Chemical Engineering Technical Support

Yuliana K. Lugo-José

Phone: 407-***-**** / E-mail: *****@*****.**.***

U.S CITIZEN

Education:

University of South Carolina

****-****

Degree: Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

GPA: 3.7/4.0

Graduation date: August, 2014

Skills and Qualifications:

Hands on experience in heterogeneous catalysis for the evaluation of hydrodeoxygenation reactions for the

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production of high value chemicals.

• Experience in developing standardized testing protocols for testing of catalysts and metal oxides.

• Expertise in the design, interpretation and analysis of data, execution of reports to evaluate catalyst

performance.

• Catalyst’s synthesis including conventional impregnation methods, strong electrostatic adsorption (SEA),

and electroless deposition (ED).

• Characterization such as GC, MS, FT-IR, RGA, chemisorption, particle size analysis, O 2-H2 titration,

TPO/TPR, atomic absorption (AAS), XRD, BET, ICP-OES, analysis of SEM and XPS data. Knowledge of

HPLC, UV-Vis and NMR techniques.

• Proficiency in reactor’s performance evaluation, troubleshooting and root cause analysis.

• Project management experience including budgeting and purchasing equipment for the design, set-

up/maintenance and operation of a plug flow reactor system.

• Follow SOPs safety laboratory procedures. Handling of chemicals and compressed gases.

• Computer skills: MS office/Windows, Outlook, Origin, Maple, Mathcad, ChemDraw, Scifinder and

Endnote. Basics of Mathcad. Proficiency in simulation MATLAB and AspenPlus.

• Familiar with statistical analysis and design of experiments.

• Language: Fully bilingual (Spanish & English).

• Willing to travel as required. Salary negotiable based on my skills.

Research and Work Experience:

University of South Carolina- Chemical Engineering, Columbia, SC Fall 2009- 2014

“Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of biomass-derived propanoic acid (PAc) over supported group VIII

noble metals”

Performed synthesis, characterization, and evaluation for gas-phase reaction using extensive series of

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catalysts.

Carried out reactivity experiments using model compounds to determine bond breaking/scission.

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- Performed detailed kinetic studies such as reaction rate orders and activation energies to elucidate the

reaction mechanism. Performed analysis of mass transport limitations and heat transfer.

- Extensive collaboration with computational catalysis group, provided monthly meetings and report.

Explored mechanistic details using isotopically-labeled compounds.

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Development of a theoretical kinetic isotope effect for the HDO of labeled PAc vs. unlabeled PAc.

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The results showed the extent of dehydrogenation of α-C-H improved the deoxygenating reaction.

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Teaching experience: provided guidance to undergraduate students for electrochemical voltammetry and

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oxygen stripping membrane experiments.

- Designed and operated a catalyst testing unit that involved installation and assembly of on-line switching

valve system; assembly of temperature and flow control systems; set-up of digital communication between

gas chromatograph and injector valves. Used the reactor for my experiments and is currently being used by

the department.

Undergraduate Research Experience at GA Tech, Atlanta, GA Summer 2008

“Purification studies of L-Leucine, l-isoleucine and l-valine in water solutions”

- Determined the morphology and crystallization of amino acids using HPLC and XRD techniques.

- Studied thermal/concentration effects of above amino acids at different conditions.

Internship/Coop at Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN January 2007 – August 2007

“Technical services and development of novel polymers: trial support” (2nd co-op term)

- Provided technical support to Eastman’s customers within Global PET Technology Division.

- Analyzed physical/chemical properties such as intrinsic viscosity experiments for new PET products.

- Conducted experiments of stretch blow molding of plastic bottles to assist on the customer’s specifications.

“Analysis of Coalescence and Sedimentation Time of Two Immiscible Liquids to Optimize an Extractor

Process” (1st co-op term)

- Analyzed and investigated problems/causes for upsets to extraction columns for cellulose ester process.

- Investigated the continuous and dispersed effect (coalescence) of the cellulose ester liquid solution

with/without solids. Familiarity with automatic surface tensiometer.

Publications:

- Y.K. Lugo-José, J.R. Monnier, C.T. Williams, “Gas-phase, catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of propanoic

acid, over supported group VIII noble metals: Metal and support effects” Applied Catalysis A: General, 469

(2014) 410-418.

- Y. K. Lugo-José, J.R. Monnier, Andreas Heyden C. T. Williams, “Hydrodeoxygenation of Propanoic

Acid over Supported Palladium Catalyst: Effect of Pd Particle Size”, Catalysis Science & Technology,

Advance Article (2014).

- Y. K. Lugo-José, J.R. Monnier, Andreas Heyden C. T. Williams, “Unraveling the Mechanism of

Propanoic Acid Hydrodeoxygenation using Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effects”, Journal of Mol. Cat. A,

submitted.

- J.M Tengco, Y. K. Lugo-Jose, J.R. Monnier, J. Regalbuto, “Chemisorption - XRD Particle Size

Discrepancy of Carbon Supported Palladium: Carbon Decoration of Pd?” Catalysis Today, In press, (2014).

Oral and poster presentations:

Gas-phase Hydrodeoxygenation of Propanoic Acid over Supported Palladium: Effect of Particle Size and

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Kinetic Isotope Effect, March 2014, Organic Reactions Catalysis Society (ORCS) Annual Meeting, Tucson

AZ- Poster

Kinetics Studies on the Hydrodeoxygenation of Propanoic Acid over Supported Palladium Catalysts:

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Particle Size Effects, Nov. 2013, AICHE Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA- Oral

Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation of Propionic Acid over supported group VIII noble metals

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Sept. 2013, SECS Annual Meeting, Asheville, NC- Poster

June 2013, 23rd North American Catalysis Society Meeting NAM, Louisville, KY – poster

Oct. 2012, AICHE Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA- Oral

Awards:

2

Participant of Dow Chemical Building Engineering and Science Talent (BEST) symposium (2014)

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1st prize poster presentation at the Southeastern Catalysis Society meeting (SECS) (Asheville NC, 2013)

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1st prize poster presentation at the Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM (Atlanta GA,

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2012)

3rd prize poster presentation at the SEAGEP annual meeting (Gainesville Fl, 2011)

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SEAGEP Study Abroad Program, Global in Science and Engineering Award (March 2011)

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South East Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (SEAGEP) and SLOAN Fellowship

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(2009-2010)

Eastman's Chemical Company Scholarship (2008)

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Chemical Eng. Recognition at UPRM (2006), Belonged to the Dean's Honor List (2005)

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Membership:

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) (2014)

North American Catalysis Society (NACS) (2011)

American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AICHE) (2005)

Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association (CHEGSO) (2009)

Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society (2006)

References:

Christopher T. Williams (advisor), Professor of Chemical Engineering

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University of South Carolina, 301 Main St., Columbia, SC, 29208

803-***-****, ********@***.**.***

John R. Monnier (mentor), Research Professor of Chemical Engineering

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University of South Carolina, 301 Main St., Columbia, SC, 29208

803-***-****, *******@***.**.***

Andreas Heyden (mentor), Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

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University of South Carolina, 301 Main St., Columbia, SC, 29208

803-***-****, ******@***.**.***

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