The 7th Annual

NC State University

Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium

 

 

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) abstracts

 


Abstracts are listed in alphabetical order by the last name of the corresponding author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Blodgett, Steven M.

Home Institution:

Arizona State University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Natural Resources

Department(s):

Wood and Paper Science

Research Mentor(s): 

Joel J. Pawlak/Wood and Paper Science

Title of Presentation:

Chemically Untreated Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose as a Replacement for Petrochemical Derived Plastic Films



Cellulose, the main ingredient of plant cell walls, is the most abundant natural resource on the planet. It is a renewable, non-toxic, bio-degradable material. The main objective of this experiment was to determine whether chemically untreated cellulose can be used as a replacement for petrochemical derived plastic films. Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose was produced by extensive mechanical beating of commercial bleached softwood Kraft pulp. This highly fibrillated pulp was diluted to form a cellulose and water suspension of about 0.2% consistency.  The cellulose was then formed into a film by a vacuum forming method.  The films were dried under varying temperature and pressure in a heat press.  The resulting films were characterized for their mechanical properties, water absorbent properties, and barrier properties. 

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Brown, Kwame J.

Home Institution:

North Carolina A&T State University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

George Roberts/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Recovering a Purer Hydrogenated Polystyrene

 

  
A methodological approach for the extraction of partially hydrogenated polystyrene (PS) was studied. Hydrogenation improves polymer properties such as thermal resistance. It has been reported that fully hydrogenated PS has a glass transition temperature, Tg, which is approximately 40 degrees higher than PS (105°C). In this work we are examining the Tg of partially hydrogenated PS using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The dilemma is that the Tg of our partially hydrogenated PS was less than what was expected. We believe DSC data shows there is possible solvent contamination in the polymer samples, which can distort Tg readings. A multi-step extraction method of polymer recovery was studied to try to obtain a more pure polymer product. The multi-step extraction method first involved separating the dissolved polymers in decahydronaphthalene from the catalyst. The polymers were then precipitated in methanol, dried, dissolved in toluene, and re-precipitated in methanol. This method produced powder forms of partially hydrogenated PS after the second extraction. The powder form allows for better solvent removal during drying.  Preliminary results of polymers created at similar reaction conditions and recovered using multi-step extraction showed an increase in Tg readings and a decrease in percent weight loss of the samples. This indicates the multi-step method is removing the impurities that affect Tg. The effects of the reaction conditions, variation of catalyst ratio with and without CO2 and variation of reaction times at 120°C and 180°C, on Tg data is also being studied.

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Exton, Andrew C.

Arvidson, Sara A.

Home Institution:

University of Toledo

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Saad A. Khan/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Molecular Weight Effects on Gelation and Rheological Characteristics of Guar Galactomannan

 

 

Guar galactomannan, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, has a wide array of uses, ranging from drug delivery, food additives to enhanced oil and gas production. In particular, because of its low cost, natural abundance and ability to impart high viscosity in aqueous solution at low concentration, it is an ideal substance for use as an environmentally benign hydraulic-fracturing fluid.  In this project, we examine ways to modulate the rheology of guar using (a) guar of different molecular weights either individually or as blends and (b) crosslinking with borax. While high molecular weight (1.6 million Da) HMW native guar transforms from a high viscosity liquid to a gel upon addition of borax, no such sol-gel transition is observed with the hydrolyzed low molecular weight LMW guar, even at much higher concentrations. As for blend behavior, even small additions of LMW guar to HMW guar significantly alter the gelation behavior and rheological characteristics of the sample. These results taken together indicate that blend composition and degree of crosslinking can be exploited to tailor the rheology of hydraulic fracturing fluids.

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Green, Kyle H.

Home Institution:

North Carolina A&T State University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Steven Peretti/Chemical Engineering

Title of Presentation:

An Effective Method of Measurement of Lipase Activity

 

 

With the cost of motor fuel rising across the nation, biodiesel production is being looked at more as an alternative fuel solution. According to the National Biodiesel Board’s website, biodiesel production in the US has increased from 2 million gallons in the year 2000, to 450 million gallons in the year 2007. Currently, biodiesel is produced from virgin soybean oil. While effective and efficient processes have been developed around these feed stocks, vegetable oils are growing more expensive. As an alternative, the use of lower quality oils has been tested, but they contain higher water and free-fatty acid contents. The elevated water and free-fatty acid content disrupt the standard reaction chemistry, and require additional processing steps.  The use of lipases as a catalyst is the most effective way of producing biodiesel using low quality feed stocks, because they are effective in converting free-fatty acids into biodiesel and relatively unaffected by the presence of water. Using lipases as a catalyst, however, is also very expensive, due primarily to the price of lipase purification. The goal of this project is to develop a more economically effective method of producing biodiesel from vegetable oil by studying lipases expressed by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus oryzae. We intend to use lipases expressed by the immobilized fungus to eliminate the cost of lipase purification. In order to measure the lipase activity expressed by these two fungi, a hydrolytic activity assay was developed to detect enzymatic activity both inside and outside the cell.  The assays were performed on fungus grown under several different conditions, to determine enzyme stability, reaction rates, and the specific activity of the fungal cultures. With an effective method of characterizing lipase activity, a process can be designed that produces biodiesel without using purified lipases.

 

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Grubaugh, Phillip

Home Institution:

Elon University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Steven W. Peretti/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Mathematical Models of Select Biocatalysts for Metabolic Engineering Efforts to Generate Ethanol from Synthesis Gas

 

 

In the US, ethanol production nearly doubled between 2000 and 2006, when 4.86 billion gallons were produced. This used roughly 18 percent of the nation’s corn harvest in 2006, and according to the USDA, by 2009 there are estimates to use 30 to 35 percent of the harvest. A single bushel of corn weighs in at 56 lbs. and can only produce 2.8 gallons of ethanol through traditional fermentation processes. To many, this would seem like a waste of a quality food item, and at current corn prices, ethanol production operates close to break even economically. In light of this, more sustainable and viable options have been sought out. Using non-food feedstocks, like grasses and woody biomass, is proposed as an alternative to corn starch. Since fermentation of these materials is not efficient, thermal decomposition of this biomass, called gasification, is the preferred processing route. This route produces “syngas”, a combination of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Recently, a path has been discovered to convert syngas, using biocatalysts such as Clostridium acetobutylicum and Methylobacterium extorquens strains, to end products that include ethanol. Effective operation of this process requires mathematical modeling of cellular metabolism for each organism. Modeling each step of the conversion using MATLAB software, the differential equations effectively describe the process. This model is continually modified to find what the limiting substrates are and find what effectively are the essential building blocks for the ethanol end product.

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Hartley, Douglas

Bonino, Christopher

Home Institution:

Georgia Institute of Technology

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Saad Khan/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Electrospun Nanofibers for Lithium Ion Battery Applications

 

 

The superior energy density and environmentally benign nature of rechargeable lithium ion batteries make them highly desirable in many applications, from consumer electronics to satellites. In this project we combine the desirable attributes of this technology with nanomanufacturing to develop novel materials as components for new generation batteries. In particular, we developed nanoparticle-containing nanofibers, using the electrospinning process.  Composite nanofibers of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were prepared with tin dioxide, titanium dioxide, and silicon dioxide nanoparticles.  PAN nanofibers were also carbonized in a furnace with a controlled atmosphere to form carbon nanofibers.  The polymer solution concentration, conductivity, and viscosity were varied to study the effects on morphology and nanoparticle distribution of the electrospun fibers.  Additionally, the relationship between the carbonization conditions and the final fiber diameter was investigated. 

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Hicks, Tyrik T.

Home Institution:

NCSU

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

George W. Roberts/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Measurement and Modeling of the Viscosity of Polystyrene in Supercritical CO2 Expanded Decahydronaphthalene

 

 

Viscosity measurements have been taken on an oscillating piston high pressure viscometer.  Measurements have been conducted on 420,000 g/mol polystyrene with a polydispersity index of 1.15 in a solvent mixture consisting of 76/24 wt% trans/cis-decahydronaphthalene (DHN).  The polymer concentration range investigated was 0.25 to 11.0 wt%.  At each polymer concentration the temperature was varied from approximately 35 to 150oC.  All polystyrene/DHN solution viscosities were measured at the vapor pressure of the solution.  The viscosity ranged from 200 cP at 35oC and 11 wt% PS to 0.55 cP at 147 oC and 0.25 wt% polystyrene.  Each concentration showed a decrease in viscosity with an increase in temperature.  A free volume model concept has been applied to all of the viscosity data and has proven to capture the behavior of the data fairly well.  The model requires three pure component parameters and appropriate mixing rules have been applied for mixture viscosity modeling.  Preliminary data was taken on the same solutions, but with the addition of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2).  The addition of scCO2decreases the solution viscosity, in most cases by an order of magnitude with the addition of approximately 18 wt% CO2.  Phase equilibria studies show that CO2 is an antisolvent for polystyrene, thus there is a limit to the amount of CO2 that can be added to the system before precipitation occurs.  The current viscosity data on polystyrene/DHN/CO2 solutions was obtained at 3000 psig.  At low pressures, CO2 partitions between the dense polystyrene/DHN rich phase and the light CO2 rich phase.  High pressure is required to force the CO2 rich phase into the liquid phase for one fluid phase viscosity measurements to be taken over the whole range of temperatures.

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Houghton, Elizabeth

Home Institution:

NCSSM

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

CALS

Department(s):

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Ratna Sharma-Shivappa/Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Steve Peretti/Chemical Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Pretreatment of Miscanthus for Conversion to Cellulosic Ethanol

 


Pretreatment is one of the most important and expensive steps in the process of making cellulosic ethanol. It must reduce cellulose crystallinity while minimizing degradation of sugars and remaining cost-effective. Because of the varying properties of the feedstocks that can be converted into cellulosic ethanol, pretreatments vary in performance efficiency. Miscanthus, a tall perennial grass, holds exciting potential as an energy crop and is currently being investigated for its compositional properties, their relationship to pretreatment effectiveness, and how it responds to differences in pretreatment conditions. Composition analyses of miscanthus at 8.48% moisture dry basis are being conducted to determine the ash, acid soluble and insoluble lignin, and sugar content of the raw biomass. Pretreatments using sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide are being conducted in the autoclave at 121°C and 15 psi for 60 minutes. Pretreated biomass subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis will help to determine the pretreatment efficiency by allowing a comparision of the release of fermentable sugars from pretreated and untreated biomass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Huang, Baozhen

Home Institution:

NCSU

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemistry and Biological Science

Research Mentor(s): 

William L. Roberts/Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Larry F. Stikeleather/Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Jet Fuel from Vegetable Oil via Decarboxylation

 

 

The objective for this research is to explore the feasibility for production of aviation biofuel from vegetable oil by using CentiaTM technology.  The term CentiaTM is derived from the Latin term “green power”.   CentiaTM provides solution for high efficiency, affordability, and feedstock flexibility in aviation biofuel production process developed by North Carolina State University (NCSU). DEC (Diversified Energy Corporation) will be sole authorized marketer for CentiaTM technology.  The process of CentiaTM consists of three different steps; high temperature and pressure hydrolysis of lipid feedstock into free fatty acids and glycerol, catalytic decarboxylation of free fatty acids into straight n-alkane chains (15-17 C), and the changing of chemical and physical properties of n-alkane chains by hydroisomerization /hydrostacking of straight alkane chains into mixture of shorter n-alkane chains, isoalkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatics.  The by-product glycerol obtained from the process can be burned off to provide heat in various parts of the process.   The goal for this project is to commercialize the technology to produce affordable aviation biofuel while maximizing overall energy efficiency approaching 90%. The future studies for this project are to find an alternative way for hydrolysis and enhance the technology by increasing the energy eifficiency.

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Kalanyan, Berc

Glicksman, Matthew

Home Institution:

Lehigh University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Gregory Parsons/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Fabrication of a Dye-Sensitized Electrochemical Photovoltaic Cell

 

 

The manufacturing of commercial monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells is both hazardous and expensive. A new generation of solar cells can avoid semiconductor fabrication and provide an easy-to-assemble cell made from inexpensive materials. The objective of this study was to manufacture a Grätzel-type dye-sensitized electrochemical photovoltaic cell that would produce a positive voltage and current. The cell was fabricated from a translucent electrode (FTO glass) on the front, a TiO2 layer sensitized with the dye Ru 535-bisTBA, an electrolyte solution of KI/I in ethylene glycol, and a counter electrode made of Pt- or Au-coated ITO glass. The IV response and the power output of the cell were tested using a source meter. Experiments performed included the preparation of a TiO2 paste in varying compositions, the comparison of lab-made TiO2 paste to a commercial TiO2 nanoparticle solution, the use of two different counter electrodes (Au and Pt), various masking methods for sealing the cells, and the variation of sealant thickness. The results indicate that there was no discernible difference between commercial and in-house TiO2 pastes. Several steps in cell manufacturing were improved, including template and TiO2 paste preparation. It was also determined that a cell sealed with thermally-activated sealant is susceptible to clogging when electrolyte is injected into the cell, whereas a pressure-sealed cell is easily filled with electrolyte. The cells manufactured in the lab produced a current density of about 3µA/cm and a photovoltage of 50mV. The very low current densities and photovoltages suggest that further study in cell fabrication is necessary. The effects of Au and Pt electrodes, as well as the effects of sealant thickness will be investigated.

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Liloudini, Arouna

Home Institution:

NCSU

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Tamer S. Ahmed/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Yazan A. Hussain/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Behavior of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) under High Pressure of Carbon Dioxide

 

 

Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is a useful technique to study the sorption into polymers especially at high pressures. The variation of the frequency of a quartz crystal helps in evaluating the effect of temperature, pressure, coating thickness, or polymer molecular weight on the kinetics of the sorption process. The main objective of the current research is to study the sorption of carbon dioxide into poly(methyl methacrylate) using QCM. The effects of temperature (25-55 oC), pressure (up to 3500 psi), and polymer molecular weight (15,000–966,000 g/mol) have been evaluated. This research helps in having more fundamental understanding about the sorption of carbon dioxide in polymers.

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Mullen, Keena A. E.

Home Institution:

Washington State University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Wesley A. Henderson/Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Ionic Liquids as Solvents for Lignocellulosic Biomass

 

The production of biofuels has risen in recent years in response to the increasing cost of petroleum products. Of all natural sources of energy for biofuel production, lignocellulosic biomass is the most prevalent and least expensive. Lignocellulosic biomass is comprised of lignin and the polysaccharides hemicellulose and cellulose. To obtain energy for biofuels, the polysaccharides must be hydrolyzed into their constituent sugars. This is difficult for three reasons: the lignin closely binds the polysaccharides together, the cellulose is often highly crystalline (resulting in less reactive sites for dissolution), and the lignin and cellulose are essentially insoluble in common solvents. Solvents known as ionic liquids have been shown to dissolve both cellulose and lignin in high concentrations. Ionic liquids are salts with low melting temperatures (less than 100º C) that can be recycled after use as biopolymer solvents. This project explores how the structural features of the component ions of the ionic liquids influences biopolymer solubility.

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Park, Andrew M.

Home Institution:

Clemson University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Wood and Paper Science

Research Mentor(s): 

Martin Hubbe/Wood and Paper Science

John Heitmann/Wood and Paper Science

Title of Presentation:

Green Technologies to Promote Water Release during Paper Manufacture

 

When making paper, one of the most energy intensive steps is the dewatering process. Large rotating dryer cans are needed to facilitate the evaporative drying of wet paper sheets. One can save much energy if the dewatering process is made faster so that less water remains in the web once it gets to the dryer cans.  It has been proposed that fine particles, or fines, are the variable contained in paper pulp that affects dewatering most significantly.  The first purpose of this study was to classify fine particles into different groups based on size. A Bauer-McNett apparatus was used to differentiate the fines, using 48, 100, 150, and 200 mesh screens. Four classes of fines – R100, R150, R200, and P200 – were created. With the fines separated by size, they could then be added in different combinations to recycled paper fibers in order to perform freeness tests with a modified Schopper-Riegler device. Tests were conducted with both one class of fines added at 30% solids concentration and two classes each added together at 15% concentration. The fines that hindered dewatering the most were found by comparison. In the future, pre-treatment with polyelectrolytes or enzymes can target these fines before the evaporative drying phase in papermaking so that dewatering can proceed faster, using less energy.

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Scrivner, Katie

Home Institution:

University of Puget Sound

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

CALS

Department(s):

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Mari Chinn/Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of FTA 94 Sweetpotatoes

 

Industrial sweetpotatoes offer an alternative starch resource to corn for the production of fuel ethanol and high value chemicals that can contribute to the diversification of renewable plant-based feedstocks and participation of the southeast region in enhancing energy security. The starch to ethanol conversion process involves 1) liquefaction at -amylase enzymes to swell starch granules and breakdowna85°C with  amylose and amylopectin polymers to short dextrin sugars; 2) saccharification with glucoamylase enzymes to convert dextrins to fermentable glucose; and 3) yeast fermentation of glucose under anaerobic conditions to ethanol.  The simultaneous processing of enzymatic conversion and fermentation can reduce the number of processing steps and improve energy efficiency, therefore making it more environmentally and economically practical.  The objective of this project was to asses the feasibility of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) for the conversion of industrial FTA-94 sweetpotatoes to ethanol and investigate processing parameters significant to the combined process.  Factors evaluated included glucoamylase loading rates (no enzyme, 2.5 AGU/g dry sweetpotato, and 5 AGU/g dry sweetpotato), yeast concentration (no yeast, 0.1% w/v and 1% w/v) and incubation time (0 to 72 hours).  The overall ethanol yield and residual sugars produced over time in SSF were measured and differences between treatment combinations were compared.  Put results here when we have them. 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Winkler, James D.

Home Institution:

Rice University

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Ratna Sharma/Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Mari Chinn/Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Title of Presentation:

Production of Poly (3-Hydroxybutyric Acid) from Waste Sweet Potato Starch

 

The organism Ralstonia eutropha has been shown to produce Poly (3-Hydroxybutyric Acid) (PHB), a biodegradable polymer similar to polypropylene, efficiently under a variety of nutrient limiting conditions. The utilization of excess agricultural starch as the carbon source to support R. eutropha allows for the creation of a valuable product from a waste product stream.  This project explored the production of PHB by R. eutropha within 150 mL stationary batch reactors, utilizing glucose or processed industrial sweet potato flour (ISP-94) as carbon substrates. The optical density of R. eutropha culture solution was tracked to develop a logistic growth equation identifying the lag, log, and stationary phases of bacterial growth. Fluorescent microscopy was used to detect the presence of PHB inclusions within colonies incubated in the nitrogen limited media prior to chloroform-hypochlorite extraction of PHB. Final yields of biomass and PHB were measured to quantify process efficiency. These results indicate that hydrolyzed ISP-94 starch may serve as a carbon source for R. eutropha PHB production within laboratory scale batch reactors.

 

 

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Wood, Sean M.

Home Institution:

Georgia Institute of Technology

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Engineering and Technology

Department(s):

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Research Mentor(s): 

Mari S. Chinn/Biological and Agricultural Sciences

G. Craig Yencho/Horticultural Science

Title of Presentation:

Production and Scaled-up Biocatalytic Conversion of Industrial Sweetpotatoes to Useful Sugars

 

Currently, fuel ethanol is heralded as the ideal solution to the energy crisis facing the United States. However, the majority of fuel ethanol is produced from corn, which 1) is limited in supply; 2) has a negative impact on feed markets; and 3) only truly benefits the Midwest region as a gasoline alternative. Feedstock diversification will be necessary to improve energy security and sustainability. Industrial sweetpotatoes have a high dry matter content (>30%), so they offer an alternative starch resource that does not compete with food or feed markets and can be converted to fermentable sugars. North Carolina, which produced 43% of the nation’s sweetpotatoes in 2006, is well-suited to support the development of this starch-based feedstock for use in production of renewable fuels and chemicals. Enzymatic processing parameters necessary to convert industrial sweetpotato FTA-94 starch to glucose have been investigated at a small lab scale (~3 grams dry matter). This project focuses on scaling up the hydrolysis steps (liquefaction and saccharification) of the overall sweetpotato to ethanol conversion process, which will demonstrate the feasibility of using sweetpotatoes at a pilot and commercial scale. The objective of this work was to observe the effects that scale (3g -> 15.6g -> 31.25g -> 62.5g -> 150g) and agitation have on overall conversion efficiency of fresh and flour sweetpotato preparations. It is hypothesized that: 1) the dry preparation will be more efficient since the smaller particle size increases surface area for enzyme attachment; 2) agitation will keep the enzyme dispersed uniformly, thus significantly improving the breakdown of starch into glucose; and 3) the overall process will scale up relatively uniformly with little change in conversion efficiencies. Results from this project will indicate which aspects of liquefaction and saccharification need to be altered to increase conversion efficiencies.

 

 

 

Student Author(s): 

Ziaja, Sarah E.

Home Institution:

University of Portland

Program:

Sustainability, Engineering and the Environment (SEE) 

College:

Natural Resources

Department(s):

Forestry

Research Mentor(s): 

Chris Hopkins/Forestry

Preston Burnette/Poultry Science

Title of Presentation:

Construction and Analysis of Mobile Torrefaction Processor

 

There is an increasing need to efficiently and effectively process biomass in order to use it as a fuel source. Torrefaction is a technology that can meet this demand. During the torrefaction process plant material is converted from a moist, fibrous, perishable waste material into a dry, easily ground, stable fuel that can be sold as a coal substitute. In the low energy input process of torrefaction, hemicellulose - which is a polymer of biomass - is pyrolized while the moisture and volatile organics are removed from the biomass creating a much more energy dense fuel. The gases and liquids produced during the process can be combusted and circulated as an energy integration method. Torrefied wood chips have an energy density over two times that of raw wood chips per unit weight. This energy densification increases the profitability of wood being transported for the purpose of energy consumption. This project involves the construction of a mobile torrefaction processor, which involves cutting, welding, and bolting of steel plates and parts together along with the installation of motors and gears that run the machine. Continuing work entails the installation of probes and the burner section of the processor.

 

 

 

 

 

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Last modified June 2008 by Sharon E. Hunt