Paper Competition
One of the highlights of the conference is the Regional
Student Paper Competition where undergraduate students present cutting-edge
research. The subject of each paper is left entirely to the individual student.
Presentations often focus on recent advances in some branch of chemical
engineering, original research, or plant design. Participation in the Regional
Student Paper Competition offers valuable, real-world experience for students.
AIChE supplies the prize money for these competitions, though it can be
augmented from other sources at the discretion of the host school.
Page 35 of the Regional
Conference Planner’s Guide is a copy of the Paper Competition judging form.
The Location of the paper competition will be in the
Classroom Building.
Participants
Name: Riya Muckom and Amadeu K.Sum
University: Colorado School of
Mines
Abstract
Dendritic amphiphile molecules [RCONHC(CH2CH2COOH)3,
R = n-CnHn+1], possess antimicrobial, antifungal,
anti-HIV, and anti-STD properties, giving these molecules great potential in the
pharmaceutical industry. In order for dendritic amphiphiles to be considered
for pharmaceutical use, the molecules should not disrupt the mammalian cell
membrane functionality. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the effects of
varying concentration and varying tail lengths of dendritic amphiphiles within a
lipid bilayer system were observed at an atomistic level. This project analyzes
different biophysical properties of simulated bilayer systems, at equilibrium,
to determine if and how the presence of dendritic amphiphiles causes changes to
the DPPC lipid bilayer characteristics at 300 K and 325 K, corresponding to
temperature below and above, respectively, the lipid bilayer phase transition
temperature from gel to liquid-crystalline. At higher concentrations of
amphiphile in gel-state bilayers (300K), the lipid tails began to resemble
disordered tails as in the liquid-crystalline state. Hydrogen bonding takes
place between the amphiphile and DPPC at specific sites, with an average four
DPPC lipids bound to each amphiphile in the bilayer. An area per lipid
calculation, done by a Voronoi tessellation, found that the headgroup of the
amphiphile is significantly smaller than that of DPPC, thus higher
concentrations of amphiphile decrease the total lateral bilayer area. Diffusion
coefficients of amphiphiles, which speak to the 2-dimensional mobility of a
molecule in a bilayer, increased dramatically with decreasing amphiphile tail
lengths. In addition, as the concentration of amphiphile increased, the
diffusion coefficients of both the lipid and amphiphile increased, suggesting a
strong influence of the amphiphiles on the bilayer systems. These results
provide insight into the molecular interactions of the amphiphile molecules with
the lipid bilayer, and provide a means to understand their potential impact in
the biophysical properties of cellular membranes.
Name: Brad Hancock
University: Brigham Young University
Abstract
Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis is a reaction used to convert carbon monoxide and
hydrogen into high-quality liquid fuels.
Many catalysts have been prepared on a laboratory scale using a beaker and a hot
plate with good activity and selectivity. This process however is limited to a
small batch size of a maximum of 30 grams and is very time intensive. Aqueous
versus non-aqueous depositions were compared on this scale as well as other
process improvements. Then, a rotary evaporator was used to make catalysts of
similar compositions in much larger batches, up to 500 grams, and is almost
entirely automated. The rotary evaporator is thus a more feasible option for
industrial production of these catalysts. This study has determined that aqueous
deposition provides better reduction and H2 uptake results than non
aqueous. The scale up of the process has led to higher noble metal weight
percents, lower reduction temperatures and better cobalt particle size
distribution.
Name: Joseph Wilcox
University: Brigham Young
University
Abstract
In regard to the current energy dilemma, scientists are looking for a renewable,
affordable, and environment-friendly source of energy.
This article discusses geothermal energy as a possible part of the
solution. Despite the concerns,
such as earthquakes, localized depletion, and price, current data indicate that
geothermal technology is under-utilized in the U.S. This article also discusses
direct-use applications (geothermal heat pumps) as well as current technology
for geothermal power plants. Also,
the article suggests estimations of geothermal large-scale impact as an area for
further research.
Name: Tyler
Hanson
University: South
Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Abstract
A novel product, residual pine from
the pine to ethanol process has been characterized and evaluated for a potential
filler/reinforcement in thermoplastic composites. Wood Flour (WF) was used as a
comparison. In this work, pine
residue was compounded with polypropylene (PP) and maleated polypropylene (MAPP)
in a twin-screw extruder. Parts were fabricated in an injection molder and the
effects of fiber loading were observed. It can be concluded that the pine to
ethanol process residue is an alternate means to generate wood flour.
The products’ morphology differs significantly but the mechanical and
thermal properties of the part are nearly identical.
The study has shown that residue from the ethanol process has great
potential as an additive in polypropylene.
Residual ethanol has a better weight to strength ratio than glass and has
a very appealing price to performance ratio. From these results, we conclude
that pine residue in a composite achieves better mechanical properties than the
virgin material.
Name: Joe Machado
University: South
Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Abstract
With current instabilities in the top oil-producing region of
the world our dependence on oil is not only seen as an environmental problem,
but an economic problem as well. As
oil is a limited, dwindling resource, a cheap renewable resource is needed.
Algae provides an alternative source to oil through
lipids that can be extracted and refined to create biodiesel.
Not only will the development of algae-based fuels lessen our dependence
on petroleum based fuels but also utilize carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and
the sun. Current methods of mass
algae production utilize large, open ponds that produce harvestable biomass
slowly and take up vast amounts of land area, making it an unpractical
alternative to petroleum. The
purpose of this project is to design a mass algae production method that most
efficiently uses land area while maximizing the production of biodiesel.
By collecting and distributing sunlight into a vertical, flat panel
reactor, this goal can be obtained.
With controlled light-dark cycles through the use of static mixers, optimum
algae biomass production can be achieved.
Name: Catherine Hillard
University: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Abstract
Alternative energy resources are currently of interest due to
increasing prices of petroleum. The purpose of this study is to optimize new
biogenerated methane, a natural gas found in coal seams. Three factors have been
explored in this study: the effect of coal oxidation on biodegradability, the
effect of autoclaved coal on biodegradability, and screening for coal
intermediates that may be used by the specific consortia.
Coal samples can become oxidized during collection/storage, but the
effect on the anaerobic biodegradation of coal was previously unknown. The
autoclave has a potential effect on the coal because it exposes the coal to
higher temperatures (121 ˚C for 15 min). Finally, coal- to-methane consortia
have been shown to use certain pure organic substrates as intermediates to
produce methane. By screening these substrates, it is possible to pinpoint
specific microorganisms and specific metabolic pathways by which the consortia
generate methane. To date, the oxidation of coal seems to have a negative effect
on biodegradability. Oxygen modifies the coal in such a way that the consortia
are unable to degrade it in an effective manner. This suggests that the
procedure for harvesting and storing coal must be also anoxic. The autoclave has
been found to have little to no effect on the biodegradability of the coal;
therefore, the current coal+medium sterilization protocol does not need to be
modified. An experiment to screen various aromatic and long chain acids as
possible coal biodegradation intermediates is currently in progress.
Name: Sowmya Yelakanti
University: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Abstract
H2 has emerged as an attractive candidate for a clean, sustainable
fuel and considered as the most promising energy carrier for the next
decades.
Two-step thermochemical water-splitting process which utilizes ferrite based
redox reactions is considered as one of the green ways of H2
production.
In this process, the first step belongs to endothermic reduction of ferrite at
elevated temperatures by releasing O2. The second step corresponds to
exothermic oxidation of the reduced metal oxide at lower temperatures by taking
O2 from water and producing H2 via water-splitting
reaction. This investigation reports the synthesis of ferrites with nanoparticle
porous morphology using sol-gel technique and their characterization using
powdered x-ray diffraction (XRD), BET specific surface area analyzer, scanning
and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). The derived ferrites were
further examined for their H2 generation ability by performing
multiple thermochemical cycles at various experimental conditions.
The synthesis of ferrites using sol-gel method,
characterization of the synthesized ferrites, and their H2 generation
ability during multiple thermochemical cycles will be presented in detail.
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