major …

Micro‐Textured Boron Nitride Nanoplatelet Modified Polyethylene Films, Ozgun Ozdemir, Amod A. Ogale

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) micro‐textured films filled with boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNN) were produced by continuous melt extrusion. Nanoparticles displayed a significant extent of dispersion inside the matrix. The addition of BNN led to more than 10‐fold increase of the in‐plane thermal conductivity (TC) of the nanocomposite (7.7 W/m.K vs 0.3 W/m.K for pure LLDPE), and 1.3‐fold increase of through thickness TC. To increase the surface area available for convective heat transfer, micro‐textured films (T‐BNN) were produced from a micro‐patterned die. Nanoplatelets were aligned parallel to the film machine direction. Film stiffness and tensile strength are comparable to the …

Cellulose Nanofiber Composite Membranes For Water Purification, Nithinart Chitpong, Scott M. Husson

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

Global water demand continues to increase because of population growth, urbanization, and climate change. Since there are limited natural water resources, water purification systems play a critical societal role. Membrane technologies are used widely to improve water quality for beneficial use. Therefore, the development of new membranes is an active area of research in the water purification field.

Effect Of Co Adsorption And Coverage On Ethanol Production From Syngas, Anuradha Gundamaraju, Ming He, David A. Bruce

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

Concern over ever decreasing oil supplies, increasing levels of pollution and energy independence have been the primary driving forces behind significant efforts focused on the development of new technologies capable of increasing the production of alternative fuels. To-date, ethanol and to a lesser extent biodiesel have been the only alternative fuels or fuel additives to gain widespread use and be synthesized on a commercial scale. Currently, most of the World’s ethanol is produced from renewable biomass. The biomass feedstocks and fermentation broths used in ethanol production contain high amounts of water, and therefore, the energy efficiency of the process is …

Density Functional Theory Simulations Of Mofs Encapsulated-Catalyzed Systems, Jiazhou Zhu, Rachel B. Getman

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

The research is mainly on Computational Design of Highly Selective Transition Metal Catalysts Encapsulated by Metal-­‐Organic Frameworks for Butane Oxidation to 1-­‐Butanol. Metal Organic Framework (MOF) grown over a heterogeneous catalyst. Pores of framework allow only certain molecules of correct size, orientation, or chemical properties to access catalyst. The framework will force molecule into desired orientation where only the terminal atoms will “see” the catalyst. In our simulation we would like to use the helium ring to simulate the MOFs pores, since He is inert and exhibits the no chemical reactivity. The reaction we are looking into is butane oxidation …

Modification Of Liposome Release Characteristics With Metal Nanoparticles, Saptarshi Chakraborty, Christopher L. Kitchens

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

Gold nanoparticles have been getting increasing amount of attention due to their stability, optical properties and low toxicity in the field of consumer products and biomedicines. Gold nanoparticles with various surface chemistries have been synthesized in order to take advantage of the size, shape and morphology dependent properties of the nanoparticles which vary greatly from the bulk properties. These properties of gold nanoparticles have made them attractive in optical sensing, targeted drug delivery, bio imaging, chemical, catalytic and photo thermal applications. These surface functionalized nanoparticles were used to study nanoparticle-lipid bilayer interactions using lipid bilayer permeability studies, where permeability of …

Polymer Sensors For The Quantification Of Waterborne Uranium, C E. Duval, A F. Seliman, T A. Devol, S M. Husson

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Development Of Anti-Fouling, Anti-Microbial Membranes By Chemical Patterning, Steven Weinman, Na Li, Viatcheslav Freger, Moshe Herzberg, Scott Husson

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

Over 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Membranes are a tool that can help provide clean water to these people. However, treatment of impaired waters for beneficial use exposes the membranes to feed waters containing biological and abiotic species, which leads to fouling and loss of membrane productivity over time. Since reduction in flux due to fouling is one of the largest costs associated with membrane processes in water treatment, new coatings that limit fouling would have significant economic and societal impacts. Developing these advanced coatings is the focus of our work.

Carbon Fibers Derived From Bi-Component Precursors, Jing Jin, Amod A. Ogale

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Conducting Polymer Microstructures And Composites For Supercapacitors, Kryssia P. Diaz-Orellana, Mark E. Roberts

Chemical and Biomolecular Graduate Research Symposium

To increase the performance of conducting polymer electrodes for supercapacitors by controlling polymer assembly, ion transport, electron transfer, and redox processes. The electrode morphology and electrochemical performance are studied.