USC USC Logo Chemical Engineering
University of South Carolina Undergraduate Students Graduate Students Future Students Faculty & Staff Home
Chemical Engineering

Research

Our department is involved in eight different categories of research:

Biomedical Engineering

Fluid Mechanics

Catalysis

Nanoscience

Electrochemical Engineering

Modeling and Simulation

Environmental Engineering

Separations


Additionally, our department is focused on research in a number of specific areas related to fundamental knowledge, technical applications, and integrated systems.  Click on the links above or a region of the image below to get more information about a topic.

USC CHE Research


Faculty Bio Cata-
lysis		 Electro-
chem		 Environ Fluid Me/trch
 Nano-
sci		 Modeling
 Sep
Michael D. Amiridis




James Blanchette
Thomas A. Davis





Francis Gadala-Maria
Edward P. Gatzke






Joseph H. Gibbons
Andreas Heyden







Esmaiel Jabbari




Micheal M. Matthews
John R. Monnier





Melissa A. Moss
Thanasis D. Papathanasiou






Harry J. Ploehn
Branko N. Popov





James A. Ritter
Thomas G. Stanford




Vincent Van Brunt
John W. Van Zee






John W. Weidner
Ralph E. White




Christopher T. Williams


Research: Biomedical Engineering

Engineering applied to biological and medical systems, such as biomechanics, biomaterials, and biosensors. Also includes biomedical engineering as in the development of aids or replacements for defective or missing body organs.

Faculty:


Research: Catalysis

The phenomenon of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by a chemical present in the reaction medium (homogeneous catalysis), or by a solid surface on which the reaction can occur (heterogeneous catalysis).

Faculty:


Research: Electrochemical Engineering

Electrochemical Engineering is the study of the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy and the aspects that are involved in the relationship between electrical and chemical energy including the fundamental science of electrochemistry

Faculty:

  • Branko N. Popov: Electrochemical Power Sources, Industrial Metal Finishing, Corrosion and Plating
  • John W. Van Zee: Fuel Cells, Computational Fluid Dynamic Models, Corrosion, Batteries, Industrial Electrolysis.
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatlysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids
  • Ralph E. White: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrodeposition, Corrosion, Numerical Methods

Research: Environmental Engineering

Environental engineering develops new materials and processes using environmentally sound methods.  Sustainability and total environmental impact are key factors considered in environmental engineering.

Faculty:


Research: Fluid Mechanics

Fluid mechanics is the field of study which explores the transfer of momentum (fluid flow), energy (heat conduction, convection, and radiation), and mass (diffusion processes) within different chemical processes.

Faculty:


Research: Nanoscience

Nanoscience is the study of matter at the nano scale, from 1 to 100 nanometers.  At this length scale, traditional engineering and scientific methods may not  be applicable.

Faculty:


Research: Modeling and Simulation

Modeling and simulation involves developing mathematical models that simplify a practical problem to a level that it can be understood and simulated on a computer.  Modeling and simulation research at USC ranges from  the electronic and molecular scale  to the simulation of complete chemical plants.

Faculty:

  • Edward P. Gatzke: Process Control, Estimation and Diagnosis, Dynamic Modeling, Optimization
  • Andreas Heyden: Nanomaterials, Catalysis, Computational Chemistry, Multiscale Modeling
  • John W. Van Zee: Fuel Cells, Computational Fluid Dynamic Models, Corrosion, Batteries, Industrial Electrolysis.
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids
  • Ralph E. White: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrodeposition, Corrosion, Numerical Methods


Research: Separations

Separations is the study of chemical mixtures and the necessary processes required to isolate specific components of a mixture.  

Faculty:







Fundamental Knowledge

In addition to the traditional chemical engineering fundamentals of mathematics, physics, and chemistry, our department performs focused research in the specific fundamental areas of catalysis, cell and molecular biology, computational chemistry, electrochemistry, and polymers.


Catalysis

The phenomenon of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by a chemical present in the reaction medium (homogeneous catalysis), or by a solid surface on which the reaction can occur (heterogeneous catalysis).

How can a catalyst be used to improve the yield or selectivity of a chemical reaction?  How can a catalyst be developed so that it lasts longer or costs less?


Faculty:


Cell and Molecular Biology

Engineering principles can be applied to biological and medical systems, such as biomechanics, biomaterials, and biosensors.  This also includes biomedical engineering as in the development of aids or replacements for defective or missing body organs. 

How can bio-compatible polymers be created for medical applications?  What are novel drug delivery techniques?  Can increased understanding of protiens lead to new disease treatments?

Faculty:

  • Esmaiel Jabbari: Tissue Engineering, Biomimetic Materials, Patterned Biomaterials & Biologically Degradable Polymers
  • Melissa A. Moss: Protein Self Assembly, Alzheimer's Disease Inhibition, Biophysical Techniques


Computational Chemistry


Computational chemistry uses advanced mathematics and high perfomance computing to investigate the fundamental aspects of chemical reactions and transport phenommena on a molecular or electronic level.  

How does the electronic and molecular structure of a system determine the performance of a chemical reactor?

Faculty:

  • Andreas Heyden: Nanomaterials, Catalysis, Computational Chemistry, Multiscale Modeling



Electrochemistry

Electrochemical Engineering is the study of the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy and the aspects that are involved in the relationship between electrical and chemical energy including the fundamental science of electrochemistry

How  can we use fundamental principles of electrochemistry to develop new types of batteries and fuel cells?  What is the best assembly  of electrochemical components to meet a known power demand?

Faculty:

  • Branko N. Popov: Electrochemical Power Sources, Industrial Metal Finishing, Corrosion and Plating
  • John W. Van Zee: Fuel Cells, Computational Fluid Dynamic Models, Corrosion, Batteries, Industrial Electrolysis.
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids
  • Ralph E. White: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrodeposition, Corrosion, Numerical Methods


Polymers

Polymeric materials are composed of  chains of molecules with repeating structural units.   Changes in raw materials and processing lead to changes in the final product.

How can polymer chemistry be used to make better materials?  Can bio-compatible polymers be produced for medical applications? 

Faculty:




Separations

Separations is the study of chemical mixtures and the necessary processes required to isolate specific components of a mixture.

How can we separate two liquids or gasses?  How can we increase purity of a product?  How can we do this more rapidly or at a lower cost?

Faculty:






Technological Applications

How can fundamental knowledge be used in a specific application area?  Can engineering methods be used to improve a process?  Can we use scientific knowledge and engineering methods to develop novel applications? 


Batteries

How can we make better batteries?  What materials should be used?  How can batteries be modeled?  Can we understand capacity loss in rechargeable materials?

  • Branko N. Popov: Electrochemical Power Sources, Industrial Metal Finishing, Corrosion and Plating
  • John W. Van Zee: Fuel Cells, Computational Fluid Dynamic Models, Corrosion, Batteries, Industrial Electrolysis.
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids
  • Ralph E. White: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrodeposition, Corrosion, Numerical Methods




Fuel Cells

How can we make better fuel cells?  What materials and components should be used?  Can we modify the design to make fuel cells economically viable?

  • Branko N. Popov: Electrochemical Power Sources, Industrial Metal Finishing, Corrosion and Plating
  • John W. Van Zee: Fuel Cells, Computational Fluid Dynamic Models, Corrosion, Batteries, Industrial Electrolysis.
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids
  • Ralph E. White: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrodeposition, Corrosion, Numerical Methods





Hydrogen Production and Storage

How can we make more hydrogen?  How can we store hydrogen for use?  How can we lower the weight and volume require to store hydrogen?

  • James A. Ritter: Hydrogen Storage Systems, Gas Separations and Purification
  • Edward P. Gatzke: Process Control, Estimation and Diagnosis, Dynamic Modeling, Optimization
  • Michael A. Matthews: Green Chemical Engineering and Ionic Liquids
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids




Pharmaceutical

How can we improve pharmaceutical processes?  Can we understand the key concepts of  of nucleation, crystalization, and granulation?





Polymer Processing

How can we develop new methods for polymer processing?  How can we make target materials?   Can we develop bio-compatible polymeric materials?




Renewable Fuels

How can we make sustainable fuels?

  • Edward P. Gatzke: Process Control, Estimation and Diagnosis, Dynamic Modeling, Optimization
  • Tom Stanford: Process Modeling
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids




Tissue Engineering

How can we use engineering methods to work with tissue for biomedical applications?


  • Esmaiel Jabbari: Tissue Engineering, Biomimetic Materials, Patterned Biomaterials,  Biologically Degradable Polymers
  • Jay Blanchette: Tissue Engineering, Controlled Drug Release


Integrated Systems

How can technologies be integrated and used at a system level to make or improve a process or product?


Energy Storage and Production

How can we make better energy production systems?  Can we develop an economically viable fuel-cell system?   Can we integrate fuel cells, batteries, and super capacitors to make a better power supply?  Can we produce hydrogen cleanly and efficiently for fuel cell applications?

  • Edward P. Gatzke: Process Control, Estimation and Diagnosis, Dynamic Modeling, Optimization
  • Branko N. Popov: Electrochemical Power Sources, Industrial Metal Finishing, Corrosion and Plating
  • James A. Ritter: Hydrogen Storage Systems, Gas Separations and Purification
  • John W. Van Zee: Fuel Cells, Computational Fluid Dynamic Models, Corrosion, Batteries, Industrial Electrolysis.
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids
  • Ralph E. White: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrodeposition, Corrosion, Numerical Methods






Sustainable Processing Methods

How can we make manufacturing methods sustainable?  Can we minimize overall environmental impact of a chemical process?  Can we develop new catalysts and reactors to minimize environmental impact?


  • Michael D. Amiridis: Reaction Kinetics, Heterogeneous Catalysis
  • Andreas Heyden: Nanomaterials, Catalysis, Computational Chemistry, Multiscale Modeling
  • Michael A. Matthews: Green Chemical Engineering and Ionic Liquids
  • John R. Monnier: Heterogeneous Catalysis, Bimetallic Catalyst Synthesis, Reaction Kinetics
  • Harry J. Ploehn: Interfacial Phenomena, Nanoscopic, Colloidal and Polymeric Materials
  • Christopher T. Williams: Heterogeneous Catalysis, Surface Science, Catalyst Design,  In-situ Vibrational Spectroscopy
  • John W. Weidner: Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrochemical Hydrogen Production, Mathematical Modeling, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry in Ionic Liquids





Biomedical Systems and Processes

How can we make better biological systems?  Can we use magnetic properties to improve drug delivery?  Can we use advanced control methods for feedback regulation of a disease?



Return to top USC links Directory Map Events VIP USC site map