Expert Details
Water and Wastewater Treatment, Nanofiber and Nanotube synthesis, Waste To Energy
ID: 723339
California, USA
His expertise is in developing innovative solutions that optimize each wastewater stream's treatment.
His experience in industrial wastewater covers plating shop wastewater, semiconductor wastewater, and high organic contents wastewater from food processing, agricultural and dairy/poultry farms, wineries and breweries.
He has designed, built and installed many ion exchange, and electrochemical systems that include electrodialysis cells for selective removal of inorganic contaminants as well as electrodeionization of reverse osmosis permeate to achieve high purity water for industrial use.
He has over 25 years experience in integrating and designing complete systems with a broad water treatment technology base. Has built and sold three companies based on his own patents.
Expert has 4 issued and multiple pending patents in the field of catalysis. He has developed new, innovative catalysis techniques to improve yields and reduce energy input to traditionally high energy consuming reactions, such as Reforming. He has invented and patented a unique technique based on creating electronic perturbations in the area of the catalyst to enhance performance. His process is being tested for micro and mini chemical plants, especially Gas To Liquids (GTL) processes using the Fischer Tropsch process.
He has worked extensively on use of graphitic nanofibers and nanotubes as catalyst substrates. In the development of disruptive catalysis processes, he has gained valuable knowledge about the known and not so known characteristics of catalysts. His tried methods include nanometer thick layers of transition metals on graphitic nanofibers using electroless plating and vapor deposition techniques.
He has designed and licensed a mass production fluidized bed CVD reactor to catalytically crack methane and syngas into graphitic nanofibers and nanotubes. He has recently developed a higher efficiency CVD reactor with multiple reaction zones, producing over 250 grams of nano materials per gram of catalyst.
Expert has designed, and commissioned a Biodiesel plant in Malaysia. He has filed for 2 patents for the unique integration of esterification and transesterification using Hydrodynamic cavitation, solid acid/base catalysts and adsorbents. Expert has extensive design and pilot plant experience with various techniques through which methyl or ethyl esters of fats and vegetable oil wastes can be produced. His adsorption experience from water treatment has enabled him to custom design specialty polymers and adsorbents with controlled pore sizes and ionic strengths to separate nutrients from palm oil, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, etc., eliminating use of fractional distillation to reduce costs dramatically. Specialty adsorbents have been piloted successfully.
In his 25 year career with water treatment, he has worked with many biological systems for aerobic and anaerobic treatments. He is currently involved with a patented draft tube Moving Bed Biological Reactor that eliminates pulverization of the biofilm common in other MBBRs, drastically reducing sludge volume and eliminating coagulation and flocculation chemicals.
Expert is more focused on the practical aspects of nanotechnology and NOT theoretical papers and modelling topics. His activities and achievements have been in the actual manufacturing, applications, pilot testing and commercialization of nanomaterials. His approach is more of an engineer than a research scientist or academic. His activities have not included hypothetical applications that will come in the far future, or filing of impractical patents. He has dedicated his time to focus on what is viable and feasible NOW.
He has been involved with nanomaterials since 2006. His endeavours in paradigm shifting catalysis techniques necessitated a thorough knowledge of the characteristics of nano materials, especially those used as catalyst substrates. Besides the characterization, he had to overcome the major hurdle of producing nanomaterials at a low cost. To this end, he has to date, designed two fluidized bed CVD reactors that produce nano graphitic fibers at the cost of crystalline graphite. He has also worked on exfoliation of graphitic nanofibers to graphene using Super Critical CO2 and surfactant functionalized graphene platelets.
He has utilized the materials to develop and launch disruptive technologies such as an electrically activated catalysis system improving performance by improving selectivity and reducing energy consumption and a capacitive deionization system that promises to be a lower waste, lower energy alternative to reverse osmosis.
He has 4 issued patents for using nanomaterials in catalysis, a pending patent for use of nanomaterials in the Capacitive Desalination system and has authored 2 patent applications for use of graphitic nanofibers as carriers of crosslinking agents and activators for chemical reactions.
He has extensive experience in pilot testing of nano materials as fuel cell anodes, reducing platinum loading by 80%, as Li-ion battery anodes, reducing polymer electrolyte/graphite interface reactions and increasing Li ion mobility; resulting in less capacity drop and faster charging.
He is currently writing a book on the practical applications and low cost manufacturing of nanomaterials that are possible NOW.
He has consulted a business entity for the development of nanoparticles of Aniline as nanotube composites for supercapacitor electrodes. He has consulted a Waste To Energy (biomass to liquids) company for design, formulation and operating parameters of Gas To Liquids (GTL) portion using Fischer Tropsch Nanocatalysts.He has consulted for improvement in design for MBBR (Moving Bed Biological Reactors) for use as anaerobic and aerobic wastewater treatment systems. Expert witness in multiple water treatment systems arbitration. These were mutual arbitration discussions, not court based cases.He has consulted for a Data Center provider for reduction of energy consumption to reduce PUE (Power Utilization Efficiency) from 2.0 to 1.2.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 1980 | Degree: B.S. | Subject: Chemical Engineering | Institution: Lehigh University |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 2013 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Self | Department: Waste to Energy Systems |
Responsibilities:He advises his licensees and others by sharing his broad knowledge of the technologies that will most affect the water/energy nexus. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2007 to 2009 | Employer: RG Global / Sustainable Environmental Technologies | Title: CTO | Department: Waste Water |
Responsibilities:Created and patented a coal bed methane produced water treatment. Was involved in all technology transfer. Developed and built a 30,000 a day barrel plant in WY. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2010 to 2013 | Employer: Platinum Energy Sdn. Bhd. | Title: C.T.O. | Department: Technology |
Responsibilities:Design and commissioning of biodiesel plant with Six Sigma level project management.Development of nanofiber applications, install nano fiber mass production plant. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2002 to 2005 | Employer: BOC Edwards | Title: Director of Technology | Department: Liquid Abatement |
Responsibilities:Acquired a company. Responsible for transfer of technology (3 patents) and lead a team of scientists to develop new liquid abatement technologies for the semiconductor industry. 9 water treatment related patents issued. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1990 to 2002 | Employer: Hydromatix | Title: CEO | Department: Wastewater Recycling |
Responsibilities:Developed and patented 3 devices for industrial wastewater treatment with minimum waste, leading to zero discharge of liquid waste. Primary field of expertise was ion exchange, electrochemical treatment and specialty membrane separations. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1985 to 1989 | Employer: Water Engineering Technologies | Title: CTO | Department: Water |
Responsibilities:Co Founded and located in Pakistan, developed systems for textile wastewater and tannery wastewater recycling, desalination. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1982 to 1985 | Employer: American Frozen Foods | Title: Sales | Department: Sales |
Responsibilities:Sales |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1981 to 1982 | Employer: Intel Corporation | Title: Process Engineer | Department: Process Engineering |
Responsibilities:Process Engineer, working on the 64K memory IC |
International Experience
Years | Country / Region | Summary |
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Years: 2007 to Present | Country / Region: Romania | Summary: He is a major shareholder and guides the development team with concepts, innovations and big picture view of the upcoming anticipated direction of the controls industry. 1) Smart Grid systems development. Provided system for remote pump controls and optimization of energy conservation for Romanian authorities and major pump manufacturer. Recently developed remote equipment and PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) via text messaging on cellular phones. This enables access to controls from low reception cellular areas where only texts can be transmitted.2) Specialty/customized electronic Process Control Systems with unique PID (Proportional & Integrated Derivative) control loops.3) Power management systems focused on Lambda, integrating cooling and power demand systems. |
Years: 2010 to 2013 | Country / Region: Malaysia | Summary: He served as CTO to transfer technology for mass production of nanofibers and nanotubes. Technology for the first generation fluidized CVD reactor and catalyst composition was transferred.While in Malaysia, he also designed, led an engineering team to install a 10,000 TPM waste to biodiesel plant that resulted in 2 patents being filed. |
Years: 1987 to 1989 | Country / Region: Pakistan | Summary: He founded a wastewater treatment company targeted industrial waste. Collectively, installed systems are recycling 123 Million gallons per day. |
Years: 2004 to 2010 | Country / Region: Canada | Summary: He Started a R&D facility for his incubator Catalyx Inc. 5 Scientists and 2 technicians carried out experiments f's own inventions in catalysis and nanotechnology. Multiple patents and three licenses resulted as a result of research done at this facility. Expert spent 1-2 weeks a month at the facility. |
Years: 1997 to 1998 | Country / Region: Japan | Summary: Supervised two projects for zero liquid discharge wastewater recycling systems for major Multinational Japanese circuit board and gold plating companies. |
Career Accomplishments
Associations / Societies |
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AiChE, AWWA, |
Licenses / Certifications |
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Energy Auditor Six Sigma |
Professional Appointments |
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1. Chairman of Board-RG Global, Inc.(Nasdaq) 2. Board Member - National Oceanographic Institute - Pakistan. 3. Board Member - Shine Humanity Charitable Trust. 4. USEPA - Delegate member for wastewater treatment delegation to Taiwan. |
Awards / Recognition |
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California Department of Toxic Waste Control Successful Operation of Multiple Zero Liquid Discharge Systems. |
Publications and Patents Summary |
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- 16 Patents related to water and wastewater systems. - 4 patents related to catalysis. - 2 patents related to specialty polymers. - Currently has 5 pending patent applications. |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
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Has testified as expert witness for technical viability of water treatment technologies. |
Training / Seminars |
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1. SOP training for engineers in Malaysia. 2. Statistical Process Control procedures. 3. Statistical Failure Analysis. 4. Nanotechnology applications. 5. Ion Exchange Basics. |
Vendor Selection |
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Extensive experience in this field. Primary selection responsibility for all processes, plants. Experience is international. |
Marketing Experience |
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Water treatment. Nanotechnology. Waste To Energy. |
Other Relevant Experience |
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Can advise "C" level executives on developing synergistic products, trends in their industry, and viability of technologies. |
Language Skills
Language | Proficiency |
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Hindi | Communication with suppliers and labor for installation/commissioning projects. |
Very basic level communication with engineers/technicians. |
Fields of Expertise
industrial wastewater treatment, plating wastewater treatment, wastewater recycling, closed cycling wastewater treatment, granular activated carbon industrial wastewater treatment, metal finishing wastewater treatment, water-treatment ion exchange, zero discharge plant, electrodialysis, water desalination, water reuse, ion exchange, activated-carbon system, adsorption technology, absorbent technology, anion exchange, cation exchange, deionization, nanofiltration, water purification, energy technology, technology, catalytic reforming, coal-and-syngas catalysis, electrocatalysis, gas-phase catalysis, transesterification, solid acid catalyst, biodiesel technology, biodiesel technology development, non-ionic adsorption technology, anaerobic municipal wastewater digestion, aerobic municipal wastewater digestion, anaerobic industrial wastewater digestion, biological industrial wastewater treatment, sewage treatment, biological municipal wastewater treatment, nanotechnology, nanoparticle, nanomaterial, nanomanufacturing, carbon nanotube, water system, wastewater system, electrodeionization, sour water treatment, filter sand, wastewater treatment equipment, hard water, demineralized water, water filtration system, ultraviolet oxidation water purification, nanostructure, ozone technology, drinking water purification, cation-exchange resin, ion-exchange resin, anion-exchange resin, industrial catalysis, ionic conduction, ionic membrane, waste acid, chemical plant-related high-pressure technology, selective catalytic reduction, biosurfactant technology, heterogeneous transition metal catalysis, transition metal catalysis, transition metal catalyst, deionized water system, deionized water, chemical oxygen demand, fat catalytic hydrogenation, influent water treatment, industrial water treatment, industrial water, zeolite fluid purification, municipal solid waste management technology, zero-discharge closed cycling wastewater treatment, membrane separation, environmental technology, forest products industry wastewater treatment, base catalysis, palladium catalysis, nanocomposite, process-water treatment, drinking water taste control, drinking water inorganics control, water treatment, pumped-groundwater treatment, water pollution assessment, wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater filtration, filtration, waste minimization, drinking water odor control, acid catalysis, industrial wastewater, sour water, small community drinking water treatment system, groundwater treatment, activated carbon, odor-controlling wastewater treatment system, water filtration equipment, zeolite, water softening, water filter, water ultrafiltration, transition element, reverse osmosis water treatment, reverse osmosis industrial wastewater treatment, reverse osmosis, ozone water purification, iron removal, ion-exchange membrane, ion-exchange material, heterogeneous catalysis, drinking water filtration, drinking water distillation, dispersion technology, drinking water disinfection, demineralizer, catalytic oxidation, catalysis