PAUL SCOVAZZO, P.E., Ph.D.

Chemical Engineering, 138 Anderson, University, MS  38677-1848

Office:  (662) 915-5354  Email:  scovazzo@olemiss.edu

My primary research interest and expertise are Chemical Transport Phenomena, Separation and Purification Processes, Membrane Technologies, and Active Facilitated Transport.

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D. 1998       The University of Colorado, Boulder, Chemical Engineering (GPA: 3.86/4.00) Ph .D. Thesis:   “Multiple-Phase Mass Transport in Membranes and Porous Media in Low Gravity Experiments,” Established the roles of surface chemistry in membrane condensers, concentration polarization on repeatability in osmotic dewatering crystallization, and published a new dimensionless number for porous media flow (WRR, 2001).  Advisor: Dr. Paul Todd

M.S.  1996        The University of Colorado, Boulder; Chemical Engineering (GPA: 3.72/4.00) M.S. Thesis:    “Membrane-Based Dehumidification for Microgravity Plant Growth Chambers,” Advisor: Dr. Paul Todd

B.S.  1984         The Pennsylvania State University, Chemical Engineering (GPA: 3.63/4.00)

                        Emphasis - Environmental Engineering

1994- 1998        The University of Colorado, Boulder                   Graduate Teacher Certification Program

1991-1993         Notre Dame Institute; Arlington, VA                  Philosophy and History

1989                 Amer. Institute of Chemical Engineers                Chemodynamics

1987                 Eastern Connecticut State University                  Portable Gas Chromatography

1987-1990         Northern Virginia Community College                 Spanish and Technical Writing

RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Jan. 2003 to      Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Mississippi

Present             Adjunct Professor, Center for Green Manufacturing, University of Alabama

                        Research:         Mechanical Motion Using Active Transport; Funding: $312,373 (DARPA)

                                                Advanced Liquid Membrane Materials

Research          Chemical Engineering; University of Colorado, Boulder  (EPA/NSF Funding)

Associate          Room Temperature Ionic Liquids in Active Facilitated Transport and Advanced Membrane

Oct. 2001-‘02    Materials.  Funding, in part, resulted from my independently developed research efforts

                        during a previous research tenure (2000).  Supervisor:  Dr. Richard Noble

Post-Doc.         Chemical Engineering; University of Colorado  (Nat. Renewable Eng. Lab. Funding)

2000                 Initiated new project to study the electrochemical pumping of carbon dioxide.  Responsible for modeling, the development of strategies/proposals for future research, and facilitating collaboration with other research laboratories.  Designed, constructed, and optimized laboratory test equipment.  Independently developed and researched a novel membrane-based carbon dioxide separation that was not part of the original research plan. 

                        Supervisors:  Dr. Richard Noble, Dr. Carl Koval, and Dr. Dan DuBois

Post-Doc.         Chemical Engineering; University of Colorado, Boulder

1999-2000         Bioseparations – Supervised/advised graduate and undergraduate research.  Modeled, tested and optimized the mass transport in crystallization equipment (Hanging Drop) and membrane processes (Osmotic and Acoustic Dewatering).  Supervisor: Dr. Paul Todd

Lecturer           Department of Chemical Engineering; University of Colorado, Boulder

Spring 1999       Instructor for a junior level experimental course in fluid flow, heat transfer, and technical communication.  In addition, I designed, constructed, and implemented a new experiment to study fluid distribution systems through testing and scale-up.  Supervised two teaching assistants.

Research          BioServe Space Technologies; University of Colorado, Boulder

Assistant           Process and hardware research & development in multidisciplinary research teams working

1994 – 1998      on advanced life support for spacecraft.  Developed processes for microgravity plant growth including a membrane condenser, microgravity irrigation, atmospheric treatment, and environmental controls.  Space shuttle missions STS-77, STS-83, and STS-94.  Supervisor: Dr. Alex Hoehn

Undergraduate  Argonne National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy)

Researcher       Assisted in the design, construction, and operation of experimental systems for

1984                 fluidized-bed coal-combustor flue gas treatment including the removal of alkali vapors.

PATENTS

Scovazzo, Paul and Todd, Paul   “Membrane Gap Humidity Control;” Patent #6036746

 

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

2000-2001         Tetra-Tech NUS, Gaithersburg MD – Senior Engineer for a DOD Site Remediation Project involving groundwater natural attenuation 

1986-1994         Manager of Engineering Services; WAPORA/Kemron Environ. Services, McLean, VA

                        Program, project, and technical manager/engineer on multimillion dollar, multidiscipline environmental remediation projects.  Routinely modeled chemical transport in the environment, designed and implement chemical separation and treatment systems.  Point of contact for vice-presidents of Fortune-200 companies and government agencies.

1985-1986         Chemical Engineer; Radian Corporation; McLean, VA

                        Studied the process streams and waste production of the wood preserving industry for support of environmental/human health impact assessments and regulations.

FORMAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Professor, U. of MS      Energy Balances. ChE 308; Spring 2003 & ‘04; Sophomore level; 2-credits

                                    Introduction to Chemical Engineering I and II; Spring and Fall 2003; 1-credit each

                                    Separation Processes; ChE 417; Fall 2003; Senior Level, 4-credits

                                    Senior Seminar; ChE 411; Fall 2003; 1-credit

                                    Graduate Level:  Advanced Rate and Equilibrium Environmental Processes;

                                                ChE 663; Spring 2004; 3-credits

Lecturer, CU                Chemical Engineering Unit Operations - Fluid Flow, Heat Transfer, and Technical Communication Laboratory.  CHEN 3130; Spring 1999; 2-credits  

                                    In addition, I designed, constructed, and implemented a new experiment to study fluid distribution systems through testing and scale-up.  Supervised two teaching assistants.

Guest Lecturer, CU       Space Flight Hardware Design (A graduate level course); ASEN 5519; Fall 1997

                                    An interactive televised classroom for graduate students on and off-campus.

Advanced Teaching       Mass and Energy Balances; CHEN 2120; Fall 1996; 3-credits

Assistant, CU                Prepared and taught one lecture of new material per week.

Laboratory Instructor     General Chemistry Laboratory; CHEN 1221; Fall 1994; 1-credit

Teaching Assistant        General Chemistry Lecture; CHEM 1211; Fall 1994; 3-credits

OTHER TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Thesis Advisor              Gas Separations Using Task-Specific Ionic Liquids; U. of MS

Senior Thesis Advisor    Membrane performance in Osmotic Dewatering Crystallization

1999                             University of Colorado, Boulder

Research Mentor          National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates

1995 & 1998                 Membrane Condensers and Microgravity crystallization

HONORS, AWARDS, PROFESSIONAL LICENSES, AND ASSOCIATIONS

Biographee                               Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering, 3rd Ed. 1996-97

Certificate of Appreciation         NASA Contributions to the Microgravity Science Laboratory; 1997

Certificate of Achievement        The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Services to the North Atlantic Division Geotechnical/HTRW Conference; April 1994

Blue Ribbon Paper Runner Up   Superfund XIV Conference and Exhibition, 1993

Graduated with Distinction         The Pennsylvania State University, December 1984

Professional Engineer                Virginia, Issued Jan. 29, 1991; #0402-022075

Member                                    American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Member                                    American Chemical Society

Member                                    North American Membrane Society

JOURNAL AND PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

“Regular Solution Theory and CO2-Gas Solubility in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids;” P. Scovazzo, D. Camper, J. Kieft, C. Koval, & R. Noble; Ind. & Eng. Chem. Research; 43, 6855-6860, 2004

“Gas Separations Using Non-Hexafluorophosphate [PF6]-Anion Supported Ionic Liquid Membranes;” P. Scovazzo, J. Kieft, D. Finan, C. Koval, D. DuBois, & R. Noble; J. of Mem. Sci.; Vol. 238, pg. 57-63; 2004

“Gas Solubilities in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids;” D. Camper, P. Scovazzo, C. Koval, & R. Noble; Ind. & Eng. Chem. Research; 43, 3049-3054, 2004

“Electrochemical Separation and Concentration of <1% Carbon Dioxide from Nitrogen;” P.  Scovazzo, J. Poshusta, D. DuBois, C. Koval, & R. Noble;  J. of The Electrochemical Society; 150 (5) D91-D98 (2003)

“Supported Ionic Liquid Membranes and Facilitated Ionic Liquid Membranes (FILMs);” P. Scovazzo, A. Visser, J. Davis, R. Rogers, C. Koval, D. DuBois, & R. Noble; Chapter 6 in Industrial Applications of Ionic Liquids, Editors R. Rogers & K Seddon; American Chemical Society Books; ISBN: 0-8412-3789-1; 2002

 “Modeling of Disjoining Pressure in Submicrometer Liquid-Filled Cylindrical Geometries;” P. Scovazzo & P. Todd; J. of Colloid and Interface Sci.; Vol. 238, pg. 230-237; 2001

“Modeling of Two-Phase Flow in Membranes and Porous Media in Microgravity as Applied to Plant Irrigation in Space;” P. Scovazzo, T. Illangasekare, A. Hoehn, & P. Todd; Water Resources Research; Vol. 37, No. 5, pg. 1231-1243, May 2001

“Membrane Porosity and Hydrophilic Membrane-Based Dehumidification Performance;” P. Scovazzo, A. Hoehn, & P. Todd; Journal of Membrane Science; Vol. 167, pg. 217-225; 2000

“Methods for Saturating Rigid Porous Membranes with Water;” P. Scovazzo, A. Hoehn, & P. Todd; American Laboratory; March 2000

“Hydrophilic Membrane-Based Humidity Control;” P. Scovazzo, J. Burgos, A. Hoehn, & P. Todd, Journal of Membrane Science; Vol. 149, pg. 69-81; 1998

“Mass Transport in a Spaceflight Plant Growth Chamber;” A. Hoehn, J. Clawson, A. Heyenga, P. Scovazzo, K. Sterrett, L. Stodieck; P. Todd, & M. Kliss; S.A.E. Transactions; Vol. 107, No. 1; pg 275; 1998

"Membrane-Based Humidity Control in Microgravity: A Comparison of Membrane Material Performance and Design Equations;" P. Scovazzo, P. Todd , J. Burgos, N. Lattarulo, & A. Hoehn; S.A.E. Transactions; Vol. 106, No. 1; pg 488; 1997

"The Environmental Redevelopment of a Railyard and Port Facility;" P. Scovazzo & R.H. Struble; Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 25, No. 3; pg 277-288; 1990

Peer Reviewed Conference Publications

“Design, Testing & Operation of Porous Media for Dehumidification and Nutrient Delivery in Microgravity Plant Growth Systems;” Hoehn, Scovazzo, et al.; Inter. Conf. on Env. Systems; SAE Paper #2003-01-2614

"Engineering Aspects of Porous Media for Dehumidification and Nutrient Delivery in Microgravity Plant Growth Systems;" A. Hoehn, et al.; International Conf. on Environ. Systems; San Antonio, TX; 2002

"Microgravity Root Zone Hydration Systems;" A. Hoehn, P. Scovazzo, et al.; 30th International Conf. on Environ. Systems; Toulouse, France; July 10-13, 2000, SAE Tech. Paper #2000-01-2510; Warrendale, PA

"On-Orbit and Ground Performance of PGBA Plant Growth Facility;" A. Hoehn, et al.; 27th International Conf. on Environ. Systems; Lake Tahoe, NV; July 14-17, 1997, SAE Tech. Paper #972366; Warrendale, PA

"Optimizing and Integrating Thermal Control Systems for Space Life Sciences Hardware;" M. B. Horner, A. Hoehn, P. Scovazzo, et al.; 27th Int. Conf. on Env. Systems; Lake Tahoe, NV; July 14-17, 1997, SAE Tech. Paper #972366; Warrendale, PA

Publications Under Development

“Solvent Extraction, Leaching, and Supercritical Fluid Extraction;” P. Scovazzo, W.-Y. Chen, L. Wang, & N. Shammas; Book Chapter in Pollution Control Handbook; Humana Press.

“Gas Diffusivity in Room Temperature Ionic liquids (RTILs);” D. Morgan & P. Scovazzo; Target Journal; J. Chem. Eng. Data

“Mixed Gas Selectivities and Permeabilities of RTIL-Membranes with and without Facilitated Transport;”

D. Havard, D. Morgan, & P. Scovazzo; Target Journal: Separation Sci. & Tech.

“Mass Transport in Protein Crystallization Equipment;” P. Scovazzo, C.Y. Lee, and P. Todd; Target Journal: ACS Journal, Crystal Growth and Design.

SELECTED ABSTRACTS AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

“Diffusivity of Gases in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids Membranes;” D. Morgan, P. Scovazzo; N. American Membrane Soc., Honolulu, HW; June 2004

“Mixed Gas Selectivities and Permeabilities of Room Temperature Ionic Liquid Membranes with and without Facilitated Transport;” D. Havard, D. Morgan, J. Davis, P. Scovazzo; N. American Membrane Soc., Honolulu, HW; June 2004

“Application of task specific ionic liquids (TSILs) in the acid gas separation processes of supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) and electrochemical modulated complexation (EMC);” ACS – NY; Sept. 2003

“Humidity Effects on Facilitated Gas Separations Using Supported Ionic Liquid Membranes;”  P. Scovazzo, C.A. Koval, D.L. DuBois, D. Finan, R.D. Noble, N. American Membrane Soc., Long Beach, CA, May 2002

“Development of New Approaches to Carbon Dioxide Separation and Recovery;” D.L. DuBois, M.R. DuBois, R.D. Noble, C.A. Koval, P. Scovazzo, J. Poshusta; AIChE Conf., New Orleans, LA; March 2002

“Designing or Choosing Ionic liquids for Utilization in Supported Ionic Liquid Membranes and Facilitated Ionic Liquid Membranes;”  R.D. Rogers, A.E. Visser, J.H. Davis, C.A. Koval, D.L. DuBois, P. Scovazzo, R.D. Noble; AIChE Spring Conference, New Orleans, LA; March 10-14, 2002

“Dynamics of Composite Reverse Osmosis Membranes in Dewatering Mode with
Applications in
Crystal Growth by Osmotic Dewatering;” P. Scovazzo, CY Lee, and P. Todd; AIChE National Convention; Miami, FL; November 1998

"Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus: A Plant Growth Facility for Space Flight Biotechnology Research;" A. Hoehn, et al.; Proceed, 6th European Symp. on Life Sci. Research in Space; ESA-SP-390; ‘96

"Membrane-Based Dehumidification in Microgravity;" P. Scovazzo and P. Todd; American Association for the Advancement of Science, Southwest and Rocky Mountain Division Conference; 1996

"Membrane-Based Methods of Humidity Control in Small Plant Growth Chambers with a High Ratio of Transpiring Biomass to Gas Volume;" P. Scovazzo, et al.; Proceed., 8th Colorado Biotech. Symposium; ‘95

"In-Situ Soil Bioremediation:  Or How to Get Nutrients to all the Contaminated Soil;" D. S. Jackson and P. Scovazzo; Superfund XV; Washington D.C.; Nov. 29 - Dec. 1, 1994

"Hazardous Waste Volume Reduction Via Dry Physical Separation - A Case Study;" T. L. Gullette and P. Scovazzo; Superfund XV; Washington D.C.; Nov. 29 - Dec. 1, 1994

"Bioremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soils; The Environmental Restoration of a Former Railyard;" D. S. Jackson and P. Scovazzo; Studies in Eastern Energy and the Environmental, AAPG Eastern Section Meeting; Williamsburg, VA; Sept. 19-21, 1993; AAPG Bulletin, v.77, n.8, p.1470

"Stabilization/Fixation for Reuse; Applying the Bevill Amendment to Soil Remediation;” P. Scovazzo, Superfund XIV Conference and Exhibition, Washington, D.C., Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 1993

"Soil Attenuation - In-Situ Remediation of Inorganics;" P. Scovazzo, D. Sood, and D. S. Jackson; HMC/Superfund '92 Conference, Washington D.C., Dec. 1992

INVITED SPEAKER

Invited Workshop Participant - “Separations Research Needs for the 21st Century – NSF Sponsored Workshop;” University of Colorado, July 9, 2004

Invited Workshop Participant - “CO2 Capture and Sequestration – NSF Sponsored Workshop;” Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; March 12, 2002

Invited Workshop Participant - “Plant Production Systems for Microgravity: Critical issues in water, air and solute transport through unsaturated porous media;” Johnston Space Center, Houston, TX; July 24-25, 2000

Invited Speaker - The Advanced Life Support Group, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Kennedy, FL; Title: “Modeling of Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media in Microgravity;” February 26, 1999

Speaker - Patten Seminar Series, Dep. Chem. Eng., U. of Colorado; “Two-phase membrane processes;” 1998


RESEARCH AWARDS

“Generation of Mechanical Motion Using Active Transport;” Funding Agency: DOD-DARPA (Subcontract through Univ. of Colorado); My Subcontract’s Budget: $312,373 over 2 years; Starting Date: July 2003

Co-PI for “Separations Using Ionic Liquid Membranes;” Funding Agency: Membrane Applied Science and Technology Center (An NSF Center); Budget: $105,000 over 3 years; Starting Date: January 2002

Numerous industrial proposals summarized in my Research Interest and Proposal document.

EXAMPLES OF INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS WITH PRINCIPAL INVOLVEMENT

·         Managed an $8.5 million Brownfields Redevelopment: Site investigation, remedial investigation, feasibility study, and remediation of a 189-acre railyard and port facility.  Innovative investigation, regulatory, and treatment approaches saved the client $3.1 million.

·         Modeled and measured the impact of air dispersed hydrogen sulfide on three communities

·         Project Manager, human health based risk assessment, Texas State Superfund Program

·         Developed and managed an innovative in-situ treatment of heavy metal soil contamination which saved the client $1 million

·         Feasibility Leader on two USEPA REM "Superfund" projects

·         Project Manager on numerous Brownfields type redevelopments:  Site investigations, remediations, and community relations

·         Project Manager for a remediation of agricultural land involving waste reduction via a dry physical separation technique.

·         Modified soil gas survey techniques for delineation of PCB soil contamination

·         Characterize industry generated waste for the RCRA Listing Program

·         PCB contaminated wetland, stream, and sludge/water impoundment.

·         Remediation of lead contaminated soils in residential areas

COMMUNITY SERVICE

2003 to Present at The University of Mississippi

            Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum Review and Revision Committee

            School of Engineering Core Topic Area Committee - Statics/Dynamics

            School of Engineering Core Topic Area Committee – Electrical Engineering

            University (Department) Assessment Committee

Review article submittals for the Journal of Membrane Science

2000     Presenter, The High School Honors Institute, University of Colorado

1995     Curriculum Advisory Committee - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado