Group expert

Joseph L. Thorman

SUMMARY

Focus on organometallic, inorganic, and polymer chemistries

Strong problem solving skills in laboratory through commercial-scale settings

Constructive interaction with all aspects of the development process: analytical, engineering,

management, and technical service

Leadership position in safety: procedures, training, and incident investigation

Strong understanding of intellectual property process

Experience with design of experiments

Utilization of a wide range of synthetic and characterization methodologies for inorganic,

organometallic, and organic molecules

Heterogeneous catalyst synthetic skills including spray-drying and extrusion

Training in The Art of Project Management – Business Management Consultants

Extensive experience in the use, maintenance, and modification of equipment needed in the

manipulation of air and moisturesensitive compounds: dry box, Schlenkline, highvacuum

techniques, and autoclave

Proficiency in analytical skills includes: GCMS, ESR, IR, UVvis, elemental analysis, NMR

(1D, 2D, VT, multinuclear, kinetic), and flash and thin layer chromatography

EXPERIENCE

Group Expert – Innotech / Polyolefins 2/2012 – Present

Borealis Polymers Oy Porvoo, Finland

Focus on proprietary PE catalyst development and advancement of laboratory methodology

Corporate Research Manager / Polyolefins – Global Development, 7/2010 – 1/2012

Bostik, Inc. (Owned by TOTAL) Wauwatosa, WI

Leadership of the development of polyolefin incorporation for adhesives throughout Bostik

Supervisory role to individual in charge of the Sustainable Materials Development Project

Chemical Advisor / Supervisor of Alternative Feedstock R&D – Styrenics, 6/2008 – 6/2010

TOTAL Petrochemicals, Inc. La Porte, TX

Leadership of laboratory-scale development of proprietary catalysts directed towards the

production of styrene via a variety of pathways.

Heterogeneous catalyst design and synthesis.

Supervisory role to three group members.

Chemical Advisor / Metallocene Group Leader – Polypropylene, 3/2006 – 5/2008

TOTAL Petrochemicals, Inc. La Porte, TX

Leadership of laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial-scale development of metallocene-

based catalyst systems for polypropylene and copolymer production.

Lead role in interaction with toll manufacturers of catalyst systems, including planning and

procurement for US and European production of metallocene-based polypropylene.

Technical support to the production plant in the use of a variety of catalyst systems, both

mature and developmental.

Supervisory role to two direct reports.

Senior Research Chemist, Ziegler-Natta Polypropylene, 5/2001 – 3/2006

TOTAL Petrochemicals, Inc. (formerly named ATOFINA) La Porte, TX

Synthesis and utilization of proprietary Ziegler-Natta alpha-olefin polymerization catalyst

systems.

Technical support to polypropylene production plant via evaluation of production

components, production methodology, and commercial catalyst system development.

Pursue business needs through direct interaction with business and production personnel.

Extensive interaction with catalyst and catalyst component manufacturers.

Postdoctoral Research Associate, 08/1999 – 05/2001

University of WisconsinMadison Madison, WI (Prof. Shannon S. Stahl)

Preparation, reactivity, and kinetics associated with palladium complexes for use in

dioxygen-coupled catalytic oxidation of organic substrates.

Kinetics of formation of peroxo-palladium complexes and fundamental reactivity of

Pd(0).

Preparation of new calixarene and porphyrin molecules for use in carbonhydrogen bond

activation models.

Graduate Student Research Assistant, 08/1994 06/1999

Iowa State University Ames, IA (Prof. L. Keith Woo)

Synthesis and reactivity survey of amido, alkoxido, hydrazido, and imido derivatives of

titanium, zirconium, and hafnium metalloporphyrin complexes.

Research directed towards use in CN bond activation, atom transfer processes, and

investigation of the reactivity of metalligand multiple bonds of metalloporphyrin complexes.

Atom and group transfer studies involving (Porphyrin)Ti(II) and the synthesis of

titanium(II) derivatives.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry - Iowa State University, Ames, IA (1999)

B.S. Chemistry - University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, MN (1994)

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Project: Synthesis and Development of Metallocene-Based Catalyst Systems

Action / Results: Interaction with the Business-Line and Production Plant personnel –

determine cost, customer, and production needs and constraints

Laboratory development – catalyst synthesis and polymer assessment

Scale-up – laboratory through commercial-scale production: development of both

catalyst production methodology and catalyst use in world-scale reactors

Commercial Application – Maintain and enhance position as a world leader in

providing polypropylene resins

Patents – Four disclosures submitted to USPTO

Project: Technical Support to World’s Largest Polypropylene Production Site

Action / Results: Problem solving – Daily interaction with production personnel (operators,

engineers, and management) in the development and production of new

polypropylene resins and ensuring efficient production of established products

Adaptation and application to task – Understanding of the plant reactor system

so as to provide support to production engineers in troubleshooting manufacturing

problems. Develop modeling of catalyst and production issues in laboratory and

pilot plant for application in the production plant.

Bottom Line Consequences – Ensure that the production plant with $1 billion in

sales operates efficiently in the short- and long-term.

Patents – US 7,446,167; 7,683,002; application 200********; and two additional

disclosures submitted to USPTO.

Project: External Donor Identification Protocol for use with Ziegler-Natta Based Catalysts

Action / Results: Literature assessment – Apply cumulative knowledge from open and patent

literature towards business goals of Total Petrochemicals

Discovery of a solution – Development of computational model in conjunction

with laboratory testing to provide a proprietary method by which to identify

commercially viable external donors.

Commercial Application – Offer alternatives to patented donor systems and

provide methods to produce exclusive resins.

Patents – Two patents granted (US 7,078,468 and US 7,163,905) and three

applications (200********; 200-***-****; 200********) in process with USPTO

PUBLICATIONS

1. “Alkoxido, Amido, and Imido Derivatives of Titanium(IV) Tetratolylporphyrin.” Gray, S.

D.; Thorman, J. L.; Berreau, L. M.; Woo, L. K. Inorg. Chem. 1997, 36, 278-283.

2. “Synthesis, Electrochemistry, and Imido Transfer Reactions of (TTP)Ti(PhN=NPh).” Gray,

S. D.; Thorman, J. L.; Adamian, V. A.; Kadish, K. M.; Woo, L. K. Inorg. Chem. 1998, 37, 1-4.

3. “Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity of Zirconium and Hafnium Imido Metalloporphyrins.”

Thorman, J. L.; Guzei, I. A.; V. G. Young, Jr., Woo, L. K. Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 3814-3824.

4. “New chemistry of zirconium and hafnium imido complexes: condensation and metathesis

reactions.” Thorman, J. L.; Guzei, I. A.; Young, V. G. Jr.; Woo, L. K. Inorg. Chem. 2000, 39,

23442351.

5. “Synthesis and reactivity of hydrazido(2-) derivatives of titanium(IV) tetratolylporphyrin.”

Thorman, J. L.; Woo, L. K. Inorg. Chem. 2000, 39, 13011304.

6. “Atom Transfer Reactions of (TTP)Ti(3-hexyne): Synthesis and Molecular Structure of

(TTP)Ti(O=P(Oct)3)2.” Thorman, J. L.; Young, V. G. Jr.; Boyd, P. D. W.; Guzei, I. A.; Woo, L.

K. Inorg. Chem. 2001, 40, 499-506.

7. “Oxygenation of Nitrogen-Coordinated Palladium(0): Synthetic, Structural, and Mechanistic

Studies and Implications for Aerobic Oxidation Catalysis.” Stahl, S. S.; Thorman, J. L.;

Nelson, R. C.; Kozee, M. A. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2001, 29, 7188-7189.

8. "Inverse-Electron-Demand Ligand Substitution in Palladium(0) Olefin Complexes” Stahl, S.

S.; Thorman, J. L.; de Silva, N.; Guzei, I. A.; Clark, R. W. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 12-

13.

9. “Inverse-Electron-Demand Ligand Substitution: Experimental and Computational Insights

Into Olefin Exchange at Palladium(0)” Popp, B.V.; Thorman, J.L.; Morales, C.M.; Landis,

C.R.; Stahl, S.S. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 148**-*****.

PATENTS

Fifteen granted US patents: 6,767,857; 7,078,468; 7,163,905; 7,169,727; 7,446,167;

7,645,834; 7,683,002; 7,851,578; 7,902,325; 7,973,113; 8,003,739; 8,258,359; 8,278,403;

8,318,999; 8,399,726

Thirty three published US patent applications filed in the fields of Ziegler-Natta and

metallocene catalyst systems, and carbon-hydrogen bond activation chemistry.

Six additional US patent disclosures/applications filed in the field of catalytic production of

styrene by various methods and use of polyolefins in adhesives.

Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University, Department of Chemistry, 1999.

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