U.S.-Sierra Leone: Cooperative Research on Molecular Theories of Solubility

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This proposal requests funds to permit Dr. Witold K. Brostow, Department of Materials Engineering, Drexel University, to pursue with Dr. Daniel Ate're' Jonah, Professor, Department of Mathematics, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, for a period of 24 months, a program of research on molecular theories of solubility. The research will deal with the the statistical mechanics of solubility of gases in liquids and in amorphous solids, solubility of solids and liquids in supercritical fluids, and vapor-liquid equilibria of dilute systems. Professor Jonah has already developed the first version of the theory of dilute solutions and solubility, while Dr. Brostow has made experimental observations on vapor-liquid equilibria of highly dilute solutions and has developed equations for isobaric expansivity and isothermal compressivity which are required to make the theory usable. The research is expected to lead to a better understanding of solubility and would be useful in industry for improving efficiency of separation and purification of materials and also for better protecting amorphous polymers from the effects of gas solubility on their properties. This project is relevant to the objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. scientists and engineers and their counterparts in developing countries through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit. The U.S. and Sierra Leonian collaborators are highly respected scientists with extensive research experience and productive publication records in the field of the proposal.