Hugo v0.141.0https://millironx.com/categories/thesis/2026-01-25T15:03:25+00:00All theses on Milliron Xhttps://millironx.com/academia/thesis/Polyoxometalate Incorporation and Effects on Proton Transport in Hydrogel Polymers2020-08-07T00:00:00+00:002020-08-07T00:00:00+00:00Thomas A. Christensen IIhttps://millironx.com/people/thomas-a.-christensen-ii/
Polyoxometalate clusters embedded into hydrogel biobeads may be able to solve the challenges posed by free proton generation during remediation of trichloroethylene by acting as buffers and reducing protons to hydrogen gas. In this thesis, the challenges posed by systems that contain both diffusion and reaction processes for protons are considered mathematically, and a computer simulation to was developed to prove the relationship between diaphragm cell lag period and reactive capabilities of membranes. Two polyoxometalate compounds, sodium decavanadate and alumina sulfate, were successfully incorporated into a poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane, and the diffusivity changes associated with each compound was determined. It was found that the diffusivity of protons through an unmodified 10% w/v poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane was 1.76 × 10-5 cm2 s-1 , the diffusivity through a 10%/2% w/w/v poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium decavanadate membrane was 3.10 × 10-6 cm2 s-1 , and the diffusivity through a 10%/2% w/w/v poly(vinyl alcohol)/alumina sulfate membrane was 3.32 × 10-7 cm2 s-1 . Through analysis of the diaphragm cell lag period, it was found the incorporation of sodium decavanadate did not increase the reactivity of a poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel, and incorporation of alumina sulfate lowered the reactivity. These results indicate that polyoxometalate integration into hydrogel membranes is feasible, but does not provide any advantage to a bioremediation scenario.
<p>Polyoxometalate clusters embedded into hydrogel biobeads may be able to solve
the challenges posed by free proton generation during remediation of
trichloroethylene by acting as buffers and reducing protons to hydrogen gas. In
this thesis, the challenges posed by systems that contain both diffusion and
reaction processes for protons are considered mathematically, and a computer
simulation to was developed to prove the relationship between diaphragm cell lag
period and reactive capabilities of membranes. Two polyoxometalate compounds,
sodium decavanadate and alumina sulfate, were successfully incorporated into a
poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane, and the diffusivity changes associated
with each compound was determined. It was found that the diffusivity of protons
through an unmodified 10% w/v poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane was 1.76 ×
10<sup>-5</sup>
cm<sup>2</sup>
s<sup>-1</sup>
, the diffusivity through a
10%/2% w/w/v poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium decavanadate membrane was 3.10 ×
10<sup>-6</sup>
cm<sup>2</sup>
s<sup>-1</sup>
, and the diffusivity through a
10%/2% w/w/v poly(vinyl alcohol)/alumina sulfate membrane was 3.32 ×
10<sup>-7</sup>
cm<sup>2</sup>
s<sup>-1</sup>
. Through analysis of the
diaphragm cell lag period, it was found the incorporation of sodium decavanadate
did not increase the reactivity of a poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel, and
incorporation of alumina sulfate lowered the reactivity. These results indicate
that polyoxometalate integration into hydrogel membranes is feasible, but does
not provide any advantage to a bioremediation scenario.</p>
https://millironx.com/academia/cheme-car/The ChemE Car that Cud: AIChE ChemE Car Engineering Design Proposal2019-05-14T00:00:00+00:002019-05-14T00:00:00+00:00Thomas A. Christensen IIhttps://millironx.com/people/thomas-a.-christensen-ii/
The ChemE Car That Cud showcases Wyoming’s dominant industries of agriculture and mining by utilizing rumen fluid from a cannulated beef cow to generate hydrogen to be used in a hydrogen fuel cell and radioactive cesium, a byproduct of uranium that is often obtained from Wyoming’s mines, to time the car’s stop. The concentration of cesium-137 source is measured using the radioactive decay of cesium shielded by aluminum. The painted aluminum chassis was obtained from a previous team at UW, and modified using plastic k’nex toys to adapt to the current power source and stopping mechanism.
<p>The ChemE Car That Cud showcases Wyoming’s dominant industries of agriculture
and mining by utilizing rumen fluid from a cannulated beef cow to generate
hydrogen to be used in a hydrogen fuel cell and radioactive cesium, a byproduct
of uranium that is often obtained from Wyoming’s mines, to time the car’s stop.
The concentration of cesium-137 source is measured using the radioactive decay
of cesium shielded by aluminum. The painted aluminum chassis was obtained from a
previous team at UW, and modified using plastic k’nex toys to adapt to the
current power source and stopping mechanism.</p>