Specialty Technologies
 

Emulsion Polymerization to produce Fluoropolymers

Temperature Runaway Polymer SystemThe polymerization reaction in the production of fluoropolymers is highly exothermic. Commercial operating conditions need to be very carefully monitored and controlled. The reaction mechanism, heat and mass transfer, and control of critical micelle concentration were investigated experimentally on a specially designed system, that is a scaled-down version of the commercial manufacturing system. In this project, the heat & mass transfer conditions involving the exothermic polymerization were analyzed and its mechanistic pathway elucidated. The sponsor of the project was ATOFINA.

Clean Coal Technology

Under the research sponsorship of EPRI, perchloroethylene coal refining process has been investigated. All aspects of process and reaction engineering were studied and the process was in the pilot demonstration stage by the Midwest Ore Processing Co. An extensive process engineering study was also carried out on desulferization of Eastern U.S. coals using synergistic mixtures of supercritical fluids, with the sponsorship of the Ohio Coal Development Office (OCDO). A U.S. patent on the process was awarded.

  • U.S. Patent 5,080,692

Although the supercritical desulfurization technology was not commercially exploited for coal cleaning due to its prohibitive cost, the novel process concept of utilizing synergistic supercritical fluid mixtures has impacted broadly on other materials processing applications and offered a new enabling technology of tuning supercritical fluids and their mixtures for specifically targeted outcomes.

Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil

Very efficient bioremediation processes have been developed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (pAH) treatment. The purification process has demonstrated high destruction efficiencies in a short period of time. The process is also applicable to industrial spills or contamination of hydrocarbons. The processes can be adapted to other contaminated sites such as coal and shale oil sites. Two U.S. patents have been received for this process.

-     U.S. Patent 5,427,944
-     U.S. Patent 5,508,194

These processes can be adapted to other bioremediated applications. Our Bioremediation technology is available for licensing through the Technology Transfer Office of Ohio University.

Other Processes

Projects dealing with various chemical reaction processes leading to novel materials, new synthesis routes, and effective trouble-shooting have always been conducted.

If you would like to discuss about potential University research contracts for advanced chemical process studies, or need further information, please contact us.

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