Chloride ion migration was studied under accelerated cathodic protection conditions using 6" x 6" x 6" mortar blocks of varying initial chloride content and water to cement ratios. An iron mesh embedded parallel to one face in the blocks acted as the cathode and zinc was thermally sprayed on the...
Disposal of chlorinated hydrocarbons is a major environmental concern due to the lack of a satisfactory means of safe remediation at all contaminated locations. Current technologies rely primarily on incineration, a process that can lead to dangerous byproducts such as dioxin. If the chlorine substituent can be removed prior to...
Previous studies in Magnetically Stabilized Fluidized Bed (MSFB) are well known for conventional two-phase, gas-solid or liquid-solid fluidization. Many researchers have investigated the fluid dynamic behavior of the MSFB, however, all of these studies are based on a uniform magnetic field that is constant throughout the bed column. Currently, there...
β-SiC is a semiconductor for high temperature devices, which exhibits several outstanding properties such as high thermal stability, good chemical stability and wide band gap. There is a possibility of fabricating a crack-free ultrathin SiC film on silicon wafers by pyrolysis of polymethylsilane (PMS) film.
This study looks into the...
The creation of new semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) was attempted using miscible blends of high molecular weight cellulose esters (CE) and low molecular weight polyvinylphenol (PVP) with various initiators for the crosslinking reaction. Blends of cellulose acetate (CA) or cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), at 50/50, 70/30, and 90/10 wt%CE/wt% PVP...
Most metal ions have negative impacts on pulp mill operations. The concentrations of metal ions on pulp fibers and in washwaters rise significantly with increased wastewater recycling. The development of technology to remove these metal ions requires an understanding of how metal ions are bound to pulp components. It is...
Combustion properties of kraft black liquor solids were studied using a laminar entrained flow reactor. The tendency of black liquors to release fume (compounds containing Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, SO₃²⁻, S₂0₃²⁻ and C0₃²⁻) during combustion were observed at 1000°C. Black liquor solids with a size fraction of 63 to 100...
The molecular weight distributions of two high molecular weight (M[subscript w]>>1 million) polyethylene polymers, WSR-308 and WSR-301, were characterized with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled with a multi-angle laser light scattering detector (MALLS). The M[subscript w] of the WSR-308 was found to be 5.10x10⁶ g/mol with a molecular weight range...
The profile of the inner-tubing gas pressure for a tubular membrane aeration system was quantified. The correlations among the overall volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k[subscript L]a), the inner-tubing pressure, the tubing tightness, and the gas throughput are experimentally analyzed. A mathematical model was developed to describe the underlying phenomena. The...
The digital revolution has brought information to every corner of our daily lives. Inexpensive and flexible integrated circuits are needed for this continuing revolution. Silicon technology, the current workhorse of microelectronic industry, is far from inexpensive and flexible. Researchers are taking several different routes to achieve this goal. Amorphous silicon...
Three samples of the biopolymer hyaluronic acid (HA) were characterized in the following manner: the molecular weights were obtained via multi-angle laser light scattering; the intrinsic viscosities were calculated through dilute solution viscometry, and the rheology of HA solutions was determined with constant rate rotational viscometry and dynamical mechanical testing....
Magnetically Assisted Fluidized Bed (MAFB) is a novel technology where an external magnetic field with constant gradient interacts with magnetically susceptible particles. The linear magnetic field creates two type of forces: external and interparticle magnetic forces. A theoretical mathematical model based on the interaction of ideal dipoles is proposed to...
The factors influencing the direct nitridation of silicon, including the effects of the native oxide layer covering the surface of silicon, the effects of hydrogen contained in the nitridation gas and the catalytic effects of metals added to the raw material silicon, were investigated, using a tubular flow reactor and...
The effect of a non-uniform magnetic field on the coupled transport of momentum and heat is studied for the case of laminar pipe flow of a magnetically susceptible ferrofluid. The momentum and heat transport equations are complemented with the necessary electromagnetic terms and used to develop a computer simulation of...
An 89 mm-diameter vertical tubular-flow reactor was used to study the kinetics of nano-sized silicon nitride powder synthesis via the animonolysis of SiO vapor at temperatures ranging from 1300°C to 1400°C. The SiO generation rate was controlled by adjusting the mass of SiO particles initially charged in the SiO generator,...
Various methods of estimating the fault probabilities based on defect data of random defects seen in integrated circuit manufacturing are examined. Estimates of fault probabilities based on defect data are less costly than those based on critical area analysis and are potentially more reliable because they are based on actual...
High specificity to certain class of chemical and biological agents makes
biosensors unreliable for the detection of unknown agents. Also, the analytical
techniques are subject to systematic errors based on the mechanism of detection
leading to false negative and false positive results. Therefore, the results of these
analyses must be...
Weyerhaeuser's Paper Mill in Albany, Oregon has been experiencing frequent ring formation in the #3 rotary lime kiln. Rings form when lime mud (CaCO₃) or product lime (CaO) particles adheres to the walls of the lime kiln and become resistant to the abrasive action of the sliding motion of product...
CuGaSe₂/CuInSe₂ tandem junction solar cell is currently being pursued to be a low cost and high efficiency renewable energy source. A reported theoretical efficiency of 33.9% solar cells has been the motivation to fabricate CuGaSe₂ films in a simple and low cost method. Electrodeposition is a potentially suitable method to...
The increasing occurrence of aluminosilicate caused complications in krafi pulp mills can be attributed to the closing of purge points and the expanded use of contaminated feedstocks and recycled fiber sources. An active purge of aluminum and silicon from the chemical recovery cycle must be undertaken in order to maintain...
We have performed fluorescence extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements on the Cd K-edge of partial electrolyte (PE) treated Cu(In[subscript 0.7]Ga[subscript 0.3])Se₂ (CIGS) thin film samples using synchrotron X-ray radiation. This data was compared to the EXAFS spectra of CdSe and CdO standards. Cd local structure models were constructed...
Development of efficient methods for the destruction of solid wastes and recovery of valuable resources is needed to support long-duration manned missions in space. In particular, these technologies are required for deployment in hypogravity and microgravity environments, such as at the lunar or Martian surfaces. Gradient Magnetically Assisted Fluidized Bed...
Heparin was modified with adipic diliydrazide and covalently linked to surface-activated silica. Contact angle measurements were made to determine changes in surface at various stages of the derivatization. Xray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze the elemental composition of the surface at each step of immobilizing heparin as well and...
Adipic dihydrazide-modified heparin was prepared and
subsequently immobilized on surface-activated silica wafers. X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to quantify the elemental
composition of the silica surface at each stage of activation and results
showed that successful immobilization had taken place. Contact angle
measurements were made to verify the high...
The effect of unsteady thermocapillary convection on the mass transfer rate of a solute between two immiscible liquids within a rectangular microscale channel with differentially heated sidewalls was numerically investigated. A computational fluid dynamic code in Fortran77 was developed using the finite volume method with Marker and Cell (MAC) technique...
Nanoparticles, materials on a 10⁻⁹ meter size scale, are finding applications in
a variety of areas including catalysts, fuel and solar cells, biological labeling.
electronics and optoelectronic devices. Semiconductor nanoparticles are of particular
interest because of their size tunable properties resulting from quantum confinement
effects. Mass productions of monodisperse semiconductor...
The surface tension kin'ti4tnd ste'dy state behavior exhibited by mixtures of selected
surfactants with a recombinant Factor VIII (rFVIII) were evaluated with automated
interfacial tensiometry. In particular, fresh solutions of rFVIII with different concentrations
of Tween 80, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), or dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide
(DTAB) were prepared and their surface tension...
Diatoms are single celled algae that form cell walls made primarily of silicon
dioxide (SO₂). The metabolic machinery that gives diatoms the ability to biogenically
form highly ordered solid silica from soluble silicon extracted from their external
environment provides a unique platform to create novel nanostructured materials
inexpensively and with...
With the dominance of polyethylene as the building material for America's natural gas distribution system and a growing demand for natural gas, there exists and ever increasing need for improved methods of repairing damaged natural gas distribution pipe. This paper serves as the ground work for a multi-part study seeking...
Plasma etching of polymers is an important process in the fabrication of
integrated circuits, printed circuit boards and other emerging technologies. High rates
can be obtained using oxygen diluted with a fluorine-containing gas, most commonly
CF₄. In this thesis, two less studied fluorinated gases, NF₃ and SF₆ are investigated.
Polyphenylene...
Sodium hyaluronate (HA) is a polysaccharide found in all parts of the body
Although it performs important functions in the eye, the coagulation process
and other parts of the body, its contribution to synovial fluid is particularly
important. As the major component of synovial fluid, HA is responsible for
the...
Marine diatoms are a class of microalgae that possess cell walls composed of silica nanoparticles. These organisms actively assimilate silicic acid Si(OH)4 from seawater, polymerize silicic acid to silica nanoparticles by a protein-mediated precipitation process, and then assemble the silica nanoparticles into intricate patterns that constitute the cell wall microarchitecture...
Sulfur content of fuels and desulfurization of fuels is becoming an
important environmental restriction and regulatory issue. In this study new
technology for the desulfurization of fuels is considered. Micro scale reactors are
introduced for desulfurization of thiophene and dibenzothiophene.
Thiophene and dibenzothiophene are mixed with hexane at concentration, C₀...
Over the years, chemical bath deposition (CBD) is being widely used in the fabrication of Cu (In, Ga) Se₂ and CdTe based solar cells and photovoltaics. Many chalcogenides have been successfully deposited by this technique and it has received a great deal of attention owing to its low temperature and...
Biodiesel has become a more attractive fuel in recent years because of
its environmental benefits and the fact that it is made from renewable
resources. More importantly, biodiesel is becoming economically attractive
with the current oil prices which are expected to stay high in the future.
Currently, biodiesel is produced...
In a fluidized bed of magnetically susceptible particles, the presence of
a magnetic field induce the formation of particle chains due to interparticle
magnetic forces. The resulting effect is a change in the overall spatial
distribution of the particles, transitioning from a random, isotropic distribution
to an ordered, anisotropic distribution....
Halogenated monoterpene production by the red macroalga Octhodes secundiramea was studied-under different levels of nutrient, bromide, vanadium and light delivery. The key products formed were identified as myrcene, betaelemene, the Z and E isomers of l0-bromomyrcene, 3-chloro-10E-bromomyrcene, Apakaocthodene A, and isomers of chloromyrcene and dibromomyrcene. The proposed pathway begins with...
Hydrogel polymers are a novel class of hydrophilic materials that have large application areas in both the industrial and medical fields. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has received attention as a hydrogel polymer. Methods to modify the mechanical properties of gels and films made from CMC are of interest in our lab...
Polymer samples of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and a PTFE-glass weave (RF- 35P) are exposed to low pressure, non-equilibrium glow discharge plasmas for enhanced wettability as measured by static contact angles. Plasma treatments are performed in two parallel plate RF plasma systems, a downstream microwave plasma and a barrel etcher using feed...
A numerical model for the cathodic protection of steel in reinforced concrete is developed. Parameters are set to represent a three-dimensional section of a bridge beam exposed to the atmosphere and coated with a thermally sprayed zinc anode. Both diffusion of oxygen and conduction of charge within the concrete are...
The role of the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 on the behavior of the therapeutic recombinant protein Factor VIII (rFVIII) was investigated at solid/liquid and air/water interfaces. In order to provide a model system to compare results obtained for the complicated rFVIII-Tween system, a well-characterized globular protein lysozyme was used. The...
In this study, we have characterized a series of patient Abdominal Aortic
Aneurysms (AAAs) based on their geometric parameters, wall pressure
distributions and ages. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are localized aortic
dilations that have been estimated to occur in 5 to 7 percent of the U.S. population
over age 60....
Traditional modeling of fluidized bed operations has focused on the development of models and correlations for specific systems or narrow areas of application. With recent advances in computing power, new methods of modeling fluidization are possible. One such approach is the Computational Fluid Dynamic Discrete Particle Method (CFD-DPM), which treats...
Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC) operates the Landfill Gas to
Energy Facility at Coffin Butte Landfill in Corvallis, OR. At this facility, three internal
combustion engines use the landfill gas (predominantly methane and carbon dioxide) as
fuel to turn generators that produce enough electricity to power 1,800 average sized
homes....
There is a continual interest in developing robust, flexible, durable, lightweight, waterborne polymer barrier coatings which are increasingly resistant towards both chemical warfare agents as well as an ever growing number of toxic industrial chemicals. In this study, barrier films were prepared with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) and varying amounts of...
Microchannel devices are rapidly evolving process technology with a wide variety of applications. Microchannel devices hold the potential to transform many separation processes. One potential application for such microchannel devices is kidney dialysis. By reducing the size and cost of the device, this technology offers the potential to allow dialysis...
Four types of microchannel reactors were built, using a combination of smallest alumina-tubes commercially available, for testing the feasibility of applying high-temperature microchannel reactors to the ammonolysis of SiO for producing nano-sized silicon nitride powder. The innermost tube used for feeding SiO vapor had an inner diameter (ID) of about...
Nisin, an antibacterial peptide proven to be an effective inhibitor of Gram-positive bacteria, was incorporated into novel block copolymer constructs and tested for retained antibacterial activity. Covalent coupling was achieved by chemical modification of the N-terminal isoleucine to introduce a thiol group. Thiolated nisin derivatives were then linked to poly[ethylene...
Biocompatible hydrogels composed of covalently crosslinked, chemically modified hyaluronan (HA), gelatin (Gtn), and heparin (Hp) were synthesized for controlled release of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). We hypothesized that inclusion of small quantities of heparin in these gels would result in regulated growth...
The critical contribution of this dissertation is to provide a better
understanding of the fundamental Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) growth
kinetic and mechanism for the well known II-VI semiconductor CdS using the
newly developed continuous flow microreactor. This continuous flow microreactor
provides the temporal resolution to control the homogeneous reaction...
Glucose was gasified in supercritical water within a microchannel reactor at 650°C 750°C, and 250 bar to yield H2 rich gas with a low concentration of CO. The feed glucose concentration was 0.1 M. Two microchannel reactor configurations were tested at fluid residence times ranging from 0.5 sec to...
Production of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and aqueous ammonia (NH4 +) from the ammonia chloride (NH4Cl) stream in the Solvay process was studied using an Ammonia Recovery Tower to produce 29 wt % aqueous ammonia and 40 wt % CaCl2 from the process feed stream or the tower bottoms stream. OLI,...
The adsorption and elution of the antimicrobial peptide nisin at hydrophobic,
silanized silica surfaces coated with the poly[ethylene oxide]-poly[propylene oxide]-
poly[ethylene oxide] surfactant Pluronic® F108 was measured in situ, with ellipsometry.
While such layers are known to inhibit protein adsorption, nisin was observed to adsorb in
multilayer quantities, to an...
The focus of this study is to develop a general and low-cost solution-based
process to fabricate micro- and nano-structured semiconductors that are suitable
for electronics. This process uses simple metal halide precursors dissolved in a
solvent (organic or aqueous) and is capable of forming uniform and continuous
thin films via...
By identifying the relationships between abundance and metabolic activity in a bacterial community, we advance our knowledge of the marine carbon cycle. In the present study, our goal was to examine the role of protist grazing on the metabolic activity of γ- Proteobacteria in the upwelling system off the Oregon...
By identifying the relationships between abundance and metabolic activity in a bacterial community, we advance our knowledge of the marine carbon cycle. In the present study, our goal was to examine the role of protist grazing on the metabolic activity of γ- Proteobacteria in the upwelling system off the Oregon...
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are grown using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). A modified radio frequency (RF) parallel-plate plasma etching system serves as the growth reactor. The effects of process parameters, including temperature, pressure, and C2H2:NH3 ratio, are studied. CNTs are grown on glass substrates with Al underlayers and Ni...
The natural gas industry has become essential in many areas in the United States. Currently there is over 37.5 million miles of natural gas distribution lines. A large majority of these lines are polyethylene pipes. With such a large percentage of polyethylene lines in use gas companies are continually looking...
As a major natural component of the extracellular matrix (ECM),
hyaluronic acid (HA) is an excellent choice for biomimetic, biocompatible
therapeutic materials. Furthermore, thiol-modified forms of HA are capable of
forming macroporous hydrogels that allow for both controlled cytokine release and
extensive vessel in-growth. It has previously been shown that...
The purpose of this research was to examine the ability of the cold water, green, marine, macroalga Acrosiphonia coalita to take up and metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from seawater. Axenic suspension tissue cultures of the alga were contacted with seawater containing PAH in sealed experimental vessels. Uptake time courses...
Dendrimers are nanoscale macromolecules that have highly branched, core-shell structures. Higher generation dendrimers have close-packed peripheral functional groups and a hollow interior. The chemistry of the core and the terminal functionalities can be tailored according to the specific application. These structural characteristics provide room for the design of dendrimers to...
Sulfur content in fuels is an increasingly critical environmental issue. Hydrodesulfurization removes sulfur from hydrocarbons; however, further desulfurization is necessary in fuels. New methods are required. In this study, micro-scaled single phase oxidative desulfurization is explored. An ultraviolet light-assisted micro-reactor is introduced for desulfurization of dibenzothiophene.
Dibenzothiophene is mixed with...
The increase of diesel fuels and natural gas has increased the energy cost of the mint
oil extraction industry in the Willamette Valley. In this study the energy evaluation of
a distillation facility in Oregon is considered. Solvent free microwave extraction of
peppermint oil is introduced as a new technique...
The primary goal of this thesis is to fabricate a magnetic film between the coplanar transmitted stripline for crosstalk suppression. Crosstalk is caused from undesired inductive and capacitive coupling of signals between two conductors. The effective crosstalk suppression results from the inductive coupling of circuit elements through the lossy properties...
Alcoves in some river systems are cooler than the mainstem of the river and provide thermal refugia for aquatic species. An energy balance and sensitivity analysis on 3 alcoves in the Willamette River, Oregon indicate that alcove size and alcove flux determine the degree to which meteorological conditions affect the...
The capability of the marine red macroalga Portieria hornemannii to remove and detoxify the nitroaromatic explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in a seawater environment was evaluated using an axenic microplantlet suspension culture system. Microplantlets were challenged with TNT dissolved in seawater at concentrations of 1 to 50 mg L-1 in well-mixed photobioreactors...
This study examines the interactions between explosive environmental contaminants and marine seaweeds. The scope of this thesis includes studies done on the explosive RDX with tissue cultures of marine seaweeds, as well as studies on the explosive TNT with seaweed extracts.
The ability of two different marine species of macroalgae...
Contact of blood with the surfaces of synthetic materials is associated with spontaneous protein adsorption, initiating platelet aggregation, the coagulation cascade, and the eventual development of a stable clot. Current therapy to inhibit implant-induced thrombosis is life-long administration of systemic anticoagulants. An alternative to the systemic administration of anticoagulant drugs...
Influences of operating conditions on the production of carbon nanotubes
(CNTs) were studied using Fe and Fe-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on silicon
monoxide (SiO). The catalysts were prepared in three steps: (1) impregnation of SiO
powders with ferric nitride or combinations of ferric and nickel nitrides, (2) oxidation
of nitrides...
Heparin was modified and immobilized to surface-activated silica surfaces using two different reaction schemes. End-aminated heparin was reacted with 2-iminothiolane to produce free thiol groups at the terminal ends of the heparin chains. The end-thiolated heparin was immobilized by reaction with a pyridyl disulfide activated poly[ethylene oxide]-poly[propylene oxide]-poly[ethylene oxide] triblock...
Concentrically arranged multiple-tube reactors with different dimensions were
built for synthesizing nano-sized silicon nitride powder via the ammonolysis of SiO
vapor. The reaction was operated at temperatures ranging from 1350 to 1400°C and
pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure. Silicon monoxide (SiO) vapor was
generated by charging argon gas through a...
Steady flow fields and flow-induced wall stresses have been evaluated by experimental measurements and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis in a series of patient-specific abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models, over a range of Reynolds numbers (Re) from 125 to 3000 (500 to 3000 for CFD). Experimental methods used particle image...
In this work, a multicomponent lattice Boltzmann model is developed for the simulation of multiphase mixing, reactions, and separations processes. This model is unique in that diffusive mass transfer of a component in the model is driven by gradients of chemical potential. This fundamentally correct description of diffusion accurately captures...
Nature is an inspirational source of silica structures that possess unique optical properties. A few classes of organisms fabricate metal oxides with nanoscale features by a bottom-up self assembly process. In particular, diatoms are a prolific class of single-celled algae that possess silica shells or “frustules” with intricate submicron scale...
The purpose of this research was to investigate the optoelectronic properties of the
Ge doped biosilica, mainly focused on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of
diatom frustules of N. frustulum that contain metabolically inserted germanium
oxide produced by a two-stage photobioreactor cultivation process. In order to
explain the observed PL intensity...
Single-layer and three-layer microchannel adsorption devices were fabricated by procedure that was newly developed. Aluminum was chosen for metal housing while the adsorption pair was silica gel and water. Each adsorption layer contained two layers of 250 μm-thick silica gel. Both silica gel layers opened to the same layer of...
While hydrophobic surfaces coated with the poly[ethylene oxide]-poly[propylene oxide]-poly[ethylene oxide] (PEO-PPO-PEO) surfactant Pluronic® F108 are highly resistant to plasma protein adsorption, the antimicrobial peptide nisin has been observed to adsorb in multilayer quantities at such surfaces, and the PEO chains themselves suggested to inhibit nisin exchange by blood proteins. But...
There is significant interest in titanium oxide and germanium-silicon oxide nanocomposites for optoelectronic, photocatalytic, and solar cell applications. The ability of the marine diatom Pinnularia sp. to uptake soluble metal oxides from cell culture medium, and incorporate them into the micro- and nano-structure of their amorphous silica cell walls, called...
The primary goal was to characterize the adsorption of a recombinant therapeutic protein
in the presence of selected surfactant species at the air-water interface. For this purpose,
dynamic interfacial tensiometry was used to determine the surface tension kinetics
exhibited by protein solutions containing either Tween 80 or the poly[ethylene oxide]-...
Lanthanum sulfide film was deposited on silicon dioxide substrate by pumping aqueous
LaCl3∙7H2O and Na2S∙9H2O solutions into a T-mixer. After mixing, residence time was
manipulated to adjust lanthanum sulfide deposition rate. Lanthanum sulfide films were
created on silicon dioxide substrate at room temperature, 60 °C, and at 100 °C.
Lanthanum...
In order to improve photosynthetic hydrogen production, initial work has begun on a flux balance analysis of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, a model H2-producing organism. The mathematical model developed includes reactions relevant to photoautotrophic growth: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the Calvin cycle, the photosynthetic electron transport chain, the...
The main objective of the research is to develop a prototype device that can determine the condition of the thermally sprayed zinc anode in cathodic protection systems. The device needs to meet the following requirements: applicability in the field, non-destructiveness or minimal destructiveness of the zinc anode, ease of use...
Nitrosomonas europaea carries out the first step in the biological nitrogen removal process in wastewater treatment by oxidizing ammonia to nitrite. It has been shown to be sensitive to a wide range of contaminants. The antibiotic oxytetracycline and the heavy metals chromium and silver have been found in wastewater influent....
Iron epoxy composite materials were made and their relative magnetic permeability was measured. A measurement device was created to measure the relative magnetic permeability for the specific application. This device proved to be accurate and reliable. The magnetic properties of composite materials have been shown to be controllable, with a...
Engineered capillary barriers typically consist of two layers of granular materials designed so that the contrast in sediment hydrologic properties and sloping interface retains infiltrating water in the upper layer. We report here on the results of two bench-top capillary barrier experiments, and associated modeling. These experiments were conducted to...
This objective of this study is to investigate the capability of nanostructured surfaces on dissipating heat flux by performing pool boiling and convective flow boiling. The generation of ultra-high heat flux from high performance electric devices has motivated a number of investigations related to advanced heat transfer especially in two-phase...
Rubber without reinforcement has limited applications. The strength of reinforced rubber composites can be ten times stronger than that of unreinforced rubbers. Therefore, rubber composites are widely used in various applications ranging from automobile tires to seals, valves, and gaskets because of their excellent mechanical elastic properties. Silica and carbon...
The parallel implementation of a large number of functional units is necessary for
any industrial scale microfluidic process. The concept of a 'numbering up'
strategy where a single highly optimized functional unit that has a low individual
production is replicated a large number of times to create a device that...
Low levels of copper have been shown to impair the olfactory system of threatened and
endangered (T&E) salmon, decreasing their predator avoidance behavior and likely
increasing mortality. However, only dissolved copper (dissCu) present as the cupric ion
(Cu2+) and weakly complexed species are truly bioavailable. Previous studies indicate the
vast...
Functional polymers and proteins at interfaces and surfaces are of fundamental importance for biomaterials, biocatalysis and microreactor applications. Candida antarctica lipase B immobilized on poly-DL-tryptophan tethers showed 30x higher
specific activity in aqueous and non-aqueous media than the same enzyme adsorbed or covalently bound directly to the surface. An excess...
Micro energy and chemical systems (MECS) are microfluidic systems where energy and chemical processes can be intensified by decreasing the characteristic length. This project focused on bulk fluid processing using MECS technology to intensify the mass transport of a dialyzer. The objective of this project was to
design a model...
Degradation of lignin to simpler compounds is desirable for removing residual lignin during paper manufacture and accessing biomass carbohydrates for biofuel production, among other purposes. Lignin transformation using enzymes found in white rot fungi, some of nature's most efficient lignin-degrading organisms, offers a more environmentally benign, selective, and possibly less...
Low concentrations of dissolved copper have been shown to adversely
affect the olfactory system of endangered salmonids, impairing their ability to avoid predators and likely increasing predation. It is believed that only the free ionic (Cu2+ free) and weakly complexed forms are bioavailable to organisms; these forms typically account for...
The adsorption behavior of a human recombinant Factor VIII (rFVIII) in the presence of the nonionic, poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock surfactant Pluronic® F-68 was evaluated by dynamic air-water tensiometry. Surface tension kinetics were recorded for F-68 in the absence of protein at concentrations ranging from 0 to 10,000...
Coagulation and flocculation are commonly used in drinking water treatment
as a means of destabilizing and aggregating particles and promoting adsorption of
dissolved organic carbon (DOC). In practice, jar tests are used to determine optimal
conditions for the removal of turbidity and DOC. However, beyond the inferences
that can be...