Atmospheric Chemistry Program Seminar: Paul Ziemann, and Madison Rutherford, CU-ANYL Chem

Chemistry of Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere and Indoor Air
Paul Ziemann,
ANYL faculty, CU Boulder
"Laboratory studies provide much of the fundamental data on reaction kinetics, products, and mechanisms that are needed to understand atmospheric and indoor air chemistry and to develop models that are used to establish air quality regulations and predict the effects of human activities. Research in my laboratory focuses primarily on environmental chamber studies of the atmospheric chemistry of organic compounds emitted from natural and anthropogenic sources and the physical and chemical processes by which oxidized organic reaction products form aerosol particles. In addition to this we have conducted a number of collaborative studies of indoor air chemistry at CU. In this talk I will provide a brief overview of recent research in my lab for the purpose of informing first-year chemistry graduate students."
and
Sustainable Magnesium Production via Molten Salt Electrolysis and G-METS Distillation
Madison Rutherford,
ANYL 1st year, CU Boulder
"Current methods of magnesium production are prohibitively expensive and resource intensive with low energy efficiency and high environmental impact. Molten salt electrolysis (MSE) using a reactive liquid cathode, e.g., tin, combined with vapor compression distillation in a gravity-driven multiple effect thermal-system (G-METS VCD) can significantly reduce the energy requirement and environmental impact of both magnesium primary production and recycling. This presentation presents a techno-economic model of cost, energy consumption, and emissions associated with magnesium primary production via MSE and G-METS VCD. The model includes a mass balance with 17 elements, electrolysis process energy balance with carbon or solid oxide membrane anodes, and detailed operating and capital cost estimates. Based on the properties of magnesium and expected operating conditions, the cost of magnesium production using this process could be comparable to or lower than that of aluminum production. Initial electrolysis experiments show high current efficiencies with both carbon and SOM anodes, and future work on G-METS VCD is outlined."