Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisors: Mark A. Barteau and Jochen A. Lauterbach, Dept. of Chemical Engineering.. Includes bibliographical references.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 26, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. Michael Harmata. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63). Also available on the Internet.

Ionic liquid/scCO₂ biphasic systems have been studied as a possible solution to the main problems concerning homogeneous catalysis reactions such as, the product/catalyst separation, the catalyst retention in the reaction medium and the use of organic solvents. The hydroformylation of long chain alkenes (1-octene) has been carried out as a continuous flow reaction using [OctMIM]Tf₂N (OctMIM = 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium, Tf = CF₃SO₂) as the reaction solvent and scCO₂as the mobile phase to extract the products. The performance of the rhodium complexes formed with the ionic ligands [PentMIM][TPPTS] (1-pentyl-3- methylimidazolium tri(m-sulfonyl)triphenylphosphine) and [OctMIM][TPPTS] (1-octyl-3- methylimidazolium tri(m-sulfonyl)triphenylphosphine) is described under different sets of experimental conditions. Continuous flow hydroformylation of 1-octene was also carried out using a SILP (Supported Ionic Liquid Phase) catalyst formed with the TPPTS-based ionic ligands named above. The SILP system described in this work has the peculiarity of introducing the “without gases” approach: syn gas was synthesised in situ by the decomposition of formaldehyde. The performance of both systems is compared in the end. The extension of the continuous flow ionic liquid/scCO₂ biphasic system is shown with the optimisation of the silver-catalysed heterocyclisation of furans. A comparison is carried out with a previously developed and optimised continuous flow heterogeneous system.

M.Tech. (Chemistry) / This work focused on the in-situ decoration of polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiber mats with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an electrospinning technique. The biocidal and organic properties of the Ag decorated nanofibers were evaluated. Electrospinning of Ag decorated nanofibers was also carried out on a mixed matrix membrane support composed of nitrogen doped carbon nanotube (N-CNTs) and PES to fabricate a unique bi-faceted membrane. PES was dissolved in a solution containing silver nitrate (AgNO3) and N,Ndimethylacetamide (DMAc). The polymer solution was dissolved at 80ºC for 3 h under reflux until a yellow homogeneous solution was obtained which indicated the in-situ formation of AgNPs. The polymer solution was cooled and stored to remove air-bubbles. An ultraviolet - visible (UV – Vis) spectrometer was used to confirm the presence of AgNPs, while a Malvern nanosizer was used to estimate the size distribution of the AgNPs in the PES polymer matrix. The solution was electrospun on an aluminium (foil) collecting plate. Biocidal properties of the material were evaluated using Gram-positive (G+) Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and ram-negative (G-) Escherichia coli (E. coli) by the zone inhibition method. The silver decorated polyethersulfone nanofibers showed good antibacterial activity against both G+ S. aureus and G- E. coli.