Expert Details
Chemical engineering research & development - specifically separation processes including carbon capture via solvent absorption, solvent extraction, pilot plants, literature reviews.
ID: 735358
Pennsylvania, USA
Pharmacology from The University of Melbourne in Australia. In 2006 she completed her Ph.D. studies in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne, where her thesis work focused on the performance and scale‐up of solvent extraction columns.
After completing her Ph.D., Expert worked as a Chemical Development Engineer for a pharmaceutical company, followed by 10 years as a Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne. Expert's research interests are in the areas of separations processes, in particular, solvent extraction for hydrometallurgical and
pharmaceutical applications and solvent absorption for CO2 capture. She has experience in fundamental laboratory research and in translating this research into industrial applications.
In August 2017, Expert relocated from Melbourne, Australia to Pittsburgh, USA. In July 2018 she began working as a consultant with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL‐DOE) and the University of Pittsburgh where she has been developing pre‐combustion carbon capture technologies using solvent absorption.
Solvent Extraction
During her PhD, the expert studied the performance and scale-up of solvent extraction columns for pharmaceutical applications. The expert has presented her research on solvent extraction column performance at international conferences and has published refereed journal papers and conference papers in the area of solvent extraction and has written a book chapter entitled ‘Design and Scale-up of Solvent Extraction Columns’. Expert's most recent research in this area has focussed on solvent extraction column performance optimization, thermodynamic modeling, testing new extractants for uranium solvent extraction and the use of bio-derived solvents for natural product extraction. She currently has an additional 4 journal papers submitted for review in the area of solvent extraction. Expert has developed strong relationships with the solvent extraction industry within Australia, in particular with GSK in Port Fairy (for alkaloid solvent extraction) and BHP Billiton at Olympic Dam (for uranium solvent extraction). Expert has completed and continues to conduct consulting projects with BHP Billiton to develop a new solvent extraction process for their Olympic Dam Expansion Project.
CO2 Absorption Research
Laboratory-based research completed by Expert in the CO2CRC has contributed to the development of a patented solvent absorption process for capturing CO2 from industrial sources. This process has been tested in an industry based demonstration project at Hazelwood Power Station and is currently being commercialized by UNO Technology P/L. The expert was also part of the team shortlisted and subsequently given a Highly Commended Award for this process in the Energy category of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Awards of Excellence in 2013.
Expert has published 18 refereed journal papers and 5 refereed conference publications in the field of CO2 capture. Expert has written numerous progress and final reports for funding agencies in this area such as Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research & Development (ANLEC R&D) and Brown Coal Innovation Australia (BCIA).
Publications & Presentations:
Overall, Expert has published 1 scholarly book, 1 scholarly book chapter, 26 refereed journal articles, 9 refereed conference papers, and 33 non-refereed conference submissions. According to Scopus, Expert has an h-index of 8 and 256 citations. Expert has published 6 journal articles in the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control which has a 5-year impact factor of 5.207 and her most cited article (CO2 capture from Pre-combustion Processes - Strategies for membrane gas separation) is from this journal with 79 citations and is the 7th most cited article for the journal. The median impact factor for the journals that Expert has published in is 2.985 while the median journal impact factor for the field of Chemical Engineering is 1.313 which clearly indicates the high quality of her research.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2006 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Chemical Engineering | Institution: The University of Melbourne |
| Year: 2003 | Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) | Subject: Chemical Engineering | Institution: The University of Melbourne |
| Year: 2003 | Degree: Bachelor of Science | Subject: Pharmacology | Institution: The University of Melbourne |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2018 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Research Chemical Engineer Consultant | Department: Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering |
Responsibilities:Pre‐combustion CO2 capture research using solvent absorption processes |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2017 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Honorary Research Fellow | Department: Department of Chemical Engineering |
Responsibilities:Available upon request. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2017 | Employer: The University of Melbourne | Title: Research Fellow, Separations Technology (0.6 FTE) | Department: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
Responsibilities:Solvent extraction research for pharmaceutical and hydrometallurgical applications CO2 capture research using solvent absorption processes Supervision of undergraduate, Masters and Ph.D. research students Management of solvent extraction pilot plant, carbon capture pilot plant, and separations laboratory |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to 2013 | Employer: The University of Melbourne | Title: Research Fellow, Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) | Department: Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering |
Responsibilities: Supervision of research students and research assistants developing solvent absorptionprocesses for CO2 capture, including optimizing laboratory column performance and enhancing CO2 solvent absorption kinetics through the addition of rate promoters Management and operation of a laboratory-based pilot plant for CO2 capture using a precipitating solvent process Management and operation of two industry-based CO2 capture pilot plants (pre‐combustion and post‐combustion) at HRL Technologies, Victoria and Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2007 | Employer: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Chemicals Division, Port Fairy, Australia | Title: Chemical Development Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Initiation of Basis of Safety initiative for GSK’s Port Fairy alkaloids plant. This involvedcompilation of process descriptions, process flow diagrams, process, and emergency venting calculations, chemical hazard analysis, preparation of material compatibility spreadsheets and participation in hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2003 to 2006 | Employer: The University of Melbourne | Title: Tutor & Demonstrator | Department: Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering |
Responsibilities:Tutor for final year subject Process Engineering and demonstrator for the subject Practicaland Computer Laboratory |
|||
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Associate Member, Institute of Chemical Engineers (AMIChemE) |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| ACADEMIC / ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES Diversity and Inclusion Committee Member Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne Peer reviewer for the following journals/conferences: Australian Journal of Mechanical Engineering Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering Chemeca Conference Chemical Engineering Research & Design Chemical Engineering Science Chemical Industry & Chemical Engineering Quarterly Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, Energy Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering Greenhouse Gases: Science & Technology Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow Reviews in Chemical Engineering Separation Science and Technology Solvent Extraction & Ion Exchange. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| -Best Poster Event: Australian CCS Research Conference, Melbourne (20Jun2017) -Monash Engineering Women's Leadership Award Purpose: To attend the Future Women Leaders Conference -Australia China Young Scientists Exchange Program (YSEP) Funding Body: Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) Purpose: Two weeks fully funded exchange to China designed to offer early to mid‐career Australian scientists a platform from which to develop or enhance both scientific and industry linkages with colleagues in China -Melbourne Research Fellowship (Career Interruptions) Funding Body: The University of Melbourne Purpose: A competitive fellowship that is awarded based on evidence of high research achievement and promise prior to career interruption Value: $75,000 ($60,000 for salary and $15,000 for travel/research costs) -Travel and Conference Grant Funding Body: The Ian Potter Foundation Purpose: To attend the 20th International Solvent Extraction Conference (ISEC2014), Würzburg, Germany. Value: $2,500 -Australia China Emerging Future Leaders in Low Emissions Coal Technology Fellowship Funding Body: Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) Purpose: To meet with Chinese and Australian experts in low emission coal technology, attend a strategic workshop and the 7th Australia China JCG Meeting -Best Capture Presentation (CO2 capture: Making it Happen) Event: 2013 CO2CRC Research Symposium, Hobart, Tasmania -IChemE Energy Award – Finalist and Highly Commended Submission title: Low cost precipitating carbonate system for CO2 capture, Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies -Travel and Conference Grant Funding Body: The Ian Potter Foundation Purpose: To attend the 18th International Solvent Extraction Conference (ISEC2008), Tucson, USA Value: $2,500 -Australian Postgraduate Award Industry (APAI) Funding Body: Australian Research Council Purpose: Scholarship for outstanding postgraduate students to undertake industry‐based research |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Refereed Journal Articles: 57 Scholarly Book Chapters: 4 Refereed Conference Papers: 9 Keynote and Plenary Lectures: 2 Other (non-refereed conference submissions): 41 Other Presentations: 8 Other- Government and Industry Consulting Reports: 17 |
Additional Experience
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| 2016 & 2017: Guest Lecturer, Subject title: Carbon, Capture & Storage 2016: Lecturer, Subject title: Engineering Systems Design 1 |