Phosphates, Phosphoric Acid, and Alkali Process Development Consultant

Expertise

• Chemical and process development.
• Analytical method development.
• Membrane filtration and separation.
• Carbon treatment and absorption.
• Solvent extraction of phosphoric acid.
• Electrochemical cell operation.
• Crystallization processes for carbonates, phosphates and peroxides.
• Ion exchange processes to remove heavy metals.
• Processing of phosphate salts including dipotassium phosphate (DKP).
• Statistical process control.
• Experimental design.

Experience

Undisclosed Company, Senior Chemist and Laboratory Manager, 2007 - Present

• Glass fracture analysis on vials, bottles and ampoules.
• Supervised glass and raw material analysis for maintaining pharmaceutical glass quality.
• Identification of glass imperfections and contaminates.
• Assisted in the development of a process for improving vial surface durability and reduce possible delamination.
• Developed new XRF and ICP methods for analyzing glass and raw material samples.
• Development of a process to improve the quality of glass vials.

Global Systems Technologies, Senior Chemist, (Technology Group), 2005 - 2007

• Developed Raman spectroscopy method for detecting hydrogen peroxide in liquids in airport security lines.
• Developed and taught a seminar to Homeland Security Personnel on the safety and hazards of hydrogen peroxide mixtures with organic compounds.

Independent Consulting Firm, Owner and Consulting Chemist, 2002 - 2005

• Developed an at-line near infrared analytical method for measuring and controlling the moisture and active oxygen content of a solid peroxide product resulting in reduction analysis time from 2 hours to 2-3 minutes and improved the control of the reactor and product quality.
• Developed and installed near infrared methods for phase and composition analyses in two phosphate plants.
• Set up a plant operator laboratory and trained the operators in the methods and equipment operation. This improved the operator control of the process and reduced the load on the control laboratory.

FMC Corporation, Princeton, NJ, 1969 - 2002

Research Fellow, Chemical Technology Group, 2000 - 2002

• Developed a solvent extraction process for the purification of wet process phosphoric acid. Assisted in the design and startup of two plants.
• Developed analytical methods and operator training for the wet process phosphoric acid plant with heavy emphasis on automation.
• Designed and automated a laboratory extraction-stripping unit to develop long-term solvent stability data.
• Recommended and assisted in the development of a nanofiltrationnano- filtration process to remove solvent from water streams in the phosphoric acid purification plant.

Senior Research Associate, Alkali Chemicals Division, 1988 - 2000

• Identified and purchased a portable sodium carbonate dissolution apparatus for pulp and paper plant conversion from sodium hydroxide to carbonate.
• Piloted and installed a carbon column in the sodium bicarbonate plant to produce hemodialysis grade sodium bicarbonate.
• Developed a nanofiltrationnano filtration method for a waste purifying sodium carbonate solution to produce a low cost raw material for sodium hydroxide production.
• Identified and purchased a portable sodium carbonate dissolution apparatus for pulp and paper plant conversion from sodium hydroxide to sodium carbonate.
• Assisted in the startup of sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide plants.

Research Associate, Phosphorus Chemicals Division, 1979 - 1988

• Developed, piloted, and installed a process to carbon treat elemental phosphorus to remove organic impurities for P2S5 manufacture. Saved $300,000 annually in disposal costs.
• Assisted in developing, piloting, and installing a solvent extraction process for the purification of wet process phosphoric acid to produce higher purity phosphate products.
• Developed a process to electroplate arsenic and antimony from food grade phosphoric acid, reducing the cost of waste treatment.
• Developed an ion exchange process to remove heavy metals from phosphoric acid.

Research Chemist, Peroxide Chemicals Division, 1969 - 1979

• Developed and piloted a process to pyrolyze urea to cyanuric acid in solution and reduce the cost of waste disposal at the cyanuric acid plant.
• Development and hazards testing of processes to produce diperoxyalkyl acids for a major detergent manufacturer.
• Developed and piloted a process to manufacture sodium carbonate peroxide.
• Determined the mechanism and rate of persulfate decomposition in highly alkaline solutions for an accident investigation.

Credentials

• Alpha Chi Sigma
• Eleven patents
• Software and programs : Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, JMP, SAP, DasyLab, Design Cad, SciFinder, Grams and PI.
• Statistical Process Control and Design of Experiments experience.

Honors & Publications

Credentials

• Alpha Chi Sigma
• Software and programs : Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, JMP, SAP, DasyLab, Design Cad, SciFinder, Grams and PI.
• Statistical Process Control and Design of Experiments experience.

Patents

• Eleven current patents

Education

• Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• M.S., Inorganic Chemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• B.A., Chemistry, State University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD