Award Data

Detectors and radiation monitors for future high energy and nuclear physics experiments must be able to withstand radiation environments several orders of magnitude harsher than those of any current device. At present, most radiation detectors are based on silicon technology, however, the practical radiation hardness limit of silicon falls far short of requirements in future high ener ...

Ethylene and propylene are the primary feedstocks for the manufacture of polyethylene and polypropylene, respectively. These olefins represent a major component of the polymer manufacturing cost. Consequently, there is significant economic benefit in minimizing losses of unreacted olefin from the process. Some olefin loss is a result of the need to remove paraffin from the polymerization reactor ...

Synchrotron-based science has had a great scientific impact and will continue to have great impact going forward. In spite of the large investment in the 3rd generation light sources, most beam lines do not preserve the sources phase profile or brightness all the way to the sample. For these high brightness light sources, errors are almost completely due to distortion in the front-end optics cau ...

Current energy storage devices have energy densities that are barely sufficient for low cost electric-vehicles and rely on lithium ion batteries that use flammable, unsafe, liquid electrolytes. However, in order to replace liquid electrolyes in lithium batteries for hybrid electric power train systems, solid polymer electrolytes, which have the advantages of safety and flexibility, must attain con ...

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Excessive alcohol use is associated with a range of serious and costly health social and economic consequences at the individual and societal level This program of research serves as a venue by which to produce and test an innovative science based and cost effective means to intervene in a private convenient and individualized way with employed adults wh ...

Bio-ethanol penetration into the marketplace is limited by its cost, making it non-competitive with petroleum-based fuels. Energy consumed during fermentation and distillation steps accounts for 17% of the total cost. Because fermentation is exothermic, the reactor must be cooled to preserve mesophilic microbial viability. Then, the product must then be heated to vaporize the ethanol for purificat ...

Membrane reactors have the potential to improve reactivity and productivity of various chemical syntheses, including transesterification. However, to be of value, these systems must provide a higher use temperature, improved chemical resistance, and better mass transfer. This project will identify chemically- and thermally-resistant membrane components, fabricate a membrane reactor based on thes ...

Membrane reactors have the potential to improve the reactivity and productivity of various chemical syntheses, including enzymatic water sensitive reactions. To be of value, reactors with higher use temperature, improved chemical resistance, and better mass transfer systems are desired. This project will develop improved mass transfer technology for membrane reactors and evaluate its ability to ...

Many refinery product streams, particularly those from Ultra Low Hydrodesulfurisation units, are prone to haze due to water emulsions. Haze is also problematic for biodiesel production, as hazy fuel cannot be used until the haze settles or is removed, which creates costly scheduling and shipping delays. This project will develop a novel membrane process for the removal of dissolved and dispersed ...

Process intensification methodologies are need for the chemical processes and bioprocesses used in a biorefinery, in order to make the biorefinery a viable commercial alternative to the production of fuels and chemicals. Because the molecular mixing of reactants can enhance reactions, it is a key to process intensification. Significant process inefficiencies can occur (especially with highly react ...