Other Chemical Engineering Commons^™

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 …

Recycling Of Cullet, Waste Clay Bricks And Wastes Resulted From Wheat And Sugarcane Cultivations In The Manufacture Of Fired Clay Bricks, Mai H. Roushdy

Chemical Engineering

The agriculture wastes are considered as a big environmental problem. The main purpose of this research is to determine the possibility of producing fired clay bricks from a mixture of agriculture wastes in addition to other wastes. The first type of wastes is the cullet while the second type is the wastes is the waste clay bricks (Homra) and the third is an agricultural residue obtained from wheat and sugarcane cultivation. The first step of the experimental work is performing XRF and sieve analysis for raw materials. Brick samples with Cubic shape with dimensions 50 × 50 × 50 mm3 …

An Investigation Of The Airborne Particulate Matter Related Health Hazards Present In Makerspaces, Justin Keller

Honors Theses

Airborne particulate matter poses several health hazards ranging from pulmonary inflammation to cardiovascular disease. Particulate matter is produced through many fabrication processes common to makerspaces, such as 3D printing and laser cutting. The danger of these particles is worsened when makerspaces are retrofitted into spaces not designed with good ventilation or safety controls, such as libraries and public schools. This thesis evaluates the relationship between makerspaces and hazardous particle generation with both continuous and motion sensor controlled ventilation, showing that the latter creates unsafe working conditions. Both observational and controlled studies were conducted in Bucknell’s Mooney Lab makerspace monitoring particle …

Information Architecture For A Chemical Modeling Knowledge Graph, Adam R. Luxon

Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning models for chemical property predictions are high dimension design challenges spanning multiple disciplines. Free and open-source software libraries have streamlined the model implementation process, but the design complexity remains. In order better navigate and understand the machine learning design space, model information needs to be organized and contextualized. In this work, instances of chemical property models and their associated parameters were stored in a Neo4j property graph database. Machine learning model instances were created with permutations of dataset, learning algorithm, molecular featurization, data scaling, data splitting, hyperparameters, and hyperparameter optimization techniques. The resulting graph contains over 83,000 nodes …

Pore Microstructure Impacts On Lithium Ion Transport And Rate Capability Of Thick Sintered Electrodes, Ziyang Nie, Rohan Parai, Chen Cai, Charles Michaelis, Jacob M. Lamanna, Daniel S. Hussey, David L. Jacobson, Dipankar Ghosh, Gary M. Koenig Jr.

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Increasing electrode thickness is one route to improve the energy density of lithium-ion battery cells. However, restricted Li⁺ transport in the electrolyte phase through the porous microstructure of thick electrodes limits the ability to achieve high current densities and rates of charge/discharge with these high energy cells. In this work, processing routes to mitigate transport restrictions were pursued. The electrodes used were comprised of only active material sintered together into a porous pellet. For one of the electrodes, comparisons were done between using ice-templating to provide directional porosity and using sacrificial particles during processing to match the geometric density …

Biomass-Derived Electrode Materials And Sustainable Processes For Supercapacitors, Katelyn M. Shell

Theses and Dissertations

Biomass is one of the most abundant natural resources and has been used as a source of energy for thousands of years. Biomass as a precursor for energy storage materials is still relatively novel and faces several obstacles before becoming commonly used in today’s electrical devices. Currently, energy storage devices, such as batteries, capacitors, and supercapacitors, utilize petroleum-derived graphitic carbons for anodes, generating a need for more sustainable materials. Biomass, as a carbon-rich source for electrode materials, presents a viable and economically feasible alternative due to the prevalent lignocellulosic compounds: lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Preliminary studies on the solid residues …

Assessing The Impact Of Block-Selective Homopolymers On The Diffusion Of Payload Through Polymeric Organogels, Ian Coates

Honors Theses

Styrenic polymer gels have received recent attention for their application in transdermal patches due to their unique properties. Previous research in the pharmaceutical industry has identified that polymeric gels, specifically styrenic gels, have the potential to encompass multiple functions of the transdermal delivery patch including controlling mechanical and delivery properties. To tailor styrenic gels either the gel nanostructure or the drug complex can be controlled. Specifically, this thesis investigated the effect of gel nanostructure in an attempt to control the gel diffusivity and mechanical properties. To control gel nanostructure a phase selective styrene homopolymer was used at varying concentrations. It …

Relating Modified Ergun's Equation To Hindered Settling Correlations, Ryan Zahniser

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Correlations were developed between the Modified Ergun’s and Hindered settling correlations under the condition of dense packing of particles in the bed. As the porosity of the slurry increases, so does the interference between particles in the solution which mimics the behavior of a packed or densely concentrated fluidized bed. The similarity between the two sets of conditions was modeled using mathematical equations to calculate settling velocities and pressure drops by means of the Hindered Settling correlations and Modified Ergun’s equation at porosities ranging from 0.4242 to 0.89. The results showed that a porosity of 0.52 and 0.009 ft particle …

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 …

Image Analysis Of Colloidal Systems For Pair And Triplet Correlations., Brianna Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Interactions among colloidal particles drive stability of suspensions or the assembly of particles into larger superstructures such as agglomerates or crystals. Typically, colloidal interactions are modeled using pairwise interaction potential energies which consider the interactions between pairs of particles. However, additional particles can modulate pair potentials, leading models to predict incorrect behavior. To analyze the effects of three-body interactions on the structuring of colloidal systems, pair and triplet correlation functions are calculated from published experimental data. These correlation functions are then translated into empirical pair and triplet potentials of mean force, which are then used to model systems more accurately …

Synthesis Of Uio-66 Metal Organic Frameworks, Nicholas Johnston, Larissa Lagria

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Temporal Understanding Of The Conversion Of Normal Synovial Fibroblasts Into Osteoarthritic Fibroblasts, Danielle Mcdowell

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Surface Topography On The Deposition Of Colloids, Mikhail Ramirez

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Molecular To Macroscopic Understanding Of Chloroaluminate Anion Intercalation In Rechargeable Aluminum-Graphite Batteries, Jeffrey Xu

Dissertations and Theses

Today’s global energy challenges pose an urgent need to electrify transportation and better store intermittent renewable energy sources (e.g., solar and wind energy). For such large-scale battery applications, aluminum batteries are a promising “beyond lithium-ion” technology due to the high volumetric capacity, earth abundance, low-cost, and inherent safety of aluminum metal. However, there are very few compatible positive electrode materials that exhibit high energy density and cycling stability, in part due to the challenges of electrochemically intercalating highly charged Al³⁺ cations. Recently, graphite has been demonstrated as a promising positive electrode material in non-aqueous rechargeable aluminum batteries, which store …

Molecular-Level Understanding Of Ionic & Electronic Charge Storage Mechanisms In Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries Using Sold-State Nmr, Ankur Lahanu Jadhav

Dissertations and Theses

Rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries are safe and low-cost alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries due to the high volumetric capacity (8040 mAh/cm³) of aluminum. However, very few electrode materials have shown reversible aluminum ion intercalation. Intercalation Al³⁺ ions in these structures leads to poor capacity retention, mainly due to slow solid-state diffusion of the highly charged tri-valent aluminum ions within these crystalline structures. In 2015, aluminum ions were shown to reversibly intercalate/de-intercalate into the Chevrel Mo₆S₈ phase, though the intercalation mechanism is not well understood. Alternatively, molecular chloroaluminate ions within the ionic liquid electrolyte have also …

Process Modeling And Techno-Economic Analysis Of Micro- Encapsulated Carbon Sorbents (Mecs) For Co2 Capture In A Fixed Bed And Moving Bed Reactors, Goutham Kotamreddy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is seen as a suite of technologies to curb the carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere and plays a crucial role to meet the net zero emissions target for many countries by 2050. One of the major sources for CO₂ emissions is combustion of fossil fuels. Various innovative capture technologies are being explored because the state-of-the-art monoethanolamine (MEA) based carbon capture technology has drawbacks such as corrosion, energy penalty. There are several potential solvents that have lower energy penalty, but they are highly viscous or may turn into solid phase in the absorber …

Multimodel Operability Framework For Design Of Modular And Intensified Energy Systems, Vitor Gazzaneo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation, a novel operability framework is introduced for the process design of modular and intensified energy systems that are challenged by complexity and highly constrained environments. Previously developed process operability approaches are reviewed and further developed in terms of theory, application, and software infrastructure. An optimization-based multilayer operability framework is introduced for process design of nonlinear energy systems. In the first layer of this framework, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP)-based iterative algorithm considers the minimization of footprint and achievement of process intensification targets. Then, in the second layer, an operability analysis is performed to incorporate key features of …

Modeling, Optimization And Uncertainty Quantification Of Solids-Based Co2 Capture Technologies, Anca Ostace

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Solids-based carbon dioxide (CO₂)adsorption, where CO₂ is adsorbed under high pressure/low temperature and desorbed at low pressure/high temperature, is a low energy consumption capture technology with high carbon uptake efficiency. Chemical looping combustion (CLC), where a solid oxygen carrier (OC) transports oxygen between two high-temperature reactors – a fuel and an air reactor –, is a low energy penalty, fuel-flexible technology with inherent CO₂ capture for power/heat and syngas production.

In this work, state-of-the-art equation-oriented (EO) mathematical models of a fixed-bed (FxB) contactor for CO₂ adsorption and moving-bed (MB) reactors for gas-, and solid-fueled CLC …

Microwave-Assisted Natural Gas Conversion To Value-Added Chemicals, Xinwei Bai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Stranded gas is a raw gas mixture of volatile hydrocarbons where the main composition is methane. The producers flare the stranded gas at the site because the cost of collecting and transporting the gas is higher than the value of the gas itself. To reduce the waste of this natural resource, it is worthwhile to utilize the on-site stranded natural gas as feedstock to produce value-added chemicals without emitting greenhouse gas. Direct natural gas conversion process is more desirable because of lower capital investment. Methane and ethane, the two major components of natural gas, are very stable molecules that usually …

The Extraction Of Waxes And Lipids From Sorghum Using Green And Renewable Solvents Followed By Conversion To Biofuels Using Gamma-Valerolactone Pretreatment, Marissa Gallmeyer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Plant matter contains waxes and lipids that can be extracted and used or sold as a value-added product prior to conversion of the remaining plant material to biofuels. Wax and lipid extraction of plant materials is currently performed using volatile, non-renewable hydrocarbons, primarily hexane, which is produced from fossil fuels and can pose a health and safety hazard. The purpose of this study is to compare the amount and characteristics of waxes extracted by hexane with those extracted using organic solvents that are less toxic and can be produced from renewable sources.

Sorghum samples were extracted separately with hexane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran …

Specifically Adsorbed Ions In Hematite Flotation, Natalia Parra Alvarez

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Specifically adsorbed ions, such as calcium and magnesium in iron ore flotation, are ions that can chemically bind with the mineral surfaces and alter the surface properties. Calcium and magnesium are unavoidable in process water and their concentrations are increasing due to water recirculation and reagent additions. These ions are detrimental to the flotation process. Calcium has always been the main focus in research, yet we found that magnesium is more detrimental in flotation due to its smaller atomic size. Starch adsorption in iron ore flotation is key for the effective depression of hematite. It has been determined by flotation, …

Preparation And Characterization Of Reactive Composites Combining Boron With Mixed Oxides, Purvam Mehulkumar Gandhi

Theses

Thirteen liquids have been explored as Process Control Agents (PCAs) for high-energy mechanical milling of two metal oxide powders, CuO and Bi₂O₃, with the practical purpose to reduce the sizes of powder particles and refine their crystal structure. Multiple liquid properties have been considered to analyze their effect on evolution of both particle and crystallite sizes during milling for each oxide. Experimental data were analyzed using the δ-AICc (Akaike Information criterion) correlation function applied to linear relations between liquid properties and powder characteristics. Multiple linear correlation models were ranked based on the highest log-likelihood and the …

Waste Engine Oil Regeneration With Bentonite From The Navbahor Deposit, Azimova Shodiyakhon, Arslanov Sharafutdin, Turakhujayev Saidakbar, Azimov Dilmurod

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of the study was the regeneration of used oils. The change in the conditions for the regeneration of used engine oil as a result of adsorptive cleaning with alkaline earth clay from the Navbakhor deposit has been studied. The carried-out regeneration allows almost completely removing mechanical impurities, moisture from the waste oil and helps to clarify it. The optimal conditions for regeneration have been established. The removal of secondary products formed during the use of engine oil while retaining the main components that determine the serviceability of the product has been established. By means of IR spectroscopy, as …

Flow Patterns, Velocity Distributions And Mixing Time In Stirred Tank Reactor Under A Range Of Operating Conditions, Nor Haslina Abdullah

Student Works (2020-2029)

The present work employed a two-dimensional Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) technique to determine the flow patterns and velocity distributions of a down-pumping pitched-blade turbine (4PB) and a Rushton turbine (RT) in a flat-bottom fully baffled stirred vessel (T=0.155m) using distilled water and glycerin as liquids. Fluid velocities increased as the impeller speed increased from 50rpm to 300rpm for both fluids and the RT impeller reached a maximum value of velocity of 1.42m/s at the blade tip. The 4PB had higher velocity compared to RT in glycerin, but RT had higher velocity than 4PB in distilled water. In water, radial flow …

Clearance Of Solid Household Waste With The Reception Of Alternative Types Of Energy Carriers, Rakhmatullayev F, Turabdhanov S

Technical science and innovation

The research is devoted to improving the technology of obtaining alternative types of energy carriers by applying methods of pyrolysis of unclaimed types of solid domestic wastes of biological origin, which also allow solving the tasks of improving the ecological situation in the places of formation. The practical value and relevance of this research lies in the development of advanced technology for obtaining alternative fuels. The proposed pyrolysis unit allows producing gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons in a continuous cycle. In the atmosphere of the gasifying agent (air, oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide or their mixture), the gasification process is primarily …

Adsorption And Reconfiguration Of Amphiphiles At Silica-Water Interfaces: Role Of Electrostatic Interactions, Van Der Waals Forces And Hydrogen Bonds, Yao Wu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ability to explore and predict metastable structures of hybrid self-assemblies is of central importance for the next generation of advanced materials with novel properties. As compared to their thermodynamically stable forms, the kinetically stabilized materials show improved functionality potentially over their stable counterparts. The self-assembly processes usually originate from weak intermolecular interactions, involving a dynamic competition between attractive and repulsive interactions. These weak forces, including van der Waals (vdW), electrostatic interaction and the hydrogen bonding (H-bonding), can be tuned by external stimuli, e.g., confinement, temperature and ionization, and consequently driving hybrid materials into different configurations. It is challenging to …

Fractionation And Characterization Of Extracted Lignin From Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Using Synthesized Deep Eutectic Solvents, Tan Yee Tong

Student Works (2020-2029)

Deep eutectic solvent (DES), a new generation green solvent has been introduced as an alternative pretreatment solvent due to its ability for lignocellulosic biomass fractionation and lignin extraction. Numerous types of compounds can be adopted as DES constituents, which has resulted in abundant variation of DES with varying properties. Selection of the suitable chemical compound category is therefore essential for optimum DES performance. However, investigation on the performance comparison between the different DES categories is lacking. In addition, despite its widely acknowledged effectiveness in biomass fractionation, the properties of DES-fractionated biopolymers, especially lignin are not well understood. Hence, this project …

Optimization Of Nitrate Removal From Aqueous Solution By Acid-Activated Rice Straw Supported Nano Zero-Valent Iron Using Response Surface Methodology, Dalia A. Ali Eng, Nagwa Mahmoud Al-Mansi Prof, Mohamed Amin Sadek Prof., Ahmad Wafiq Abolnasr Dr.

Chemical Engineering

Rice straw is one of the most common agricultural wastes due to its large production amounts. Energy valorization of rice straw is a technology used for nitrate removal as the produced ashes used to generate the adsorbent by means of an alkali dissolution followed by acid precipitation. The novelty of the proposed process is that the production of the nano zero-valent iron supported acid-activated rice straw (AARS-nZVI) adsorbent is carried out without the energy valorization process but, through an acid activation for rice straw followed by precipitation of nZVI particles on its surface. The new adsorbent synthesis, characterization and application …

Interactions Between Control And Process Design Under Economic Model Predictive Control, Henrique Oyama, Helen Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

conomic model predictive control (EMPC) is a model-based control scheme that integrates process control and economic optimization, which can potentially allow for time-varying operating policies to maximize economic performance. The manner in which an EMPC operates a process to optimize economics depends on the process dynamics, which are fixed by the process design. This raises the question of how process and EMPC designs interact. Works which have addressed process and control design interactions for steady-state operation have sought to simultaneously develop process designs and control law parameters to find the most profitable way to operate a process that is able …

Investigation Of Various Techniques For Controlled Void Formation In Fiberglass/Epoxy Composites, Donald A. Klosterman, Charles Browning, Issa Hakim, Kyle Lach

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The effect of porosity in composite materials has been studied for years due to its deleterious effects on mechanical properties, especially matrix dominated properties. Currently there is an increasing use of composites in infrastructure worldwide, for example bridge components, residential and building structures, marine structures such as piers and docks, and large industrial chemical tanks. Most of these applications use fiberglass composites. Unfortunately, most of the published literature has focused on carbon fiber composites, in which fiber diameter and gas-fiber interactions are different than fiberglass composites. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to revisit the effect of porosity but specifically …