Other Chemical Engineering Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

Alloy Corrosion Resistance Project, Noah Gourley

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This Honors Research Project aims to determine the material performance of two metal alloys – 316L and Alloy 20CB-3 – in terms of corrosion resistance. The project will answer the following research questions: What effect do phosphoric acid and heptanoic acid solutions have on the passive film of 316L and Alloy 20CB-3 metal alloys? How do the metal alloys resist corrosion under flow conditions of the acids? What is the viability of these alloys to be used in a chemical process involving these acids?

The Study Of Copper Corrosion Mechanisms Using Electrochemical Experimental Techniques., Evan Grimm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover and thoroughly explain the corrosion mechanisms of copper in saltwater, tap water and deionized water, and to apply these methods and findings when testing the corrosion mechanisms of other materials. The experimental procedure consisted of measuring the open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, and Tafel analysis.

The copper was found to corrode at a greater rate in saltwater, followed by tap water then deionized water, with a larger difference between saltwater and tap water than between tap water and deionized water. Each reaction was found to be both kinetically …

Increasing The Corrosion Protection Of Aisi 1008 Carbon Steel By Surface Treatment With Unmodified And Benzotriazole Modified Sol-Gel Films, Shane Thomas Kelliher

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The corrosion performance of sol-gel coated AISI 1008 carbon steel was investigated in 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions of pH 7, 9, and 12 using electrochemical measurements. A corrosion inhibitor, benzotriazole (BTA) was added to the sol-gel mixture and tested as a second, modified sol-gel coating. Sol-gel films adhered evenly to metal samples and were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) showed an increase in polarization resistance from blank to sol-gel coated samples (600-18,800,000 ohms). Cyclic polarization (CPP) curves showed positive hysteresis loops for blank and unmodified sol-gel coated samples which increased at high pH following the backward potential …

Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries With Boron Doped Diamond As An Electrode., Alex M. Bates

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the interest and implementation of renewable energy accelerates, so does that of grid energy storage. It is widely believed that a cost-effective energy storage technology will bring about the proliferation of renewable energy. Redox flow battery (RFB) technology represents a promising solution to cost-effective grid energy storage. Compared to other technologies, RFBs have a long lifetime, high efficiency, are non-flammable, significantly reduce cost, and separately scale power and energy. The separation of power and energy enables increased energy capacity by simply adding electrolyte volume. Of the challenges facing RFB technology, one readily apparent is the cost of the active …

Testing The Effectiveness Of Reflective "Cool" Pigments, Ashleigh Carpenter

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project is an exploration of reflective "cooling" pigments used in coatings for the exterior of a structure in order to control the temperature inside. The pigments reflect sunlight to reduce the heating effect inside a structure. While the project will include the synthesis and testing of these pigments, the focus will be on the design and construction of an apparatus to test the effectiveness of these pigments. An apparatus will be constructed with a heat source and two structures of identical dimensions. The set-up will allow for the temperature of the inside of the structures to be recorded at …

Cataloging The Degree Of Sensitization Via Electrochemical Reactivation For Studying The Corrosion Behavior Of Inconel 718, Austenitic, And Duplex Stainless Steels, Bradley Lynes

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Corrosion resistant materials can be expensive, but usually reduce the life cycle cost of metallic assets. However, negligent sensitization of these materials can lead to aggressive, intergranular corrosion. Using the methodology of the double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR), this project investigates different steel reinforced bars and Inconel to determine the degree of sensitization after a heat treatment of 900°C for 2 hours. The purpose of this research is to validate and determine the appropriate test parameters for performing further DL-EPR test in the future. Additionally, the kinetics observed for each sample during the DL-EPR test will be analyzed and …

Evaluation Of Silane-Doped Epoxy Coatings For Resisting Aluminum Corrosion By Oxalic Acid, An A. Niger Metabolite, Alex Pica

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this study was to investigate whether silane-doped epoxy coatings are capable of preventing corrosion of aluminum alloy 2024-T3 by oxalic acid, one of the primary metabolites of the fungus Aspergillus Niger. Previous research suggested the success of these types of coatings at preventing AA 2024-T3 corrosion in saline solutions, and this study was meant to build on those findings by investigating the efficacy of the coating in an acidic environment.

Each coating was applied to an AA 2024-T3 coupon by dissolving the epoxy and varying amounts of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane in acetone and then dripping the solution onto …

The Effects Of Carboxylic Acids In Aluminum Anodizing, Abby E. Koczera

Honors Theses and Capstones

Hard-anodized alumina coatings were formed in sulfuric acid at low temperature and high current density in the presence of carboxylic acid additives. Citric acid, trimesic acid, mellitic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were utilized in varying concentrations. The additives were chosen for their capacity to form complexes with tri-valent aluminum and hence impart chemical stability to the coatings. The coatings were sealed in boiling water, and corrosion resistance was observed in a high pH solution of potassium hydroxide. The coatings were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess coating thickness and pore dimensions. Thicker coatings were produced when the …

Corrosion Resistance Of Silane Coatings On Aluminum And Magnesium Alloys, John Demopoulos

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this project was to increase the corrosion resistance of aluminum and magnesium alloys by coating the coupons with a silane on the surface. Four different silanes: 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), Bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)amine (Bis), (Heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)trichlorosilane (FTS), and (Heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane (non Cl FTS) will be used and compared to see which silane would give the best corrosion resistance. Each silane solution was coated on the coupons by using a solution method in which the coupon was submerged for 24 hours and then thermally cured for another 24 hours. Once the coating was applied, the water contact angle and the thickness of the coating …

Passivation And Potential Fluctuation Of Az31b Alloy In Alkaline Environments, Ana C. Bacco

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Magnesium (Mg) alloys are used in many industries because of their distinctive properties, but their high chemical reactivity and poor oxide film protection make them inferior. This project focused on investigating the effects of secondary phases and intermetallic particles (IMPs) on the corrosion behavior of AZ31B Mg alloy. The test solution was chloride free NaOH with varying pH levels between 10-14, as well as testing under deaerated conditions. The open circuit potential (OCP) measurements using AZ31B in static NaOH solutions showed potential fluctuation between approximately -1.6 V_SCE (active state) and -0.4 V_SCE (passive state) during the 24-h immersion. …

Swelling-Etching Characterization Of Copper (I) Oxide - Pdms For The Development Of Micro/Nano - Particles Composite Mems Corrosion Sensor, Abdoul Kader Maiga

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective for this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of the oxide removal process for a corrosion sensing device. The goal for designing such a device is for monitoring corrosion on metallic structures. The sensing material (6.35mm x 1mm discs) of the device is composed of copper (I) oxide particles mixed in some polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The PDMS, “housing,” is meant for controlling the oxidation rate through the sensing material. A solvent was used to facilitate the etchant diffusion through the PDMS matrix. Toluene and acetic acid were the ideal solvent and etchant, respectively, for carrying out the …