Faculty:
Dr. Paul O. Biney
Tel: (936) 261-9842
Email: pobiney@pvamu.edu

Research Interest:
Research at the FAST Center include processing, fabrication and characterization of lightweight structural materials, nano-composite materials, and functionally graded materials.

Research Activities at the FAST Center:
Composite fabrication (hand lay-up, vacuum bag molding, autoclave processing, and compression molding); various methods for functionalizing and dispersion of nanotubes into resins and fabrication of nano-composites; curing of composite parts under computer controlled cure rate and cure cycle optimization; developing field repair techniques for composite parts, ultrasonic inspection of composite for quality using c-scan; short and long term environmental cycling, degradation and testing; microstructural characterization of composites; thermal and chemical analysis; mechanical testing (tension, compression, short-beam shear, flexural, and fatigue testing at room and elevated temperatures) for polymers and composites; adhesive bonding systems; shell life improvement of prepreg; mechanical and electrical property improvement using functionalized carbon nanotubes; and fabrication processes for graded materials.
Major materials research equipment include: TGA, DSC, DMA, FTIR, Heated Platen Press, Hydraulic & Electromechanical test systems, Dielectrometer, HPLC, Convection and vacuum ovens, autoclave and C-Scan and thin film processing machines.

Research Activities at the CEES Center:
Biofuels research include in-depth fundamental studies to understand the reaction pathways of fast pyrolysis and how they affect the final composition of bio-oil and other by-products as process variables are varied in an effort to improve yields and quality of specific chemical species present in the bio-oil.; design of biofuels reactors for process and yield investigation of catalytic pyrolysis of biomass into biofuels and the development of catalytic conversion strategies for upgrading bio-oil to useful fuels. Additional research involves TGA reaction kinetics study of the pyrolysis process for different biomass.
Major biofuels research equipment include: (1) Thermo Scientific Flash 2000CHNS/O Combustion Elemental Analyzer and accessories for determination of elemental (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen) composition of biomass and biofuels; (2) Shimadzu QP-2010 Ultra EI 110v GC-MS package including FID 2010 plus and TCD 2010 plus detectors, Gc-2010 & GC-2014 capillary backflush package, twin line MS capability allowing installation of two capillary columns to the system, AOC -20I auto-injector, and NIST mass spectrum library; (3) Frontier PY-3030D-110, Multi-Mode Micro-Pyrolyzer with auto-shot sampler for Shimadzu GC-MS, an online micro reaction sampler and vent free adapter; (4) DionexDual Channel ICS-5000 with autosampler,CD Conductivity Detector (analytical) and Integrated Cell, ED Electrochemical Detector and accessories; (5) TA Instrument Q500 Thermogravimetric Analyzer with Hi-Res(tm) TGA and Modulated TGA(tm) Modes. This is a research grade TGA with an auto-switching dual range microbalance (0 – 200 mg and 0 – 1 gram). Features include the Hi-Res mode for enhanced resolution of overlapping signals, temperature modulation mode for model free kinetics, automated pan loading and furnace movement, and dual mass flow controllers with automated gas switching; (6) a high yield batch reactor for studies on factors that affect the quality and yield for the conversion of biomass into biofuels.

Selected Publications:

1. Extraction and characterization of triglycerides from coffeeweed and switchgrass seeds as potential feedstocks for biodiesel production; Grace Armah-Agyeman, Michael Gyamerah, Paul O Biney and Selamawit Woldesenbet; Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.7649, 2016
2. “Effects of extended surfaces on temperature distribution inside a fixed bed biofuel pyrolysis batch reactor”, Kamau Tillmutt, Paul O. Biney. Submitted for publication in the Proceedings of the ASME 2015 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE 2015), November 13-19, 2015, Houston, Texas.
3. “Kinetics of the pyrolysis of arundo, sawdust, corn stover and switch grass biomass by thermogravimetric analysis using a multi-stage model”; Paul O. Biney, Michael Gyamerah, Jiacheng Shen, Bruna Menezes. Bioresource Technology 179 (2015) 113–122.
4. Joshua Budu, Paul O. Biney, and Michael Gyamerah; “Biofuels from Biomass: The Current State of Conversion Technologies”. Paper presented at the CREST-RESSACA Environmental and Energy Sustainability Conference in Houston, April 26-27, 2012.
5. Ashley Merritt, Paul O. Biney, Michael Gyamerah, “Compositional Analysis of Biomass Feedstock”. A poster presented at the CREST-RESSACA Environmental and Energy Sustainability Conference in Houston, April 26-27, 2012.
6. Renee Kendrick; Michael Gyamerah, Paul O. Biney; “Catalytic Pyrolysis of Wood Biomass for the Production of Bio-oil”. Poster presentation at the CREST-RESSACA Environmental and Energy Sustainability Conference in Houston, April 26-27, 2012.
7. “Design of Auger Type Bioreactor for Pyrolysis of Plant Biomass”, Senior Design project final report, Mechanical Engineering Department, Prairie View A&M University, 2009.
8. “Development of Performance Criteria for Assessing Program Outcomes in Engineering, Engineering Technology and Computer Science Program”, 2008 ASEE Conference, Pittsburgh, June 2008.
9. “Direct Assessment Process for Educational Objectives and Outcomes Developed at PVAMU”, presented at the ABET Best Assessment Practices Symposium at Rose Hulman Institute, Indiana, 2006.
10. Biney, Paul; Bryant, Milton R.; “A Novel Strategy for the Direct Assessment and Improvement of Engineering Programs Developed and Implemented by Prairie View A&M University”, presented at the ASEE conference in Portland, Oregon, 2005.
11. “Functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes with N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl]ethylenediamine and its cobalt complex,” Journal of Physics and Chemistry of solids, 2007 in press
12. “Dispersion of aminoalkyl-silyl ester or amine alkyl-phosphonic acid Side wall functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in silica using sol-gel processing” Mater. Lett. 2007 doi. 10.1016j.Mat. let.2007.07.030
13. Screening Tests for Candidate Cryogenic Tank Materials, 2004 HighTemple Workshop, Sacremento, CA.
14. “Thermal Effects on the properties of Epoxy and Polyimide Adhesive Bonded Graphite/Bismaleimide Composites”, Journal of Advanced Materials, Vol. 35, No. 2, April 2003, Society for the Advancement of materials and process Engineering.