Institute for Advanced Engineering

The environmental concerns associated with the excessive use and improper disposal of plastic waste have led to increased interest in chemical recycling methods such as pyrolysis. In this study, waste plastic pyrolysis oil (WPPO) was evaluated as a potential feedstock to produce high-quality feedstock for lubricant base oils through hydroprocessing. WPPO was obtained via the thermal degradation of waste plastic at 400 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere using a 2 t/day pyrolysis reactor. The physicochemical properties of WPPO were analyzed, including the sulfur, chlorine, and metal contents. A series of Pt-supported catalysts based on different acidic supports (SAPO-11, SAPO-34, and Zeolite Y100) was prepared using an incipient wetness impregnation method and characterized by BET, XRD, and TPD techniques. The hydroprocessing reactions were conducted under varying temperature and pressure conditions to evaluate conversion and optimize product selectivity. The catalysts exhibited different surface areas, pore structures, and acidity profiles, which directly impacted their hydroprocessing performance. The results demonstrate that Pt/Y-100 exhibited the best upgrading performance among the tested catalysts, achieving an olefin-to-paraffin conversion of over 88.65% with a dominant paraffinic hydrocarbon distribution in the C15–C25 range under optimal conditions (300 °C and 40 bar). The results demonstrate that the conversion of olefins to paraffins in WPPO can be effectively controlled by tuning the reaction conditions and catalyst.

The conventional treatment of high-concentration volatile organic compounds (VOCs) relies on energy-intensive dilution to avoid explosion risks. This study proposes an efficient catalytic combustion process treating VOCs directly within the explosive range while recovering reaction heat using Pt/γ-Al2O3-based catalysts promoted with La and Ce. Catalysts (0.05–0.5 wt% Pt) were synthesized via impregnation and characterized using FE-SEM, BET, and XRD. Catalytic combustion experiments at VOC concentrations up to 13,000 ppm showed combustion initiation below 200 °C, achieving 83–99% conversions at 300 °C with complete oxidation to CO2. Although 5 vol.% moisture significantly inhibited low-temperature activity through competitive adsorption, La and Ce promoters (10 wt%) effectively overcame this limitation by increasing surface area (up to 194.93 m2/g) and oxygen mobility. The Ce-promoted catalyst demonstrated superior water tolerance, achieving complete conversion at 200–210 °C due to its high Oxygen Storage Capacity (OSC). Bench-scale validation using a 1 Nm3/h system confirmed industrial feasibility. Operating at 220 °C with 13,000 ppm toluene for 100 h, the catalyst maintained >99.98% conversion with negligible deactivation and THC emissions below 2 ppm. The double-jacket heat exchanger effectively managed reaction heat (limiting temperature rise to ~20 °C) and recovered it as steam. Compared to Regenerative Thermal Oxidation, this Regenerative Catalytic Oxidation approach reduced emissions and energy consumption. This work demonstrates a robust “combustion-with-recovery” strategy for high-concentration VOC treatment, offering a sustainable alternative with high efficiency, stability, and safe energy-integrated operation.

Hydrogel electronic materials (HEMs) have emerged as strong candidates for various applications in soft electronics based on their unique softness and exceptional ability to retain water. Central to the advancement of these materials are conjugated polymers, such as conducting and semiconducting polymers, which have been the focus of extensive materials science and engineering. Despite this progress, the practical application of HEMs necessitates the development of microfabrication techniques that allow for effective fabrication methodologies and precise patterning at a micro-scale. By reducing HEMs to micro-sized devices, various innovative technologies such as implantable electronics and imperceptible soft robots can be realized. In this review, we present the latest advancements in the design methods and microfabrication strategies for HEMs. Then, we also discuss the physical properties of fabricated HEMs and the methodologies to precisely measure them. Finally, we will introduce potential applications of soft electronics and conclude with the future direction of research in this exciting field.

The emergence of plastics as an essential item in modern society has led to the problem of accumulating plastic waste. Accordingly, research is being conducted around the world to reduce the production of new plastics and develop technologies to recycle waste plastics. Among the existing waste plastic recycling technologies, oil production is possible through pyrolysis, but the pyrolysis oil produced in this way has a wide carbon range (more than C5–C25), and a very high olefin content (the presence of aromatic compounds), and the resulting high calorific value of pyrolysis oil is limited in its application range. In the case of oil obtained by pyrolyzing waste plastic containing Cl, there is a concern about corrosion in the reactor. Accordingly, it is possible to diversify the range of use of pyrolysis oil produced by suppressing corrosion through Cl removal as well as oil upgrading through cracking. Therefore, this study used red mud mixed with a series of adsorbents for Cl removal and pyrolysis oil upgrade. The adsorbent was physically mixed with a binder (kaolin or methylcellulose) and activated carbon, and the results before and after the reaction were confirmed through basic characteristic analysis.

• Energy densities during melting of rare metals based on power were quantified. • Increasing the flux density of the upper coil was found to reduce the energy loss. • The distance between the electron beam and molten metal should not be too low. • Our findings can aid the research for predicting rate of raw material charging. Electron beam melting (EBM), which is used to prepare ultra-high-purity refractory and rare metals with high melting points, is associated with an extremely high energy density of tens of megawatts per unit area. The shape and momentum of the electron beam can be adjusted by controlling the electromagnetic field within the electron-beam device to generate this high energy density. However, the energy density in EBM may decrease depending on the beam geometry and magnetic field strength of the focusing coil. To achieve high energy efficiency, the flux density generated by the focusing coil of the electron beam gun should be controlled such that the focusing point of the electron beam is on the surface of the molten material. In this study, the electron beam trajectory in the EBM process was altered by controlling the momentum of the electrons generated by the electric field and the shape of the electron beam produced under the magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil. Finite element analysis was performed to establish the process conditions required to form a beam with high energy efficiency and to minimize the electron bundle loss due to collisions with the inner wall. Our findings can be applied to the refinement of rare metals through high-efficiency energy-beam generation using electron-beam devices with various specifications. The necessary conditions for the electron beam to attain a Gaussian distribution are also outlined. To validate the simulation results, a real-time monitoring of a metal surface subjected to electron-beam irradiation was conducted using a thermal imaging camera. The predicted melting characteristics of titanium, based on electron beam trajectory and turbulence heat transfer models, were validated by ingot manufacturing experiments, confirming the model's applicability.

Anodic pseudocapacitive electrodes fabricated from dione–diimide-based conjugated polymers deliver high energy and power densities.

A catholyte all-solid-state lithium-ion battery with a plasma-treated CNT/graphene bilayer on aluminum improves interfacial adhesion and charge transport, enabling safer polymer cells.

Research Problem.The U.S. Supreme Court cases and state legislation have forced significant changes to higher-education institutions' diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.But what remains unknown is how these changes are perceived by staff who support these initiatives at postsecondary institutions, what outcomes they expect to see from these changes, and how their institutions are handling the transition to compliance.Research Question.In what ways has the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting race-conscious admissions as well as similar state laws affected the recruitment and retention of minoritized engineering students at public universities in one state?Methodology.In this qualitative study, we interviewed six staff members from different public universities in one state where laws prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion offices to support students have been enacted.Excerpts from semi-structured interviews were coded then synthesized into a narrative outlining the anticipated changes mentioned by participants.Findings.Participants noted three key areas of concerns: impacts on student recruitment, impacts to student support, and impacts to faculty and staff, including the frustration and confusion felt by faculty who want their students to succeed and are unsure how to help without appearing to violate laws.Reductions in students, staff, and faculty from historically marginalized backgrounds is also anticipated.Implications.While much more evidence on impacts of these new laws will grow over the next few years, faculty, staff, and institutions that want to maintain or increase their enrollment will need to wrestle with how to do so in a shifting, challenging environment where even the appearance of violating laws may cost institutions funding and employees their jobs.