Robert M. Baldwin
Professor
Director, the Center for the Development of the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi
BS, MS Iowa State University
PhD Colorado School of Mines

Catalysis, membranes, reaction engineering, fuels science

Research Description
Publications
Contact Information
The Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi

Research Description
My principal research interests are in the area of fundamental and applied catalysis and reaction engineering. The chemical reactor is at the heart of any chemical engineering process, and hence research directed towards reaction conditions, materials, and techniques is among some of the most exciting in all of chemical engineering. My current research focuses on use of crystalline and amorphous materials for fabrication of membranes that can be used for separations or in membrane reactors. Under the auspices of our NASA-sponsored microgravity center, we are investigating the fabrication, properties, and utilization of zeolite membranes for application as catalysts and in separations devices. Fabrication of thin zeolite films is being carried out on a variety of substrates following standard hydrothermal and novel vapor-phase synthesis procedures. Other membrane-related research is currently in progress including use of Palladium films in a membrane reactor to deliver hydrogen for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction.

Past research has focused on catalytic combustion including low temperature incineration of mixed wastes from the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant, C₁ coupling for higher hydrocarbons using perovskite materials as catalysts, and a variety of refining and fuels science related projects including catalytic reforming, catalytic hydrodeoxygenation and hydrodenitrogenation, catalytic coal liquefaction, and catalytic trap modeling and development for diesel engine emissions. Work on novel technologies based on thermal solution for recovery of shale oil from oil shale has also been carried out.

Center for the Development of the Petroleum Institute (CDPI)
The Colorado School of Mines has entered into a long-term contract to provide academic assistance and advice to the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi. The PI is a new educational enterprise located in the United Arab Emirates. The curriculum of the PI is sharply focused on the petroleum and energy industries, and includes the following undergraduate degree programs:

o Chemical Engineering
o Mechanical Engineering
o Petroleum Engineering
o Petroleum Geosciences Engineering
o Electrical Engineering
    • Power Engineering
    • Instrumentation and Controls Engineering

The undergraduate programs are currently underway, and planning has started for the graduate and research programs.

The long-term agenda for the CDPI is to:
1) Assist in the establishment of the Petroleum Institute as a world-class educational institution in fields relevant to the oil and gas industries in the Arabian Gulf region.
2) Achieve international recognition and accreditation for the PI degree programs by a well-recognized accrediting agency (e.g. ABET). One of the major activities of the Center includes formulating and implementing relevant assessment policies, procedures, and tools that will allow the Institute to successfully achieve accreditation for its degree programs.
3) Enrich the academic and intellectual environment at both CSM and the PI by virtue of educational ‘spin-offs’ and access to research opportunities with ADNOC and its industrial shareholders.

For additional information on the PI, consult http://www.pi.ac.ae