Prof. Eisa Al-Safran - Engineering & Petroleum 

Title
Asphaltene Integrated Model (AIMTM) Simulator for Asphaltene Deposition Management in Kuwait Oil Fields

Abstract
A state-of-the-art simulator predicts asphaltene precipitation and deposition in oil wells by integrating gas, water, and oil flow dynamics and thermodynamics. This model simulates asphaltene aggregation, precipitation, deposition, and transport over time and space, validated with field data from Kuwaiti oil wells. By integrating a reservoir sector model with a tubular flow model, it provides a physics-based, user-friendly tool for predicting asphaltene behavior across the production system.

Dr. Syed Qasim - Dentistry

Title
Enhancing craniofacial bone tissue engineering strategy: integrating rapid wet chemically synthesised bioactive glass with photopolymerized resins

Abstract
Background Craniofacial bone regeneration represents a dynamic area within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Central to this field, is the continual exploration of new methodologies for template fabrication, leveraging established bio ceramic materials, with the objective of restoring bone integrity and facilitating successful implant placements. Methods Photopolymerized templates were prepared using three distinct bio ceramic materials, specifically a wet chemically synthesized bioactive glass and two commercially sourced hydroxyapatite variants. These templates underwent comprehensive characterization to assess their physicochemical and mechanical attributes, employing techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and nano-computed tomography. Evaluation of their biocompatibility was conducted through interaction with primary human osteoblasts (hOB) and subsequent examination using scanning electron microscopy. Results The results demonstrated that composite showed intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions with the photopolymer, while computerized tomography unveiled the porous morphology and distribution within the templates. A relatively higher porosity percentage (31.55 ± 8.70%) and compressive strength (1.53 ± 0.11 MPa) was noted for bioactive glass templates. Human osteoblast cultured on bioactive glass showed higher viability compared to other specimens. Scanning micrographs of human osteoblast on templated showed cellular adhesion and the presence of filopodia and lamellipodia. Conclusion In summary these templates have the potential to be used for alveolar bone regeneration in critical size defect. Photopolymerization of bioceramics may be an interesting technique for scaffolds fabrication for bone tissue engineering application but needs more optimization to overcome existing issues like the ideal ratio of the photopolymer to bioceramics.

Alaa Al-Fouderi - Engineering & Petroleum

Title
Experimental Analysis of Saline Water Desalination Using Directional Extraction Methods with Octanoic Acid

Abstract
This study experimentally investigated the thermodynamic properties of Octanoic Acid C_8 H_16 O_2 which forms a liquid-liquid immiscible binary mixture when mixed with water. Octanoic Acid is used as a directional solvent in the Directional Solvent Extraction (DSE) process which is a promising alternative technology to the traditional water desalination process using low-temperature heat sources. These thermodynamic properties, such as density, viscosity, and solubility, are considered a dominant factor in modeling and optimizing DSE desalination systems. Both solubility of Octanoic Acid in brine water and solubility of pure water in Octanoic Acid were studied by designing and applying an accurate methodology. These properties are crucial for the energy and exergy analyses used to design and evaluate the DSE system performance.

Mohamed Mohamed - Science

Title
Siloxane-Free Silicon-Based Copolymer for In-Tube Solid-Phase Microextraction of PAHs from Water Samples: An Environmental Monitoring Approach

Abstract
This study investigates an in-laboratory made copolymer designed to mimic the advantageous properties of widely known two polymers: polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), while overcoming their inherented limitations. The developed copolymer comprised of siloxane-free silicon-based backbone, synthesized from ethylene glycol and bis(chloromethyl)dimethylsilane as monomers. The resulted copolymer (PEGDMS) was thoroughly characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Films based on PEGDMS/TEOS and PEGDMS/Sylgard-184 were then prepared and compared with commercial polymers for several physiochemical properties. These films were further characterized using FT-IR, TGA, DSC, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). PEGDMS copolymer was also used as a microextraction sorbent for in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME) for preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) before quantification using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLCPDA). Four PAHs probes were utilized as model analytes to optimize the IT-SPME process. Analytical parameters for microextraction performance such as desorption solvent, desorption time, salt concentration, and sample volume were systematically examined, leading to the establishment of an efficient IT-SPME method. This method demonstrates low limits of detection (0.95–1.82 ngmL-1), low limits of quantification (3.2–6 ngmL-1), a reasonable linear range (0.1–100 mgL-1), and high correlation coefficients (0.995–0.999). Additionally, the relative standard deviations were consistently below 10% (n = 5).