Process Scientist / Process Engineer / Team Leader
Resume:
Alan Gabelman, Ph.D., P.E.
*********@***.***
Skype: agabelman2
China Address:
*** *** **** ****, ***. 2181
Shanghai 200040
China USA
US Address:
6548 Meadowbrook Court
West Chester, OH 45069
USA
Summary
Process scientist, chemical engineer and team leader with over 35 years of industrial
experience (including international experience) in flavors, food ingredients, and
perfumes.
Demonstrated ability to carry out and/or manage all aspects of a research project,
including idea conception, laboratory and pilot scale process development, and scale-
up to manufacturing – all with close interaction with business colleagues and other
stakeholders to ensure that technical development addresses market needs.
Record of success in assessing opportunities for improvement in manufacturing
operations, then developing and executing projects to address these challenges.
Expertise in a range of process equipment and technologies, including mixing
systems, fermentation, filtration, centrifugation, membrane operations,
adsorption/desorption, extraction, distillation, crystallization, drying and flavor delivery.
Industrial Experience
2010 – Present: Process Science Director, Firmenich (Shanghai, China), a leading
manufacturer of flavors and perfumes. Built a team of process engineers and scientists to
develop processes and technologies for extraction and purification of unique flavor and
perfume building blocks from natural materials. Selected team accomplishments:
Prepared over 300 steam distillates and solvent extracts of botanicals sourced
throughout China and neighboring countries, in an effort to discover ingredients with
unique sensory character. Several of these have been targeted for commercial
development.
Developed a process for extraction and purification of a unique savory ingredient from
a plant found in northern China. Interacted closely with flavorists, applications and
business colleagues to ensure that the ingredient met cost and performance targets.
Initiated and won business support for a project to study alternative citrus processing
technologies and assess their potential to add value to the business.
Performed a comprehensive study of recovery of patchouli oil (a key perfume
ingredient) from the patchouli plant by steam distillation. Numerous pilot scale
distillations were performed to characterize the effects of operating variables and
equipment configuration. Developed an in-depth understanding of the distillation
process, along with a set of recommendations for the commercial partner that would
improve their oil yield by an estimated 10%.
Developed a cost-effective process for selective removal of pesticides and other
agricultural residues from citrus oils using short path distillation or ion exchange, with
minimal effect on sensory or other properties. This work will provide competitive
advantage through increased sourcing flexibility and enhanced ability to meet
customer requirements.
1985 – 2010: Givaudan Flavors Corporation (Cincinnati, OH), the world’s largest
manufacturer of flavors and perfumes.
1997 – 2010: Director, Engineering Sciences (a part of Research and Development).
Managed a team of engineers that developed process technology. Activities included:
Support of manufacturing sites through development of technologies that provided
operational improvements such as reduced cost, increased capacity, or ability to
make new products.
Development of processes for flavor chemicals and other ingredients, including
bench scale experimentation, pilot demonstration and scale-up to manufacturing.
.
Selected team accomplishments:
Developed a membrane filtration process to remove wax from citrus oils. The
process solves a long standing problem by delivering treated oil that remains free
of precipitated wax indefinitely. W as co-inventor on patent.
Demonstrated adsorption technology to recover flavor from citrus aroma waters
and apple essence. Collaborated with plant engineers to design and start up the
commercial installation.
Obtained laboratory and pilot plant data used to design a short path distillation
unit for recovery of valuable ingredients from highly folded citrus oils.
Collaborated with manufacturing personnel on production equipment design and
startup.
With Flavor Delivery colleagues, optimized the process for gelatin encapsulated
perfume for use in spray-on underarm deodorant. Determined conditions for
emulsification, sieve screening and drying that provided capsules small enough
to avoid clogging the spray nozzle.
Investigated the application of conical basket centrifugation technology to replace
the existing vertical basket unit for recovery of flavor capsules. Projected
capacity increase was 120%.
Provided process engineering support for the production of alginate-
encapsulated flavors.
Developed a membrane filtration process to remove solids from compounded
flavors, offering several advantages over existing filter presses.
Working closely with Japanese colleagues, contributed to the development of
novel green tea extracts that are expected to lead to a substantial increase in
market penetration.
Proposed additional instrumentation and other upgrades for vacuum oven dryers
used to dry savory flavors. Demonstrated experimentally that the proposed
upgrades would reduce drying time by 33%. With project engineers and
manufacturing personnel, designed, installed and started up the commercial
system.
Demonstrated the use of a reciprocating plate column as an alternative
countercurrent extraction process for recovery of flavor from orange oil.
Advantages over the existing, more complex extraction equipment included less
downtime for maintenance and reduced wax buildup.
Collaborated with operating personnel to design and implement a plant-wide
computerized data acquisition and control system for a major manufacturing site.
Benefits included development of a historical database of process performance,
improved process control and increased yield.
Developed a process for reduction of chloropropanol concentration to an
acceptable level in the manufacture of hydrolyzed vegetable protein.
Designed and supervised the construction of a pilot plant equipped with a range
of capabilities, including fermentation, membrane filtration, distillation, extraction,
centrifugation, vessels to 1900 liter capacity, and computer control.
1992 – 1997: Manager, Engineering Sciences, Tastemaker (Cincinnati, OH), a major
supplier of flavors and flavor ingredients (purchased by Givaudan in 1997). Managed a
team of engineers and technicians that provided process development and scale-up
expertise to other R&D laboratories and the Cincinnati manufacturing site.
Selected team accomplishments:
Researched and scaled up flavor extracts of numerous botanicals. Employed
both fixed bed and stirred tank technologies, using various solvents (ethanol,
propylene glycol, water). Examples include tea, coffee, cocoa, ginger, hibiscus,
and others. (This work continued at Givaudan.)
Developed a process for isolation of 99% pure natural butyric acid from
fermentation broth. Downstream processing steps included liquid-liquid
extraction and distillation. W orked with an outside contractor to design the
required production equipment, then presented the entire package to a potential
collaborator in China.
Developed downstream purification methodology for other fermentation-derived
flavors chemicals, including phenethyl alcohol and δ-decalactone, then scaled to
manufacturing. Unit operations employed typically included crossflow membrane
microfiltration, liquid-liquid extraction or hydrophobic resin adsorption, and
distillation.
Led the effort to convert a 900-gallon storage tank to an aerobic fermenter, which
required design and installation of heat transfer surface, an air sparger, a mixer
upgrade, and modifications needed to maintain aseptic operation.
Developed and/or scaled up processes for several flavor esters and other
chemicals.
Investigated and subsequently implemented spinning cone distillation technology
for recovery of flavor from tea and various other botanicals. Project included
initial testing on rented equipment, development of the equipment specifications
and capital project appropriation request (with project engineer), startup, operator
training, and product development.
Served as liaison with an outside collaborator on investigation of dense carbon
dioxide extraction using membrane contactors.
1985 – 1992: Research Engineer, Hercules Incorporated (Wilmington, DE), a
manufacturer of specialty chemicals (whose flavor business became part of Tastemaker
in 1992). Provided process development and scale-up expertise for fermentation-
derived flavor chemicals and paper chemicals. Supervised up to four technicians.
Selected accomplishments:
Scaled up several fermentation processes, including butyric acid, propionic acid
and acetaldehyde. W as inventor or co-inventor on three patents.
Developed and scaled up a process for producing crystalline rhamnose from a
flavonoid precursor. Process involved acid hydrolysis, fermentation, membrane
microfiltration and ultrafiltration, evaporation, ion exchange, activated carbon
treatment, crystallization and drying. (This work was completed at Tastemaker.)
Served as technical consultant on implementation of a fermentation process to
remove chloropropanols from wet strength resins used in paper. Designed a
continuous process that was later implemented in manufacturing, and developed
a rotary vacuum precoat filtration process to improve the clarity of the fermented
product.
Provided process engineering support to an autolyzed yeast manufacturing site,
including evaluation of alternative mixing systems and types of heat transfer
surface for two 95,000-liter fermenters.
Led the conversion of a 15,000 gallon storage tank to an anaerobic fermenter,
addressing challenges such as achieving and maintaining aseptic operation.
1984 – 1985: Pilot Plant Manager, Engenics (Menlo Park, CA), a startup bioprocess
development company. Worked with an engineering design firm to develop the design and
cost estimate for a fermentation pilot plant. Also did laboratory and pilot scale development
of a novel process for recovery of heat-stable lactic acid from fermentation broth.
1978 – 1984: Process Engineer, Stauffer Chemical Company (San Jose, CA), a
manufacturer of specialty chemicals. Provided process engineering support for their
monosodium glutamate fermentation plant.
Selected accomplishments:
Provided process engineering support for the operation of eight 30,000-gallon
fermenters.
Supervised the operation of a pilot ultrafiltration unit as a possible alternative to
centrifugation, heat coagulation and rotary vacuum filtration to remove biomass and
protein from fermentation broth.
Responsible for startup of two falling film evaporators (capacity: 27,000 kg/hr each)
that replaced several less efficient units, leading to a 50% reduction in energy usage.
Performed extensive testing on rotary vacuum precoat filtration of centrifuged, heat
treated fermentation broth (for removal of coagulated protein). Installed
instrumentation and implemented operational changes that led to a marked
improvement in filtration rate.
Designed and implemented a control strategy for two vacuum pan crystallizers.
Benefits included improved process consistency and yield.
1977 – 1978: Production Engineer, National Starch and Chemical Corporation, Plainfield,
NJ. Supervised the production of specialty adhesives.
Teaching Experience
2005 – 2009: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Materials
Engineering, University of Cincinnati. Taught “Selected Topics in Applied Separations” to
undergraduate and graduate students.
Affiliations
Registered Professional Engineer, State of Delaware
Reviewer for Journal of Membrane Science
Industrial Advisory Board, Membrane Applied Science and Technology Center, 2000
– 2007. Chair, 2005
Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Member, American Chemical Society
Member, Institute of Food Technologists
Education
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 2003
Advisor: Professor Sun-Tak Hwang
Dissertation Title: Mass Transfer in Dense Gas Extraction Using a Hollow Fiber
Membrane Contactor
Master of Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware, 1992
Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, Cornell University, 1977
Publications and Presentations
Gabelman, A., Applied Separations, Wiley, New York (currently writing).
Gabelman, A., Hwang, S.-T., A theoretical study of dense gas extraction using a hollow fiber
membrane contactor, J. Supercrit. Fluids, 2006, 37, 157-172.
Gabelman, A., Hwang, S.-T., Experimental results versus model predictions for dense gas
extraction using a hollow fiber membrane contactor, J. Supercrit. Fluids, 2005, 35, 26-39.
Gabelman, A., Hwang, S.-T., Krantz, W.B., Dense gas extraction using a hollow fiber
membrane contactor: experimental results versus model predictions, J. Membr. Sci., 2005,
257, 11-36.
Gabelman, A., Hwang, S.-T., Hollow fiber membrane contactors, J. Membr. Sci., 1999, 159,
61-106.
Eaton, D. C., Gabelman, A., Fed-batch and continuous fermentation of Selenomonas
ruminantium for natural propionic, acetic and succinic acids. J. Ind. Microbiol., 1995, 15, 32-
38.
Gabelman, A., ed., Bioprocess Production of Flavor, Fragrance, and Color Ingredients, W iley,
New York, 1994.
Gabelman, A., Genetic Engineering and Other Advanced Technologies, in Bioprocess
Production of Flavor, Fragrance, and Color Ingredients, A. Gabelman, ed., Wiley, New York,
1994, 277-330.
Various posters/presentations at NAMS, AIChE, and SIM meetings.
Patents
Finn, A., Gabelman, A., Dewaxing process, European Patent EP 2 205 710 B1, 2011.
Gabelman, A., Luzio, G.A., Enzymatic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes in a continuous
reaction system, US Patent 5,783,429, 1998.
Eaton, D.C., Gabelman, A., Production of propionic acid salts by fermentation of lactates
using Selenomonas ruminantium, US Patent 5,137,736, 1992.
Gabelman, A., Start-up of continuous butyric acid fermenter, US Patent 5,132,217, 1992.
References
Provided upon request.
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