Expertise

• Chemical facility project management.
• Simulation of continuous and batch processes.
• Molecular transport mechanisms and equipment.
• Polymer devolatilization and solvent removal.
• Supercritical fluid polymer interactions.
• Polymerization engineering and chemical reactors.

Experience

• Undisclosed University, 2006 - Present
• Independent Consultant, 1989 - Present
• R&D Associate, Du Pont Company, 1987 - 1989
• R&D Engineer, BF Goodrich Company, 1978 - 1983

Engineering Course Instruction

• Polymer Reaction Engineering
• Batch Process Engineering
• Devolatilization and Purification of Polymers
• Computer Methods in Engineering
• Process Modeling and Simulation
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Fermentation Biotechnology
• Material, Energy and Economic Balances
• Energy Balances

Development of a Polyacrylic Acid Production Facility

• Co-leader of a team that developed a 2.5 MM process for the continuous production of aqueous polyacrylic acid.
• Led the development of all fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic data, design and sizing of the primary continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a post reaction pressurized flow reactor (PFR) used to chase residual monomer.
• Led design of a stripping column for treatment of SO2 from the product stream and development of the computer simulation of the process conditions to modify product properties for different customers.
• Process was taken from initial concept, through laboratory batch reactions, to commercial production startup in nine months.

Nanofiber Devolatilization

• Lead consultant on the development of new stripping processes for the removal of residual spinning solvent from nanofibers produced via commercial scale spinning operation.
• Responsible for development of fundamental transport data and models used as a basis for the design of the commercial stripping unit.
• Team member of the design team, responsible for overseeing the choice of stripping conditions, residence time requirements and P&ID reviews.

Polyacrylonitrile "Noodle" Production

• Lead consultant and design contractor for the development of a facility to produce "noodles" made from polyacrylonitrile.
• Polymer is soluble in a highly concentrated proprietary mixed-salt solution that enables the material to be extruded into noodles resembling cooked spaghetti. Product is used for medical applications.
• Responsible for development of fundamental design data, preliminary process flow diagrams, development of concepts, laboratory testing of separation and purification processes, and development of design data and P&IDs for drying and packaging the product.

"Tyvek" Spunbonded Devolatilization

• Lead consultant on the development of a new stripping process for the removal of residual spinning solvent from "Tyvek" sheets produced with a new spin solvent.
• Responsible for development of all fundamental transport data and models used as a basis for the design of the commercial stripping unit.
• Team member of the design team, responsible for overseeing the choice of stripping conditions, residence time requirements and P&ID reviews.

Honors & Publications

• AIChE, ACS, ASEE
• Multiple publications on chemical process engineering, kinetics, diffusion, phase transfer and catalysis.

Education

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University

B.S., Chemistry, Campbell College