Chemical Engineering Calendar [Announcement: Feed no longer available after November 18th, 2015. See https://goo.gl/EMDRqe]

AICHE 1st Mtg. 218CEB

2012-09-06T18:46:35.000Z

When: Tue Sep 11, 2012 4pm to 5pm CDT

Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: For more information, please view https://www.facebook.com/AIChE.UIC or e-mail: aicheuic@gmail.com .

ChE Seminar - Dr. Vivek Sharma

2012-05-08T07:05:22.000Z

When: Wed May 9, 2012 11am to 12:30pm CDT

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Dr. Vivek Sharma Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Mechanical Engineering Functional soft materials for jetting and spraying applications: associative polymers as rheology modifiers Abstract Associative polymer solutions are used extensively in the formulations of functional soft materials like inks, paints, food, nasal sprays, cosmetics, insecticides, fertilizers and bio-assays to control the rheology and processing behavior of multi-component complex fluids. These complex dispersions are processed and used over a broad range of shear rates (1-106 s-1) and extensional rates (1-105 s-1), and their non-Newtonian behavior displayed under processing conditions is often not measurable in the conventional rheometric measurements. In this talk, we use the example of cellulose ether ethyl-hydroxyethyl-cellulose (EHEC) and its hydrophobically modified analog (HMEHEC) to illustrate the influence of hydrophobic stickers on the linear and nonlinear rheology of their aqueous solutions. We show that a constitutive model based on fractional calculus can be used to characterize the physical gelation in HMEHEC solutions, and we use microfluidic rheometry to extend viscosity measurements to high shear rates (103-106 s-1). The transient extensional viscosity response of the associative polymer solutions dictates the complex pinch-off dynamics during jetting and spraying, where inertial, viscous and elastic effects moderate capillary break-up of cylindrical fluid elements into droplets. We compare the responses of EHEC and HMEHEC solutions to extensional deformations during capillary break-up using (a) capillary break-up extensional rheometer (CABER) and (b) Rayleigh Ohnesorge Jetting Extensional Rheometer (ROJER), an imaging-based technique capable of attaining high extension rates that has been developed as a part of this study. Furthermore, we measure extensional viscosity using excess pressure drop and flow induced birefringence in the vicinity of a stagnation point in a cross-slot extensional rheometer. This study highlights a number of complimentary techniques that are critical for the design and characterization of functional soft materials used in complex processing operations such as jetting and spraying.

ChE Seminar - Dr. Heather Kulik

2012-05-08T07:03:55.000Z

When: Tue May 8, 2012 11am to 12:30pm CDT

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Dr. Heather Kulik Stanford University Department of Chemistry Predictive and fast: new first-principles tools for transition metal catalysis Abstract Rational, computational design is a promising pathway to the development of novel catalysts and materials, but the effectiveness of this design strategy is dependent upon the predictive accuracy and computational cost of the methods employed. Density functional theory (DFT) is a widely-employed computational approach for determining the electronic structure of molecules and solids, but standard DFT suffers from a critical error known as self-interaction that causes electrons to over-delocalize and yields erroneous descriptions of geometry and energetics. I will introduce a method in which I augment standard DFT with a Hubbard U term that ameliorates this error, particularly for the accurate and predictive description of transition-metal catalysis. This so-called DFT+U approach reduces errors in the ordering of electronic states of small molecules and paradigmatic catalytic reactions by over an order of magnitude. Importantly, with little additional overhead, the additional U term is calculated self-consistently on each system considered and is thus not a fitting parameter. The application of DFT+U to larger-scale systems including self-assembled monolayers of porphyrins on transition-metal surfaces, relevant to molecular spintronics, and on the activity of a non-heme iron halogenase, relevant to natural product synthesis, will also be discussed. Finally, if time permits, a brief segue into how quantum chemical methods on newer architectures can permit the ab initio study of systems several orders of magnitude larger in size will be discussed.

ChE Seminar - Marco J. Castaldi

2012-05-08T07:06:25.000Z

When: Thu May 3, 2012 2pm to 3:30pm CDT

Where: CEB 214
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Marco J. Castaldi Columbia University Earth & Environmental Engineering Department (HKSM) Environmentally Benign Energy Technology Development Abstract The confluence of natural and human driven events have shown how acutely sensitive the world, and in particular the United States, is to energy supply and security. Furthermore, if we consider where the world stands today in terms of energy use and where it will be in 100 years, there is a significant challenge to meet the expected demand in a more CO2-neutral way. Therefore, a primary objective for new energy technology development must be to produce carbon-free energy through the advancement of technologies that use both conventional and alternative sources. To achieve this goal, a fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms and processes is necessary. This presentation will highlight results from current research in the Combustion and Catalysis Laboratories. It will focus on chemical kinetic and mechanistic investigations of the thermal and catalytic conversion of carbon compounds. For example, fuel reforming of conventional fuels can enable highly efficient fuel cells for power production as well as conversion of greenhouse gases to useful chemicals. Gasification processes that incorporate CO2 as a reactive media can convert biomass and waste to synthesis gas. In addition, research on the impact of strategically located combustors to efficiently produce methane from hydrates is being carried out. (These fundamental investigations are leveraged to provide guidance for improvements to water gas shift, ethanol-gasoline reforming and selective catalytic reduction technologies by combining them with more practical, applied research.) Preliminary results will also be presented on a new analytical apparatus developed to probe the intrinsic kinetic processes of industrially used catalytic reactors at practical operating conditions.

ChE Seminar - Tarek M. Fahmy

2012-03-15T18:07:56.000Z

When: Thu Mar 8, 2012 11am to 12pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Yale University Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Modular Nanoscale Biomaterials for Immunotherapy and Immunodiagnostics. Abstract: The immune system is made up of a complex network of molecules and cells that can screen its own components, protect itself, and attack invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Immune system malfunction can lead to pathogenesis of many common chronic and autoimmune disease, and even progression of cancer. Nanomaterials can be engineered in ways that can rectify functional responses of these cells and detect their presence in health and disease. An attractive feature of these synthetic systems is that they can be ‘tuned’ in predictable, designable ways to optimize detection of cellular function for fast immunodiagnostics or used to manipulate the magnitude and direction of an immune response for immunotherapy. Here we present current our understandings and designs using nanomaterials ranging from biodegradable nanoparticles to semiconducting nanowires for modulation and interrogation of immune cells. The seminar is held in CEB (Chemical Engineering Building) Room 218 at 810 S. Clinton Street, Chicago, IL 60607. Reception will start at 10:45 am.

ChE Seminar - Junhang Dong

2012-02-05T18:46:52.000Z

When: Tue Feb 7, 2012 11am to 12pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Junhang Dong University of Cincinnati Department of Chemical Engineering Zeolite membrane reactors and thin film sensors for advanced fossil and biomass based energy systems Abstract Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicate materials with ordered pores of nanometer or sub-Nanometer scale sizes. Traditionally, zeolites are used as highly efficient adsorbents and shape-selective catalysts in chemical and energy industries. In the past two decades, various types of zeolite membranes and thin films have been successfully synthesized for a wide range of applications in molecular separations, electrochemical and optical chemical sensors, and special surface coatings/furnishings. This presentation discusses our recent work on zeolite membranes for high temperature water gas shift (WGS) reaction which is a key operation in pre-combustion CO2 capture or hydrogen production from fossil and biomass stocks. Our study on the WGS membrane reaction indicates that, under high temperature and pressure, zeolite membranes with only moderate H2/CO2 selectivity are capable of achieving nearly complete CO conversion (>99.8%) in a single reactor with some compromise in the ability of simultaneous H2 or CO2 purification. The presentation also reports the utilization of zeolite thin films as probing materials for novel fiber optic chemical sensors (FOCS) and as effective protective layers for high temperature optical gas sensors to operate in-situ in harsh conditions involved in fossil and biomass based power plants.

ChE Seminar - Jie Zheng

2012-01-30T06:32:43.000Z

When: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11am to 12pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: University of Akron Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Molecular Insights into Amyloid Oligomers and Their Interactions with Model Membranes Abstract The aggregation of monomeric proteins/peptides to form ordered amyloid oligomers/fibrils is a pathogenic hallmark of many degenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and prion diseases. Despite of significant progress, oligomeric structures and associated toxicity at the very early stage of aggregation remain unclear. Structural knowledge of these oligomers is essential for understanding the pathology of amyloidoses and for the rational design of drugs against amyloid diseases. This talk will cover our recent works in three aspects. (i) We identify a series of atomic structures of amyloid oligomers with different sequences (Aâ, hIAPP, GNNQQNY, and K3) and structural morphologies (micelles, annulars, triangulars, globulomers, and linears), delineate several common features in amyloid structures, and illustrate aggregation driving forces that stabilize these oligomeric structures. (ii) More importantly, we further examine the interactions of amyloid oligomers with lipid bilayers to examine membrane-damage mechanisms by varying oligomeric morphology, lipid compositions, cholesterol contents, and position and orientation of Aâ relative to lipid bilayers. Two postulated mechanisms of membrane damage (membrane thinning vs. ion channel) associated with amyloid toxicity are discussed. (iii) In addition, due to the complex nature of cell membranes, we also alternatively employ self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as model systems to study the aggregation and conformational changes of Aâ peptides using an integrated simulation and experimental approach. The complementary results from simulations and experiments reveal different Aâ adsorption, structural transition, and aggregation scenarios on the SAMs, providing parallel insights into the understanding of Aâ structure and aggregation on cell membrane.

ChE Seminar - Dr. Keith M. Forward

2012-01-30T06:37:05.000Z

When: Fri Jan 27, 2012 11am to 12pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Chemical Engineering Free Surface Electrospinning from a Wire Electrode Abstract The needle or nozzle-based electrospinning process has long been explored for its capability to produce unique nanofiber materials with desirable properties such as high surface area and high porosity. These materials are of interest in a wide range of fields such as textiles, filtration, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, nanocomposites, and alternative-energy generation systems such as solar cells, fuel cells, and energy storage devices. However, one of the perceived drawbacks of the method for industrial purposes is its low production rate. A typical production rate from a single spinneret is 0.1 -1 g of fiber per hour, depending on the solution properties and operating parameters. To overcome the low productivity of nozzle-based electrospinning, we consider “free surface electrospinning” (also referred to as “needleless electrospinning”) where electrohydrodynamic jets self-organize spontaneously on a free liquid surface. It has been estimated that the concentration of the jets can be increased by an order of magnitude or more compared to conventional electrospinning by employing free surface electrospinning. A bench-top apparatus was analyzed where free surface electrospinning occurs from a thin wire electrode. In this process, metal wire electrodes mounted on a spindle are drawn through an electrified liquid bath in a direction perpendicular to the wire axes. As a wire moves through the fluid/air interface, liquid is entrained on the wire, resulting in a thin film of liquid coating the wire. Due to a Plateau-Rayleigh instability, the coating breaks up into individual droplets of charged liquid on the metal wire. At sufficiently high local electric field, the individual drops deform and jets are produced from the droplets, giving rise to a form of free surface electrospinning. As the spindle rotates, electrospinning continues to occur until the supply of liquid is exhausted or the required electric field conditions are no longer met. By mounting several wires on a rotating spindle, the process of immersion, entrainment, dewetting and jetting can be performed repeatedly in a simple manner. The processes of charging, entrainment, droplet breakup, and jetting are all coupled in this process. We examine how the liquid properties (i.e. surface tension, viscosity, density, concentration) and wire electrode rotation rate affect liquid entrainment and droplet breakup. Applied potential and rotation rate of the spindle are varied to study the effects of these operating parameters. A model for the productivity of the process is presented to account for liquid properties and operating parameters. Based upon the presented productivity model, a small pilot-plant scale apparatus was designed and built. The apparatus has the capability of producing 200 g of fiber per hour, depending on liquid properties and operating parameters. This study shows the ease of scaling up free surface electrospinning, and the capability of industrializing electrospinning.

ChE Seminar - Brad Chmelka

2012-01-13T20:00:15.000Z

When: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11am to 12pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Professor Brad Chmelka University of California, Santa Barbara Department of Chemical Engineering Self-assembly and crystallization of mesostructured zeolites Abstract Mesoporous zeolites represent a new and technologically important class of materials that exhibit improved transport, catalytic, and adsorption properties compared to conventional zeolites with sub-nanometer pore dimensions. During their syntheses, the transient development(s) of mesoscopic and crystalline order are closely coupled and difficult to control. Such processes are important to monitor and understand to optimize the compositions, structures, and properties of mesostructured zeolites. In particular, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, in conjunction with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and adsorption/reaction measurements, establish new molecular-level insights on the local interactions and distributions of complicated organic structure-directing agents with respect to crystallizing inorganic frameworks and their resulting catalytic reaction properties. The analyses reveal the formation of intermediate framework configurations, which subsequently transform into zeolitic structures with novel combinations of both nano- and mesoscale porosities. Such materials are shown to result from competition between simultaneous and coupled surfactant self-assembly and inorganic crystallization processes, the interplay between which governs the onset and development of framework structural order on the different length scales. The results provide criteria for rational design strategies aimed at synthesizing hierarchically porous zeolites with different framework morphologies and improved transport, catalytic, and adsorption properties.

ChE Seminar - Ayse Asatekin

2012-01-18T21:58:30.000Z

When: Fri Jan 20, 2012 11am to 12pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Ayse Asatekin Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Chemical Engineering Efficient membranes through polymer engineering Abstract Water scarcity affects one in three people across the globe, limiting access to safe water for drinking, sanitation, and agriculture. This number is expected to grow significantly as fresh water resources are depleted, and water pollution affects larger areas. Preserving our water resources and generating fresh, safe water relies on the development of new technologies. Membranes that remove contaminants from water are a key to energy-efficient and effective water treatment. However, their wide-spread use is limited by low permeability, poor selectivity, and membrane fouling. Rational design of polymeric membrane systems to control key factors such as morphology, surface chemistry, and nanostructure can significantly improve these performance parameters, and make affordable, effective and efficient water treatment systems possible. This presentation focuses on the development of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with exceptional fouling resistance manufactured without additional processing steps, making use of the self-organizing properties of amphiphilic comb copolymers. Polyacrylonitrile-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) (PAN-g-PEO), an amphiphilic comb copolymer with a hydrophobic polyacrylonitrile (PAN) backbone and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) side chains, is used as an additive in the manufacture of novel PAN UF membranes. During casting, the PAN-g-PEO additive segregates to form a PEO brush layer on all membrane surfaces, including internal pores. This creates a hydrophilic membrane surface that resists adsorption of feed components. The resultant membranes resist adsorptive fouling completely, and recover initial performance with a water-only rinse or backwash, eliminating the need for harsh chemical cleanings. They also have significantly higher fluxes compared with membranes cast from PAN only. We have investigated the performance of these membranes in a wide range of applications, including oil well produced water, refinery wastewater, shale gas field wastewater, and membrane bioreactors for treating domestic wastewater. Due to their ability to resist adsorptive fouling, these membranes can sustain higher fluxes, require less frequent backwashes, eliminate the need for chemical cleanings, and achieve longer membrane lifetimes, translating to reduced energy consumption during operation and better process economics. This can mean cheaper methods to provide clean water and to protect our water resources. The seminar is held in CEB (Chemical Engineering Building) Room 218 at 810 S. Clinton Street, Chicago, IL 60607. Reception will start at 10:45 am.

ChE Seminar - Prashant Nagpal

2012-01-24T07:31:31.000Z

When: Tue Jan 17, 2012 11am to 12pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Prashant Nagpal Los Alamos National Laboratory Center for Advanced Solar Photophysics Third generation photovoltaics: harnessing the heat or “hot” carriers Abstract Sun provides more than 150,000 TW of incident radiation on earth which can easily provide us a carbon neutral source of renewable energy to meet our current needs (~15 TW). However, energetically broad distribution of the emitted electromagnetic radiation from the sun poses significant scientific challenges to harvest this energy economically. Conventionally, a semiconductor photocell absorbs this incident radiation generating electron-hole pairs across its energy bandgap, which are then collected at different electrodes to get useful electric power. However, material challenges of collecting these charge carriers before they recombine, along with fundamental challenges of utilizing the excess energy from “hot” carriers (generated by photons with energy higher than semiconductor bandgap), need to be addressed to develop clean energy sources. Here, I will discuss my recent results on progress made in developing efficient thermophotovoltaic emitters and infrared photocells to achieve above mentioned goals. Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is a less-studied alternative to the photovoltaic (PV), or light-to-electric, energy conversion method described above. In TPV, a secondary emitter re-emits all the incident power as an energetically narrow beam of infrared light matched to the photocell bandgap. This incident light can then be converted efficiently into electricity without incurring losses from hot-carriers. However, emission from real materials has impeded study in this area. I will show how refractory materials, like tungsten, can be easily molded into desired nanophotonic or plasmonic metamaterials to selectively tailor the glow and directionality of the emitted light. Moreover, this energy-conversion process requires using this tailored light source (or incident sunlight for PV) to generate electricity using a cheap photocell module. I will discuss my recent results in understanding charge transport and tuning recombination dynamics in thin film semiconductor devices, specifically semiconductor nanocrystals, for development of solution processable, inexpensive, infrared photocell modules. I will also discuss some fundamental advances made in thin-film plasmonics which can be beneficial not only for development of thinner solar cells, but also for developing next-generation of medical sensors, faster computer chips etc.

ChE Seminar - Elizabeth J. Biddinger

2012-01-10T20:24:28.000Z

When: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:30pm to 3pm CST

Where: CEB 218
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Elizabeth J. Biddinger Georgia Institute of Technology School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Alternative Solvent Systems for Green and Sustainable Processes Abstract Solvents are typically the largest component in a chemical synthesis and separation process. The energy usage and waste generation from the use of these solvents contributes significantly to the overall energy consumption and waste generation in a process. By developing and implementing alternative solvent systems, greener chemical processes can be established. Alternative solvents can be used to improve reaction and separation efficiencies, and reduce energy consumption and waste generation. There are multiple classes of alternative solvents including tunable solvents, switchable solvents and ionic liquids. Each class has its own advantages, which play a significant part in the selection of an alternative solvent system. Tunable solvents have properties than can be changed (“tuned”) in a continuous manner with the application of heat, pressure or another external stimulus. Conversely, switchable solvents have drastic step-changes in their properties (ionic strength, volatility, hydrophilicity, etc.) in response to some impetus such as the temperature, pressure, pH, absorption of light or introduction of a chemical “switch.” Traditional ionic liquids are organic salts that are liquids below 100°C. Traditional ionic liquids do not change properties with an external stimulus, though are touted for their non-volatility and ionic strength. Several examples of these alternative solvent systems will be presented including tunable solvents for combining homogeneous reactions with heterogeneous separations, and switchable solvents known as reversible ionic liquids. Examples of reversible ionic liquid use for CO2 capture and nanoparticle synthesis will be given.

Advising Week

2011-10-14T20:42:15.000Z

When: Fri Oct 28, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Week

2011-10-14T20:42:12.000Z

When: Thu Oct 27, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Week

2011-10-14T20:42:09.000Z

When: Wed Oct 26, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Week

2011-10-14T20:42:07.000Z

When: Tue Oct 25, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Week

2011-10-14T20:42:05.000Z

When: Mon Oct 24, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Sign-Up

2011-10-14T20:41:25.000Z

When: Fri Oct 21, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Sign-Up

2011-10-14T20:41:31.000Z

When: Thu Oct 20, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Sign-Up

2011-10-14T20:41:35.000Z

When: Wed Oct 19, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Sign-Up

2011-10-14T20:41:40.000Z

When: Tue Oct 18, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Advising Sign-Up

2011-10-14T20:41:18.000Z

When: Mon Oct 17, 2011

Event Status: confirmed

Seminar-Reza Mostofi "Innovations in Refinery Processes Using CFD"

2011-10-03T19:11:02.000Z

When: Thu Oct 6, 2011 11am to 12pm CDT

Event Status: confirmed

Chemical Engineering Seminar - Esmaiel Jabbari

2011-09-28T03:34:07.000Z

When: Thu Sep 29, 2011 11am to 12:30pm CDT

Where: CEB 218 - 810 S. Clinton St., Chicago, IL 60607
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Esmaiel Jabbari University of South Carolina Department of Chemical Engineering Biomimetic Engineered Materials for Growth Factor Delivery and Tissue Regeneration Abstract The reconstruction of bone segments due to pathological events remains a significant clinical problem. The high failure rates with allografts are attributed to non-uniform cell distribution and insufficient mechanical strength. In addition, loss of growth factors from the graft by diffusion and soft tissue compression cause serious side effects such as bone overgrowth, tumorigenesis, and immunological reactions. In this regard, engineered micro- and nano- materials that mimic the native organization of tissues hold great promise as a synthetic graft to provide structural support, uniform cell seeding, and on-demand release of growth factors. Click on more details to read more in the attached file.

Final Exams

2011-04-20T18:27:19.000Z

When: Fri May 6, 2011

Event Status: confirmed