CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

Research Professors

Dr. Radu Vladea Research Professor Bu Hasa Building, Room 2211 Office: +971 2 607 5351 Fax: +971 2 607 5200 Email: rvladea@pi.ac.ae

EDUCATION

• PhD Chemistry, University “Politehnica” of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania (1972–1977)
• MSc Chemical Engineering, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania (1959–1964)

PROFILE

The background in both chemistry and chemical engineering combined with a long time experience as researcher for industry related projects enable me to cover a broad range of aspects concerning the re-thinking of existing process technologies or new developments. I’m entirely dedicated to developing a new generation of intensified catalytic processes for petroleum and natural gas processing, as well as for petrochemicals or bio-fuels manufacturing using new catalytic systems and “tools” for enhancing mass and heat transfer coefficients.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2007–current	Research Professor, The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE Catalytic Process Development for Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Industries Catalytic Process Development using renewable feedstocks and/or energy
2006–2007	Consultant Process developments for biofuels and oilfield and metalworking chemicals
2000–2005	Process Technology Development Advisor, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation SABIC, R&T, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Process Development and/or Debottlenecking – Linear alpha olefins, Monoethylene glycol, Ethylene dichloride (EDC), Styrene, Vinyl Acetate Monomer
1998–2000	Senior Scientist Process Development, Brantford Chemicals Inc. (APOTEX), Brantford, Ontario, Canada Entrapping active components into polymeric matrix using supercritical carbon dioxide
1995–1998	Research Associate, University of Waterloo, Dept. Chemical Engineering, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Sulfur dioxide removal from flue gases, manufactured lactase for industrial clients, experimental setup for studying continuous biocatalytic synthesis of aspartic acid from fumaric acid
1990–1994	Professor, University “Politehnica” of Timisoara, Romania Taught courses in Chemical Process Technologies, Catalysis and Catalytic Processes, Surfactants and Their Industrial Utilization
1990–1994	Director, Institute for Chemical and Technological Sciences, Timisoara, Romania Managed and directed research activities on catalytic, biocatalytic, and electrochemical processes, e.g., phase transfer catalysis, selective hydrogenations, air blowing of asphalt, hydroformylation of propylene, copolymerization of acrylic and vinyl monomers for automotive coatings
1990–1992	President of University “Politehnica” of Timisoara, Romania
1980–1990	Senior Researcher, Institute for Chemical and Biochemical Energetics Catalysts and catalytic processes for selective hydrogenations, esterifications, ethoxylation, alkylations, condensations, polymerizations
1964–1990	Faculty positions, University “Politehnica” of Timisoara, Romania

PUBLICATIONS

Published and/or presented over 80 papers and 32 patents

• Catalytic process for selective hydration of alkylene oxides  EUR. Pat. Appl. 04018548.0   05.08.04 (Assigned to SABIC)
• Catalyst and process for oxidation of sulfur dioxide  WO 9959915; CA Patent APP No. 2,237,744  1999
• Process and installation for preparation of oxidized bitumens  RO. Pat. 108,575   1994
• Preparation of β-naphthol hexyl ether  RO. Pat. 104,329   1994
• Synthesis of ammonia by catalytic hydrogenation of molecular nitrogen   RO. Pat. 105,505   1994
• Low temperature conversion of lower hydrocarbons to hydrogen, with water vapor   RO. Pat.  105,504   1994
• Electrolytic cell for synthesis of diacetone-2-keto-L-gulonic acid by electrooxidation of diacetone-L-sorbose  RO. Pat.  103,524   1993
• Continuous catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene  RO. Pat.  102,348   1992
• Equipment for continuous coating of metallic powders with polymers in solution, suspension, or emulsion. RO. Pat. 103,030     1992
• Reactor for fatty oils hydrogenation. RO. Pat. 103,059     1992
• Panthaky, M.A.; Vladea, R.V.; Lohi A.; Hudgins, R.R.; Silveston, P.L. “Trickle-bed scrubbing of flue gas SO2 using non-aqueous solvents” Can. J. Chem. Eng. 79, 765-770, 2001
• Silveston, P.L.; Panthaky, M.A.; Duval, K.; Vladea, R.V.; Lohi, A.; Hudgins, R.R. “Low-temperature, carbon-catalyzed, solvent-washed, trickle-bed sulfuric acid process” , in Reaction Kinetics and the Development and Operation of Catalytic Processes (G.F. Froment and K.C. Waugh, eds), Elsevier, 2001, 195-203
• Vladea, R. V., Hinrichs, N., Hudgins, R. R., Suppiah, S., Silveston, P. L., “ High-efficiency structured packings with activated carbon for SO2 oxidation from flue gas”, Energy & Fuels, 11, 277, 1997
•  Stefanut, Mariana, Barbur, Camelia, Cojocariu, Loreley, Huma, Loredana, Vladea,R. “Synthesis of food emulsifiers” Stiinte si Tehnologii Alimentare (1994), 2(1), 39-43
• Vladea, R., Rat,V., “Supercritical fluid extraction process in the food industry” Stiinte si Tehnologii Alimentare (1994), 2(1), 15-19
• Vladea, R., Stefanut, Mariana, Cojocariu, Loreley, Huma, Loredana, Panzaru, Gianina, Toma, Diana, Stanoiev, Z. “Mono- and diglycerides used in the food industry” Stiinte si Tehnologii Alimentare (1994), 2(2), 19-24
• Amanatidou, Elsa., Vladea, R., Dalea, Viorica. “Extraction of cobalt ions with emulsion liquid membranes.I. The liquid membrane preparation” Chimica Chronika (Greece) (1994), 23(1), 25-50
• Amanatidou, Elsa, Vladea. R., Stefanut, Mariana, Nagy, I., Deretey, E., “Extraction of cobalt ions with emulsion liquid membranes.II. Electric break-up of liquid membranes” Chimika Chronika (1994), 23(1), 63-72
• Vladea, R., Amanatidou, E., Stefanut, M., and Nagy, I.,: Electrical break-up of liquid membranes. Rev. Chim. (Bucharest), 44, 377, 1993
• Rusnac, L., Floarea, O., and Vladea, R.,: Continuous hydrogenation of vegetable oils in reactors equipped with static mixers. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 69, 384, 1992
• Vladea, R., Dalea, V., and Masu, S., "Liquid membranes", Rev. Chim. (Bucharest),  42, 53, 1991
• Vladea, R., and Simandan, T., "Reactions in phase transfer catalysis. II. Gas-solid and gas-liquid-solid systems." Rev. Chim. (Bucharest), 41, 877, 1990

RESEARCH GRANTS/CONTRACTS

Over 25 Research Grants and Contracts (Romania)

• Ministry of Research and Technology: “ Synthesis gas for hydroformylation of propylene (Oxo synthesis) and ammonia manufacturing”
• Ministry of Research and Technology:" Use of liquid membranes for heavy metals recovery from industrial waste waters"
• Ministry of Research and Technology: "Oxidative dehydrodimerization of hydrocarbons"
• Ministry of Research and Technology: "Mass and heat transfer in tubular reactors equipped with static mixers"
• Ministry of Education and Research: "Emulsifiers and antioxidants for food industry"
• Ministry of Education and Research: "Reactors for continuous hydrogenation of organic substrates"
• Ministry of Chemical Industry: "Non-ionic esters of sorbitol as food and cosmetic emulsifiers"
• Ministry of Chemical Industry: "Catalyst and reactor for CO hydrogenation"
• Ministry of Chemical Industry: "Catalyst with Ti and Cr for gaseous ethylene polymerization"
• Ministry of Chemical Industry: "New technological process for xylitol and sorbitol manufacturing"
• Ministry of Chemical Industry: "UV absorbents for polyolefine protection"
• Ministry of Chemical Industry: "New solvents for lacquers"
• National Administration of Roads: "Emulsifiers and emulsifying process for road and roofing asphalts"
• National Administration of Roads: "Reactor for air blowing of asphalt"