Date of Defense

4-21-2026

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Department

Chemical and Paper Engineering

First Advisor

James Springstead

Second Advisor

Priyanka Sharma

Abstract

Plant-based coagulants are promising sustainable alternatives for water treatment due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and reduced risk of secondary pollution. Unlike conventional inorganic coagulants, they generate less sludge and avoid secondary contamination in the environment. This project examines two chemical modification strategies for producing cationic cellulose coagulants. The first involves direct amination of cellulose using CHPTAC, while the second employs periodate-oxidized dialdehyde cellulose, which enables reductive amination through reactive aldehyde groups. These approaches are expected to yield materials with differing charges, surface functionalities, and structural properties that may influence coagulation performance. The study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of both routes by comparing reaction conditions, reagent use, yields, waste generation, and energy requirements. Material and energy balances are developed to support process design, scale-up, and selection of the most cost-effective and environmentally viable production pathway.

Comments

Co-authored with:

Li En Foo

Ted Sherer

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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