Department of Biological Systems Engineering.

Advisor: Dr. Milford A. HannaDissertation: Polysaccharide derivatives using reactive extrusion- Reactive extrusion of starch and cellulose with acetic anhydride and sodium monochloro acetate using iodine catalyst to produce starch/cellulose acetate esters and ethers respectively- Studying the effect of reaction and extrusion conditions on the physicochemical properties- Polysaccharide characterization using NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy- Comparison of disintegration properties of sodium starch glycolate prepared using reactive extrusion with VIVASTAR®P for excipient applications in solid dosage forms- Preparation of carboxymethyl cellulose with specific backbone structure (large Cellulose-II fraction or large amorphous fraction)- Carboxymethyl cellulose superabsorbents prepared using reactive extrusion and its comparison with AQUASORB® and sodium polyacrylate- Processing starch-LDPE-glycerol films using extrusion

Undergraduate chemistry lab

Advisor: Dr. Edward KolodkaThesis: EPR modified PLLA for food contacting applications- Developed bio-sourced and bio-degradable polylactic acid (PLA) composites using ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) impact modifiers for improved physical properties for plastic applications- Ethylene propylene rubber with hydroxyl groups prepared by ter- polymerization using metallocene catalyst- PLA chains grafted on hydroxyl groups and the graft polymer blended with virgin PLA- Tested thermal and mechanical properties of the composite using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)