Kettering University

This study illustrates the movement of methyl salicylate through a porous media. The porous media used was a surface inert, fine grained glass bead, and the analyte used was methyl salicylate. The amounts of the analyte present in the liquid and vapor phase, as well as the amount of the analyte that had evaporated at specific times over the week long testing were closely monitored. Microdrop headspace analysis was used to account for the amount of methyl salicylate in the vapor phase, liquid extraction was utilized to account for the amount of the analyte in the liquid phase, and mass loss studies using a balance accounted for the amount of the analyte that had evaporated. The summation of all the factors considered accounted for all of the analyte used within a 10% error margin. These experiments were successful and accounted for between 99.202%- 93.001% of the total analyte that had been injected for the time scales that had been specified.

An internal standard and calibration curves for volatile organic compounds were added to the existing headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry method for testing volatiles emitted from interior materials. The method is now quantitative, and it can be used to isolate and identify issues with odor, window fogging or potential health concerns.

Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) is a large and shallow eutrophic lake located in the south-central portion of Oregon. The UKL has suffered from severe algal blooms, which has caused the decline in water quality, endangering the inhabitants of the lake. Excess phosphorus loading is a suspect for the increase in algal blooms. Internal loading (contribution of nutrients, like phosphorus, from bottom sediments) has been shown to be a great source of nutrients in many lakes. Knowing the total concentration of phosphorous in bottom sediments does not indicate how much phosphorus is subject to release to the water column because phosphorus is present in unreactive forms as well as bioavailable forms in bottom sediments. Though characterization of the sediment does not directly correlate to internal loading, it will help explain the interaction between the surface sediment and the water column during resuspension events. Small sediment particles are more easily resuspended than large particles, so sediment particle size data can be used to test current models for water and sediment movement in the lake. Without a clear view of how phosphorus cycles in water systems, an effective plan of remediation cannot be constructed.

The focus of this project was to investigate polymer exchange membranes as possible alternative materials to Nafion. The ter-polymers studied from acrylic acid, styrene, and vinyl sulfonic acid have tested as having proton transfer capabilities approximately 300 times faster than Nafion per unit area under our testing conditions.

The use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry to analyze oil samples for condition and contamination was researched and compared to the currently used methods of analysis. Oxidation, nitration, sulfation, ZDDP, water,gasoline, diesel fuel, glycol and soot are all used as indicators for the wear to motor and the engine. Each of these was analyzed to determine if the new Varian instrument and software could be used to replace the current methods. There was evidence that the testing for oxidation, nitration, ZDDP, soot, water could be done with FTIR and for glycol in some cases.