Petroleum research is responsible for making previously unusable reservoirs economically viable and for limiting the environmental impact of petroleum development. Microfluidics, the study of fluid flow at the micro-scale, is predominantly used to study biological phenomena. Adapting microfluidics to study petroleum requires the use of materials and methods not commonly used. This thesis focuses on applying microfluidics to the study of petrochemical fluid flow at high-pressure and high-temperature. The first problem addressed is the study of fluids during alkaline steam assisted gravity drainage (alkaline SAGD). The addition of an alkaline additive is found to improve the bitumen production rate by 35-67%. Secondly, two high-pressure, high-temperature, solvent resistant microfluidic interfaces for glass chips are designed to be operated up to 140 bar and 70 degrees Celsius. Lastly, a novel method for fabricating solvent resistant microfluidic devices from Teflon film is demonstrated by measuring the viscosity of toluene-heavy oil blends.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-85). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Eng. (Chemical Engineering)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-70)

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1988. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-98).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 1934. / Cover title. By G.M. Hebbard and W.L. Badger. Reprinted from the Industrial and engineering chemistry, Analytical ed., v. 5, no. 6, November 15, 1933, and from Industrial and engineering chemistry, v. 26, no. 4, April, 1934. "Literature cited": p. 362,424.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Iowa, 1929. / Vita.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1995. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaf 54.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Lehigh University, 2001. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 61-11, Section: B, page: 6081. Adviser: Arnold R. Marder.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / James S. Drouillard / Three studies evaluated effects of high-amylase corn (Enogen® Feed Corn, EFC) on ruminal digestive characteristics using different processing methods; a 4th study evaluated performance of finishing cattle fed steam-flaked EFC. In study 1, mill-run corn (CON) and EFC were ground through 9-, 6-, or 4 -mm screens, blended to contain 0, 33.3, 66.7, or 100% EFC, and heated to 50, 75, or 100⁰C (plus a non-heated control). No 2- or 3-way interactions occurred (P > 0.05). Increasing EFC in blends linearly improved in situ dry matter disappearance (ISDMD; P < 0.01) and in vitro gas production (IVGP; P = 0.02). Study 2 used blends of EFC and CON containing 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% EFC, which were reconstituted to 27, 30, or 33% moisture, and ensiled. High-amylase corn did not affect ISDMD (P = 0.19) but IVGP increased linearly (P < 0.01) in response to greater amounts of EFC. Acetate:propionate ratio and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production by in vitro fermentation improved linearly by increasing EFC (P < 0.02). Study 3 used the same blends of EFC and CON as study 2. Grains were tempered with 0, 3, or 6% moisture, steam conditioned 15, 30, or 45 min, and flaked. No 2- or 3-way interactions occurred. Starch availability, ISDMD, IVGP, and in vitro production of acetate, propionate, and total VFA increased linearly (P < 0.01) with greater flaked EFC in blends. Study 4 fed finishing diets consisting of steam-flaked CON, or EFC, for 136 d to 700 crossbred beef heifers (394 ± 8.5 kg initial BW). Compared to CON, cattle fed EFC had similar DMI (P = 0.78) but had greater ADG (P < 0.01) and a 5% improvement in feed efficiency (P < 0.01). Carcass weight was 6 kg greater for EFC cattle (P < 0.01), which also had 8% fewer liver abscesses (P = 0.03) than CON. Marbling score was greater in CON cattle (P = 0.04) than EFC; no differences in USDA Quality Grade (P = 0.33), Yield Grade (P = 0.13), LM area (P = 0.89), or 12th-rib fat thickness (P = 0.21) were evident. Improvements in digestion associated with EFC are likely confined to that component of grain mixtures due to a lack of quadratic effects. Improvements in feed efficiency, carcass weight, and potential liver abscess mitigation may be of advantageous use for producers.

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