Other Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Experimental Study For Improving Oil Recovery Using Organic Alkaline And Nano-Silica For An Egyptian Oil Field, Attia Attia, Mohamed Sadek Hamedi Al, Mayar Abdelrahman Hassan Eng.

Petroleum Engineering and Gas

The oil and gas industry continually seeks innovative methods to enhance hydrocarbon recovery due to the declining productivity of conventional techniques. Current recovery methods, such as water flooding and chemical flooding, often face limitations like high interfacial tension, unfavorable wettability, and reduced mobility of oil, especially under harsh reservoir conditions of high salinity. To address these challenges, this study explores the implementation of nanotechnology in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), focusing on the distinct and unique properties of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles, particularly SiO2, were chosen for their ability to significantly decrease interfacial tension, alter wettability, and improve oil mobility. SiO2 nanoparticles exhibit …

Effect Of Pre-Adsorbed Species On High-Pressure Adsorption Of Methane In Zeolite 5a Using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (Gcmc) Simulations, Kanhamardi Lao, Brooks D. Rabideau

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Posters

Natural gas upgrading, which removes impurities from methane (CH4), is essential for industrial applications, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and power generation, as well as for residential use. Removing non-hydrocarbon impurities such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and water vapor (H2O), among others, along with separating heavier hydrocarbon gases from raw natural gas, is required to achieve high- purity methane and prevent pipeline corrosion. Zeolite 5A is a microporous aluminosilicate material with a pore size of approximately 5 Å, containing sodium and calcium cations that balance the framework’s negative charge. Its structure offers high thermal stability and a …

Thermophysical Properties Of Aqueous Amine Salts For Closed Air Cabin Revitalization, Mahmud R. Yusuf, Isabela Flores, Ben Hines, Li Hua Zhang, Seth Christa, Brooks D. Rabideau, Kevin West, Breanna Dobyns, James Davis

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Posters

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture plays a crucial role in closed cabin air revitalization, however current CO2 capture technologies pose several issues. Traditional amine solutions, such as monoethanolamine, are commonly used in CO2 capture on the International Space Station but face drawbacks including high volatility, thermal degradation, and unpleasant odor. To overcome these challenges, amine salt solutions have emerged as promising alternatives. Amine salt solutions have reduced environmental impact, lower corrosion potential, and improved CO2 loading capacity, making them a more efficient and sustainable replacement. Knowing these physical properties are critical for modeling and optimizing a scrubbing process that employs these …

A Comparative Study On Natural Vs. Synthesized Polymers Combined With Silica Nanoparticles To Maximize Secondary Oil Recovery, Attia Attia, Mohamed Sadek Hamedi Al, Waleed Abd-Alsabour Ali Eng., Zeyad Tamer Elshony Eng.

Petroleum Engineering and Gas

Polymer flooding is a well-established technique for enhancing oil recovery from reservoirs. In this study, we investigate the performance of two different polymers, Xanthan Gum, and HPAM for secondary oil recovery in the sand pack. The effects of polymer concentration and high salinity on oil recovery are studied. The polymers are characterized using various measurements and tests, including viscosity, shear rate, and interfacial tension. The sand pack flooding experiments are conducted under various conditions, including varying polymer slugs, and nanosilica (silicon dioxide SiO2) concentration. The results are analyzed to determine the optimal conditions for polymer flooding for enhanced oil recovery. …

Rhamnolipid As An Effective Srb Biocide – Determining A Solution To Replicate Anticipated Conditions, Elizabeth Zimmerer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aimed to develop a laboratory-scale solution that replicates produced water conditions (CO₂ + brine) found in crude pipelines, with the added requirement of promoting the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). A previously successful study was used as a reference, which employed a hybrid salt solution containing essential nutrients and environmental factors. The proposed solution included 10 g sodium chloride, 1 g sodium pyruvate, 0.2 g ammonium chloride, and 0.8 g sodium sulfate per liter of deionized water. Electrochemical testing (Linear Polarization Resistance and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) was performed on solutions with and without rhamnolipid. Results from the …

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. …

Corrosion Of Pipes In Soil Under Cathodic Protection, Ashley Chow

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project focuses on understanding how various soil properties affect the corrosion of buried pipelines that are protected by cathodic protection (CP) systems. Specifically, the study seeks to evaluate key soil characteristics, including resistivity, moisture content, and pH levels to determine their influence on the efficiency of CP systems in mitigating corrosion. Through controlled laboratory experiments, carbon steel specimens were exposed to a range of simulated soil conditions to mimic real-world environments. Corrosion rates were assessed using advanced electrochemical techniques, such as linear polarization resistance (LPR) and Tafel slopes, along with traditional mass loss methods. The primary objectives of …

Prediction Of Glass Transition Temperature Of Polymers Using Structure-Based Models, Nicholas Wolfe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The focus for this study is prediction of glass transition temperatures of polymers using machine learning models. The preprocessing of the data included the generation of descriptors, the scaling of the data, the principal component analysis for dimensionality reduction, and the clustering of the data. Three methods of property predictions were utilized including Linear Regression, Random Forest, and a Feedforward Neural Network. The dataset consisted of over 7000 polymers each with their respective glass transition temperatures. This study found that the Random Forest model returned the best results followed by the Feedforward Neural Network then the Linear Regression model. Each …

Qualitative Analysis Of Surface Modification On Wiffleball Aerodynamics, Cole Lanni

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project investigated how surface modifications to a Wiffleball affect its aerodynamic behavior, particularly its vertical and horizontal movement when thrown. The study tested the hypothesis that altering surface texture through cutting or sanding would influence airflow and pressure differentials, thereby changing the ball's movement. Six ball conditions: including unmodified, sanded, and various cut patterns were tested using a pitching machine in a controlled indoor environment. Each variation was pitched ten times, and movement was analyzed through measurements of contact points on posterboards and performing statistical testing, specifically ANOVA with Post Hoc analysis. Results indicated that surface modifications significantly increased …

Urotropine As A Corrosion Inhibitor In Steel Rebar: A Molecular Dynamics Study, Tyler Zadrozny

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project investigates the behavior of corrosion in rebar, a critical component in infrastructure such as roads and skyscrapers. Corrosion of rebar can lead to structural instability, visible as cracks or pitting on the surface. The primary focus is on the potential of urotropine as a corrosion inhibitor. Urotropine, known for its ability to inhibit corrosion in mild steel in acidic environments, is hypothesized to be effective in preventing corrosion on rebar. To explore this, molecular dynamics simulations using LAMMPS were conducted, modeling urotropine molecules in an acidic solution (PH = 1) interacting with iron atoms, mimicking rebar. Simulations were …

Comsol Simulation Of Pipeline Corrosion With Cathodic Protection, Ethan Scalzo

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Cathodic protection (CP) is a widely used technique to mitigate corrosion in buried steel pipelines. This study uses COMSOL Multiphysics to model and analyze the performance of both sacrificial anode and impressed current systems in a simulated 3D environment. The model solves for pipeline potential, current density, and corrosion rate within a surrounding soil domain to assess protection coverage across the pipeline. Simulations were conducted to evaluate the influence of electrode and electrolyte properties on CP effectiveness. The study demonstrates that COMSOL Multiphysics is an effective tool for modeling CP systems, offering insights that align with established industry practices. While …

Quantifying The Effectiveness Of Rhamnolipid As A Biocide: Assessing Comparability Of A Modified Solution, Rosemary Sterling

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The CO2 induced corrosion of carbon steel in oil and gas pipelines, exacerbated by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), poses a serious threat to infrastructure. This study evaluates the effectiveness of rhamnolipid (RhL), a biosurfactant, as a corrosion inhibitor and potential SRB biocide in simulated pipeline environments. Using a Postgate-C Modified Produced Water Simulant, which demonstrated electrochemical behavior comparable to industry-standard solutions while sustaining SRB, corrosion trials were conducted with and without RhL. Mass loss and electrochemical data revealed that RhL significantly reduced corrosion rates—by 85% on average and up to 99% instantaneously in a 4-day trial. Visual and analytical results from …

Predicting Complex Di-Alkylation Kinetics Using Machine Learning, Colin Bailey, Thomas Roper

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Predicting reaction kinetics for complex chemical systems often presents significant challenges due to intricate reaction pathways, multiple product formations, and competing side reactions. Additionally, the transient nature of reaction intermediates and limited experimental data complicate efforts to capture system dynamics accurately. These complexities necessitate advanced modeling approaches and precise experimental techniques to reliably describe and predict chemical behavior.

Methods: This work investigates the kinetics of di-alkylation of 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid (4-HBA) using multiple machine learning algorithms, including Random Forest Regression, Gradient Boosting, Lasso, Ridge, and XGBoost. By leveraging reaction conditions, such as temperature, sulfuric acid equivalents, and initial concentrations of …

Computational Modeling Of The Heat Treatment Of White Oak Bound For Spirit Maturation, Kate E. Mclarney-Popham

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Maturation of distilled spirits in white oak barrels is a long standing practice known to have great impact on spirit character. Much of this impact can be controlled by the thermal modification of the barrel, since thermal degradation of the wood determines what wood compounds are available to interact with the spirit during maturation. In this work, a computational model for the thermal degradation of wood was developed and, with flavor compound data from literature, was used to investigate the effect of heat treatment on lignin-derived flavor compounds. The computational model in this work accounted for three solid species, three …

Development, Synthesis And Characterization Of Advanced Low- Cobalt And High-Nickel Cathode Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Arjun Patel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the improvement of structural and electrochemical stability of active materials for lithium-ion batteries. It explores the modification strategies to mitigate the issues related to Ni-rich cathode materials, along with the continuous production of cathode precursors using a slug flow reactor to improve the quality of the product.

The First part of the dissertation examines the effect of substitution of cobalt with aluminum and iron on the electrochemical stability of Ni-rich lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) materials. This study investigates how Al and Fe doping work and how they impact the performance and stability of these …

Calibration Of A Low-Cost Air Quality Sensor Package Integrated Into The New York State Mesonet, Ellie Hojeily

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The University at Albany designed and manufactured 59 low-cost air quality sensor packages to continuously measure PM₂.₅, CO, O₃, NO₂, and NO at 38 New York State Mesonet (NYSM) sites located in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Prior to use for monitoring, low-cost sensors require calibration to correct for environmental sensitivities. Calibration models can be developed using data collected from co-location periods in which low-cost sensors are installed at sites with Federal Reference Methods and/or Federal Equivalent Methods instruments. In this study, packages were periodically co-located (calibrated) for 18 to 162 days at the New York State Department of …

Multi-Scale Dynamic Modeling, Validation, And Uncertainty Quantification Of Radial Flow Fixed Bed Contactors For Co2 Capture, Ana Flávia De Alencar Arraes Monteiro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the key sources of carbon dioxide emissions to the environment is fossil fuel combustion for power generation. Post-combustion CO2 capture using amine-based solvents is currently the most matured process. However, amines are corrosive and lead to degradation products at even moderate temperatures generating environmental pollutants, and require high energy for regeneration. Solid sorbents are a promising alternative. They possess lower regeneration energy, thermal stability, and have highly tunable porous structures with large surface area that can help in achieving high loading and high adsorption rates. This work focuses on mathematical modeling of CO2 adsorption/desorption processes using solid sorbents. …