I am a chemical and bioprocess engineer and am an Associate Professor in the ESRI research centre at Swansea University. I have several years’ experience in industry working in both Oil & Gas and Pharmaceuticals. As a result, I am highly experienced in the design, development and scale-up of processes equipment from lab scale to the factories.
I am an elected fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and enjoy a range of teaching activities. I particularly enjoy delivering in the area of design and am currently responsible for Reactor Design on the chemical engineering programme. I am also very keen on digital delivery and lead Swansea University’s participation in an online post-graduate training programme in bio-innovation, see https://bioinnovationwales.org.uk
My research interests lie in the design and application of novel technologies and processes, these include; water treatment, desalination, water recycling and re-use, carbon capture and utilisation, pollution control and remediation, algal technologies.
I have graduated many research students at both Master and Ph.D. level, published several book chapters, around 50 articles in refereed scientific literature and sit on the editorial boards of a number of international journals. I have chaired and delivered keynote lectures at numerous international conferences.
An algal photobioreactor I designed and constructed for the Swansea Labs.
I collaborate with many companies, universities and research organisations. Some are listed here:
The chemical reactor is the `heart¿ of the chemical process and this module aims to demonstrate how the performance of the reactor is key to successful chemical process design and optimisation. The principles of chemical equilibrium, reaction kinetics, mass balances and thermodynamics are applied to the design of the basic types of chemical reactors (batch reactors, tubular flow reactors, and continuous stirred tank reactors) in order to show how the design of the reactor influences the productivity, selectivity and economics of the chemical process, leading to the development of safe and sustainable production facilities. Practical physical design of tanks and tubular reactors is also considered, along with typical industrial configurations and relevant safety systems.
This module continues to develop the concepts studied in the Level 2 Reactor Design Course (EG-204). The engineering design of reaction vessels will be considered for chemical reaction systems that involve simultaneous reaction with mass transfer limitations in the fluid phase and the solid phase matrix that contain a chemical catalyst. Mathematical modelling of the kinetic rate equations therefore incorporates the concept of a mass transfer limitation effectiveness factor for the solid phase matrix, whilst the fluid mechanics is used to determine the fluid phase transfer limitations. The kinetic rate models are used to develop Design Performance Equations for industrial reaction systems based on the fixed bed catalytic reactor. Other reaction systems are discussed as industrial examples.
This is a distance learning module that contributes to the 'BioInnovation Wales' programme run jointly between Swansea and Aberystwyth Universities. The programme is a £3m EU funded prjoect to help employers address high level skills shortages in the agri-food and biotech sector. This elective module is a Masters Level course that will deliver a working knowledge of liquid phase membrane technologies and applications. This will include a high level overview of what membranes are, how they work, the filtration spectrum and the general applications of membranes. A background understanding of current membrane fabrication techniques to produce polymeric membranes in hollow fibre, flat sheet, tubular and spiral wound configurations will be developed, along with an outline of ceramic membrane production techniques. The design, construction and optimisation of membrane processes and plants will be considered with specific emphasis placed on configuration for given applications. An appreciation of membrane characterisation techniques will be developed, including SEM, AFM, particle sizing, zeta potential measurement, rejection and flux experimentation. The specific operations of membrane microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis will be investigated and some basic mathematical descriptions will be developed for design purposes. The course will conclude with a series of practical case studies detailing current applications of membrane processes relevant to the bio-sectors and scope for future development.
This is a distance learning module that contributes to the 'BioInnovation Wales' programme run jointly between Swansea and Aberystwyth Universities. The programme is a £3m EU funded project to help employers address high level skills shortages in the agri-food and biotech sector. This elective module is a Masters Level course that will deliver a working knowledge of fermentation technology for food and aggricultural applications This will include a working knowledge of bioreactor or fermentation system design and operations. An introduction to fermentation science and culture preparation and maintenance. A detailed understanding of fermentation kinetics, mass and heat transfer applied to the bioreactor. The design, optimisation and scale-up of the batch reactor for both aerobic and anaerobic cultures; including general components and layout, instrumentation and control principles, and effective mixing in liquid media and gassed systems. Sterilisation of bio-reaction equipment and media. A general overview of other bioreactor types and guidance on adapting the general design approach to such reaction systems. A general overview of the full bio production process, including a typical production process with downstream product recovery or refining. The course will conclude with a series of case studies drawn from pharmaceutical production, alcoholic beverages, dairy, and bio refining for waste valorisation. The module will also include a practical element delivered via a site visit/workshop at the Food Centre Wales.
The world's population is growing every day, and so are the problems associated with this growth. The demand for natural resources, not only for water but also for food, services and energy has increased environmental pollution, which is leading to the destruction of the planet. The search for an environmental solution is necessary. Microalgae, photosynthetic microorganisms, hold the solution to these problems and therefore they have been in the focus of the scientific community and large companies in recent years. Among the multitude of applications of microalgae we can highlight their use in the food industry, as food and feed, due to their high nutritional value and health benefits; in the pharmaceutical or medical industry, in the production of bioactive compounds (vitamins, carotenoids or anticancer compounds); in the cosmetic industry, for the production of bioingredients for sun creams or anti-age creams; in the petroleum industry, for the production of second and third generation biofuels or bioplastics; in the agricultural industry, for the production of animal feed or biostimulants. They play an important role in the recovery of polluted natural areas using bioremediation approach, microalgae can recover nitrogen and phosphorus from water, also heavy metals, or anti-biotics. All of this applications leads to different biomass value according to the final destination, so biomass destined for biofuels or bioplastics will have a very low value, products such as enriched proteins, omega oils or carbohydrates for animal or human consumption will have an intermediate value ($100/kg) and products such as exopolysaccharides, phycobiliproteins, potent antioxidants, and mycosporine-like amino acids that have commercial applications in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries will have a very high value ($1000/g). In relation to the value of microalgae, the search for efficient and low-cost production method is necessary to bring the final product to market and make it competitive with traditional modes of production. Consequently, to achieve success it is important to understand the process of cultivation and processing of the biomass in relation to the final compound to be obtained. Finally, and undoubtedly, microalgae offer great potential to support the building of a bio-based economy (or circular economy), and they can contribute new solutions to some of the grand challenges of the twenty-first century.
2010 - Present
2010 - Present
2016 - Present
Helping Welsh industries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and drive a stronger, greener economy., with Prof. Andrew Barron, £9.2million
The aim of the LIFE DEMINE project is to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of decreasing the overall environmental impact caused by abandoned mine effluents in water bodies., Euro 2.1million
Online Postgraduate Training for Welsh Agri-Food and Biotech Industries, £4million
I am a Chartered Engineer (C.Eng) and elected fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). I am an active member and am chair of the Fluid Separations Special Interest Group and vice-chair of the South Wales Members group. I regularly organise various workshops and conferences on behalf of IChemE; I mentor prospective chartership applicants; I conduct chartership interviews; I evaluate chartership applications. The South Wales members group is active with Swansea University and I conceived and implemented the now annual careers and interview workshop for the final year chemical engineering students.
December 2019
Qatar National Convention Centre
