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Eun-Jae
Shin
Assistant Research Professor
Ph.D.
, University of Leeds, UK
Postdoctoral Study: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Pyrolysis, Catalysis
Research
Description
My research focuses on engineering modeling and analysis of catalytic
and high temperature chemical conversion systems, which are highly related
to critical challenges in new energy supply, environmental quality, and
sustainable technology development. It includes the practice of molecular
beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) for the study of complex chemical systems,
with emphasis on biomass and biopolymer thermo-catalytic conversion.
To deconvolute the complex data, multivariate statistical analysis is
utilized as a tool to extract core information in chemistry from such
complicated reactions. Previously I was involved with development of
empirical models for the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) during biomass thermo chemical conversion, application of nano-catalysts
to the reduction of harmful products generated from various processes
with aspects of energy saving and improvement of environmental quality,
development of interpolative schemes to correlate the components of biomass
tar to their toxicity to reduce their negative impact on environmental
and health areas and development of predictive capabilities for biomass
pyrolysis and combustion, such as product distributions and yields by
using pattern recognition techniques. Current work includes:
•
Development of Bio-Carbons from Forest Thinnings as Metal Adsorbents
In Colorado there is a large amount of forest residues in the so-called
red-zone (the urban –wild land interface of most serious fire potential),
comprising mostly of small diameter trees of no economic value. In addition
the state of Colorado has a major economic challenge in that 40,000 abandoned
mines produce legacy acid mine drainage (AMD) and several large scale
mining activities current at this time will produce AMD in the future.
It is currently not feasible to use a carbon adsorbent to mitigate AMD
as these carbons are typically produced from tropical hardwood and residues
and are expensive. This project addresses these issues by the production
of an inexpensive carbon from locally produced tree thinnings.
•
Feasibility Study for a Forest, Wood-Chip/Bio-Oil/Hydrogen Fuel Facility
This is to determine the feasibility of a bio-refinery based on forest
thinnings from Colorado areas for the production of fuels and environmental
and industrial products for local markets.
•
Detection and Characterization of Reactive Intermediates Formed During
the Pyrolysis and Charring of Biomass or its Components
By use of laser pyrolysis we can subject samples of biomass to various
heating profiles to study ways to reduce harm products from biomass thermo
chemical conversion. In this way we can begin to unravel the complexities
of high temperature biomass conversion under realistic environment. When
coupled to a molecular beam mass spectrometer or a cold trap we can separate
gas phase chemistry from solid phase chemistry and detect the reactive
intermediates and products produced.
•
Refactor and Extend Existing Multivariate Data Analysis Software
The current principal component analysis workflow, while finally effective,
is hampered by the use of a variety of software tools whose interaction
is far from seamless. This work is to develop a user-friendly software
program to handle GC and GC-MS data by one program to discover subtle
differences in sets of GC-MS data, or to tell that, in fact, the differences
are significant. These systems will be relevant to other instrumental
systems that produce multivariate data as well.
Contact
Information
Eun-Jae Shin
Chemical Engineering Department
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO 80401
Office: (303) 384-2046
FAX: (303) 273-3730
eshin@mines.edu
