Professor of Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering
Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering

Carbon Research Coordinator
The Energy Institute

Research

Interests

Carbonization (coking) of petroleum feedstocks for needle-coke production; mesophase formation and development during coking  Analysis of petroleum heavy feedstocks and coal liquids using various chromatographic techniques (GC/MS,  LC,  TLC, HPLC, and SFC) and heated probe/MS Microscopic examination and digital image analysis of cokes and carbons  Deposition of carbonaceous solids on metal and carbon surfaces and thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons under supercritical conditions Upgrading of petroleum heavy residua by hydrogenation in supercritical media  Preparation of activated carbons from coal and other materials; water and air clean-up by adsorption of pollutants on activated carbon surfaces  High-pressure swelling and contraction behavior of coals under simulated gasification and liquefaction conditions

Current Projects

Relationships between molecular composition of coker feedstocks and mesophase development in needle coke production  Effects of metal surfaces on solid carbon deposition from jet fuels heated to high temperatures under conditions designed for advanced aircraft  Digital image analysis of optical texture and porosity in needle cokes and solid carbons  Hydrogenation of petroleum heavy residua in supercritical media  Preparation of activated carbons from coals, petroleum cokes, and lignocellulosic materials