Award Data

The primary experimental method used to determine the local internal structure of materials is that of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). If one also subjects the sample to an excursion in temperature during imaging at high resolution, one can watch the material processes involved in structural transformations. This allows direct and dynamic determination of the effects of materials processin ...

Solvent extraction by hexane is the most common choice for extraction of oil/lipids from algae. However, hexane is not the best choice of solvent for algae oil extraction because of the need to market byproducts for human and animal consumption. Oil and hexane from the solvent extraction process are separated by distillation/evaporation which is an energy intensive operation. Presence of explosive ...

Innovative Confinement Concepts (ICC), like the spheromak and the field reversed configuration (FRC), provide an opportunity to study magnetic confinement in geometries other than the tokamak and may provide an alternative path to fusion energy. Many ICCs require a pre-ionizer or plasma injector in order to improve shot-to-shot repeatability. A pre-ionizer must meet several critical criteria so th ...

This proposal addresses the problem of measuring and mapping saturated hydraulic conductivity in the top 100 m of the subsurface. Hydraulic conductivity is a critically important property controlling groundwater and contaminant movement. The ability to measure and map hydraulic conductivity in the near subsurface, in a cost effective way, is essential to the remediation and long-term stewardship o ...

The long-term monitoring of groundwater contamination plumes to determine the fate of contaminants in the environment is expensive and labor intensive. Current baseline methods have resulted in monitoring programs that collect less data than is required to fully understand the fate and transport mechanisms of the contaminants. In this project, an automated field-deployable monitoring system, whi ...

60311 There are economic and environmental justifications for replacing conventional distillation processes with simpler membrane separations in certain applications. However, at present, there are no commercial membranes able to withstand the aggressive conditions associated with important industrial chemicals, including hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, and ozone. Prototype, chemic ...

60395 Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from gasoline refueling facilities continue to be an energy, safety, and environmental issue. In such applications, it is desired to vent the air in the system and keep the VOC behind. This project will develop a reverse separation membrane (RSM) system that allows for rapid venting of air while retaining the gasoline in underground storag ...

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 ...

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 ...

Volatile natural gas prices are negatively impacting the U.S. industrial sector, which consumes approximately 6.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas annually. Over the last 24 months, natural gas prices have fluctuated between $5 and $12 per MMBtu, resulting in high and unpredictable fuel costs for the industrial sector. With abundant coal resources, an opportunity exists for the U.S. industrial ...