Dr.Babu Joseph's Talk

May 25, 2015 - 11:00

May 25, 2015 - 12:00

Room 240 Computer Lab Chemical Engineering

Seminars

Dr.Babu Joseph Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering University of South Florida Tampa Florida

Abstract: One of the greatest issues facing mankind is the development of economic and sustainable systems and processes to meet the growing demand for energy. The challenges are twofold: reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate global warming and finding a renewable replacement for fossil fuels that is being depleted at an increasing rate. Therefore the production of fuels from renewable resources is of great interest. In this talk I will focus on the production of fuels form biomass or biomass derived raw materials using thermochemical processes which employ a variety of catalytic steps in converting the biomass to fuels. In this approach the biomass is first converted to syngas ( mixture of CO and H2) which then is converted to liquid hydrocarbon fuels using Fischer-Tropsch (FTS) catalysts. The challenges are economic in nature: how to convert the biomass on a small scale while minimizing costs. I will address some recent advances in the design of improved catalysts for both reforming of biogases and for FTS liquefaction. Electronic structure calculations using Density Functional Theory (DFT) is used to shed light on reaction mechanisms and to screen catalyst promoters. Promoters can lower the temperature required for the reforming reactions while preventing deactivation. Micro scale modeling is used to design a core-shell architecture for FTS catalysts. By rational systematic design one can enhance product selectivity enhance conversion while lowering the temperature requirements. I will present experimental results from micro scale as well as bench scale catalyst testing.Bio: Dr. Joseph graduated from IIT/Kanpur with B. Tech (Silver Medalist) in ChE and obtained his MS and Ph.D. in ChE from Case Western Reserve University. He then joined the Energy Lab at MIT where he worked on the development of ASPEN Simulator. He joined the faculty of Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis in 1978 where he became the Edward C. Dicke Professor in 2000. In 2002 he moved to become Chair of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at USF. He is the author of two books ( Real Time Personal Computing 1989 and Techniques of Model Based Control 2002) one edited volume (Wavelet Applications 1996) and over 200 technical publications. During the year 1985-86 he was visiting professor at the University of California at Berkeley. He is founder and VP for Research at Trash2Cash-Energy LLC. a small business working on commercializing technology for converting landfill gas to diesel and jet fuel. Website:http://www.eng.usf.edu/~bjoseph/