Project number: 22

1. Title: Chitin nanowhiskers aerogels

2. Staff: Dr Wim Thielemans

Aerogels are porous lightweight materials consisting over 90% of air. They
are produced by forming a gel in water, followed by solvent exchange with
ethanol and drying in supercritical CO2 to prevent pore collapse during
drying. Chitin is a semicrystalline polymer found in the exoskeleton of
crustaceans (e.g. shrimp) and is one of the most abundantly available
natural polymers. We are able to prepare single-crystal nanoparticles from
chitin. In this project, rodlike chitin nanoparticles (also called
nanowhiskers) will be assembled in water into gels and formed into
aerogels by drying. These materials will be interesting for gas storage,
catalyst support, insulation, etc.

Project number: 23
1. Title: Cellulose nanowhisker cell immobilisation membranes
2. Staff: Dr Wim Thielemans

Cellulose nanowhiskers are long rodlike nanoparticles derived from

cellulose, the most abundantly natural polymer with an estimated global
production rate of 300 billion tons per year. They can be assembled into
hydrogen bonded films which, after drying, can be reimmersed in water
without loss of mechanical integrity. In this project, sandwich membranes
will be prepared with subsequent layers of cellulose
nanowhiskers/cells/cellulose nanowhiskers and the viability of the cells will
be tested. These novel membranes will make an important contribution to
biochemical processing and enable the efficient immobilisation of cells in
bioreactors.

Project number: 24
1. Title: Resolution of scientific controversies
2. Staff: Dr Sean Rigby

A literature based project

Science is fraught with controversies (e.g. global warming,

nanotechnology, nuclear power, pesticide residues etc.), and any
chemical engineer is potentially likely to be in the thick of some of these.
Several strategies have been developed to reach rational conclusions.
Examples include using input from more subjects, an improved research
design, or using meta-analysis. An additional strategy will be attempted in
this project. The language content of scientific papers will be examined to
establish whether the authors use factual (informational) language or
emotional appeals (directive language) to convince the reader. This type
of content analysis will be applied to scientific publications to attempt to
clarify the basis of and reasoning behind a particular controversy. A
comparative study with press reports may also be of benefit.

(1-3 students)

Project number: 25
1. Title: Analysis of time series
2. Staff: Dr Sean Rigby

Theoretical/Computational

The prediction of commodity (e.g. crude oil) or asset (e.g. shares)

prices is an ongoing problem in the commercial world. The plot of price
against time is a form of ‘time series’. A range of different methods
have been attempted in the analysis of time series with mixed success.
Both empirical curve fitting and more fundamental prediction have
been attempted. In this project we will look at the use of fractal
methods in understanding the underlying structure in time series
patterns. The project will involve a requirement to familiarize yourself
with particular mathematical methods, and the ability to conduct
analyses on computer using commercial software or own programs.