Chemical Engineering Commons^™

The Design And Implementation Of A Modular Tissue Engineering Test Bed To Pursue An Alternate Pathway Of Cell Culture Based Research, Ryley Patrick Griffin

Theses and Dissertations

The development of a Modular Automated Tissue Engineering Test Bed (MATETB) is the next step in the development of cheap and easily available in vitro cell regulatory systems for both academic and industrial purposes. This project outlined the framework and requirements for a device that could automatically regulate and collect data on a cell culture through the manipulation of its liquid environment. From this framework, a prototype was built. The device would fulfill cell culture needs while collecting data automatically and allowing for live viewing and imaging of cells. The device was comprised of a mechanical skeleton (MS), an environmental …

Synthesis, Characterization And Testing Of Graphene-Based Materials For Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Catalysts, Hassan Shirzadi Jahromi

Dissertations

The requirement for low cost and efficient catalysts for fuel cells motivated the proposed research on Nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) integrated with transition metal zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). Synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of the newly synthesized nitrogen-doped graphene oxide-based catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) constitutes the main objective of this thesis.

The synthesis of N-rGO combined with cobalt, nickel, or iron ZIFs was carried out using wet chemical methods followed by one step pyrolysis at 900°C, resulting in catalysts with highly porous structures and uniform metal nanoparticle distribution. These were characterized for structure, microstructure, composition …

Isolation And Upgrading Of Lignin From Agricultural Sources Using Phase Equilibria, Bronson Lynn

All Dissertations

In the emerging bioeconomy, agricultural residues from our nationwide crop harvests are positioned to be a cornerstone of renewable and sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials. However, to be economically viable, the basic constituents of this plant matter must be separated and funneled to the appropriate application to maximize value and overall usability.

This work focuses on the component that has, to this point, been largely left behind: lignin. Although it is the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on the planet, making up 15-40% of grasses, hardwoods, and softwoods, the processing involved to isolate usable lignins is too complex and expensive to …

Development And Characterization Of Organic Electrocatalysts For Use In Zinc-Air Batteries, Christopher John Merkel

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

The global deployment of solar photovoltaic and wind power is projected by the International Energy Agency as the primary pathway to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, these technologies face a critical bottleneck: their inherently intermittent power generation. For “intermittent renewables” to become the dominant source of electrical energy, efficient energy storage systems are essential. Current storage solutions are not viable on a global scale due to material scarcity, safety concerns, and high capital costs. Among emerging technologies, zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have garnered significant interest. ZABs offer a theoretical energy density five times greater than traditional lithium-ion batteries, utilize safe …

Wind Tunnel Investigation Of The Along-Wind Dispersion In Finite-Duration Neutrally Buoyant Gas Releases, Daniel Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the along-wind dispersion of hazardous gas releases within a turbulent boundary layer using controlled experiments in an ultra-low-speed wind tunnel, recognizing the limitations of numerical modeling and field tests. This study utilizes a neutrally buoyant gas mixture and dual Flame Ionization Detectors (FIDs) to capture representative, repeatable data on gas cloud behavior over finite durations. Ensemble averaging of 65 trials across varying release durations and downwind distances provided detailed insights into gas dispersion and the distinct time phases within finite-duration releases. Analysis revealed that along-wind dispersion coefficients depend on turbulence and vertical wind shear, with normalized coefficients …

Predicting The Rates Of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Over Cocatalyst-Deposited Tio2 Using Machine Learning With Active Photon Flux As A Unifying Feature, Yousof Haghshenas, Wei Ping Wong, Denny Gunawan, Alireza Khataee, Ramazan Keyikoğlu, Amir Razmjou, Priyank Vijaya Kumar, Cui Ying Toe, Hassan Masood, Rose Amal, Vidhyasaharan Sethu, Wey Yang Teoh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

An accurate model for predicting TiO2 photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) rates is hereby presented. The model was constructed from a database of 971 entries extracted predominantly from the open literature. A key step that enabled high accuracy lies in the use of active photon flux (AcP, photons with energy equal to and greater than the bandgap energy of the photocatalyst) as the input feature describing the irradiation. The quantification of AcP, besides being a more direct feature describing the photocatalyst excitation, circumvents the use of lamp power ratings and light intensities as ambiguous inputs as they encompass varying degrees …

Journal Of Electrochemistry, The Flagship Journal Of Chinese Chemical Society Electrochemical Committee, Made A Public Appearance At The 22nd National Electrochemical Congress, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

The Award Ceremony Of The 2nd Xiamen University Short Video Abstract Contest For Science And Technology Journal Papers Came To A Successful Conclusion, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

The 9th National Conference Of Solid State Battery Successfully Held In Xiamen, Fujian, Zheng-Liang Gong

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Development Of Novel Nanobiocatalysts For Enhancing Carbon Dioxide Capture, Merna Tarek Farag

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere cause a climate change that has devastating impacts. Therefore, reaching the net zero goal, which is the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emitted to the atmosphere and that removed from it, is critical for the future of our planet unless the net-zero goal is achieved soon, the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen, with severe consequences for ecosystems, human health, and global security. Achieving this goal requires a fundamental shift in the way we produce and consume energy, including the rapid transition to renewable energy sources with improvements …

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

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

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 suggested …

Novel Nanocomposite Of Carbonized Chitosan-Zinc Oxide-Magnetite For Adsorption Of Toxic Elements From Aqueous Solutions, Dalia A. Ali Eng, Ganna Gaber Ismail Eng.

Chemical Engineering

Herein, a novel nanocomposite (carbonized chitosan-zinc oxide-magnetite, CCZF) was developed to effectively remove toxic elements in water remediation. Combining the high adsorption capacities of chitosan with the magnetic properties of magnetite and the chemical stability of zinc oxide, the combination of these unique properties makes it an efficient and versatile material that offers a sustainable solution for water purification. The (CCZF) nanocomposite was synthesized through the coprecipitation method and characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The results showed …

Analysis Of Dual, Onboard Storage And Separation Of Biogas In Carbon-Based Adsorbed Gas Systems, Kyle Newport, Carlos Wexler, Peter Pfeifer, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Direct utilization of "low-grade" biogas, as an important sustainable energy resource, provides a viable approach to avoid the energy-intensive upgrading step that is often required to separate CO₂ from CH₄ in order to produce a pipeline-grade fuel gas. This study investigated dual, onboard storage and separation of biogas in an adsorbed gas system (AGS) over two highly porous carbon sorbents, Br-318 and Nuchar, in the pressure range of 0-55 bar. The AGS was pressurized with a 50/50 vol % CH₄/CO₂ feed and working capacities as a function of charge-discharge pressures and temperatures were determined and …

Sound Innovations For Biofabrication And Tissue Engineering, Mengxi Wu, Zhiteng Ma, Zhenhua Tian, Joseph Rich, Xin He, Jianping Xia, Ye He, Kaichun Yang, Shujie Yang, Kam W. Leong, Luke P. Lee, Tony Jun Huang

Faculty Publications

Advanced biofabrication techniques can create tissue-like constructs that can be applied for reconstructive surgery or as in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models for disease modeling and drug screening. While various biofabrication techniques have recently been widely reviewed in the literature, acoustics-based technologies still need to be explored. The rapidly increasing number of publications in the past two decades exploring the application of acoustic technologies highlights the tremendous potential of these technologies. In this review, we contend that acoustics-based methods can address many limitations inherent in other biofabrication techniques due to their unique advantages: noncontact manipulation, biocompatibility, deep tissue penetrability, versatility, precision …

Nonequilibrium Plasma Synthesis And Processing Of Iii-Nitride Materials, Dillon Patrick Moher

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nitrogen is abundant on Earth as its diatomic form, and human activity has generated a significant demand for nitrogen-containing compounds. However, its triple bond energy of 941 kJ/mol makes it a poor reactive species in the ground state. Nitrogen-containing nonequilibrium plasmas are made up of background gas, electrons, ions, and a multitude of excited states of nitrogen or even atomic nitrogen. Many of these species have rather high reactivity. As such, the plasma medium is of great potential for driving chemical reactions that involve nitrogen as a reactant, i.e., nitrogen fixation into compounds like ammonia, high-energy-density polynitrogen compounds, and metal-nitride …

Nonequilibrium Plasma Synthesis And Processing Of Iii-Nitride Materials, Dillon Patrick Moher

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nitrogen is abundant on Earth as its diatomic form, and human activity has generated a significant demand for nitrogen-containing compounds. However, its triple bond energy of 941 kJ/mol makes it a poor reactive species in the ground state. Nitrogen-containing nonequilibrium plasmas are made up of background gas, electrons, ions, and a multitude of excited states of nitrogen or even atomic nitrogen. Many of these species have rather high reactivity. As such, the plasma medium is of great potential for driving chemical reactions that involve nitrogen as a reactant, i.e., nitrogen fixation into compounds like ammonia, high-energy-density polynitrogen compounds, and metal-nitride …

Techno-Economic Analysis Of Waste Plastic Gasification, Henrik Don-Yor Ketting

Master's Theses

The increasing generation of plastic waste and its environmental impact has driven interest in alternative disposal methods such as gasification. This study presents a techno-economic analysis of the gasification of waste plastics, specifically polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), to produce syngas. A two-stage process—thermal decomposition followed by steam reforming—was simulated using Aspen Plus. The simulation results were validated against experimental data available in the literature. The economic analysis was conducted by estimating the capital and operating costs of the gasification plant, considering factors such as feedstock costs, energy requirements, and syngas purification systems. Net Present Value Calculations were used to …

Antimicrobial Activity And Photostability Of Cationic Conjugated Polyelectrolytes, Mohammed Ismael Khalil

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health concern, driving the need for novel

therapeutic strategies. This study explores the antimicrobial efficacy of conjugated

polyelectrolytes (CPEs) and oligo-phenylene ethynylenes (OPEs) in bacterial and viral

inactivation. Quantitative analysis revealed that light-activated CPEs and OPEs

effectively reduced bacterial viability within minutes, with significant log reductions

observed under both light and dark conditions. Additionally, the antiviral potential of a

cationic conjugated oligomer was investigated, demonstrating rapid and near-complete

inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 under visible light, both in solution and on filter materials.

Further analysis of their photophysical properties revealed that, even after

photobleaching, the compounds …

Cactus Infused Beads For Off-Flavor Mitigation In Aquaculture Systems, Rama Mahita Kambhampati

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aquaculture has become a vital component of global food production, now providing 50% of the world's fish supply. However, the industry encounters major challenges due to off-flavor compounds like Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB), which give fish an unpleasant earthy or musty smell. These compounds are detectable by humans at extremely low levels 0.7 parts per billion (ppb) for MIB and ten parts per trillion (ppt) for Geosmin—making them a persistent problem. Their presence not only reduces the sensory quality of aquaculture products but also results in significant economic losses, with U.S. catfish production incurring an additional $15–$23 million annually due …

Effect Of Specimen Size On The Tensile Properties Of Selective Laser Melted Ti-6ai-4v, Timothy L. Tan

Master's Theses

Metal additive manufacturing (MAM) is a burgeoning industry. It is capable of manufacturing metal components with fine, intricate features and enables localized microstructural control. Due to its fine resolution and compatibility with common engineering alloys, selective laser melting (SLM) is one particular MAM process popular in academia and industry. The biomedical and aerospace industries have shown exceptional interest in the capabilities of SLM with the alloy Ti-6Al-4V. Because SLM Ti-6Al-4V components are aimed for use in critical applications, it is necessary to understand how SLM processing characteristics affect final part performance. One characteristic of SLM Ti-6Al- 4V that requires further …

Collapse Of Pre-Covid-19 Differences In Performance In Online Vs. In-Person College Science Classes, And Continued Decline In Student Learning, Gregg R. Davidson, Hong Xiao, Kristin Davidson

Faculty and Student Publications

Abstract: Studies comparing student outcomes for online vs. in-person classes have reported mixed results, though with a majority finding that lower-performing students, on average, fare worse in online classes, attributed to the lack of built-in structure provided by in-person instruction. The online/in-person outcome disparity was normative for non-major geology classes at the University of Mississippi prior to COVID-19, but the difference disappeared in the years after 2020. Previously distinct trendlines of GPA-based predictions of earned-grade for online and in-person classes merged. Of particular concern, outcomes for in-person classes declined to match pre-COVID-19 online expectations, with lower-GPA students disproportionally impacted. Objective …

Study Of Different Treatment Strategies In Epidemic Models Using Nonlinear Model Predictive Control, Hector Puebla, Luis A. Ricardez-Sandoval, Priti Kumar Roy

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Boosting The Power Performance Of Microbial Fuel Cells By Using Dual Nanomaterial-Modified Carbon Felt Electrodes, Krishna Thapa, Wenyan Liu, Yuwei Zhang, David J. Westenberg, Yishu Zhou, Risheng Wang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Innovative design enhancements to microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are pivotal for improving their viability as renewable energy sources. This study introduces a dual approach to electrode modification, integrating polyaniline (PANI) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on carbon felt (CF) anodes coupled with a unique cathode composed of DNA origami and chitosan. The synergistic effect of PANI and AuNPs significantly increases the hydrophilicity and conductivity of the anode, leading to a considerable surge in power density. Concurrently, the biocompatible DNA origami and chitosan-functionalized cathode facilitates efficient electron transfer without relying on conventional catalysts. Together, these modifications yield a 52.42% increase in the …

Ignis: A One-Dimensional Laminar Flame Code, Jansen P. Berryhill, Jacob K. Spinti, David O. Lignell

Faculty Publications

Laminar flame codes have an important role in combustion modeling. They can provide a fundamental understanding of flame dynamics and provide a basis for building subgrid scale models in turbulent flow simulations. This paper presents Ignis, an open-source laminar flame code with the capability to offload submodels, like soot formation and radiation, using external packages and libraries. Ignis is written in C++, is documented with Doxygen, and is available on GitHub. It contains three different flame formulations: diffusion flames, premixed flames, and laminar flamelets solved in the mixture fraction coordinate. An option to facilitate creation of a diffusion flame table …

The Effect Of Organic Semiconductor Electron Affinity On Preventing Parasitic Oxidation Reactions Limiting Performance Of N-Type Organic Electrochemical Transistors, Maryam Alsufyani, Benjamin Moss, Claudia E. Tait, William K. Myers, Maryam Shahi, Katherine Stewart, Xiaolei Zhao, Reem B. Rashid, Dilara Meli, Ruiheng Wu, Bryan D. Paulsen, Karl J. Thorley, Yuanbao Lin, Craig Combe, Charlie Kniebe-Evans, Sahika Inal, Sang Young Jeong, Han Young Woo, Grant Ritchie, Ji-Seon Kim, Jonathan Rivnay, Alexandra F. Paterson, James R. Durrant, Iain Mcculloch

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

A key challenge in the development of organic mixed ionic-electronic conducting materials (OMIEC) for high performance electrochemical transistors is their stable performance in ambient. When operating in aqueous electrolyte, potential reactions of the electrochemically injected electrons with air and water could hinder their persistence, leading to a reduction in charge transport. Here, the impact of deepening the LUMO energy level of a series of electron-transporting semiconducting polymers is evaluated, and subsequently rendering the most common oxidation processes of electron polarons thermodynamically unfavorable, on organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) performance. Employing time resolved spectroelectrochemistry with three analogous polymers having varying electron affinities …

Precision Bottlebrush Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, And Structure-Property Relationship, Nduka D. Ogbonna

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Bottlebrush polymers, a type of non-linear polymer characterized by densely grafted side chains on a linear backbone, offer a versatile platform for material design due to their unique thermomechanical and rheological behavior. Addressing the grand challenge of achieving structural precision for bottlebrush polymers remains crucial because traditional disperse mixtures are plagued with batch variability, limiting our ability to control their functions, and correlate theoretical predictions with experiments. To date, narrow-dispersity bottlebrush polymers remain highly heterogeneous, as they are typically synthesized from disperse linear building blocks.

To address this longstanding challenge of structural heterogeneity in brush polymers, the primary objective of …

Characterization Of Aromatic Stationary Phases For Uses In High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Anastasia Davis

Honors Theses

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical chemist technique used to separate a sample into its components to characterize and study a specific molecule or compound. Traditionally, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in different industries, such as the environmental and pharmaceutical fields, uses stationary phases that are already well characterized, such as the C18 stationary phase for separation. However, aromatic stationary phases have recently been produced, which have phenyl groups bonded to the interior surface of the column. Still, they have not been well characterized because of how modern they are. This project characterized several aromatic stationary phases (Biphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, and …

Investigating The Effect Of Microwave Pretreatment On Bastnasite Grinding For Comminution Energy Reduction And Rare Earth Recovery, Kaveh Asgari, Qingqing Huang, Rick Q. Honaker, Edward Sabolsky

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

This study explored the impact of microwave pretreatment on the grinding efficiency of bastnaesite ore using a stirred mill. Bastnaesite ore was prepared using a staged crushing and sieving process, followed by microwave pretreatment in a specially designed microwave furnace system. Representative samples of the crushed ore underwent stirred mill grinding, with power draw measurements recorded and adjusted to reflect only the specific energy input required for grinding. Particle size distribution was analyzed periodically using laser particle size analysis. In addition, a Box–Behnken design was used to statistically assess the effects of various parameters on the results, ensuring a robust …

Zeta Potential Of Supercritical Co2-Water-Sandstone Systems And Its Correlation With Wettability And Residual Subsurface Trapping Of Co2, Jan Vinogradov, Miftah Hidayat, Mohammad Sarmadivaleh, David Vega-Maza, Stefan Iglauer, Lijuan Zhang, Dajiang Mei, Jos Derksen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although CO2 geological storage (CGS) is thought to be one of the most promising technologies to sequester the anthropogenic CO2 to mitigate the climate change, implementation of the method is still challenging due to lack of fundamental understanding of controls of wettability, which is responsible for residual trapping of the gas and its flow dynamics. One of the key parameters that controls the wetting state is the zeta potential, ζ, at rock-water and CO2-water interfaces. ζ in systems comprising rocks, carbonated aqueous solutions and immiscible supercritical CO2 have not been measured prior to this study, where we detail the experimental …

Review On Spontaneous Imbibition Mechanisms In Gas-Water Systems: Impacts On Unconventional Gas Production And Co2 Geo-Sequestration, Yihang Xiao, Zhenjiang You, Zhengtong Du, Yongming He, Jun Zheng, Yujie Yuan, Lei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Spontaneous imbibition, a fundamental process in porous media, involves the displacement of a non-wetting phase by a wetting phase driven by capillary pressure. It plays a key role in various applications, particularly in unconventional gas production and greenhouse gas geo-sequestration. Despite extensive research in this area, conflicting results and explanations persist regarding imbibition phenomena, particularly in gas-water systems. This paper aims to address this gap by providing a comprehensive review of basic concepts, mechanical analyses, pore-filling patterns, front evolutions, and influencing factors associated with spontaneous imbibition. Mechanical factors including capillary force, viscous force, gravitational force, hydrostatic force, inertial force, capillary …