Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Gold-Semiconductor Photocatalysts For Water Treatment Under Visible And Ultraviolet Light, Daniel Willis

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Water scarcity threatens the lives of millions of people worldwide. It is imperative to improve the energy efficiency and affordability of water treatment methods to avoid a looming water-energy crisis. To meet this challenge, I have pursued research on the use of sunlight—our most reliable and abundant source of energy—to drive water treatment through photocatalysis. I explored the literature and found gold-semiconductor materials to hold promise for harvesting sunlight and catalyzing the breakdown of waterborne contaminants. Initially, I designed a novel optical cavity with gold (Au) nanoparticles on a zinc oxide / titania (TiO₂) / aluminum film stack …

Study Of The Rheological Properties Of The Suspension Formed During The Production Of Caustic Soda By The Lime Method, Aktam Ulashovich Erkaev, Dildora Tursunova

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The process of obtaining sodium hydroxide - caustic soda by conversion of soda ash with lime milk in the presence of natural mirabilite - has been investigated. The influence of temperature, Na₂CO₃: Na₂SO₄ ratio, concentration of lime milk and duration of the conversion process on this process was studied by identifying their optimal values. The study of the rheological properties of the reaction pulp showed that it is mobile and well filtered, which makes it possible to obtain rapidly settling large crystals of Na₂CO₃·2Na₂SO₄, Na …

Mathematical Models Of New Magnetoelastic Sensor For Measure Of Power And Vibration Parameters, Javhar Sulton Ugli Fayzullayev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

In the paper, the mathematical models of the new magnetoelastic sensor for measuring power and vibration parameters are developed taking into account the aggregation or scattering of the parameters of electromagnetic chains and the characteristics of the magnetization curve of the magnetic conductor material. The analysis of the generated mathematical models and graphs based on them showed that the magnetic chain in which the coils are assembled does not take into account the nonlinearity of the magnetization curve of the magnetic conductive material (electrotechnical steel), the result is 12 ÷ 15% of the experimental results. It varies by 6 ÷ …

Calculate The Reliability Of The Bts-Bsc Network With The Reserved Line Connection, Dilmurod Davronbekov, Utkir Karimovich Matyokubov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The issue of reserving communication lines between the base station and the mobile network base station controller which are considered as one system is considered. Analytical expressions have been developed for calculating the reliability of the system for various options for backing up communication lines between the base station and the base station controller. The results of research and calculations of reliability for ten different types of backup communication lines of the base station and the base station controller are presented.

To Increasing The Absorption Area Of Column Apparatus With Tubular Lattice Nozzles, Nurmukhamedov Habibulla Sagdullaevich, Batir Babatulaev, Elbek Mavlanov, Samukdjan Nigmadjanov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The problem of creating a compact refrigeration zone for absorbers with tubular-lattice nozzles made of pipes with spiral turbulators is discussed. Research has been carried out on the influence of the groove depth h/D and α/α_гл of the step of their placement t/D on the degree of heat transfer intensification α/α_о in the transition region of the gas-liquid flow. An intensification of heat transfer has been achieved only by increasing the groove depth from h/D = 0,003 to 0,095 and the optimal pitch of the grooves, the intensity of heat transfer is 2 or more times. Research has …

Development Of A New Technology For Obtaining The Substance Of The Drug Acetamizole, Sarvar Saidov, Asqar Abdurazakov, Rixsibay Karimov, Mavluda Baltabayeva

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The main goal of this work is to obtain a preparation of acetamizole based on local raw materials by a more convenient method of acylation of 2-methoxycarbonylaminobenzimidazole with glacial acetic acid, this synthesis method is proposed for the first time. On the basis of the conducted experiments, favorable conditions for the reaction were found, the influence of the nature of the acid, the temperature, the duration of the reaction and other factors on the course of the reaction was studied, the technology was developed and implemented at the experimental production of "IHRV AN RUz". Based on experiments conducted by scientists …

Mathematical Model Of A System For Controlling And Diagnosing The Safety State Of Oil And Gas Territory, Erkin Uljaev, Utkirjon Murodillaevich Ubaydullaev, Gayrat Bakhtiyarovich Tadzhitdinov, Sherzod Kholmuminovich Eshkuvatov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

In this article, the way of creation mathematical model of a control system and diagnostics of the security status of the oil and gas territory is considered. For performing diagnostics of the safety of a status of the oil and gas territory as a mathematical apparatus it is suggested to use a boolean algebra. The main controlled objects and their technological parameters which define safety, integrity of saving, operational carrying out monitoring status as separate objects and all oil and gas territory, prediction of the expected threats, economic social, and economic damage are selected. For the creation of a mathematical …

Methodology For Determination And Assessment Of Uncertainty Sources Of Textile Materials Total Thermal Resistance, Abdurauf Abdurashidovich Abdukayumov, Ortagoli Sharipovich Hakimov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The problems of improving of methods for determination of the total thermal resistance of textile materials are considered. A comparative analysis of the applied methods based on stationary and non-stationary heat exchange is performed. A higher accuracy of non-stationary methods based on measuring the cooling time of a heat cell with subsequent determination of the cooling rate and the total thermal resistance of the material under study is noted. A method is proposed for estimating the variance of the main values required for calculating the total thermal resistance of materials. The results of the study of the relationship between sources …

Analysis Of Consistency Of Similarity Predicates To Measures Of Similarity And Advantages Of Their Application In Digital Systems For Solving Intellectual Problems, Makhmudjon Abdullaev, Nodira Batirdjanovna Alimova

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The results of the analysis of the correspondence of similarity predicates to similarity measures used in various metric methods used for signal classification and the feasibility of using similarity predicates in the construction of digital systems for solving intellectual problems, for which the simplification of computational operations is of no small importance, are presented. Some general and distinctive features of the similarity predicate are considered in comparison with the euclidean metric in relation to one-dimensional and two-dimensional spaces, and generalized to the case of n-dimensional metric spaces. The expediency of using methods based on the calculation of similarity predicates, which …

Development Of Novel Phase Change Material (Pcm)-Based Nanocomposites Using Emerging Nanomaterials For Energy Storage Applications, Navid Aslfattahi

Student Works (2020-2029)

Energy storage is a global critical issue and important area of research as most of the renewable sources of energy are intermittent. In this thesis, novel nanomaterials including recently emerged two-dimensional nanomaterial MXene (Ti3C2), hybrid graphene-silver (Gr-Si), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), magnesium oxide (MgO) and alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles are used as additives into various types of organic/inorganic phase change materials (PCMs) for formulation of promising PCM-based nanocomposites to improve their thermo-physical properties. This research work focuses on synthesis, preparation, characterization, thermal storage properties and thermal stability characteristic of new class of nanocomposites induced with advanced/emerging nanomaterials. Novel two_dimensional MXene (Ti3C2) …

Development Of Small-Scale Plutonium Electrorefining In Molten Cacl2, Devin Rappleye, James Mcneese, Richard Torres, Kiel Holliday, Jason R. Jeffries

Faculty Publications

Molten salt extraction and electrorefining of plutonium were successfully conducted with only a 200-g initial charge. Due to this small scale, the electrorefining cell components were redesigned relative to conventional, multi-kg standards. The efficiency and yield of this small-scale process are comparable to those of larger-scale exemplars. Chemical analysis of the plutonium product and the anode heel is presented. The product was 99.8% pure. The anode heel was able to be depleted beyond the expected freezing point without significant impurity carryover.

Quantitative Pcr Of Small Nucleic Acids: Size Matters, Jay Min Lim, Rahul Tevatia, Ravi Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Quantitative dysregulation in small nucleic acids (NA), such as microRNA (miRNA), extracted from minimally invasive biopsies, such as, blood, stool, urine, nose, throat, are promising biomarker for diseases diagnosis and management. We quantify the effect of the extra step of poly(A) ligation for cDNA synthesis and small size of the NA on the limit of quantification (LOQ) of quantitative PCR (qPCR), the gold standard to measure copy number. It was discovered that for small NA, the cycle threshold, Ct that is proportional to −log[c], where [c] is the concentration of the target NA exhibits a sharp transition. The results indicate …

Applied Evanescent Wave On Zinc Oxide Nanorods Coated Glass Surface For Sensing Applications, Mohd Hafiz Jali

Student Works (2020-2029)

A simple and workable optical fiber sensor was successfully proposed and demonstrated by integrating the microfiber and the glass surface coated with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorods. It exploited the distinctive features of the large evanescent wave of the microfiber and surface absorption capability of the ZnO nanomaterials coated glass surface to couple with the surrounding analyte. An experimental validation was performed to optimize and verify the sensing performance of the proposed structure. ZnO nanorod growth time of 12-hours and microfiber waist diameter of 6 µm provide optimum sensing results towards the changes of humidity concentration level. The diameter of silica …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Electrospun Poly(Acrylonitrile-Co-Methyl Acrylate)/Lignin Nanofibers: Effects Of Lignin Type And Total Polymer Concentration, Suchitha Devadas, Saja M. Nabat Al-Ajrash, Donald A. Klosterman, Kenya A. Crosson, Garry S. Crosson, Erick S. Vasquez

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Lignin macromolecules are potential precursor materials for producing electrospun nanofibers for composite applications. However, little is known about the effect of lignin type and blend ratios with synthetic polymers. This study analyzed blends of poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) (PAN-MA) with two types of commercially available lignin, low sulfonate (LSL) and alkali, kraft lignin (AL), in DMF solvent. The electrospinning and polymer blend solution conditions were optimized to produce thermally stable, smooth lignin-based nanofibers with total polymer content of up to 20 wt % in solution and a 50/50 blend weight ratio. Microscopy studies revealed that AL blends possess good solubility, miscibility, and …

Emulsion Templating Application For Synthesis Of A Porous Zein Biocompatible Oil Adsorbent, Nathan Holley

LSU Master's Theses

The recovery of spilled oil from water sources using hydrophobic porous absorbent has gained significant interest due to the ease of implementation, large-scale adaptability, and robust nature of the technique. However, the lack of biodegradability of these synthetic adsorbents has caused concern of further contaminating the environment from the generation of microplastic waste that is known to persist and accumulate in the marine food chain and other ecosystems. To mitigate this potential hazard, a new biocompatible alternative is needed to replace the non-degradable synthetic materials currently used. This thesis presents ZEin-based Low Density porous Absorbent (ZELDA), synthesized using a particle …

Magnetically Induced Demulsification Of Water And Castor Oil Dispersions Stabilized By Fe3o4-Coated Cellulose Nanocrystals, Mohammad J. Hasan, Frankie A. Petrie, Ashley E. Johnson, Joshua Peltan, Meredith Gannon, Robert T. Busch, Serhiy O. Leontsev, Erick S. Vasquez, Esteban E. Ureña-Benavides

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticle (NP) coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were synthesized and used to prepare emulsions with magnetically controlled stability. Magnetite NPs were deposited onto the surface of wood pulp CNCs (WCNCs) and bacterial CNCs (BCNCs) by a one-step coprecipitation method. The effect of the CNC to Fe3O4 mass ratio (1:1, 1:2, and 1:4) was varied to optimize the colloidal, magnetic and emulsifying properties of the hybrid NPs. TEM images showed that the 1:4 ratios lead to greater coverage of Fe3O4 than lower Fe3O4 loadings (1:1, and 1:2). The CNCs and Fe3O4 appeared to interact via hydrogen bonding between …

Polymeric Nanovectors Incorporated With Ganciclovir And Hsv-Tk Encoding Plasmid For Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy, Alicia J. Sawdon, Jun Zhang, Sarah Peng, Esmael M. Alyami, Ching An Peng

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

In the area of gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT), using herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) paired with prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) for cancer treatment has been extensively studied. It is a process involved with two steps whereby the gene (HSV-tk) is first delivered to malignant cells. Afterward, non-toxic GCV is administered to that site and activated to cytotoxic ganciclovir triphosphate by HSV-tk enzyme expressed exogenously. In this study, we presented a one-step approach that both gene and prodrug were delivered at the same time by incorporating them with polymeric micellar nanovectors. GCV was employed as an initiator in the ring-opening …

Alternative View Of Oxygen Reduction On Porous Carbon Electrocatalysts: The Substance Of Complex Oxygen-Surface Interactions, Giacomo De Falco, Marc Florent, Jacek Jagiello, Yongqiang Cheng, Luke L. Daemen, Anibal J. Ramirez-Cuesta, Teresa J. Bandosz

Publications and Research

Electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important energy-related process requiring alternative catalysts to expensive platinum-based ones. Although recently some advancements in carbon catalysts have been reported, there is still a lack of understanding which surface features might enhance their efficiency for ORR. Through a detailed study of oxygen adsorption on carbon molecular sieves and using inelastic neutron scattering, we demonstrated here that the extent of oxygen adsorption/interactions with surface is an important parameter affecting ORR. It was found that both the strength of O2 physical adsorption in small pores and its specific interactions with surface ether functionalities in the …

A Systematic Multiscale Investigation Of Nanoparticle-Assisted Co2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (Eor) Process For Shale Oil Reservoirs, Dayo A. Afekare

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Shale oil reservoirs are prolific on the short term due to hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling but experience significant production decline, leading to poor ultimate recovery and leaving billions of barrels of oil buried in the ground. In this study, a systematic multi-scale investigation of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process using relatively inexpensive silicon dioxide nanoparticles and carbon dioxide for shale oil reservoirs was conducted. Using the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) as a case study, aqueous dispersions of nanosilica in conjunction with CO₂ were investigated at nano-to-core scales. At the nanoscale, atomic force microscope was used to investigate …

Defect Engineering In Strained Low-Dimensional Abo3 Perovskite Nanoparticles For Next-Generation Energy Storage, Tochukwu Ofoegbuna

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The realization of renewable energy is dependent on the advancement of multi-functional materials for energy storage devices. As an example, the substantial progress observed in Li-ion batteries is a result of the discovery and subsequent industrial commercialization of cathode materials such as LiFePO₄ (LFP). Although these materials possess relatively high specific capacity (~170 mAh/g), their low room-temperature electronic conductivity has been identified as a limitation for future high-performance batteries. Metastable SrBO₃, (SBO, B = Nb, Ta, Mo, etc.) perovskite nanoparticles (NPs) with metallic properties offer an alternative route to improve the room-temperature electronic conductivity of LFP cathodes. …

Ion Pairing And Dielectric Decrement In Glycosaminoglycan Brushes, James D. Sterling, Wenjuan Jiang, Wesley M. Botello-Smith, Yun L. Luo

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cell−surface polysaccharides are essential to many aspects of physiology, serving as a highly conserved evolutionary feature of life and as an important part of the innate immune system in mammals. Here, as simplified biophysical models of these sugar coatings, we present results of molecular dynamics simulations of hyaluronic acid and heparin brushes that show important effects of ion pairing, water dielectric decrease, and coion exclusion. As in prior studies of macromolecular crowding under physiologically relevant salt concentrations, our results show equilibria with electroneutrality attained through screening and pairing of brush anionic charges by monovalent cations at the atomistic detail. Most …

Acute Dose-Dependent Neuroprotective Effects Of Poly(Pro-17Β-Estradiol) In A Mouse Model Of Spinal Contusion Injury, Manoj K. Gottipati, Samuel A.T. Ellman, Devan L. Puhl, Zhen Guan, Phillip G. Popovich, Edmund F. Palermo, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

17β-Estradiol (E2) confers neuroprotection in preclinical models of spinal cord injury when administered systemically. The goal of this study was to apply E2 locally to the injured spinal cord for a sustained duration using poly(pro-E2) film biomaterials. Following contusive spinal cord injury in adult male mice, poly(pro-E2) films were implanted subdurally and neuroprotection was assessed using immunohistochemistry 7 days after injury and implantation. In these studies, poly(pro-E2) films modestly improved neuroprotection without affecting the inflammatory response when compared to the injured controls. To increase the E2 dose released, bolus-releasing poly(pro-E2) films were fabricated by incorporating unbound E2 into the poly(pro-E2) …

Experimental And Modeling Study Of The Effects Of Sealing Structures In Lost Circulation Prevention And Remediation, Mingzheng Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Drilling fluid lost circulation leads to non-productive time and increases the overall well cost. In general, wellbore strengthening and lost circulation control are achieved by creating effective sealing structures to inhibit fluid flow through loss conduits such as formation fractures. This research aims at better understanding the effects of sealing structures in fluid loss prevention and remediation, and providing useful references to effectively establishing filtercakes on the wellbore and plugs in the fracture.

Recent research on wellbore strengthening disclosed the critical role of filtercake in sealing microfractures during the initial stages of fracture initiation and propagation. The performance of a …

Photoluminescent Nanomaterials For Biosensing And Single Cell Analysis Applications, Khashayar Ramezani Bajgiran

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The bioanalytical industry is projected to generate $36 billion by 2025, with the United States currently holding 80.9% of the consumers’ market. Among the bioanalytical platforms, point-of-care (POC) and point-of-use diagnosis (POU) have gained a lot of attention due to their emphasis on decentralized testing and providing low-cost solutions in resource-limited regions. While Traditional bioanalytical tools such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry can sensitively detect biomolecules and screen single-cell response, they suffer from multiple drawbacks such as the high cost of antibodies and time-intensive procedures, which limit their ability to expand to POC/POU applications. Rapid developments in microtool …

Translational Implications Of The Interactions Between Hormones And Age-Related Hearing Loss, R. D. Frisina, Parveen Bazard, M. Bauer, J. Pineros, X. Zhu, B. Ding

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Provocative research has revealed both positive and negative effects of hormones on hearing as we age; with in some cases, mis-regulation of hormonal levels in instances of medical comorbidities linked to aging, lying at the heart of the problem. Animal model studies have discovered that hormonal fluctuations can sharpen hearing for improved communication and processing of mating calls during reproductive seasons. Sex hormones sometimes have positive effects on auditory processing, as is often the case with estrogen, whereas combinations of estrogen and progesterone, and testosterone, can have negative effects on hearing abilities, particularly in aging subjects. Too much or too …

Spent Tea Leaves As An Adsorbent For Micro Solid Phase Extraction Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Different Matrices, Nazzatul Atirah Mohd Nazir

Student Works (2020-2029)

Food and water may be contaminated by hazardous pollutants, one of is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), where 16 of pollutant in this group listed as a priority pollutant by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thus, analysis of food contaminations is crucial for consumer safety. Therefore, a simple, sensitive, and miniaturize sample preparations are needed. In this study, spent tea leaves (STL), a waste from brewed tea, Camellia sinensis was utilized as novel micro-solid phase extraction (μ-SPE) sorbent for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) for the first time. It was of interest that spent tea leaves (STL) might serve …

Impact Of Critical Material Attributes (Cmas)-Particle Shape On Miniature Pharmaceutical Unit Operations., Mohammad A Azad, Gerard Capellades, Allison B Wang, David M Klee, Gregory Hammersmith, Kersten Rapp, David Brancazio, Allan S Myerson

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes drug product development by Quality by Design (QbD). Critical material attributes (CMAs) are a QbD element that has an impact on pharmaceutical operations and product quality. Pharmaceutical drugs often crystallize as needle-shaped (a CMA) particles and affect the process due to poor flowability, low bulk density, and high compressibility, and eventually the product performance. In this study, the product obtained from crystallization was needle-shaped Ciprofloxacin HCl (CIPRO), formed lumps during drying, and compacted during processing through feeders. To delump small amounts of materials and break the needles, multiple available devices (mortar-pestle, Krups …

Abiotic Sensor For Electrochemical Determination Of Chlorpyrifos In Natural Water Based On The Inhibition Of Silver Nanoparticles Oxidation, Ziad Khalifa, Moustafa Zahran, Magdy Zahran, Magdi Abdelazzem

Chemical Engineering

Chlorpyrifos, organophosphorus pesticide, is a persistent organic pollutant that may cause serious health problems. Herein, a simple, green, and sensitive electrochemical inhibition sensor based on silver nanoparticles (AgNP)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was developed for the determination of chlorpyrifos in natural water for the first time. The chemical reduction technique based on natural reducing and capping agents such as dissolved organic matter (DOM), natural latex (NL) and mucilage was employed for AgNP synthesis. DOM-AgNP, NL-AgNP, and Mucilage-AgNP were immobilized on GC by sticking technique under the same voltammetric and electrolytic conditions. The oxidation behavior of the three modified electrodes was …

Modeling Ash Deposit Growth Rates For A Wide Range Of Solid Fuels In A 100 Kw Combustor, Seyedhassan Fakourian, Zachary Mcallister, Andrew R. Fry, Yueming Wang, Xiaolong Li, Jost O.L. Wendt, Jinze Dai

Faculty Publications

This work details a model for evaluating the relative ash deposition propensity of various solid fuels without the complicated spatial considerations included in CFD modeling. Four deposition mechanisms are included, namely: inertial impaction, thermophoresis, condensation, and eddy impaction. This model has been validated and shown to effectively predict ash deposit rates for a wide range of solid fuels including coal, biomass, and their blends, burned in a 100 kW rated downflow combustor. Specifically, this work presents and compares two separate models for the sticking efficiency of impacting ash particles on a coupon surface: the melt fraction stickiness …

Plasmonic Photocatalysis For Gas-Phase Degradation Of Total Volatile Organic Compounds: Theory, Experimentation, And Catalyst Stability, Amaury P. Betancourt Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plasmonic nanomaterials have become a strong contender for improving the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of air pollutants. This study demonstrates an easy and scalable fabrication method, employing electron beam evaporation and rapid thermal annealing, for producing plasmonic photocatalysts. Samples were made by either coating silver on, or layering silica-protected (i.e., silica-coated) or unprotected (i.e., uncoated) silver beneath, the photocatalyst (either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). Stability and catalytic performance for gas-phase toluene degradation was assessed by monitoring total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentration versus ultraviolet-A (UV-A) illumination time in a recirculating batch reactor (plate-type flow-through). Samples were characterized using a …