M.A. - Physical Chemistry
Harvard University - 1972
Lynn Melton
University Retirees - Science/Math Education
Professional Preparation
Ph.D. - Physical Chemistry
Harvard University - 1972
Harvard University - 1972
B.S. - Chemistry
California Institute of Technology - 1966
California Institute of Technology - 1966
Research Areas
Fields of Research Specialization
- Fluorescent Diagnostics for Combustion and Mixing
- Development of Analytical Instrumentation
- Problem Solving Using Analytical Chemistry
- Engineering Applications (Process and Maintenance) of Analytical Techniques
Research Description
Understanding of industrial mixing processes is often a key to the design of efficient chemical reactors. My research program targets the development of novel colorimetric and fluorescent reaction-based diagnostics for industrial mixing processes. It couples the use of acid-base, redox, and/or complexometric chemistry to the solution of important chemical engineering problems. The goal is to enhance chemical engineering design, either through diagnostics that provide direct engineering insight or through diagnostics that drive the development of improved turbulence models for computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
Ninth graders are often baffled and turned off by their introduction to chemistry. They are just learning to use symbols in their algebra course, and they see chemistry as symbols they do not understand. This facet of my research focuses on the development of hands on materials to model the fundamental concepts of chemistry. With these materials students are introduced to concepts such as atoms, atomic force microscopy, and mass spectrometry before they work with the symbols.
Publications
Melton, L.A.; Lipp, C.W. “Criteria for Quantitative PLIF Experiments Using High Power-Lasers”, Experiments in Fluids (2003) 35: 310-316. 2003 - Publication
Rate constants for the reaction of OH with fluorophores determined by use of Fentons Reagent, with JingPing Peng, submitted to Journal of Solution Chemistry (12/2002). 2002 - Publication
Formation of Byproducts in Reactive Mixing Processes: A Colorimetric Diagnostic System, with Min Zhan, submitted to Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, (12/2002). 2002 - Publication
DISMT - Determination of Mixing Time through Color Changes, with C.W. Lipp, R. W. Spradling, and K.A. Paulson, Chemical Engineering Communications, 189(3), 322-338 (2002). 2002 - Publication
Measurement of Transient Temperature Field Within a Falling Drop1et, with Q.Z. Lu, AIAA Journal, 38(1), 95-101 (2000). 2000 - Publication
A Fluorescence-Based Method for Quantitative Measurement of Fuel Film thickness During Cold Start of Engines, with J. Yang, Applied Spectroscopy, 54, 565-574 (2000). 2000 - Publication
High Temperature Oxygen Resistant Molecular Fluorescence Thermometers, with F. Bai, Applied Spectroscopy, 51, 1276 (1997). 1997 - Publication
Planar Liquid and Gas Visualization, AT-Process, Journal of Process Analytical Chemistry, 227 (1996). 1996 - Publication
2-D Gas Phase Temperature Measurement Using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging, with T.Q. Ni, Applied Spectroscopy, 50, 1112 (1996). 1996 - Publication
Numerical Simulation and Restoration of Laser Droplet Slicing Images, with Jingyi Zhang, Applied Optics, 33, 192 (1994). 1994 - Publication
Additional Information
SOCIETIES
- American Chemical Society
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
- Society for Applied Spectroscopy
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Member, Combustion Technology Delegation to People's Republic of China, October 1984, sponsored by People-to-People International.
- Invited Lecturer, University of Science and Technology of China, Institute of Chemistry and Institute of Mechanics (Academica Sinica), Qingdao University, Tianjin University, May 1991.
- Invited Speaker, 1985 Gordon Conference on Physics and Chemistry of Laser Diagnostics in Combustion.
- Invited Speaker, 1991 Gordon Conference on Physics and Chemistry of Laser Diagnostics in Combustion.
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
- National Association of Secondary School Principals Scholarship, 1962 (Caltech)
- Baxter Prize for undergraduate research, 1966 (Caltech)
- NSF Undergraduate Research Participant, 1966, (Caltech)
- Harvard University Scholarship, 1966, (Harvard)
- NSF Predoctoral Fellowship, 1967-1971 (Harvard)