Project Info
Heptane refinement for interfacial rheology at oil-water interfaces
Jospeh Samaniuk | samaniuk@mines.edu
Measuring the mechanical properties of molecularly thick films at fluid-fluid interfaces, such as lipid bilayers, is possible with a technique called interfacial rheology. One pervasive challenge in the field is reliably and repeatably obtaining oil purities that exceed even the highest commercial HPLC grades. Purifying oils can be accomplished with various methods, but the methods and procedures have not been systematically evaluated, leading to questions about the validity of experimental results in this area. In this project we will design experiments to systematically investigate the purification of heptane for experiments at oil-water interfaces.
More Information
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aic.16112
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Student Preparation
Qualifications
NA
Time Commitment
20-25 hours/month
Skills/Techniques Gained
Experimental experience in a laboratory setting.
Mentoring Plan
The undergraduate will be aided by a graduate student, and will meet with the PI on a bi-weekly basis as a minimum.