B.Sc. (Universidad del Zulia – Venezuela), M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma), Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Areas of expertise
Interfacial curvature of surface active compounds
Low surface tension films
Lecithin-based microemulsions as drug delivery vehicles
Surfactant-oil-water systems maybe used as templates to produce nanostructured materials, as delivery vehicles for drugs and food additives, and as solvents in: degreasing, cleaning, bio-separations, polymerization, environmental remediation, and enhanced oil recovery. Formulation of surfactant solutions for these and other applications requires significant experimental work and expertise. From the engineering point of view, most surfactant-based processes are “black boxes” because of the complex thermodynamics of these systems. Current equations of state are just starting to tackle simple systems but are not yet capable of reproducing the phase behavior of complex surfactant-water-oil systems. Recently, a “net-average curvature” model has been proposed to predict the interfacial curvature and physical properties of these complex surfactant-oil-water systems. This project seeks to further develop the net-average curvature model into an “expert system” capable of predicting the properties of surfactant formulations (e.g. solubilization capacity, interfacial tension, droplet size, and viscosity) as a function of surfactant/oil type and composition, electrolyte concentration, temperature, and pressure.
Low Surface Tension Films
This project will focus on studying the properties and potential applications of low surface tension films consisting of mixtures of negatively-charged (anionic) and positively-charged (cationic) surfactants. This research seeks to gain a fundamental understanding in the thermodynamics of anionic-cationic surfactant films at air/water and air/solid interfaces, and to evaluate the performance of mixed anionic-cationic films in two target areas: hydrophobic coatings, and dewatering agents. Success in these areas could lead to an alternate environmentally safe waterproofing technology and reduction in energy costs in waste treatments facilities.
Lecithin-Based Microemulsions as Drug Delivery Vehicles
Modern drug delivery vehicles strive to supply drugs on the specific tissues where they are needed, and at a specific rate. Some of the challenges in drug delivery include: the low water solubility of certain drugs, the presence of hydrophilic/hydrophobic zones in living tissues, the metabolism and adsorption of drug and vehicle in other tissues, toxicity associated with the drug and delivery vehicle, the rate of release and others. Drug delivery systems include the use of polymer solutions, surfactant solutions, vesicles, emulsions and microemulsion systems. Microemulsions, in particular, have demonstrated to be excellent vehicles for fast and efficient delivery, but they have the limitation that, in most cases, formulations may contain alcohols and other toxic additives. This work seeks to produce alcohol-free formulations containing phospholipids and sugar-derived bio-compatible surfactants. Drug delivery efficiency and cytotoxicity of these micoemulsions will be evaluated using a transdermal delivery test.
Lung Surfactants
Lung surfactants consist of a complex mixture of phospholipids, glycolipids (mostly saturated), and proteins. These surfactants have the ability of reducing the surface tension of aqueous solutions to values less than 1 mN/m under compression. This property of lung surfactants facilitates respiration and prevents alveoli collapse. Insufficient production or surface activity of lung surfactants produce a condition known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). RDS is a common problem among premature babies. Surfactant replacement therapy is the method of choice to treat this condition. Commercial surfactant replacement formulations are expensive and in some cases become inactive by a number of physiological conditions that affect the composition of lung surfactant films. In collaboration with Professor A. W. Neumann (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering), we will be evaluating the use of biocompatible polymers in lung surfactant replacement formulations to improve the surface activity, film stability and oxygen and carbon dioxide transport through lung surfactant films.
B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc.(University of Toronto), Ph.D. ( Waterloo ), P.Eng. Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Areas of Expertise
Bioprocess engineering for production of chemicals, fuels and materials
Biological waste treatment of wastewater and air emissions
Environmental aspects of pulp and paper
Expert witness & scientific research reviews
Current Projects
Photobioreactors for photosynthetic organisms
Microalgae for food, fuels and biochemicals
Wastewater and biosolids treatment in pulp and paper
Bioprocess Engineering, Biological Water Treatment, Biofiltration, Environmental Engineering, Pulp and Paper and Environment, Transport in bioreactors.
Consulting Activity
Technical advice on the treatment of wastewaters and air emissions, pulp and paper environmental issues and processes involving biological systems (cells, biosludges, enzymes, etc.). Also provide analysis and advice in areas of technical expertise in support of insurance claims and litigation. Provide advice to government on research tax credit claims and alternative dispute resolution.
About
D. Grant Allen is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. He obtained his B.A.Sc. (1981) and M.A.Sc.(1983) degrees Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto , specializing in bioprocesses and biomedical engineering. Grant also worked with Esso Petroleum Canada before enrolling in a Ph.D. program in chemical engineering (specializing in biochemical engineering) at the U of Waterloo. In 1987, he joined the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the U of T. He is now Professor and Chair of the Department. He was also the Director of the Pulp & Paper Centre from July 2001 to 2003 and an Associate Director of the Center from 1989. In 1994 he spent his research leave with Weyerhaeuser’s Environmental Science and Technology group in Tacoma , WA.
Grant’s research interests are in the field of bioprocess engineering with emphasis on the biological treatment of waste waters, bioflocculation, biofiltration of air emissions, biofilms, microbiology of waste treatment, bioreactor design and biofouling. His interests apply to many industrial wastes although most of his work is in the Pulp and Paper industry. He has published more than 50 papers in refereed journals and has made many presentations and scholarly addresses. He also leads a research consortium involving ten companies and several professors and their students on minimizing environmental impacts in the pulp and paper industry.
Professor Allen provides technical advice on processes involving biological materials (e.g. cells, enzymes, etc.) and waste treatment (water and air) and environmental processes. He has provided advice and conducted research contracts in his areas of expertise for various manufacturing operations, engineering firms, insurance and legal firms and the Federal Government of Canada. He has extensive experience advising on scientific research tax credit claims for the Canadian government and has also received training in alternative dispute resolution.
B.A.Sc. and M.A.Sc. (Sharif University of Technology), Ph.D. (Toronto), P.Eng, Post-doc (MIT)Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto Canada Research Chair in Urban Mining Innovation co-Director, Ontario Centre for the Characterization of Advanced Materials (OCCAM)
Areas of Expertise
Critical, Rare earth elements, and Battery materials
Hydrometallurgy
Extractive metallurgy
Process simulation
Thermodynamic modeling
Technoeconomic analysis
System level and financial modeling
Energy storage and batteries
Current Projects
Separation of rare earth elements using electrodialysis
Extraction of rare earths from ionic clays
Recycling of lithium ion batteries
Development of lithium ion and aluminum ion batteries
Urban mining and advanced recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Supercritical fluid extraction
Carbon management through the development of a “green electrochemical technology” for iron extraction and steel refining
Industrial solid waste reduction through waste valorization to produce strategic materials like rare earth elements, lithium and cobalt
Development of innovative materials with unique properties (hydrophobicity, anti-scaling) with far-reaching applications in structural and energy materials sectors
Energy storage focusing on the development of a new generation (post lithium) of rechargeable batteries
Director of Pulp & Paper Centre, NSERC Industrial Research Chair in the Role of Inorganics in the Industrial Processing of Woody Biomass, Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
B.Sc. (Trent), PhD (Queen’s), Postdoc (MIT-Harvard) NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair in Nanotechnology Engineering Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
Areas of Expertise
Nanomaterials engineering: synthesis of polymeric, metallic and semiconductor materials and their applications in photonics, healthcare and environment.
Biomedical engineering: development of mucoadhesive drug delivery systems and biosensors for pathogen detection and identification.
Environmental protection: understanding materials and structures for photo-oxidation and antioxidation and their applications in water treatment applications
Current Projects
Technical advice on the treatment of impacted-water from resource extraction and power generation, and the engineering of advanced materials for healthcare applications.
Nanomaterials engineering: synthesis of polymeric, metallic and semiconductor materials and their applications in photonics, healthcare and environment.
Biomedical engineering: development of mucoadhesive drug delivery systems and biosensors for pathogen detection and identification.
Environmental protection: understanding materials and structures for photo-oxidation and antioxidation and their applications in water treatment applications
Consulting Activity
Technical advice on the treatment of impacted-water from resource extraction and power generation, and the engineering of advanced materials for healthcare applications.
About
Frank Gu is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto, and he holds an NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair in Nanotechnology Engineering. Before joining the University of Toronto in July 2018, Dr. Gu was an Associate Professor and held a Canada Research Chair in Nanotechnology Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Professor Gu has over 15 years of experience in nanotechnology, drug delivery, and environmental remediation. He has established a frontier research program in Nanotechnology Engineering, with important advances in medical and life science applications. Leading-edge projects have produced new materials and tools for targeted drug delivery, pathogen detection, and water treatment. His research has brought tangible impacts on his field and industry, including mucoadhesive materials for the treatment of Dry Eye Disease that has led to the creation of MyX Therapeutics, and photocatalytic water treatment technologies that created H2nanO Inc; both are Canadian companies. Professor Gu has over 200 peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings.
Electrochemistry and Corrosion, Environmental Engineering, interfacial surface property relationships.
Consulting Activity
Technical advice on electrochemical systems. Forensic analysis of corrosion failures.
About
Donald W. Kirk is a Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto and is a Director of the Pacific Basin Consortium for Hazardous Waste located at the East-West Center Hawaii. He obtained his B.A.Sc. (Engineering Science), and M.A.Sc. and Phd (1979,Chemical Engineering) degrees in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto, specializing in materials and electrochemistry.
Professor Kirk is interested in interfacial reactions and the influence of surface properties particularly in interaction with aqueous systems. These interactions are able to be manipulated using electrochemical techniques and through modification of surface structures.. The interfacial reactions manifest themselves through the degradation of materials by their interaction with the environment and through the rates of reaction via catalytic action. Professor Kirk holds 15 patents in the subject area ranging from production of catalytic amorphous alloys, volatilization of heavy metals from industrial dusts, sulphur dioxide leaching and to electrochemical cell technology (electrolysis, fuel cells and electroplating). The research conducted is a mixture of experimental and theoretical approaches focusing on industrial problems. He has published extensively in refereed journals, and has many conference presentations and other scholarly addresses.
Professor Kirk provides advice on electrochemistry and corrosion. This includes forensic failure analysis of metals and components in support of insurance claims and litigation. He can provide specialized testing and analysis services including chemical analysis, thermal analysis and detailed surface characterization based on light, SEM and EDX microscopy. Professor Kirk is also available to provide advice on SR&ED tax claims, and on patents related to his fields of expertise.
B.A.Sc. (University of Toronto), M.A.Sc. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Toronto), M.B.A. (Western Ontario), Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto.
Enzyme technology; bioreactors and bioprocesses; industrial applications of enzymes; alternative energy sources; pulp and paper, reactor design and kinetics
Consulting Activity
Bioprocess technology, reactor design and kinetics, occupational health and safety.
About
Brad Saville is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto, and is the Faculty Coordinator for Occupational Health and Safety. He obtained his B.Sc. (1985) and Ph.D. (1989) degrees in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta, specializing in bioreactors, drug metabolism, and bioprocessing.
Professor Saville is interested in bioprocess technology, with particular emphasis on the performance, characteristics and applications of enzymes to biofuels, in starch processing, and in pulp and paper. He holds several patents related to enzyme technology and the industrial application of biocatalysts. In addition, he has published several articles related to the kinetics and mechanistic aspects of enzyme function, including pharmacokinetics, and is the co-author of “An Introduction of Chemical Reaction Engineering and Kinetics”, published by John Wiley and Sons in 1999.
Professor Saville provides advice on issues related to occupational health and safety, bio/enzymatic processing, general chemical engineering process technology, and technical/process analysis in support of insurance claims and litigation.
