September 2014 - Che-student-staff-list

Vinod Kumar Venkatakrishnan Dissertation Defense, Wednesday, September 10th, at 8:00 a.m. in FRNY 3062B
by Maus, Amy M 08 Sep '14

08 Sep '14

This e-mail is to announce that Vinod Kumar Venkatakrishnan will be defending his dissertation, Lab-Scale Fast-Hydropyrolysis and Vapor-Phase Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation for Producing Liquid Fuel Range Hydrocarbons from Intact Biomass , on Friday, July 11th ' at 1:00PM in FRNY 3062B. The dissertation is being co-advised by Doctors Agrawal, Delgass, and Ribeiro, and the abstract is below. All are welcome to attend. Abstract: Liquid transportation fuels are primarily produced from petroleum-based non-renewable carbon sources. Sustainably available lignocellulosic biomass, as a renewable form of atmospheric carbon, could be utilized to produce hydrocarbon-based fuels with high energy density. One of the process options for this conversion is the H2Bioil process, where biomass is rapidly heated in a hydrogen environment to produce fast-hydropyrolysis vapors that are catalytically upgraded in downstream hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) to produce hydrocarbons. This process has been modeled to have high carbon and energy efficiencies of ~70% and ~75%, respectively. This dissertation presents the results of a lab-scale experimental proof-of-concept for the H2Bioil process for converting intact biomass to liquid fuel range hydrocarbons. Based on various prototype designs for high pressure (up to 68 bar) fast-pyrolysis in an inert environment, a cyclone-type fast-hydropyrolysis reactor system along with downstream vapor-phase catalytic HDO reactor was designed and constructed. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based analytical technique was developed for quantitative compositional analysis of the cellulose pyrolysis liquid products. Levoglucosan and its isomers, cellobiosan, water and light oxygenates like formic acid, glycolaldehyde and hydroxyacetone are the major products of cellulose fastpyrolysis. Increasing pyrolysis temperature in the range of 480 ºC to 580 ºC was found to increase the formation of light oxygenates, due to the increase in thermal cracking, and to decrease carbon recovery in the liquid. Comparison of cellulose fast-pyrolysis and fasthydropyrolysis experiments showed that H2 does not play an important role in deoxygenation even up to 50 bar H2 partial pressures in the absence of a downstream HDO catalyst. Candidate catalyst screening and previous work from our research group revealed that adding an oxophillic promoter, such as Mo, along with the hydrogenation function of Pt, could increase C-O bond scission. Hence, a 5wt%Pt-2.5wt%Mo catalyst supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was tested for HDO of fast-hydropyrolysis vapors from cellulose, as a model biomass feedstock, and poplar, as a real biomass feedstock. The total C1-C8+ hydrocarbon yield (as % carbon of feed) with cellulose was ~73%, the liquid fuel range (C4+) hydrocarbon yield was ~55%, with a major fraction as C6 hydrocarbons from the HDO of levoglucosan and its isomers. The total C1-C8+ hydrocarbon yield (as % carbon of feed) with poplar was ~54%, and the liquid fuel range hydrocarbon yield (C4+) was ~32%, with a major fraction as C8+ hydrocarbons from the HDO of lignin fragments. Increasing the HDO temperature from 300 ºC to 350 ºC increased the C-C bond scission and led to higher yields of CO and lower yields of C4+ hydrocarbons. Independent control of fast-hydropyrolysis and HDO temperatures in the H2Bioil process helps in improving the overall C4+ hydrocarbon yields. For improving the overall carbon efficiency from the experimental proof-of-concept of the H2Bioil process, synergistic process integrations, involving gasification, combustion and reforming, have been suggested within the group for utilizing carbon from CO, char and C1-C3 hydrocarbons to increase the yield of liquid fuel range (C4+) hydrocarbons.

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Recall: Vinod Kumar Venkatakrishnan Dissertation Defense, Wednesday, September 10th, at 8:00 a.m. in FRNY 3062B
by Maus, Amy M 08 Sep '14

08 Sep '14

Maus, Amy M would like to recall the message, "Vinod Kumar Venkatakrishnan Dissertation Defense, Wednesday, September 10th, at 8:00 a.m. in FRNY 3062B".

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Dr. Boudouris Seminar - September 9, 2014
by Waibel, Lucinda M 08 Sep '14

08 Sep '14

A friendly reminder.... Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Graduate seminar series Prof. Bryan Boudouris School of Chemical Engineering Purdue University "Designing Macromolecules with Specific Optoelectronic and Chemical Functionalities for Advanced Membrane and Energy Conversion Applications" September 9, 2014 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15-10:45 a.m. in Henson Atrium Abstract: : Designer polymers provide a platform by which to generate nanostructured, multifunctional materials with tailored chemical and optoelectronic functionalities whose solution-processable nature allows for the device fabrication procedures that are compatible with high-throughput (e.g., roll-to-roll coating) manufacturing processes. As such, these macromolecules offer the promise of providing tailor-made, low-cost materials solutions to some of the most pressing engineering challenges of the day. Here, we will discuss two distinct classes of functional macromolecules with tailored chemistries for implementation into separations and energy conversion applications. In the first of these efforts, we describe the synthesis, molecular characterization, and the solid-state electronic device application of an emerging class of transparent conducting macromolecules, radical polymers. Radical polymers are macromolecular materials that have flexible polymeric backbones and pendant groups that bear stable radical moieties. In contrast to almost all other semiconducting polymers, radical polymers lack backbone conjugation and are completely amorphous in the solid state. Despite this shift in macromolecular design archetype, we demonstrate that the solid-state electrical conductivity and charge carrier mobility values of a glassy model radical polymer are on par with the conductivity and mobility values of oft-used conjugated, semicrystalline polymer semiconductors [e.g., poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)]. Furthermore, upon proper tuning of the chemical functionality of the polymer chains, these radical polymers perform well as an electrode modifying layers in thin film organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices and increase the power conversion efficiencies of these OPV devices greatly. In the second of these efforts, A-B-C triblock polymers are generated using controlled radical polymerization techniques. By tuning the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, block polymer chemical composition, and casting techniques employed, we are able to generate mechanically-robust nanoporous thin films that are well-suited for nanofiltration applications. In fact, high-flux separations (i.e., at permeabilities equal to or greater than current commercial membranes) of particles down to ~1 nm in radii are presented, which is the smallest separation performed using a block polymer template to date. Additionally, we demonstrate that, through the appropriate selection of the C-block of the triblock polymer, the chemistry of the nanopore walls can be tuned to any number of functional groups. Therefore, these tailored macromolecules provide an excellent handle by which to generate size-selective and chemically-selective separations devices. Bio: Bryan W. Boudouris is an assistant professor in the School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Chemistry. Furthermore, he is a co-founder and scientific advisor of the start-up company Anfiro, Inc. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004. After receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2009, he conducted postdoctoral research from 2009 to 2011 under the supervision of Professor Rachel Segalman at the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Since joining Purdue University in 2011, he has been the recipient of a number of awards at the university and national levels including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program (AFSOR YIP) award and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Young Faculty Award (DARPA YFA). His group's current research interests include the design, nanostructural characterization, and implementation of homopolymers and block polymers in applications that include: polymer-based photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and memory devices; membranes with high fluxes and high selectivities; and improved sampling and detection of trace explosive residues for improved security of the homeland. Sincerely, Cindy Waibel Secretary ~ Rm 1144 Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering Purdue University 480 Stadium Mall Drive West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100 765-494-4069 Fax: 765-494-0805 leiklebe(a)purdue.edu<mailto:leiklebe@purdue.edu> [PurdueEngineeringLogosmall]

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Joshua Huff Dissertation Defense, Wednesday, September 10th, at 3:00pm in FRNY 3062B
by Maus, Amy M 05 Sep '14

05 Sep '14

This e-mail is to announce that Joshua Huff will be defending his dissertation, Tools for Efficient Design of Multicomponent Separation Processes, on Wednesday, September 10th at 3:00PM in FRNY 3062B. The dissertation is being directed by Dr. Agrawal, and the abstract is attached. All are welcome to attend.

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Dr. Boudouris Seminar - September 9, 2014
by Waibel, Lucinda M 03 Sep '14

03 Sep '14

Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Graduate seminar series Prof. Bryan Boudouris School of Chemical Engineering Purdue University "Designing Macromolecules with Specific Optoelectronic and Chemical Functionalities for Advanced Membrane and Energy Conversion Applications" September 9, 2014 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15-10:45 a.m. in Henson Atrium Abstract: : Designer polymers provide a platform by which to generate nanostructured, multifunctional materials with tailored chemical and optoelectronic functionalities whose solution-processable nature allows for the device fabrication procedures that are compatible with high-throughput (e.g., roll-to-roll coating) manufacturing processes. As such, these macromolecules offer the promise of providing tailor-made, low-cost materials solutions to some of the most pressing engineering challenges of the day. Here, we will discuss two distinct classes of functional macromolecules with tailored chemistries for implementation into separations and energy conversion applications. In the first of these efforts, we describe the synthesis, molecular characterization, and the solid-state electronic device application of an emerging class of transparent conducting macromolecules, radical polymers. Radical polymers are macromolecular materials that have flexible polymeric backbones and pendant groups that bear stable radical moieties. In contrast to almost all other semiconducting polymers, radical polymers lack backbone conjugation and are completely amorphous in the solid state. Despite this shift in macromolecular design archetype, we demonstrate that the solid-state electrical conductivity and charge carrier mobility values of a glassy model radical polymer are on par with the conductivity and mobility values of oft-used conjugated, semicrystalline polymer semiconductors [e.g., poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)]. Furthermore, upon proper tuning of the chemical functionality of the polymer chains, these radical polymers perform well as an electrode modifying layers in thin film organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices and increase the power conversion efficiencies of these OPV devices greatly. In the second of these efforts, A-B-C triblock polymers are generated using controlled radical polymerization techniques. By tuning the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, block polymer chemical composition, and casting techniques employed, we are able to generate mechanically-robust nanoporous thin films that are well-suited for nanofiltration applications. In fact, high-flux separations (i.e., at permeabilities equal to or greater than current commercial membranes) of particles down to ~1 nm in radii are presented, which is the smallest separation performed using a block polymer template to date. Additionally, we demonstrate that, through the appropriate selection of the C-block of the triblock polymer, the chemistry of the nanopore walls can be tuned to any number of functional groups. Therefore, these tailored macromolecules provide an excellent handle by which to generate size-selective and chemically-selective separations devices. Bio: Bryan W. Boudouris is an assistant professor in the School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Chemistry. Furthermore, he is a co-founder and scientific advisor of the start-up company Anfiro, Inc. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004. After receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2009, he conducted postdoctoral research from 2009 to 2011 under the supervision of Professor Rachel Segalman at the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Since joining Purdue University in 2011, he has been the recipient of a number of awards at the university and national levels including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program (AFSOR YIP) award and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Young Faculty Award (DARPA YFA). His group's current research interests include the design, nanostructural characterization, and implementation of homopolymers and block polymers in applications that include: polymer-based photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and memory devices; membranes with high fluxes and high selectivities; and improved sampling and detection of trace explosive residues for improved security of the homeland. Sincerely, Cindy Waibel Secretary ~ Rm 1144 Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering Purdue University 480 Stadium Mall Drive West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100 765-494-4069 Fax: 765-494-0805 leiklebe(a)purdue.edu<mailto:leiklebe@purdue.edu> [PurdueEngineeringLogosmall]

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Virginia Ewing Promotion
by Murray, Chris L 03 Sep '14

03 Sep '14

I am pleased to announce a promotion for Virginia Ewing to Secretary V. Virginia joined Chemical Engineering in 2011 and has proven her ability to assume additional responsibilities. She has been a great help to me in seminar planning and faculty candidate visits among many other things including providing quality faculty support. She will continue to provide support for some faculty while the remaining faculty will be reassigned to Cindy Waibel. Virginia and Cindy will work together to ensure a smooth transition. An updated org chart is attached. Please join me in congratulating Virginia on this much deserved promotion. Thanks, Chris Chris Murray Academic Administrator School of Chemical Engineering Purdue University 480 Stadium Mall Drive West Lafayette, IN 47907 765-494-4075

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ISP Recertification of our School
by Nagy, Gabriela 03 Sep '14

03 Sep '14

Hello Everyone, It is a great pleasure to let you know that following the Integrated Safety Plan (ISP) recertification meeting with REM representatives on Thursday, August 7 2014, followed by safety inspection of selected labs in Forney, our School was ISP recertified for another year. The official recertification document was signed on August 27 and made available to me on Friday. Thank you for your efforts in making this possible and for your sustained commitment to safety! Best regards, Gabriela on behalf of ChE Safety Committee ________ Gabriela Nagy, PhD Industrial Education Director ChE Safety Committee Chair School of Chemical Engineering Room FRNY G051 Purdue University Tel: (765)-496-1710 E-mail: nagyg(a)purdue.edu<mailto:nagyg@purdue.edu>

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Welcome Back Ice Cream Social
by Hendryx, Sandra K 03 Sep '14

03 Sep '14

REMINDER: ICE CREAM TODAY IN THE ATRIUM!!! [cid:image003.png@01CFBE08.DCE73730]

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FW: Purdue Colleges Against Cancer - Bark For Life
by Murray, Chris L 02 Sep '14

02 Sep '14

From: Ashley Opal Boone [mailto:boonea@purdue.edu] Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 11:21 AM Subject: Purdue Colleges Against Cancer - Bark For Life Colleges Against Cancer would really like to thank you for forwarding on information to your staff and faculty about events that we are holding on campus. By doing this, you are helping finish the fight! This email contains information on where the money goes, how to create a Relay for Life team, and a Bark for Life flyer. Bark for Life Sunday September 21st from 1-4 pm at Memorial Mall "Families and their dogs come together for a few hours during the day and complete a walk to honor the care giving qualities of their canine 'Best Friends' and cancer survivors. It includes doggie games, crafts, music, food, a frisbee show, dogs from the local shelters, and much much more! Family and professional dogs bring the warm-hearted feelings of wagging tails to the Purdue Bark for Life to make it a happy and meaningful community event top support the mission of the American Cancer Society." Until there is a cure, Ashley Boone Ashley Boone 2nd Year Pharm.D Student Purdue University College of Pharmacy Purdue Colleges Against Cancer - Faculty/Staff/Alumni Executive Chair Purdue Student Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Fundraising Executive Chair boonea(a)purdue.edu<mailto:boonea@purdue.edu> 920.850.7101

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Chris Murray
by Varma, Arvind 01 Sep '14

01 Sep '14

Dear Colleagues, As you are aware, Chris Murray has served as Assistant to the Head in our School since September 2005. Over time, her position has evolved and she is now responsible for an enlarged set of duties, which she is handling exceptionally well. In light of her new duties, her position was recently reclassified. Thus, effective July 1 , 2014, her new position title is Academic Administrator for our School. In addition to her continuing duties, which include supervising all the academic support clerical staff, Chris now has the following new responsibilities. * Serve as a member of the faculty recruiting committee and manage the faculty search process, including the online application and candidate visits, and communications with the CoE Office of Academic Affairs. * Manage the faculty promotion process, working closely with the School's Primary Committee (PC) and faculty members to collect PT documents, letters of support and meeting College and School deadlines. Attend PC meetings and manage the PC feedback process on behalf of the School Head. * Serve as a member of the faculty awards committee and manage the faculty award process and procedures. Please join me in congratulating Chris for her valuable contributions to our School over the years and for her new position. Sincerely, Arvind Varma R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Head of Chemical Engineering Purdue University

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