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Expert in Chemical Separations, Extraction, Waste Management, Thermodynamics, Process Design
Available for your Consulting and Expert Witness Needs
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Summary of Expertise:
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Expert has extensive experience with the dehydration of ethanol for use in the production of gasohol. Most of this work focused on the use of liquid/liquid extraction to selectively extract ethanol from water, but also on the use of azeotropic distillation to further dehydrate in an energy-efficient process.
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Expert's focus has been on developing improved chemical process flowsheets for achieving specific goals. These include improved distillation and solvent extraction separations, process integration for energy efficiency, and novel configurations for improved waste management.
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Expert has spent considerable effort studying complex equilibria phenomena, particularly between two liquid phases, but also vapor and liquid phases. His primary interest has been to better understand polar systems where chemical interactions occur. Example phases include tri-n-butyl phosphate, water extraction, nitric acid behavior, amine extraction, and their interaction with various diluents (chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, hydrocarbons). He has also studied ethanol extraction from water using a variety of polar solvents such as 2-ethylhexanol, tridecyl alcohol, various esters, and organic acids.
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Expert has worked on many separation processes including distillation, solvent extraction, liquid-liquid extraction, membrane permeation, crystallization, chromatography (gas-liquid, liquid-solid), and purify chemical species. He has also designed separation networks.
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Expert has devised several energy-efficient processes for recovering chemicals and petrochemicals. Some have resulted in patents. These include improved processes for recovering ethanol from dilute aqueous mixtures and high-purity zinc from waste. He has also developed an efficient process for recovering fine chemicals (sodium tetraphenyl borate). Expert has also improved processes for recovering ethylene and propylene using distillation and other improved distillation configurations for petrochemical applications (such as light-ends separations).
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Expert has developed several processes for producing ethanol fuel from agricultural wastes and dehydrating the ethanol efficiently from fermentation broths. Several patents resulted from this work.
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Expert is actively working on developing improved thermodynamic correlations for predicting interactions and equilibrium behavior in polar solvents. Examples include mixtures of diethyl amine and benzene or carbon tetrachloride as well as tri-n-butyl phosphate and chloroform or benzene. His emphasis has been on the prediction of excess properties.
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Expert has studied fractionation and its application in petrochemical and chemical industries. Much of his earlier work focused on simulation of distillation sequences and their optimization to reduce separation costs. Recently, he has begun studying tray hydraulics and improved designs for increasing the efficiency of sieve trays, especially in large diameter towers.
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Expert worked in radioactive waste management for several years at Oak Ridge. He has organized symposia with the American Chemical Society "Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management," that has enabled him to gain additional perspective on this topic. He has developed an improved process for waste brine management using recycling to avoid evaporation costs.
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Expert developed a treatment system using a brine recycle that eliminates evaporation requirements but enables the recovery of a hazardous salt cake. A second process is being developed for treating hazardous leachates, particularly those containing low, but biocidal concentrations of polar organics (phenol). This process enables recovery of oily waste from leachates without evaporation and is particularly applicable to situations where large wastewater volumes must be treated.
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Using reciprocating plate columns and mini-mixer-setters, Expert has designed full-scale units for commerical applications.
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Having studied the solubility of water and alcohols in many solvents, Expert has become familiar with the practical use of solvents in separation applications.
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Expert is actively working on developing improved correlations for predicting excess properties (entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs energy) in liquid-liquid and vapor-liquid systems.
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Expert is studying the efficient removal of phenol from wastewater. This technology is applicable to a variety of phenolic compounds, many of which are toxic.
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Much of Expert's research has focused on the optimization of separation networks (distillation, solvent extraction, and membranes).
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Expert's emphasis has been on the optimal sequencing of distillation towers or solvent extraction units in network applications including energy integration. He has developed extensive models of distillation systems that include optimization capabilities and capabilities for evaluating tray hydraulics.
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Expert has modeling capabilities for evaluating extraction performance in cascades and knows how to optimize that performance.
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Expert has invented many chemical engineering-related processes and teaches a course on process invention.
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Expert has developed models for evaluating rectification and its optimiztion in chemical and petrochemical applications.
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Expert's primary interest has been with phase equilibria, particularly between polar solvent mixtures and aqueous phases.
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Expert has spent considerable effort studying complex equilibria phenomena, particularly between two liquid phases, but also vapor and liquid phases. His primary interest has been to better understand polar systems where chemical interactions occur. Example phases include tri-n-butyl phosphate, water extraction, nitric acid behavior, amine extraction, and their interaction with various diluents (chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, hydrocarbons). He has also studied ethanol extraction from water using a variety of polar solvents such as 2-ethylhexanol, tridecyl alcohol, various esters, and organic acids. He is actively working on the development of improved correlations for predicting excess properties (entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs energy) in liquid-liquid and vapor-liquid systems.
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Expert has studied the behavior of many hydrocarbon solvents and their abilities to dissolve a range of organic and inorganic species. He is familiar with industrial solvent extraction applications, contactors, and how solvents many be effectively used in new applications.
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Expert teaches chemical thermodynamics and the various aspects of thermodynamic laws and relationships including thermodynamic open systems, and process and property evaluation.
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As a teacher of chemical engineering thermodynamics and process synthesis, Expert has studied heat exchanger matching to improve thermodynamic efficiency.
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Expert is familiar with many modelling techniques and is actively studying the use in predicting excess properties.
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Expert is developing an energy-efficient treatment for removing low concentrations of polar organics from wastewater.
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Expert has studied the chemistry of solvent phases containing polar solvents, most of which are not electrolytes. Examples include alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol), acids (formic, acetic, propionic), ketones, esters, organophosphates (TBP, DBP, MBD) and amines.
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Show Secondary and Basic Areas of Expertise | Localities:
Expert may consult nationally and internationally, and is also local to the following cities: Atlanta, Georgia;
Athens, Georgia;
Macon, Georgia;
Roswell, Georgia;
Marietta, Georgia;
and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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Degree |
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Subject |
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Institution |
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1975
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PhD
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Chemical Engineering
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University of Wisconsin
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1973
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MS
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Chemical Engineering
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University of Wisconsin
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1972
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BChE
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Chemical Engineering
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Georgia Institute of Technology, Philosophy, Kenyon College
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Employer |
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Department |
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Title |
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to
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(Undisclosed)
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Chemical Engineering
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1984 to
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(Undisclosed)
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Chemical Engineering
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Associate Professor
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1979 to 1984
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(Undisclosed)
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Chemical Engineering
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Assistant Professor
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1975 to 1979
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Staff Engineer
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Associations/Societies
Expert is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Nuclear Society, and the Water Pollution Control Federation.
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Licenses/Certifications
He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee and Georgia.
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Professional Appointments
Expert is Senior Series Editor for the "Radioactive Waste Management Handbook" and the Executive Editor for the journal, "Toxic and Hazardous Substance Control".
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Publications and Patents Summary
He holds six patents (with three more pending) and has over 70 technical publications.
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Selected Publications and Publishers
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- In CRC Science and Technology of Tributyl Phosphate
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- Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange
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- Chemical Engineering R & D
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- In Handbook of Separation Process Technology
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- Sep. Purif. Methods
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| Selected Consulting Examples: |
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Expert has expertise in training individuals to organize and present technical material in an effective way. He is experienced in storyboarding, visual organization, and the preparation of effective visuals.
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Recent Client Requests:
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Expert in liquid extraction of ethanol for consulting on water & high CV distillate extraction from blended solvent-based fuel.
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Expert in flue gas for consulting on diesel power plant cleaning system.
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Expert in removal of inhibitory compounds, phenolics, acetic acid from pretreated cellusic hydroysate upstream fermentation.
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Expert in Ethanol Waste Water treatment.
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Click the green button above to contact
Expert for a free initial screening call regarding your expert consulting needs.
Expert is available for consulting to corporate, legal and government clients.
Remember, your initial screening call to speak with
Expert is free.
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Recent Litigation Client Requests:
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Ethanol production expert for consulting on separation of liquids from thin stillage.
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Expert witness in enzyme fermenation for consulting on pre and post filter presence of lipids, protiens and fats.
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Ethanol expert witness and expert for consulting on feasibility of ethanol plant design.
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Click the green button above to contact
Expert for a free initial screening call regarding expert testimony,
litigation consulting and support, forensic services, or any related expert witness services.
A few litigation needs include product liability, personal injury, economic loss, intellectual property
(patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright), and insurance matters. Remember, your initial screening
call to speak with
Expert is free.
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| Additional Skills and Services: |
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Supplier and Vendor Location and Selection Expert has experience locating vendors in the areas of hazardous waste management, solvent extraction and water treatment. He has access to a database for assistance in vendor location.
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Other Skills and Services
Expert has experience in organizing symposia to evaluate technologies and prepare publications. He has organized symposia in Atlanta, Atlantic City, Birmingham, and Pittsburgh. Books have resulted from this symposia which have been published by ACS Books, the American Academy of Academy of Environmental Engineers, and Plenum Press. Additionally, Expert is knowledgeable of organizing expositions and trade shows. He has business contacts for telemarketing, booth sales, decorators, and other services as required to put together a trade show. Expert has managed trade shows in Atlanta and Birmingham
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Education
