Chemical Engineering g gSponsored Junior/Senior Engineering

Clinic ProjectsClinic ProjectsSpring 2008

ChE 01 Colorful ProteinsChE 01 - Colorful ProteinsPI: Lefebvre, co-PI: Farrell

• Produce colorful proteins in E. coliU i t f th• Use mixtures of the colorful proteins to illustrate and testillustrate and test bioseparations (HIC, RME))

ChE 02 – Catalyst Removal from yPharmaceutical ProcessesPI: Lefebvre co PIs: Farrell HeskethPI: Lefebvre, co-PIs: Farrell, Hesketh

• Sponsored by Novartis (East Hanover, NJ)• Improve process for palladium removal from• Improve process for palladium removal from

reactor by designing adsorption column

I t t ith N ti• Interact with Novartis chemists and engineers

• Produce model API• Study adsorption

column performance• Model adsorptionModel adsorption

behavior, predict scale-up

ChE 03 - BioethanolYeast ProductionYeast Production

PI: Lefebvre, co-PIs: Hecht, SavelskiTHE PROBLEM:

Ideal biocatalyst does not exist for conversion of sugars f bl bi t th lfrom renewable biomass to ethanol

THE PROJECT:THE PROJECT:

1. Identify methods to increase utility of existing AltraBiofuels biocatalystsy

2. Perform molecular biology necessary to improve AltraBiofuels strains

3. Examine stability & expression of added genes, expression of gene products

ChE 04 – Membrane Research Paper

PIs: Slater and Savelski • Take a draft paper written several years ago

(grad student) and turn into a paper for submission to a research journalsubmission to a research journal

• Topic: Purification of Raw Brown Cane Sugar Solutions using a Cross flow Vibrating Membrane SystemMembrane System

• Update intro/ write literature review – articles obtained Fall07

• Apply mathematical techniques to analyze /• Apply mathematical techniques to analyze / correlate data compare to literature, discuss relevance of results, etc

• Organize/format/etc per journal guidelines• Organize/format/etc per journal guidelines

ChE 05 - Pfizer Pharmaceutical Waste Stream Reduction / RecoveryStream Reduction / Recovery

(PIs: Savelski and Slater)Sponsored b Pfi er (NY/NJ/PR) and US EPA• Sponsored by Pfizer (NY/NJ/PR) and US EPA

• Investigate alternatives to disposing of a waste stream from a drug manufacturing processstream from a drug manufacturing process

• Compare current process route with technically viable green engineering optionsviable green engineering options– waste stream reduction and recovery– define operational sequences

equipment and process steps required

1

– equipment and process steps required– estimate all costs and environmental impacts– make proposal/recommendations

1

ChE 06 – Curriculum Module in Organic Particulate ProcessingOrganic Particulate Processing

(PIs: Slater, Savelski)R i th O t h P t f th NSF E i i• Rowan is the Outreach Partner for the NSF Engineering Research Center on Structured Organic Particulate Systems (Rutgers, Purdue, NJIT, Univ Puerto Rico-y ( g , , ,Mayaguez)

• Develop instructional materials – problem sets for introductory ChE courses (PCPI &II) on processingintroductory ChE courses (PCPI &II) on processing (continuous feeding, mixing, tableting, etc) particulates used in pharmaceutical and consumer products industries

• Interact with Grad students/Faculty at Rutgers and Purdue to get info and feedback on projectP bl t “C i l F t Sh t ” t li k t• Problem sets, “Curriculum Fact Sheets,” must link to research theme of Center and fit within objectives of ChE course and have flexibility for K-12 to College audience

ChE 07 - FCC Catalyst PerformancePM: Farrell Co-PMs: Slater, Hesketh

▪ Evaluate the potential of an FCCEvaluate the potential of an FCC catalyst to crack asphaltenic hydrocarbons▪ Optimize experimental method for spectrophotometric▪ Optimize experimental method for spectrophotometric

monitoring of UV-Vis absorbance▪ Correlate uptake rate of asphaltenic HCs with

cracking potential using Sunoco performance data

▪ Opportunities▪ Develop innovative technology.▪ Interact with managers, engineers, chemists, plant

operators, and technicians. ▪ Acquire experience in industry-specific technologies and

processes.▪ See results of work in plant operations.▪ Summer internship screening.

ChE 08 – Novel Approaches to SolarChE 08 Novel Approaches to Solar Heating

Project Manager: Dahmj gCo-PM: LefebvreSponsor: Helios Products, LLC

ChE 09 Investigation of V Mixing Process DesignChE 09 Investigation of V-Mixing Process Design(PIs: Gephardt / Savelski)

• Particle properties & mixing in pharmaceutical applicationsV i li ti• V-mixer applications

• Purchase laboratory scale V-mixerId tif d l ti l t• Identify model particle system

• Identify variables• Experimental design• Experimental design• Optimization

ChE 10 – Dynamic Control DistillationChE 10 Dynamic Control DistillationPI: Gephardt

• Experimental design of ASPEN distillation column (steady state)( y )

• Dynamic ASPEN distillation column simulationsimulation

• Validation of model with existing dataD l t f t ll t• Development of controller parameters

• Possible experiment to validate model

ChE 11 – Airlift Technology ApplicationsChE 11 Airlift Technology ApplicationsPI: Gephardt

• Airlift principles and recent work• Recirculating aquaculture applications• Identify significant variablesIdentify significant variables• Design and construct model system

E i l d i• Experimental design• Data analysis and model

ChE 12 - Johnson MattheyPGM Cementation Scale up

• Scale-up of new process for Precious Metal Recovery (PGM)(PGM)

• Continue Pilot Plant Experiments at Johnson Matthey Plant in West Deptfordp

• Develop Recover Process of Cemented Metal• Strong interactions with Johnson Matthey technical staff

(including plant visits & paid work during breaks)(including plant visits & paid work during breaks)• Green Engineering: Reduction in waste material

and improvement in safety of process

P-3

P-4

Faculty: Hesketh, FarrellStudents:

E-4

E-7

E-11

P-5

Students: 4 chemical engineers,1 chemist

E-2

E-3

P-1

P-2

ChE 13 – Thermochromic Sensor PMs: Darius Kuciauskas R Hesketh R NewlandPMs: Darius Kuciauskas, R. Hesketh, R. Newland

• Non-Reversible Temperature Labels• Applications in medical, food, aeronautical, pp , , ,electrical, and HVAC

• Accomplishment: Reversed Engineered Temperature LabelTemperature Label

• Goal: Expand temperature range of reversed engineered temperature labels. g p

– New chemical constituents– Particle size & Uniformity

Adhesive–Adhesive– Manufacturing Problems (application of powder)

PI: Students: 2 ChE, 1 ME, 2 Chemists

ChE 14 – UNSTEADY TWO PHASE MIXING PMPMs: Drs Etchells, Grenville, Simpson from DuPont. Hesketh

•Unsteady mixing of slurries is a common problem i i t l t i lin processing catalysts or mineral ores or pharmaceuticals•Example: Zn based catalyst slurry feed to a

ti h ti l tcontinuous pharmaceutical reactor.•Examine using several geometries:

– Unsteady single phase flow out of stirred vessel

– Unsteady 2-phase flow from stirred vessel•Measure

– Suspension quality– flowrates

Students: 3 Chemical Engineers, 1 Mechanical Engineer

ChE 15 – Coal GasificationPMs: Ramanujachary & HeskethPMs: Ramanujachary & Hesketh

• Develop a process to produce a t i bl li id f lsustainable liquid fuel

• Experimental Plan–Prepare a nano-particle–Prepare a nano-particle

catalyst–Characterize catalyst structure

(SEM XRD TPR)(SEM, XRD, TPR)–Test catalyst performance

• 2 ChE’s and 2 ChemistsFigure : Flow Diagram of the Synthesis Gas to Liquid Fuel Process• 2 ChE s and 2 Chemists

Figure : Autoclave Engineer's BTRS Jr.Figure : SEM Image of Cobalt Metal Dispersed on Silica Catalyst Particles