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PARTICLE TRANSPORT, DEPOSITION AND REMOVAL

Inhalation Drug Delivery and Lung Deposition

Clarkson Distinguished Professor Goodarz Ahmadi (the Robert R. Hill '48 Professor) and Professor Philip Hopke (the Bayard D. Clarkson Distinguished Professor), in collaboration with Dr. Yung Sung Cheng of Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, are studying particle and fiber deposition in the human lung and nose for a NIOSH funded project. Earlier Professor Ahmadi and Dr. Han and Dr. Greenspan of Elan (Dura) Pharmaceuticals studied powder dispersion in inhalation drug delivery systems.

Three-Phase Slurry Reactors

Professor Ahmadi is collaborating with scientists at the Department of Energy in developing a model for a three-phase slurry reactor for synthetic liquid fuel production from coal. The advanced computational capability for predicting the transport and processing of three-phase (liquid - gas - solid) slurry reactors would be helpful in design optimization of the synthetic liquid fuel production. The computational model uses the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach for analyzing the three-phase flows.

Fundamentals of Natural Gas and Species Flow from Hydrates Dissociation

The primary goal of Professor Ahmadi's project is to provide a fundamental understanding of the multiphase flow conditions during hydrate dissociation in consolidated and unconsolidated sediments. He and his research group developed semi-analytical and computational models that can be used as tools for natural gas production from a hydrate and the related drilling safety issues. These include predicting the rate of natural gas pressure buildup during drilling in a hydrate reservoir, the nature of gas and water flows in the reservoir after hydrate dissociation, and the potential for sea floor instability. Availability of such an understanding, detailed experimental data and a computational tool are crucial to the future development of technology for economical and safe natural gas production from hydrates in the 21st Century.

Hot-Gas Filtration

Professor Ahmadi and his students are studying the process of hot-gas filtration for applications to clean coal technology. In this project, the performance of ceramic candle-filters for hot-gas cleaning is being studied. Research results show that small particles (less than a micron) deposit rather uniformly in the filter vessel, while the larger particles deposit non-uniformly. The developed computational model can be used for the design of future industrial scale hot-gas cleaning systems.

Electrohydrodynamic Flows During Corona Discharge

Professor Ahmadi and his students, along with Dr. Fan of Xerox, are studying electrohydrodynamic flows in corotrons in electrophotographic machines (printers and copiers). They developed a computational model for analyzing electrohydrodynamic flows during corona discharge. They are in the process of extending their computational model to include transport and deposition of charged toner particles in the presence of a strong electric field. They showed that electrohydrodynamics could strongly affect the transport and deposition of small particles in corona devices.

In addition, Professor Ahmadi is collaborating with Dr. Sadasivan of Kodak on a project about the aerodynamic focusing of nanoparticle beams.

COLLOIDAL DISPERSIONS AND PROCESSING

Polymers for Biomedical Applications

Professor Anja Mueller, of Clarkson University's Department of Chemistry, is carrying out research on polymers for biomedical and environmental applications. Her postdoctoral research was on liposomes as drug delivery agents. It included the characterization of controlled release upon a light signal, liposome fusion with membranes, and characterization of the behavior of liposomes in a cell culture. Professor Mueller's current and future research projects include the development of a biological fuel cell for medical sensors, synthesis of hydrophilic polymers with enzymes and their surface characterization for the development of heart valve coatings and skin scaffolds. In addition she is investigating the use of polymers for biosensors and wastewater treatment.


Clarkson University's Board of Trustees Visits CAMP. From left: CAMP Deputy Director Edward McNamara, Charles Craig (Trustee Board Member, V.P. & Director of Administration & Operations at Corning, Inc.), Bayard Clarkson Jr., M.D. (Trustee Board Member), CAMP Director S. V. Babu, and Jack Welch Jr. (Chairman of the Board of Trustees).

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Professor Babu and his wife Rajeswari attended a Board of Trustees dinner at which Babu was honored with the title of University Distinguished Professor.

Professor S. V. Babu Remains CAMP Director

During the past five years, Professor S. V. Babu has held the dual roles of Director of CAMP and Vice Provost of Research. Under his outstanding leadership, Clarkson experienced a rise in research dollars to a new record of $16.1 million and a record corporate membership in CAMP. Professor Babu will continue as the Director of CAMP and has been named a University Distinguished Professor at a Board of Trustees dinner in October. In the interim, Professor Goodarz Ahmadi will serve as Vice Provost for Research. Professor Ahmadi is a Clarkson Distinguished Professor, the Robert R. Hill '48 Professor, Associate Director of Clarkson's Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science (CARES), and Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies.