Faculty Of Chemical Engineering Research Articles

Parting ways with ABET

ABET, formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology, has been evaluating and endorsing chemical engineering programs at universities in the U.S. since the 1930s. California Institute of Technology was one of the first to have its program accredited by ABET in October 1936. Despite that long history, Caltech’s chemical engineering department has now decided that neither it nor its students benefit from the ABET stamp of approval. The department decided last year and publicly announced this fall that it would no longer pursue accreditation and published an open letter on its website. And Caltech isn’t alone. At their annual retreat in September, the chemical engineering faculty at Stanford University voted to withdraw from the ABET process as well. More universities may follow suit. Seven engineering societies, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, or AIChE, originally founded ABET to establish criteria for the professional development of engineers and to

Coalbed methane: places of origin, perspectives of extraction, alternative methods of transportation with the use of gas hydrate and nanotechnologies

We would like to thank Chemical and Biological Engineering Faculty, Center for Hydrate Research at Colorado School of Mines (USA) headed by Dr., Prof., Carolyn A. Koh for giving an incredible opportunity to be a part of excellent group and supporting ideas as to combining coal mining with gas hydrate technologies. We are immensely grateful for the insights and comments that have greatly helped the research.

Psychrometric charts in color: An example of active learning for chemical engineering students and faculty members

This paper reports the design and scale-up of an active learning exercise centered around color coding of psychrometric charts. The initial version of this exercise was used with small classes of 60 students. When the class size doubled to 120 students, the previously successful exercise failed. The failure was then used as a workshop example for faculty development. Workshop participants successfully identified a number of details of planning and implementation which could be improved, and the revised exercise was once again successful in the classroom. The results are a framework for design of active learning exercises, a number of lessons learned about how to successfully implement active learning in large classes, and a highly polished 2-lecture unit on psychrometric charts, including two animated and worked examples which form part of the paper.

Measurement system analysis of viscometers used for drilling mud characterization

Viscometers in the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University Teknologi MARA, are subject to heavy utilization from the members of the faculty. Due to doubts surrounding their result integrity and maintenance management, Measurement System Analysis was executed. 5 samples of drilling muds with varied barite content from 5 – 25 weight% were prepared and their rheological properties determined in 3 trials by 3 operators using the viscometers. Gage Linearity and Bias Study were performed using Minitab software and the result shows high biases in the range of 19.2% to 38.7%, with non-linear trend along the span of measurements. Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility (Nested) analysis later produces Percent Repeatability & Reproducibility more than 7.7% and Percent Tolerance above 30%. Lastly, good and marginal Distinct Categories output are seen among the results. Despite acceptable performance of the measurement system in Distinct Categories, the poor results in accuracy, linearity, and Percent Repeatability & Reproducibility render the gage generally not capable. Improvement to the measurement system is imminent.

Oscillatory flow reactor design for biological process

Oscillatory flow reactor (OFR) is a novel type of tubular reactor consisting of equally spaced orifice baffles (sometimes called doughnut baffles) fitted inside the column of the reactor. OFR can be used for biological and chemical processes such as crystallisation of paracetamol, biofuel production, and production of sterols in ester saponification reactions. The aim of the study is to design and fabricate the oscillatory flow reactor for the purpose of biological process. In order to achieve turbulence flow inside the reactor, parameters such as reactor, baffles dimension, and type of oscillation system were considered prior to the design work. Autodesk: AutoCAD® 2016 was used to draw the reactor parts. The OFR was fabricated in the Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering (FKKSA) workshop in Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). A complete OFR consists of three main parts which are reactor column, baffles plate and oscillation system. The OFR column was made from 304 grade stainless steel with dimensions of 500 mm in height and 60 mm internal in diameter so that it can fit in an autoclave and can withstand high temperatures and pressures. Due to the OFR’s capability of mixing and transferring oxygen in gas-liquid phase, it was be further tested to evaluate its capability as bioreactor including the characterisation test based on its ability to maintain sterility, fluid loss due to evaporation, and the temperature profile.

Impact of blended learning open source science or math studies interactive video in the learning of first law of thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is one of the most challenging course for students as it contains many physical concepts and abstract scientific principle that were less familiar among them. Blended Learning Open Source Science or Math Studies (BLOSSOMS) approach, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a framework for blended learning, was used to design the lesson for teaching energy conversion in Thermodynamics. This research used quasi experimental design, where two groups of students from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering in UTM taking Thermodynamics course were investigated: A Treatment group that used the Energy Conversion BLOSSOMS video in the Thermodynamics class, and a Control group that used conventional lecture style. Students from both classes were given a pre and a post test on energy conversion concept inventory to compare their achievement in thermodynamics before and after the learning of thermodynamics in class. The collected data were analysed using SPSS version 22. Findings had shown that the video has slight effect on the students' achievement in the inventory test on Thermodynamics Energy Conversion in Generating Electricity.

Designing of Flipped Classroom Approach to Teach Heat Transfer Course

In this paper we have designed flipped class room strategy for Heat Transfer course. As a first step towards flipping the class room three lessons are selected in the course. By delivering lecture content of selected topics before coming to class through videos and other media, class time is actively engaged in higher order thinking. The first step attempted is creating required Educational materials to transfer the delivery of content regarding the topics to an out of class environment. The second step is designing of active learning strategies Problem Solving, JIGSAW methods for the in class activity. Currently, limited research exists on the impact of the flipped classroom model in Engineering. A course such as Heat Transfer that involves design aspects and problem solving, requires time to teach concepts in an efficient and effective manner and can be best taught through flipped class approach. This paper would be definitely useful for all Mechanical&Chemical Engineering faculty members.

Simulación de la actividad respiratoria en pos-cosecha de plátano (musa cavendishii) bajo atmósfera modificada para mejora del tiempo de almacenamiento

La investigación consistió en la aplicación de métodos numéricos capaces de describir las curvas típicas de consumo de O2 y producción de CO2 de frutas empacadas en atmosfera modificada, considerando las constantes de Michaelis Menten durante la respiración. Mediante el lenguaje Visual Basic se elaboró un programa, cuyos resultados fueron validados aplicando datos experimentales obtenidos por Song et al. (1992) y valores experimentales obtenidos en el laboratorio de Análisis de alimentos de la Facultad de Ingeniería Química y Metalurgia de la Universidad del Callao. Llegando a las siguientes conclusiones: Las Ecuaciones Diferenciales ordinarias facilitan la cuantificación de oxigeno residual y dióxido de carbono dentro del empaque de vegetales bajo atmosfera modificada. El dióxido de carbono es estable a partir de las 30 horas de almacenamiento del plátano. El programa elaborado tuvo comportamiento satisfactorio para el fruto del plátano.

In Vitro Sensitivity Research Concerning Some Microorganisms at Hydroxyquinoline and Cupric Derivatives Deposited onto Hydroxyapatite

ABSTRACT Introduction: The preparations based on hydroxyquinoline, in various combinations, are used in medicine, being shown to have an inhibitory effect against bacteria, molds, fungi, parasites, and viruses, but also having other beneficial effects mentioned in other medical conditions (anti-cancer, anti-degenerative, anti-inflammatory). Aims: In vitro susceptibility testing of microorganisms: bacteria (Gram positive and Gram negative), yeast (Candida spp.,) and unicellular algae (Prototheca spp.) at the preparations based on hydroxyquinoline (HQ) and its cupric derivatives deposited on hydroxyapatite (HAP). Materials and methods: There were tested microbial strains of the following genera: Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Candida, and Prototheca. The tested products (developed in the Laboratory for Nanobiomaterials Synthesis, Center of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, UBB Cluj-Napoca) were developed in three versions: 1) HQ–Cu2+–HAP1; 2) HQ–Cu2+–HAP2; and 3) NHQ–Cu2+–HAP2, where NHQ stands for nitro hydroxyquinoline. Determination of the inhibitory effect was conducted by diffusion technique in nutrient agar, according to CLSI 2013 standards, with necessary adaptations for testing of products made in the form of suspensions. Results: Following interpretation, it was found that the inhibition zones, arising from the antimicrobial effect of the tested products showed variability in size, depending on the test product and the microbial strain: Escherichia coli (8-10 mm), Staphylococcus sp. (17.6 - 23.2 mm), Micrococcus spp. (24.4 - 27.6 mm), Bacillus spp. (14.0 - 16.0 mm), Candida spp. (20.4 - 25.2 mm), Prototheca spp. (20.8 - 30.0 mm). From the three tested products, the best efficacy was found at the product no. 3 (NHQ – Cu2+ – HAP2), followed by no. 1 (HQ– Cu2+–HAP1) and no. 2 (HQ–Cu2+–HAP2). Conclusions: The inhibitory effect was bactericidal, manifested more intensively against Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and prototheca. Such products, prepared in the form of suspensions, may have practical application in the prevention and treatment of skin or hooves disorders. No resistance phenomena are recorded. Keywords: copper, hydroxyapatite, hydroxyquinoline, microorganisms, sensitivity.

Peer-reviewed publications analysis of chemical engineering faculty at the University of Florida

Purpose A citation analysis was conducted on publications of the faculty from the University of Florida (UF), Department of Chemical Engineering. The analysis was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the research programs in chemical engineering and to examine how the library aligns its research support through resources and journals to the needs of the department’s faculty. The analysis focused on where the faculty published, their most frequently cited resources, and what growth patterns were evident. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Five years of publications (2011-2015) by the UF chemical engineering faculty were included in the analysis. Web of Science was used to compile a list of the articles published in peer-reviewed journals as well as the citations. Findings Faculty were found to have published 279 articles in the last five years, with 27 percent of those articles shared by five journals, and with an average impact factor of 3.459. Applied Physics Letters was the most cited journal and Advanced Materials had the highest impact factor of 17.493. The library owned 95 percent of the publications in which faculty published their work and at least 82 percent of the resources cited in their publications. The pattern of the publications was not consistent and the most articles in one year (69) were published in 2013. Originality/value Since this study focused on the current patterns regarding where the faculty are publishing and citing, it should be a fairly accurate indicator of their future needs. Therefore, the study impacts decisions regarding future directions by enabling the library to maintain a high-quality collection for the faculty.

English

F. Amriani,a,b,* F. A. Salim,b I. Iskandinata,b D. Khumsupan,c and Z. Bartad aIndonesian Institute of Sciences, Research Center for Chemistry, Kawasan Puspiptek Serpong 15314, Indonesia bDepartment of Chemical Engineering University of North Sumatera Padang Bulan, Medan 20155, Indonesia cThe Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Center of Excellence for Petrochemical and Materials Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand dDepartment of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest 1111, Hungary

Preface to the Sixtieth Volume of Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering

Dear Readers, In 2016 we celebrate the publication of the 60th volume of Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering, the science journal of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The journal was founded by professor Zoltan Csűros, renowned chemist and former rector of BME. Professor Csűros established a family of Periodica Polytechnica journals one for each faculty of the University. From the beginning, the journals served as a forum for disseminating to the outside world new scientific discoveries made at BME. At the same time, under the conditions prevailing in mid-20th century Hungary, the journals were intended as a currency of exchange with universities and institutions abroad. Professor Csűros’s vision has for the last six decades guided Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering in its key role of providing information and resources on a wide variety of topics related to chemical engineering and to environmental and bioengineering sciences. It has been a vehicle for authors in publishing both fundamental research and application oriented papers. Professor Csűros as Editor-in-Chief devoted ten years to this task. All his successors have also been internationally recognized scientists: Janos Hollo, Ernő Pungor, Lajos Fodor, Karoly Polinszky, Gyorgy Lajos Nagy, Sandor Gal, Klara Erős-Kiss, Viktoria Vargha and the present Editor-in-Chief, Krisztina Laszlo. Each has made outstanding organizational and scientific contributions, in close collaboration with the editorial board. Ever since its inception the high scientific level of the journal has been recognized by numerous European universities, and Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering can be consulted in university libraries throughout Europe. The International Editorial Board is composed of distinguished professors of universities and research institutions from many different countries. During the past decade electronic versions of scientific periodicals have become more popular, and our journal has also chosen to take this path. Currently, articles appear on the internet within three weeks of acceptance and the printed versions are published four times a year. The high reputation and increasing impact factor of our periodical are now attracting numerous submissions of manuscripts from abroad, and the rapid reviewing procedure ensures that high level papers continue to be published regularly. To guarantee the widest dissemination of recent scientific findings among chemists, chemical and biochemical engineers, Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering is an open access journal. The financial support provided by the University and the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology permits us to offer not only free-of-charge publication for authors but also open internet access for readers. The continuing development of Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering and the support of our university encourage our wish that it may thrive for another 60 years as an internationally recognized, free journal of research in the fields of chemical, biochemical and environmental science.

University-Industry Co-Operation to Promote Industrial Relevance in the Field Instrumentation Component of Control Education

In every manufacturing process field instruments establish the foundation for control. As a result, field instrumentation is an integral part of the control curriculum for engineering disciplines that support process manufacturing. In the Chemical Engineering curriculum most of the hands-on interactions with field instruments occur in the Unit Operations (UO) laboratory. In order to make these interactions industrially relevant, dialogue and active engagement with industry are essential. In this paper we present eight features of our co-operation with industry that have significantly expanded the breadth of the UO laboratory experiences for the Chemical Engineering students and faculty. In addition to providing financial help for state-of-the-art field instruments, our industrial partners have also shared technical resources and know-how that have enabled us to integrate the technology into the curriculum in an industrially relevant way. The most notable elements that distinguish our UO laboratory are the large number of installed field instruments (173), the distributed control system (DSC), the asset management system (AMS), and the high level of active interaction with field instruments. The end result is that our students are developing a marketable skill set directly applicable to the industrial practice of control. Our faculty are benefitting from the co-operation with industry as well by being provided with various opportunities for professional development.

A High-Energy Ball Milling as a Useful Technique for the Synthesis of CaCu3Ti4O12Electroceramics

Synthesis of CaCu3Ti4O12 Electroceramics P. Dulian,W. Bik, Cz. Kajtoch and K. Wieczorek-Ciurowa Cracow University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, Poland Pedagogical University, Institute of Physics, Podchori»ych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland This paper shows that CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) can be synthesized through the high-energy ball milling of CaO, CuO and TiO2 powders. The dielectric characterization of CCTO obtained mechanochemically as well as, for comparison, by a high-temperature method is presented. Moreover, it is illustrated that zirconium oxide in contrast to a metallic iron generated during milling processes improves the properties of CCTO in terms of ceramic capacitors.

Recent Developments in Advanced Process Integration: Learning the Lessons from Industrial Implementations

Heat Integration (HI) has been developing in mutual cross-fertilisation with the industrial implementations over the last forty years. From the beginning, HI offered some guidance based on thermodynamic principles and their understanding. However, a number of aspects still need deeper consideration and solved problems have to be considered in more complexity to include the real-life issues. This presentation summarises the results of the three efficiently collaborating research groups: Centre for Process Integration and Intensification - CPI2 at University of Pannonia, Hungary, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Slovenia and Process Systems Engineering Centre (PROSPECT) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. This team exploits the experiences gathered from the industrial projects as well as from the most recent academic research. The aim of this presentation is to provide some tested and proven guidance for future industrial applications as well as a solid support for getting the results with acceptable and realistic payback periods.

EFFICIENCY OF PRACTICING WITH MATERIALS USING ICT AND PAPER ONES IN MATHEMATICS

The research examines the effectiveness of utilization of practicing materials using ICT and classical study support – printed material in teaching Mathematics. The research was held as a pedagogical experiment at the Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice in academic year 2012-13. In the research group there were included 559 students in their first semester of study. Students were subjected to pretest and posttest, between these tests they were encouraged to practice through a material on basic calculus of functions of one variable. The practicing material was prepared both in classical (paper) form, both with an application of ICT. We registered results in pretest and posttest (in points), used practicing materials, successfulness in exam and continuing in studies after the first semester. The experiment looks for statistic relations among these variables. We present part of these statistic results. Further quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the project is planned to be a component of dissertation.

Managing the Interdisciplinary Approach to Engineering Design

Rapid advancement in technology leading to re-structuring of undergraduate engineering curricula, necessitate interdisciplinary capstone projects as part of an engineering teaching and learning programme. Proper management of such projects requires collaboration from both students and faculty from the involved disciplines and a willingness by students to learn from, and about, engineering disciplines not theirs. It should also be the case that interdisciplinary projects will enhance and expand students' problem solving, creative thinking skills and project management skills, and attune them to working with other disciplines in their future professional careers. The case study here concerns the development of a prototype lithium-ion battery pack capable of thermal management. Collaboration is between mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering students and faculty and mathematics and computer science faculty. The paper presents suggestions and reflections on how the foregoing issues are addressed.

Betalain-rich red beet concentrate improves reduced knee discomfort and joint function: a double blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical study

Betalain-rich red beet concentrate improves reduced knee discomfort and joint function: a double blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical study Zbigniew Pietrzkowski,1 Ruby Argumedo,1 Cynthia Shu,1 Boris Nemzer,2 Slawomir Wybraniec,3 Tania Reyes-Izquierdo1 1Applied BioClinical Inc., Irvine, CA, USA; 2FutureCeuticals Inc., Momence, IL, USA; 3Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute C-1, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Cracow, Poland Aim: We aimed to evaluate the effect of a betalain-rich red beet concentrate (BRC) on joint discomfort and joint function. Methods: Individuals with self-reported knee discomfort were randomized and blinded to treatment with either oral BRC (50 mg twice a day) or placebo. Symptoms of discomfort and joint function were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) before treatment and after 5 and 10 days of treatment. The general level of energy was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) at the same time points. Results: In all, 40 individuals were evaluated in this study, 20 in the BRC group and 20 in the placebo group. The mean participant age was 55 years (range: 45–65). All participants completed the study. Individuals receiving BRC had a 27% better MPQ score after 10 days than did individuals in the placebo group (P=0.003). Furthermore, knee function, as measured by WOMAC score, was 26% better in the BRC group than in the placebo group (P<0.0013). Participants receiving BRC had a significantly better VAS score for energy after 5 (P=0.002) and 10 days (P=0.012) of treatment than did individuals receiving placebo. Conclusion: Short-term use of BRC in individuals with knee discomfort significantly improved knee discomfort and joint function, as measured by WOMAC and MPQ scores, and energy, as measured by a VAS. Keywords: arthritis, visual analog scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, McGill Pain Questionnaire, red beet roots

Industry–academia partnership

Effective industry–academia partnership is crucial to the advancement of the science and engineering of deployable technologies that ultimately contribute to our well being and security. This was featured in a Panel Discussion, ‘‘Academia–Industry Collaboration in Sustainable Development’’ at the 8th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2012) held in Ohrid, Macedonia. The author reflected on the discussion in the panel session and have had some additional thoughts on this issue. The relationship between academia and industry has been examined at various fora, panel, and strategic discussions. A quick search through Google Scholar revealed approximately 170,000 publications containing those words. The most common interactions of academia with industry have been described as relationship, partnership, technology and know-how transfer, collaboration, synergy, innovations, challenges, reconciliation, opportunities, perspectives, and even cross fertilization. The search for the exact phrase ‘‘Industry–academia relationship’’ provided about 80 results from very wide range of activities. To sum up: a lot of assessment, description, and recommendation is available. However, let us consider this partnership from a little more relaxed angle. This has always been like a marriage, and like most marriages, the relationship can sometimes be somewhat uneasy. Both industry and academia need each other for their successful existence and growth. However, their interests and priorities are by definition different in a number of ways. One of the aims of this contribution is to point out and suggest possible solutions on situations where the two partners have identical interests and where sources of possible conflicts of interest exist. The industrial ventures need to maximise profit by producing useful, low cost products demanded by the market, i.e., customers. Well running and commercially successful production is a priority to most production managers. A potential innovation is in many cases undertaken only when there is no option to extending or keeping the commercially successful process. It usually carries some extra cost and possible complications for changing a well-managed production. The industry needs rather specific and well-targeted research leading to an optimal level of the innovation. The level of innovation varies in different branches of industry. In branches such as microelectronics the innovation cycle has been accelerating and products need to be continually improved for keeping or growing their market share sometimes even after a few months. Fast innovation cycle is a sign of highly successful research and innovation policy. However, this can trigger problems leading to creation of a considerable amount of waste, which is created by the fast obsolescence of products. The industrial partners have usually have only a limited number of academic institutions with whom to partner. Initial interactions are fraught with pitfalls. It requires time to develop mutual confidence. The industrial partner needs a reasonable assurance that the academic research has a good chance to be successful. Longer time relationship offers better chances of success and maintenance of confidentiality. J. J. Klemes (&) Process Systems Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Experimental investigation of flash pyrolysis oil droplet combustion

Experimental Investigation of Flash Pyrolysis Oil Droplet Combustion Norazana Ibrahim *, Peter A. Jensen , Kim Dam-Johansen,Mohd. K. A. Hamid , Rafiziana M. Kasmani, Roshafima R. Ali, Hasrinah Hasbullah Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Combustion and Harmful Emission Control (CHEC), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. Process Systems Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Polymer Engineering Department, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. *norazana@petroleum.utm.my