Matching Items (9)
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- All Subjects: chemical engineering
- Creators: Green, Matthew
- Creators: Lind, Mary Laura
- Member of: Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Targeting Tumors: Inclusion of Functional Groups on Ion-Containing Block Copolymers to Combat Cancer
Description
This research attempts to determine the most effective method of synthesizing a peptide such that it can be utilized as a targeting moiety for polymeric micelles. Two melanoma-associated peptides with high in vitro and in vivo binding affinity for TNF receptors have been identified and synthesized. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-ToF) was used to help verify the structure of both peptides, which were purified using Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC). The next steps in the research are to attach the peptides to a micelle and determine their impact on micelle stability.
ContributorsMoe, Anna Marguerite (Author) / Green, Matthew (Thesis director) / Jones, Anne (Committee member) / Sullivan, Millicent (Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
The goal of this research project is to create a mixed matrix membrane that can withstand very acidic environments but still be used to purify water. The ultimate goal of this membrane is to be used to purify urine both here on Earth and in space. The membrane would be able to withstand these harsh conditions due the incorporation of a resilient impermeable polymer layer that will be cast above the lower hydrophilic layer. Nanoparticles called zeolites will act as a water selective pathway through this impermeable layer and allow water to flow through the membrane. This membrane will be made using a variety of methods and polymers to determine both the cheapest and most effective way of creating this chemical resistant membrane. If this research is successful, many more water sources can be tapped since the membranes will be able to withstand hard conditions. This document is primarily focused on our progress on the development of a highly permeable polymer-zeolite film that makes up the bottom layer of the membrane. Multiple types of casting methods were investigated and it was determined that spin coating at 4000 rpm was the most effective. Based on a literature review, we selected silicalite-1 zeolites as the water-selective nanoparticle component dispersed in a casting solution of polyacrylonitrile in N-methylpyrrolidinone to comprise this hydrophilic layer. We varied the casting conditions of several simple solution-casting methods to produce thin films on the porous substrate with optimal film properties for our membrane design. We then cast this solution on other types of support materials that are more flexible and inexpensive to determine which combination resulted in the thinnest and most permeable film.
ContributorsHerrera, Sofia Carolina (Author) / Lind, Mary Laura (Thesis director) / Khosravi, Afsaneh (Committee member) / Hestekin, Jamie (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
This study aims to provide a foundation for future work on photo-responsive polymer composite materials to be utilized in additive manufacturing processes. The curing rate of 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl-acetophenone (DMPA) in thin (<20 µm) and thick (>2 mm) layers of DMPA and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) mixtures was assessed for 5.0 w/v% (grams per 100 mL) concentrations of DMPA dissolved in PEG-DA. The polymerization rate and quality of curing was found to decrease as the concentration of DMPA increased beyond 1.0 w/v%; thus, confirming the existence of an optimum photo-initiator concentration for a specific sheet thickness. The optimum photo-initiator concentration for a 3-3.1 mm thick sheet of PEG-DA microstructure was determined to be between 0.3 and 0.38 w/v% DMPA. The addition of 1,6-hexanediol or 1,3-butanediol to the optimum photo-initiator concentrated solution of DMPA and PEG-DA was found to increase the Tg of the samples; however, the samples could not fully cure within 40-50 s, which suggested a decrease in polymerization rate. Lastly, the DMPA photo-initiator does not produce gaseous byproducts and is translucent when fully cured, which makes it attractive for infusion with strengthening materials because quality light penetration is paramount to quick polymerization rates. It is recommended that more trials be conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the optimum curing rate for DMPA and PEG-DA microstructures as well as a mechanical property comparison following the addition of either of the two alcohols.
ContributorsPiper, Tyler Irvin (Author) / Green, Green (Thesis director) / Lind, Mary Laura (Committee member) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), also known as hydrotalcite-like materials, are extensively used as precursors for the preparation of (photo-)catalysts, electrodes, magnetic materials, sorbents, etc. The synthesis typically involves the transformation to the corresponding mixed metal oxide via calcination, resulting in atomically dispersed mixed metal oxides (MMOs). This process alters the porosity of the materials, with crucial implications for the performance in many applications. Yet, the mechanisms of pore formation and collapse are poorly understood. Combining an integrated in situ and ex situ characterization approach, here we follow the evolution of porosity changes during the thermal decomposition of LDHs integrating different divalent (Mg, Ni) and trivalent (Al, Ga) metals. Variations in porous properties determined by high-resolution argon sorption are linked to the morphological and compositional changes in the samples by in situ transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which is facilitated by the synthesis of well crystallized LDHs of large crystal size. The observations are correlated with the phase changes identified by X-ray diffraction, the mass losses evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis, the structural changes determined by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the pore connectivity analyzed by positron annihilation spectroscopy. The findings show that the multimetallic nature of the LDH governs the size and distribution (geometry, location, and connectivity) of the mesopores developed, which is controlled by the crystallization of the MMO phase, providing key insights for the improved design of porous mixed metal oxides.
ContributorsMurty, Rohan Aditya (Author) / Deng, Shuguang (Thesis director) / Nielsen, David R. (Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Styrene, a component of many rubber products, is currently synthesized from petroleum in a highly energy-intensive process. The Nielsen Laboratory at Arizona State has demonstrated a biochemical pathway by which E. coli can be engineered to produce styrene from the amino acid phenylalanine, which E. coli naturally synthesizes from glucose. However, styrene becomes toxic to E. coli above concentrations of 300 mg/L, severely limiting the large-scale applicability of the pathway. Thus, styrene must somehow be continuously removed from the system to facilitate higher yields and for the purposes of scale-up. The separation methods of pervaporation and solvent extraction were investigated to this end. Furthermore, the styrene pathway was extended by one step to produce styrene oxide, which is less volatile than styrene and theoretically simpler to recover. Adsorption of styrene oxide using the hydrophobic resin L-493 was attempted in order to improve the yield of styrene oxide and to provide additional proof of concept that the flux through the styrene pathway can be increased. The maximum styrene titer achieved was 1.2 g/L using the method of solvent extraction, but this yield was only possible when additional phenylalanine was supplemented to the system.
ContributorsMcDaniel, Matthew Cary (Author) / Nielsen, David (Thesis director) / Lind, Mary Laura (Committee member) / McKenna, Rebekah (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
One of the grand challenges of engineering is to provide access to clean water because it is predicted that by 2025 more than two thirds of the world’s population will face severe water shortages. To combat this global issue, our lab focuses on creating a novel composite membrane to recover potable water from waste. For use as the water-selective component in this membrane design Linde Type A zeolites were synthesized for optimal size without the use of a template. Current template-free synthesis of zeolite LTA produces particles that are too large for our application therefore the particle size was reduced in this study to reduce fouling of the membrane while also investigating the nanoparticle synthesis mechanisms. The time and temperature of the reaction and the aging of the precursor gel were systematically modified and observed to determine the optimal conditions for producing the particles. Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis were used for characterization. Sub-micron sized particles were synthesized at 2 weeks aging time at -8°C with an average size of 0.6 micrometers, a size suitable for our membrane. There is a limit to the posterity and uniformity of particles produced from modifying the reaction time and temperature. All results follow general crystallization theory. Longer aging produced smaller particles, consistent with nucleation theory. Spinodal decomposition is predicted to affect nucleation clustering during aging due to the temperature scheme. Efforts will be made to shorten the effective aging time and these particles will eventually be incorporated into our mixed matrix osmosis membrane.
ContributorsKing, Julia Ann (Author) / Lind, Mary Laura (Thesis director) / Durgun, Pinar Cay (Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Materials Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
This thesis analyzed Canon GPR-30 Black Standard Yield Toner in hopes to gain better understanding of the additives and plastic used in a popular photocopier toner formulation. By analyzing the toner’s composition from the perspective of its recyclability and potential to be manufactured using recycled plastic, this thesis hoped to fill a gap in current literature regarding how toner fits into a circular economy. While the analysis of the selected toner was ultimately inconclusive, three hypotheses about the toner’s composition are put forth based upon data from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), solubility analysis, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy experimentation. It is hypothesized that the toner is most likely composed of either polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Both of these polymers have characteristic FTIR peaks that were exhibited in the toner spectra and both polymers exhibit similar solubility behavior to toner samples. However, the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the toner sampled were 58℃ and 74.5℃ respectively, both of which are much lower than that of PMMA and PET. Thus, a third hypothesis that would better support DSC findings is that the toner is primarily composed of nylon 6,6. While DSC data best matches this polymer, FTIR data seems to rule out nylon 6,6 as an option because its characteristic peaks were not found in experimental data. Thus, the Canon GPR-30 Black Standard Yield Toner is probably made from either PMMA or PET. Both PMMA and PET are 100% recyclable plastics which are commonly repurposed at recycling facilities, however, unknowns regarding toner additives make it difficult to determine how this toner would be recycled. If the printing industry hopes to move towards a circular economy in which plastic can be recycled to use towards toner manufacturing and toner can be “unprinted” from paper to be recycled into new toner, it is likely that monetary incentives or government regulations will need to be introduced to promote the sharing of toner formulations for recycling purposes.
ContributorsChase, Jasmine (Author) / Green, Matthew (Thesis director) / Emady, Heather (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsChase, Jasmine (Author) / Green, Matthew (Thesis director) / Emady, Heather (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsChase, Jasmine (Author) / Green, Matthew (Thesis director) / Emady, Heather (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05