Expert Details

Membrane Technology, Process Development and Innovation Processes

ID: 726374 Pennsylvania, USA

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Expert has broad experience ranging from fundamentals of membrane science to commercial applications in chemical separation, industrial gas separations, pervaporation, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofilteration, reverse osmosis, membrane bio-reactors, gas-liquid contactors, fuel cell and battery separator membranes. Hands-on experience in hollow-fiber and flat-sheet membranes, and membrane module fabrication at pilot plant and production scale. Extensive experience in membrane applications development, membrane process evaluations, trouble shooting and optimizations. He is an expert in technology scouting, new technology evaluations, benchmarking and acquisitions. He managed various membrane research projects with industrial and academic partners (US and European).

Selected list of accomplishments include:
•Developed second generation membranes for hydrogen recovery from refinery-off gases and air separation ( industrial gas) for Air Products Membranes (Permea).Both these products are backbone of Air Products’ membranes business today.
•Developed a novel dialysis membrane with extraordinary high flux for Cordis-Dow Corporation doubling their profitability.
•Applied membranes for several novel applications with business potential in ten to hundred million dollars, such as:
oMicroreactors and membrane applications in hydrogen generation, purification and storage
oPEM fuel cell membranes for elevated temperature applications
oBattery separator membranes
oMembrane gas-liquid contactors (gassing and degassing)
oMicroporous membranes for emulsion particle size control
oMembranes for removal of greenhouse gases (perfluorocompounds and CO2 )
oMembrane bio-reactors for water and waste water treatments.

PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Expert is an expertise in process research and development with activities ranging from bench-top research to pilot-plant scale production. Alternate technology paths development, process optimization and trouble shooting, process economics evaluations. Selected examples of processes developed in the chemical reaction engineering are:
•Synthesis in gram quantities of an aggressive organic compound using microreactor
•Dehydrogenation reactor for generation of hydrogen for energy applications.(supported by >$1MM DOE funding)
•A process for the synthesis in kilogram quantities of a low dielectric polymer for integrated circuits applications (supported by semiconductor industry)
•A multi-million dollar semi-plant for a battery electrolyte production

INDUSTRIAL GASES
Expert is well versed with the non-cryogenic processes for the generation of industrial gases. He has worked on the membrane and adsorption technologies. He also has a working knowledge of the applications of industrial gases.

INNOVATION PROCESSES

Expert is an expert in innovative solutions development and knowledge creation for the front-end of innovation, new concept development, problem solving and platform planning. He founded and led the Knowledge Creation Community of Practice at Air Products.He was the founding chair of the Innovation Leaders’ Network at the Industrial Research Institute (IRI). He obtained Innovation training certificates from Kellogg School of Management and Caltech.


Internal consultant at Air Products in very diverse Engineering and Management areas.

Education

Year Degree Subject Institution
Year: 1975 Degree: Ph. D. Subject: Chemical Engineering Institution: University of Ottawa, Canada
Year: 1969 Degree: M.Sc. Subject: Chemical Engineering Institution: Panjab University, India
Year: 1967 Degree: B.Sc. Subject: Chemical Engineering Institution: Panjab University, India
Year: 1994 Degree: Certificate Subject: Technology Managemenrt Institution: Caltech
Year: 1995 Degree: Certificate Subject: Innovation Management Institution: Kellogg School of Management

Work History

Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1995 to 2009 Employer: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Title: Principal Research Associate Department: Corporate Research
Responsibilities:
He was a research director and technical contributor leading a group of 18-20 professionals with a budget of over $7MM.
He was personally engaged in platform planning, new concepts development and execution, innovation processes management, technology scouting, evaluation and acquisition and intellectual assets management.
He provided leadership for process research and development projects and programs.
He developed novel patented technologies in the areas of microreactors, water purification (RO, MF, UF) membrane bio-reactors, membrane separators for batteries, adorption and hydrogen generation, purification and storage, CO2 capture, etc.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1991 to 1995 Employer: Permea Inc. (An Air Products Co.) Title: Director Department: R&D
Responsibilities:
He led multidisciplinary team of 30-35 engineers, chemists and technicians with a budget of $6.0MM, to develop new membrane products and improve membrane/module production processes.
He was responsible for setting R&D strategy, determining technology paths, scouting, evaluating and acquisition of technology, managing intellectual assets, developing innovation processes.
He developed novel membrane technologies for gas separations.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1985 to 1991 Employer: Air Products and Chemicals Inc. Title: Manager Separations Technology Department: Corporate Research
Responsibilities:
He was responsible for developing non-cryogenic (membranes, adsorption, etc.) technology for gas separatios.
He established laboratories and developed hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes.
He developed novel patented technologies for membrane/module fabrication.
He developed strategy and managed various programs
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1980 to 1985 Employer: Cordis Dow Corp. (A Dow Chemical, Co) Title: Engineering Specialist Department: Miami Lakes Olant
Responsibilities:
He was responsible for developing nove;l processes for hemodialysis and blood oxygenation membranes.
He worked on process improvents, consolidation and technology transfer
He developed novel technologies for hemodialysis and liquid separations.
He managed a group of process engineers
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1976 to 1980 Employer: Best Foods, Inc. Title: Principal Development Engineer Department: Best Foods Research Center
Responsibilities:
He was responsible for developing new technology for the hydrogenation of fats and oils.
He improved oils and fats refining processes.
He developed new products and processes for fats and oil processing.

Career Accomplishments

Associations / Societies
AIChE
ACS
NAMS ( North American Membrane Society)
Licenses / Certifications
P.E. (Florida)
Awards / Recognition
Tens of:
Patent awards,
Invited speaker at the professional meetings
Session chairs
Publications and Patents Summary
17 US patents (and their foreign equivalents), two trade secrets, 35 publications, two book chapters.

Fields of Expertise

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