Prof., Ph.D., P.Eng., FCIC (PTRC Director) and Canada Research Chair on Powder Technology
Dr. Zhu's main research interests are in the powder handling, fluid-particle and multiphase systems. His most important research achievements include the establishment of the new concepts "high density riser" and "circulating turbulent fluidized bed reactor", milestone work on liquid-solids circulating fluidized bed and downer fluidized bed, novel methods that can efficiently handle ultra-fine powders which led to the inventions of several new technologies. Those technologies include four new inventions on ultra-fine powder technology that are now in the process of being commercialized, including: ultra-fine powder paint coating, dry powder pulmonary drug delivery, coating of pharmaceutical tablets and hydrophobic surface coating. In addition, a new waste-water treatment technology using a novel LSCFB bio-reactor is under pilot demonstration at the City of London's Adelaide waste management facility.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-3807
jzhu@eng.uwo.ca
Prof., Ph.D., P.Eng., FCIC (PTRC Director)
Dr. Rohani's research focuses on crystallization and process control. His crystallization research includes: experimental study of kinetics of nucleation, growth, agglomeration, and breakage in batch and continuous systems; study of the effect of additives, control of crystal size distribution (CSD), application of Fourier descriptors and mathematical morphology for the development of instrumentation for the control of pilot plants and industrial continuous cooling crystallizers; recovery of protein from oilseeds by precipitation in a tubular reactor; and the effect of micro-, meso- and macro-mixing on the size distribution, shape and morphology of precipitation products. In the area of process control, uni- and multi-variable model predictive control algorithms using linear and non-linear models are being studied for batch and continuous crystallization processes as well as the FCC process. Geometric non-linear control and the dynamic optimal control are also applied to a batch crystallizer.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-4116
rohani@eng.uwo.ca
Professor, Ph.D., (PTRC Steering Committee)
Dr. Mita Ray's research interests include: development of advanced air and water treatment technologies that are based on physico-chemical processes, (ii) advanced oxidation processes, and (iii) environmental modelling. Recent projects include pre-oxidation of biosolids to enhance anaerobic digestibility, photo-catalytic inactivation of bio-aerosol, fate and transport of persistent pollutants in natural water, and application of CFD in sludge drying.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 81273
mray@eng.uwo.ca
Associate Professor, Ph.D., P.Eng.,(PTRC Steering Committee)
Dr. Prakash has been involved in the design and development of multiphase reactors for various applications especially in the area of clean and renewable fuels. His association with industry has allowed him to address the evolving needs of the industry. In his lab, two novel techniques have been developed, namely fast response heat transfer probe, and ultrasonic techniques for online characterization that has both academic and industrial applications.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 88528
aprakas2@uwo.ca
Assistant Professor, Ph.D. (PTRC Member)
Dr. Barghi's research interests are concentrated on investigating circulating fluidized-beds. In particular his research has focused on the measurement of solid circulation patterns in liquid-solid and gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 21275
sbarghi2@eng.uwo.ca
Professor, Ph.D., P.Eng. (PTRC Member)
Dr. Bassi research interests are concentrated on the characterization and development of liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds for various Biotechnological applications.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 88324
abassi@uwo.ca
Assistant Professor & Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials Synthesis, Ph.D. (PTRC Member)
Prof Gillies research involves the design, synthesis and application of functional molecules. The molecules of interest can range from well-defined oligomers and dendrimers to higher molecular weight polymers. In particular, she is interested in the interactions of these molecules and their supramolecular assemblies with biological systems to serve as new biomaterials and therapeutics. Molecules designed to interact with cell membranes can serve as new antibiotics. Polymeric assemblies are being developed for use as drug carriers or tissue engineering scaffolds.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 81263
egillie@uwo.ca
Research Professor (Adj), Ph.D., P.Eng. (PTRC Member)
Dr. Gomaa has been involved in application of Process Intensification (PI) for enhancement of mass and heat transfer operations. His research includes application of techniques such as forced and self-sustained oscillatory motion, as well as use of nanoparticles to overcome transfer limitation and enhance flux rates and dispersion characteristics. Application of his research includes developments in oscillatory flow reactors, membrane separation, electrochemical processing, photocatalysis, and gas-liquid, and liquid-liquid contacting systems.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 82403
hgomaa@uwo.ca
Assistant Professor, Ph.D., P.Eng.(PTRC Member)
Dr. Mequanint's major research theme is Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering. His main expertise involves designing of polymer systems for a variety of industrial and biomedical applications. His current investigations focus on the development of interactive biodegradable biomaterials, new 3D scaffold fabrication methods, vascular cells interaction with 3D scaffolds, and mass transfer studies in Tissue Engineering.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 88573
kmequani@eng.uwo.ca
Professor and Salamander Chair in Environmental Engineering, Ph.D., P.Eng. (PTRC Member)
Dr. Nakhla's research activities include: utilization of membrane bioreactor technologies and fluidized bed reactors for the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater; optimization of biological treatment processes; use of advanced oxidation processes to enhance anaerobic digestion of biosolids and food wastes; and biological hydrogen generation. Recent projects with food processing industries have focused on developing innovative wastewater treatment system.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 85470
gnakhla@uwo.ca
Professor and Department Chair, Ph.D.(PTRC Member)
Dr. Ajay Ray's research interests revolve around mathematical modeling of various complicated engineering systems, and analysis of interactions between transport processes and chemical reactions. His research has made significant contributions in regards to three 3 areas: (a) band-engineered photocatalysis, (b) Simulated moving bed systems, and (c) process modeling, simulation and multi-objective optimization.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 81279
aray@eng.uwo.ca
Associate Professor & Chair of the Div. of Biomaterials Science, Ph.D.,P.Eng.(PTRC Member)
Dr. Rizkalla's main area of research is in wet chemical synthesis and physical and mechanical characterization of glasses and ceramic biomaterials that are used for dental and orthopedic applications.
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 82212
arizkalla@eng.uwo.ca
Associate Professor, Ph.D. (PTRC Member)
The research in Dr. Andy Sun's group is to apply nanotechnology to address challenges in clean energy. Dr. Sun is a Canada Research Chair in development of nanomaterials for fuel cells. They has established extensive collaborations with General Motors (GM), Canadian National Defense (DND), Ballard Power Systems, INCO and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to work on nanomaterials and fuel cells.
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 87759
xsun9@uwo.ca
Professor, Ph.D., P.Eng. (PTRC Member)
Dr. Chao Zhang received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of New Brunswick in 1990. Her research interests include numerical simulations of turbulent, multi-phase, and reactive flows, focusing on two-phase flows in condensers, turbulent reactive flows and control in industrial furnaces and automobile engines, and gas-solid flows in fluidized beds, powder spray systems, and pulmonary drug delivery.
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 88345
czhang@eng.uwo.ca
Adjunct Research Professor, Ph.D., P.Eng. (PTRC Member)
Dr. Zhang received his PhD degree (Chemical Engineering) in September 1999 from the Western University and his Master's and Bachelor's degrees (Chemical Engineering) from Sichuan University. Before his PhD program, he was a lecturer and a research scientist at Sichuan University. Most of his previous and current researches are particle technology related such as ultra-fine powder handling, fine powder coatings, functional nano-materials etc.
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 81294
hzhang1@uwo.ca
Assistant Professor, Ph.D.(PTRC Member)
Dr. Jin Zhang's group is dedicating to develop chemical and physical methods for the fabrication of multi-functional nanoparticles (MNPs), and bio-conjugation of these nanomaterials for the ultrasensitive detection of proteins in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University
519-661-2111 ext. 88322
jzhang@eng.uwo.ca
Senior Research Scientist, M.E.Sc.
A Research Scientist in the Particle Technology Research Centre (PTRC), Faculty of Engineering, at Western University. She received her Master degree (Chemical Engineering) in September 1998 from The University of Western Ontario. Most of her previous and current research is in pulmonary drug delivery, ultra-fine powder handling, fine powder coatings on medical dosage forms, and aerosol particles measurement.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western
519-661-2111 ext. 81294
yma9@uwo.ca
Research Scientist, Ph.D.
A Research Scientist in the Particle Technology Research Centre (PTRC), Manager of Particle Research Facility (PRF), Faculty of Engineering, at Western University. He received his Ph.D. degree (Chemistry) in Jan 2010 from The State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, P.R.China. Most of his previous and current research is in Catalyst, Chromatography and Powder Technology.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western
519-661-2111 ext. 84243
yliu738@uwo.ca
Ph.D. Candidate
He is developing the 'ultrafine powder technology' to be utilized on dental products; more specially, using specially formulated ultrafine powders to enhance dental implants to increase their biocompatibility and osteo-inductivity, as well as using ultrafine particles to occlude dentinal tubules to combat again dental hypersensitivity.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western
nhou2@uwo.ca
TEB 440
Ph.D. Candidate
Victor is trying to apply a novel pharmaceutical dry powder coating technique on solid drug dosage forms to achieve drug control release. His work include osmotic pump tablets coating and beads coating with different dry powder coating systems.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western
TEB 444
Ph.D. Candidate
His research in gas-solid fluidized bed reactors continues to explore means of improving reactor performance with higher conversion per unit volume, attributed to better hydrodynamic characteristics.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western
TEB 440
Ph.D. Candidate
His research is focused on mechanistic study of nanoparticles for ultra-fine powders: how surface energy and particle size of nanoparticles affect the fluidization of ultra-fine powders and film quality of film.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western
mbhuiya9@uwo.ca
TEB 440
Ph.D. Candidate
Research on fine powder technology, powder coating, particle handling and processing, metal material bounding and its application.
Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western
TEB 444
