Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Electrical Homeostasis Of The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, Peyman Fahimi, Lázaro A. M. Castanedo, P. Thomas Vernier, Cherif F. Matta

Bioelectrics Publications

The electric potential across the inner mitochondrial membrane must be maintained within certain bounds for the proper functioning of the cell. A feedback control mechanism for the homeostasis of this membrane potential is proposed whereby an increase in the electric field decreases the rate-limiting steps of the electron transport chain (ETC). An increase in trans-membrane electric field limits the rate of proton pumping to the inter-membrane gap by slowing the ETC reactions and by intrinsically induced electroporation that depolarizes the inner membrane. The proposed feedback mechanism is akin to a Le Chatelier's-type principle of trans-membrane potential feedback control.

Predicting The State Of Health Of Samsung 25r Lithium Ion Batteries, Matthew O'Donnell

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis may contain material at the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level. The full document cannot be released.

Fluid Pathways For Enhanced Mass Transfer In The Micro Regime: Applications In Novel Pumpless Redox Flow Cell And Zinc Finger Protein-Based Dna Detection, Shaikh Al Mahmud Bhuiyan

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Precise fluid transport through microscale geometries can help optimize electrochemical and biochemical processes by maximizing the mass transfer rate of reactants. By introducing intricate structural features inside microchannels, it is possible to manipulate the fluid motion and direct the flow towards any surface of interest. In this study, we have demonstrated that rationally designed fluid pathways can improve the performance of electrochemical and biochemical systems.

The emergence of additive manufacturing has enabled rapid fabrication of robust structures with intricate features to guide fluid motion. However, their application in nonaqueous electrochemical systems has been limited due to their interaction with organic …

Chondrogenic And Chondroprotective Response Of Composite Collagen I/Ii-Hyaluronic Acid Scaffolds Within An Inflammatory Osteoarthritic Environment, Carly M. Battistoni, Javier Munoz Briones, Douglas K. Brubaker, Alyssa Panitch, Julie C. Liu

School of Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Inflammation plays a key role in cartilage damage that occurs in osteoarthritis (OA). However, in vitro assessments of tissue-engineered constructs for cartilage regeneration generally do not consider their performance in the presence of inflammation. In this work, the chondrogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) was evaluated in the presence of both chondrogenic factors and inflammatory cytokines, and cartilage formation, degradative response, and inflammatory response were characterized. The addition of cytokines reduced cartilage production, increased cell proliferation, and resulted in an increase in inflammatory markers. Incorporation of hyaluronic acid (HA) had little impact on both collagen fibril microstructure and …

Corrosion Behavior Of Niti Alloys Fabricated By Laser Powder Bed Fusion In Relation To The Formed Passive Films In Hank's Solution, Yi Fan Zhang, Liang Yu Chen, Yong Liu, Hong Yu Yang, Jin Hua Peng, Chuanbo Zheng, Lina Zhang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) produced NiTi alloys have significant potential in biomedical applications. Varying the parameters of the L-PBF process may result in the NiTi alloys with different ratios of B2 and B19′ phases, thereby, the different corrosion performance in the human body. However, a dearth of research efforts remains dedicated to resolving this issue. This work employed three different but comparable sets of parameters in the L-PBF process to produce NiTi alloys with different ratios of B2 and B19′ phases. The corrosion behavior of samples in Hank's solutions with the addition of lactic acid and their evolution of …

Mxene Based Composite Phase Change Materials For Thermal Energy Storage Applications: Featuring Bio-Mimic Approaches, Md Shahriar Mohtasim, Barun K. Das

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Phase change materials (PCMs) are widely used in thermal energy storage systems, but their underlying drawbacks, such as poor heat conductivity and phase transition leakage, make them unsuitable for widespread use. MXenes have received a lot of curiosity due to having extraordinary mechanical properties, high electrical conductivity, and unique layered structure. Owing to the exquisite arrangements, numerous unique biomimetic morphologies have drawn attention. Numerous investigations regarding bio-mimic MXene/PCM composites (BMX-CPCMs) have found improvements in latent heat up to 106.50 % on average, along with excellent thermal stability with no matrix leakage in 500 cycles and an upsurge in thermal conductivity …

Sensitivity Analysis Of Reservoir Characteristics And Flue Gas Composition For Enhanced Oil Recovery In Heterogeneous Reservoir, Mehdi Nassabeh, Zhenjiang You, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The success of enhanced oil recovery depends on optimizing various reservoir factors. While CO2 and flue gas injections are common methods, they encounter challenges that require a deep understanding of reservoir characteristics and thorough analysis of pertinent parameters for effective mitigation. This study aimed to explore the synergistic relationship between flue gas compositions, reservoir characteristics, and injection rates for optimal oil recovery. Unlike prior studies that primarily examined the isolated effects of CO2 or flue gas, this research uniquely investigates the combined impact of real-world flue gas compositions from industrial sources under heterogeneous reservoir conditions. Through extensive sensitivity analysis and …

Investigating The Potential Of Remote Ultraviolet Sensing For Real-Time Produced Water Monitoring: A Lab-Scale Study, M. Weir, T. Robertson, D. I. Maroef, M. L. Johns, M. Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Traditional produced water discharge monitoring techniques involve ‘end of pipe’ sample collection and analysis, offering a snapshot of discharged fluid composition and predicting the marine environmental risk through dispersion models. This study presents a proof-of-concept analysis of using ultraviolet remote sensing for real-time produced water monitoring, enabling data capture directly within the marine environment. Ultraviolet imaging was used to quantify the sheen intensity of artificially prepared produced water standards and to evaluate the relationship between image signal intensity and total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration over time. A statistically significant relationship was observed between signal intensity and total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations, with …

Enhancing Energy Efficiency In Solar Thermal Systems: The Role Of Hybrid Nanofluids In Sustainable Energy Harvesting And Storage, Seyedehzahra Haeri

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Global energy demand continues to grow, making the reliance on fossil fuels increasingly unsustainable due to dwindling reserves and environmental impacts. Among these, solar thermal systems have emerged as a practical and environmentally friendly solution, with applications ranging from industrial heating and solar water heating to concentrated solar power (CSP) plants and solar desalination units. Solar-based thermal systems offer a promising alternative, with nanofluids (NFs) emerging as a transformative solution. Engineered by dispersing nanoparticles into base fluids, NFs enhance thermal conductivity, heat absorption, and efficiency. Notably, nanoparticles such as titanium nitride also act as nano-catalysts, improving chemical reactions and reducing …

Sub-Bituminous Coal As A Peculiar Adsorbent For Dye Removal From Wastewater, Z. H. Rada, H. R. Abid, M. B. Ahmed, M. Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coal, an abundant and cost-effective adsorbent, is explored for its potential in environmentally friendly greenhouse gas storage. Herein, the adsorption of anionic (methyl orange) and cationic (methylene blue) dyes on sub-bituminous coal was intensively studied. This study is the first application of sub-bituminous coal to examine the removal of different concentrations of dyes from water. The properties of the coal were studied using advanced analytical techniques. The initial dye concentration, solution pH, and adsorbent-adsorbate contact time were investigated for their influence on the adsorption efficiency of the dyes. Adsorption kinetics were then studied by applying common kinetic models and the …

Methylene Blue Adsorption On Y-Zeolite As A Nano-Porous Adsorbent: Equilibrium And Kinetic Studies, Mehdi Narimani, Maryam Gonbadi, Mohammad Mahdi Zerafat

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The elimination of dye pollutants from industrial wastewaters, notably from sectors such as textiles and dyeing, remains a pivotal aspect of pollution mitigation endeavours. This research introduces an innovative strategy employing Y zeolite as a nano-porous adsorbent for eliminating methylene blue (MB), a prevalent cationic dye. Y zeolite was synthesised via hydrothermal technique. Through methodical experimentation, the impact of temperature, contact time, concentration, pH and adsorbent quantity on removal efficiency were examined with optimal conditions achieving 93.83% MB removal. The synthesised Y zeolite underwent characterisation utilising diverse techniques, including SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, and FTIR, which elucidated the structural and …

A Critical Review On Parameters Affecting The Feasibility Of Underground Hydrogen Storage, Chiradip Bagchi, Samarth D. Patwardhan, Stefan Iglauer, Hisham Ben Mahmud, Muhammad Fazil Jaffar Ali

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The need and demand for energy are ever increasing with the rapid urbanization of the global population. Near-future economic development and consequent expected industrialization are the strongest indicators of the rising energy requirement. Though fossil fuel and coal are catering toward a major chunk of energy demand, their negative or adverse impact in terms of emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is causing global warming and imbalance in environmental conditions, leading to a search for commercially viable alternate energy types. As renewable energies like solar and wind are weather-dependent, the search for an alternate energy supply needs …

From Fabrication To Function: Mechanical Insights Into Gelma Microneedle Arrays, Moloud Amini Baghbadorani, Masoumeh Zargar, Asghar Eskandarinia, Majid Tolouei-Rad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) has emerged as a highly suitable material for microneedle (MN) fabrication, offering exceptional biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness. Despite significant advances introduced by GelMA hydrogels, research on GelMA MNs dates back to 2019, yet no review has specifically focused on the manufacturing techniques and mechanical properties of GelMA MNs. For the first time, this review aims to examine the manufacturing methods and mechanical characteristics of GelMA microneedles across various medical applications. Additionally, it discusses different approaches to mechanical characterization and identifies gaps in current manufacturing technologies. The review also explores the potential implications of GelMA MNs in drug delivery …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels Produced By The New Cool Gas To Liquid (Cool Gtl) Process, Elochukwu Okoye

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The Cool Gas-to-Liquid (Cool GTL) process converts biogas and captured CO₂ into renewable hydrocarbon fuels, contributing to GHG emissions reduction in transportation. This report explains a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study that was completed to evaluate the environmental impact of different feedstocks, hydrogen sources, and electricity inputs. The analysis considers biogas from food waste, manure, and landfill sources, as well as biogenic, fossil, and direct air capture (DAC) CO₂ feedstocks. Results show that biogas pathways provide the greatest GHG reductions, with the best case (food and manure biogas + solar hydrogen + solar electricity) achieving a net-negative GWP …

Supercapacitors With Cotton Shell-Derived Activated Carbons And Porous Polymer Electrolyte Films, Saurabh Singh, Yulin Zhang, S. A. Hashmi, Fuqian Yang

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Some of the well-known challenges in the field of supercapacitors (SCs), or more specifically, electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), such as low energy density and high cost, have proven to be major barriers to their widespread market success despite having some excellent electrochemical merits such as high-power density and good cyclic stability. In this work, efforts have been made to overcome these gaps and eventually enhance the performance of EDLCs via a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. To fabricate these EDLCs, a bio-waste, namely, cotton-shell-derived activated carbons (ZnACs) (activated with ZnCl2), was used in a mass ratio of 1 : 2 for …

Improvement Of Cellular Pattern Organization And Clarity Through Centrifugal Force, Lauren E. Mehanna, James D. Boyd, Shelley Remus-Williams, Nicole M. Racca, Dawson P. Spraggins, Martha E. Grady, Brad J. Berron

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Rapid and strategic cell placement is necessary for high throughput tissue fabrication. Current adhesive cell patterning systems rely on fluidic shear flow to remove cells outside of the patterned regions, but limitations in washing complexity and uniformity prevent adhesive patterns from being widely applied. Centrifugation is commonly used to study the adhesive strength of cells to various substrates; however, the approach has not been applied to selective cell adhesion systems to create highly organized cell patterns. This study shows centrifugation as a promising method to wash cellular patterns after selective binding of cells to the surface has taken place. After …

Integrating Protein Language Model And Molecular Dynamics Simulations To Discover Antibiofouling Peptides, Ibrahim A. Imam, Shea Bailey, Duolin Wang, Shuai Zeng, Dong Xu, Qing Shao

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Antibiofouling peptide materials prevent the nonspecific adsorption of proteins on devices, enabling them to perform their designed functions as desired in complex biological environments. Due to their importance, research on antibiofouling peptide materials has been one of the central subjects of interfacial engineering. However, only a few antibiofouling peptide sequences have been developed. This narrow scope of antibiofouling peptide materials limits their capacity to adapt to the broad spectrum of application scenarios. To address this issue, we searched for antibiofouling peptides in the vast sequence pool of the microbiome library using a combination of deep learning-based high-throughput search and molecular …

Clarifying The Role Of Η-Phase With Varying Chemistry On Localised Corrosion Of A Cu-Containing 7xxx Al-Alloy By Quasi-In-Situ Tem, S. K. Kairy, Y. Wu, S. Turk, A. Shekhter, Rudolph Buchheit, N. Birbilis

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Quasi-in-situ transmission electron microscopy was employed to study dissolution associated with η-phase (Mg(Zn,Al,Cu)₂) precipitates in a Cu-containing 7xxx Al-alloy. Two distinct η-phase chemistries, with Cu to (Zn+Mg+Al) ratios ∼0.12 and ∼0.2, were studied in 0.01 M NaCl at pH 6 and 2. In near-neutral NaCl, both η-phase precipitates exhibited ‘duplex’ behaviour, i.e., they were primarily more noble with respect to the surrounding Al-matrix, causing matrix dissolution, and simultaneously established nanoscopic active sites within the noble precipitate itself by generating nanoscale pits. Conversely, η-phase precipitates rapidly dealloyed in acidic NaCl, forming nocrystalline Cu remnants containing twins, which subsequently caused …

Enhancing Intrinsic Ductility In Vnbmotaw High Entropy Alloy: A Combinatorial Investigation With Experimental Evaluation Of Theoretical Predictions, Taohid Bin Nur Tuhser, Ian Stewart Winter, Daryl Chrzan, Thomas John Balk

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The application of refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) as engineering materials has been hindered by their poor inherent ductility. In this study, a novel approach combining thin film combinatorial screening with fragmentation testing was employed to identify intrinsically ductile alloy compositions. Inspired by the physics-based intrinsic ductility parameter, the ‘χ-parameter,’ we investigated the replacement of group VI elements (W/Mo) with group V elements (V, Nb, Ta) in the VNbMoTaW system. Conventional combinatorial analyses, including composition, phase, and hardness assessments, were conducted across a wide range of non-equiatomic configurations. The results revealed a broad compositional space favoring a single-phase body-centered cubic …

Valorizing Municipal Solid Waste For Sustainable Aviation Fuel And Polyhydroxyalkanoate Bioplastics: Pyrolysis And Microbial Pathways, Emon Das

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The escalating global burden of municipal solid waste (MSW), projected to reach 3.88 billion tons annually by 2050, calls for innovative valorization strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and promote a circular bioeconomy. This thesis investigates the conversion of MSW into two high-value products: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics. Chapter one presents comprehensive physicochemical characterization and pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis of MSW feedstocks. The physicochemical results reveal that densification enhances handling and storage properties, while pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis indicates that plastic-rich MSW streams produce bio-oils with favorable hydrocarbon profiles suitable for SAF production, potentially contributing to decarbonization efforts in the aviation …

How Many Passes Does It Take? An Investigation To Determine The Optimal Number Of Liposome Extrusion Cycles, Kasey Piper

Honors Theses

Liposomes are lipid-based nanoparticles with significant applications in drug delivery and membrane research. One of the most common methods for fabricating liposomes of specific sizes is membrane extrusion, where liposomes are passed through porous membranes to reduce their size. The precise number of passes needed and the factors influencing this process remain unclear. This thesis investigates the relationship between the number of passes through a track-etched polycarbonate membrane and size and lamellarity of extruded liposomes with a focus on lipid type (DOPC, DMPC, Soy PC), membrane pore size (50, 100, 200, 400 nm), and the effect of freeze-thaw cycling. To …

Nanotube Spectral Fingerprinting And Machine Learning For Optimized Bioimaging/Sensing And Disease Detection Applications In Als, Rodrigo Monroy Lopez

Open Access Master's Theses

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) possess unique physicochemical and optical properties that make them ideal candidates for biomedical imaging, biosensing, and disease diagnostics. This thesis explores the potential of SWCNT-based spectral fingerprinting combined with ML (Machine Learning) algorithms to optimize bioimaging, disease detection and prediction, with a specific focus on differentiating between healthy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) lymphoblastic patient samples. By functionalizing SWCNTs with single-stranded DNA, we enhance their stability and target specificity, enabling their application in serum patient samples.

A comprehensive spectral analysis of DNA-SWCNTs was conducted using near-infrared fluorescence spectroscopy and other characterization techniques, including UV-Vis-absorption spectroscopy. The …

Valorization Of Biomass Derivatives To Monomers By M-Mox Catalytic Hydrogenation & Hydrodeoxygenation, William Steere, Samir Castilla-Acevedo, Ben Auer, John Styers, Alan Allgeier

UNH URC Open (2026 and after)

With increasing concern regarding global warming contributions by fossil fuels in petrochemical production, the potential use of biomass-derived molecules to serve as a more eco-friendly feedstock has grown in popularity. Specifically, sebacic acid, a versatile chemical used to produce nylons, plasticizers, and lubricants, has the potential to be obtained from bio-renewable feedstocks and alleviate environmental drawbacks from fossil fuel petrochemical production. Our research validates the catalytic conversion of the biomass-derived 2,2’-bifuran 5,5’-dicarboxylate (BFDCM) to sebacic acid (SA), through M-MO_x catalyzed hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation. Catalytic activity tests were conducted for four different Pd-supported catalysts (C, Al₂O₃, …

Emulsion Liquid Membrane (Elm) Technique For Efficient Separation Of Heavy Metals From Acidic Solutions Including Phosphoric Acid: A Review, O. Karai, N. Y. Selem, K. Benabderazak, J. Mendil, H. Mazouz, M. H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Heavy metal ions in aqueous and acidic solutions pose serious threats to ecosystems. Their effective removal is crucial, and emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technology offers a promising solution. This review delves into ELM's principles, mechanisms, components, and performance indicators including stability for extracting heavy metals from acidic solutions including phosphoric acid., ELM's stability issues, such as internal phase coalescence, membrane leakage, and swelling, limit its efficiency. Thus, this review paper discusses previous research that analyzed ELM stability and heavy metal extraction efficiency from these acidic solutions. Furthermore, it assesses other techniques like Emulsion Ionic Liquid Membrane (EILM) and Pickering Emulsion …

Enhanced Cholesterol Efflux And Atherosclerosis Regression Via Ceh Gene Delivery Using Galactose-Functionalized Dendrimeric Nanoparticles, Huari Kou, Jing Wang, Paul J. Yannie, Da Huang, William J. Korzun, Genta Kakiyama, Siddhartha S. Ghosh, Hu Yang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) is a critical enzyme in cholesterol ester hydrolysis, influencing cholesterol metabolism and efflux. This study demonstrates that CEH overexpression promotes free cholesterol efflux from macrophages, thereby reducing the lipid burden in existing atherosclerotic plaques. To enable targeted delivery, galactose-functionalized polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimeric nanoparticles were utilized as nanocarriers for hepatic delivery of the CEH expression vector. The therapeutic potential of CEH plasmid-loaded dendrimeric nanoparticles was evaluated in Ldlr-/- mice. Results showed a significant reduction in total lesion area (21%) and aortic arch lesion area (23%) compared to baseline. Lesion component analysis revealed marked decreases in total cholesterol …

Statistical Investigation Of Gypsum Crystallization Kinetics, Azmain A. Akash

LSU Master's Theses

Gypsum, a naturally occurring mineral salt, is frequently encountered in industrial processes such as seawater desalination and power plant cooling. Over the years, significant effort has been devoted to controlling the crystallization of gypsum through various chemical approaches, including acidification, chelating agents, and antiscalant polymers. Nevertheless, the cost associated with chemical treatments may be reduced by incorporating physical operational strategies to complement chemical methods in regulating gypsum crystallization.

This study systematically examines the comparative roles of chemical and physical entropy in the gypsum crystallization process to elucidate their respective influences on gypsum growth kinetics. Chemical entropy is manipulated by adjusting …

Membrane Reactor Modeling And Optimization For Hydrogen Production, Ayooluwa Tomiwa Akintola

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There has been an ongoing trend toward cleaner fuels for more environmentally benign forms of energy generation. Recently, hydrogen has been identified as a clean fuel for energy generation. However, the most established, efficient, and widely utilized technique for producing hydrogen remains the steam methane reforming (SMR) in the presence of catalyst. Unlike other fossil fuels, utilizing methane from natural gas in an SMR process to produce hydrogen emits less, but yet a notable sum of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the endothermic nature of SMR reactions imply that there is a high energy requirement to obtain a substantial amount of hydrogen …

Engineering Nanomaterials From Phase-Change Biological Materials Reacting With Carbon Dioxide, Qingyang Li

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current global situation concerning CO2 emissions is increasingly alarming, with rising concentrations of CO2 significantly worsening climate change and global warming. Atmospheric CO2 levels are now at their highest in millions of years, driving a host of catastrophic effects, including but not limited to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, disrupted ecosystems, deteriorating air quality, respiratory health issues, heat-related illnesses, threats to food and water security, and escalating social and geopolitical tensions. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C higher than that of pre-industry – as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need …

Expanding The Vibrating Sharp-Edge Spray Ionization Toolkit For Oligonucleotide Characterization, Sultan Mahmud

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A gentle or soft Ionization process is a critical component in native mass spectrometry (MS) to lift the biomolecules from the bulk solution into the gas phase environment of the mass spectrometer preserving their shape, topology and non-covalent interactions. Electrospray ionization (ESI) facilitates structural preservation of proteins, nucleic acids and their complexes and as a result it has been extensively used in native MS. However, in negative ion mode, ESI is somewhat limited in sensitivity due to corona discharge effect resulting from the requirement of a high amount of voltage. This often disrupts the ESI process and may not preserve …

Effects Of Chain Length, Saturation, And Bases On Saponification, Sarah Fenik

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will analyze the effects of chain length and saturation of fatty acids on saponification processes, as well as the effects of the base used in the reaction. Stearic acid, lauric acid, and oleic acid will be used for the fatty acid comparisons, and sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide will be used for the base comparisons. Stearic acid is considered a long chain fatty acid, while lauric acid is considered a short chain fatty acid. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid. Five soap products are be made: sodium stearate, sodium laurate, sodium oleate, potassium stearate, and potassium oleate. …