Shyamsundar (Shyam) Chattanathan

*** *** ******, *** # ** Auburn, AL 36832 334-***-**** acp2zd@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

4+ years of renewable energy research with a good publication record

Experience in performing fundamental chemical engineering calculations, mass & energy balance and designing PFD’s

Expertise in statistical data analysis, design of experiments, data collection and analysis

Proficient in using ASPEN plus for process simulations

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy, Biosystems Engineering

Auburn University; Auburn, AL, USA Aug 2010 - April 2014

Doctoral Dissertation: ‘Hydrogen production from renewable sources’

Master of Science, Environmental Engineering

Auburn University; Auburn, AL, USA Aug 2007 - May 2009

Thesis: ‘Removal of Uranium from groundwater using hydroxyapatite obtained from catfish wastes’

Bachelor of Technology, Chemical Engineering

Anna University, Chennai, India Aug 2003 - May 2007

SKILLS

Tools & Techniques: BET, TGA, TPR, GC-TCD- MS, CHNS, TOC-N, TPR, SEM-EDS and KPA.

Software: ASPEN Plus, LabView, Minitab, Polymath, Visual basic, Solid Edge, and MS Office.

EXPERIENCE

Lead Quality Engineer, (Newport Biodiesel, Newport, RI) Nov 2014 – Present

Performed the start-up and shut down operations on the production floor facilitating continuous on-spec biodiesel production by ASTM standards

Provided quality assurance by testing the fuel after every unit process by monitoring vital parameters like moisture, soaps and triglycerides conversion

Conducted lab-scale experiments to come up with improvements in process yield

Performed comprehensive mass balance and suggested changes that aided methanol consumption reduction

Post-doctoral Scientist, (Auburn University) Sep 2014 – Nov 2014

Proof of concept: Prepared ATBS monomer solution, a cationic gel used in water treatment, enhanced oil recovery, etc.

Summarized a detailed report discussing the viscosity changes as a function of temperature, pH and agitation

Performed power requirement calculation for designing a mechanical agitator

This study is vital for Remuriate Technologies to construct a commercial plant for the ATBS monomer solution production which otherwise is imported from China

Process Intern, (RTI International, Durham, NC) May 2014 – Aug 2014

Pilot-scale catalytic fast-pyrolysis for bio-oil conversion

Calibrated the feeder for loading different biomass types and conducted leak tests

Performed catalyst loading and regeneration simultaneously ensuring its proper circulation in the transport reactor

Monitored reaction parameters from plant control room and also examined the bio-oil quality

Graduate Research Assistant, (Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University) Aug 2010 – April 2014

Hydrogen production by steam reforming of bio-oil

Designed a fixed bed tubular reactor with moisture absorbents and heat exchangers to study the process

Suggested aqueous phase reforming as an alternative method to reform bio-oil

Performed unit operation calculations

A review on current status of hydrogen production from bio-oil was summarized and published

Dry & steam reforming of methane to produce “Syngas” using commercial catalyst

Incorporated Box-Behnken design to statistically analyze the reforming process

Investigated the coke formation by thermo-gravimetric analysis

Carried out mass balance and carbon balance on the results obtained

Identified the optimal conditions (temperature, methane to steam and CO ratio) for maximum methane conversion

Production & upgrading of bio-oil obtained from pine, torrefied pine & green algae by fast pyrolysis

Studied the catalytic effect of H+ZSM-5 during the pyrolysis of green algae

Analyzed the compounds present in bio-oil as a function of temperature and catalyst weight

Performed preliminary batch experiments to study bio-oil upgrading by hydro-deoxygenation (HDO) technique

Torrefaction of lignocellulosic biomass

Observed increased aromatic hydrocarbon yield due to pretreatment

Analyzed the effect of temperature and biomass to catalyst ratio on liquid products

Developed reaction mechanism for the improved product yield

Catalytic two- phase reforming of bio-oil in the presence of Ru/ Alumina catalyst

Determined the hydrogen selectivity as a function of temperature and pressure in a batch reactor

Proposed reaction mechanism and performed mass balance for the process

Conducted kinetic study to compare the activation energies for the process in the presence and absence of catalyst

Catalytic biogas reforming to reduce green-house gases (GHGs)

Designed a fixed bed reactor to study the effect of H2S on the conversion of biogas to hydrogen

Optimized the process by selecting appropriate temperature and also analyzed catalyst deactivation

Preliminary ASPEN Plus simulations were carried to understand the temperature effect on methane conversion

Gasification process simulation using ASPEN Plus

Modeled gasification of non-conventional solids (biomass)

Examined the effect of steam to biomass ratio on syngas production

Summer Intern, PARS Environmental, NJ May 2010 – July 2010

Surveyed and documented a complete inventory of toxic chemical products being used in eighty (80) different schools in various districts as per “New Jersey Right to Know Act

Reported them along with their MSDSs to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in order to make the information easily accessible to everyone. (N.J.S.A.34:5A-1 et seq.)

Graduate Research Assistant, (Environmental Engineering, Auburn University) Aug 2007 – April 2010

Designed a batch experiment to remove uranium from contaminated ground water using natural hydroxyapatite (from catfish) and validated the batch results using the column setup

Analyzed mass balance relationship for the remediation process using inexpensive adsorbent obtained from catfish and also validated its scalability

Designed an experiment using a two-dimensional (2-D) tank and porous media to evaluate the intrusion of salt water into fresh water, the results of which will assist in design of a desalination plant

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, Sushil Adhikari and Nourredine Abdoulmoumine. “A review on current status of hydrogen production from bio-oil”. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol # 16, Issue 5, Pg 2366-2372, June 2012.

Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, Sushil Adhikari and Steven Taylor. “Conversion of carbon dioxide and methane in biomass synthesis gas for liquid fuels production”. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol # 37, Issue 23, Pg 180**-*****, December 2012.

Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, Prabhakar Clement, Sushil Kanel, Mark Barnett, Nagaraj Chatakondi. “Remediation of Uranium-Contaminated Groundwater by Sorption onto Hydroxyapatite Derived from Catfish Bones” Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Vol # 224, Issue 2, Pg 1 – 9, December 2012.

Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, Sushil Adhikari, Matthew McVey and Oladiran Fasina. “Hydrogen production from biogas reforming and the effect of H2S on CH4 conversion”. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol # 39, Issue 35, Pg 199**-*****, December 2014.

Suchithra Thangalazhy Gopakumar, Sushil Adhikari, Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, and Ram B. Gupta.“Catalytic pyrolysis of green algae for hydrocarbon production using H+ZSM-5 catalyst”. Bioresource Technology, Vol # 118, Pg 150-157, August 2012.

Vaishnavi Srinivasan, Sushil Adhikari, Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan and Sunkyu Park. “Catalytic pyrolysis of torrefied biomass for hydrocarbons production”. Energy & Fuels, Vol #26, Issue 12, Pg 7347 – 7353, November 2012.

Vaishnavi Srinivasan, Sushil Adhikari, Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan and Sunkyu Park. “Catalytic pyrolysis of raw and thermally treated cellulose using different acidic zeolites”. BioEnergy Research, ISSN 1939 – 1234, Pg 1 – 9, January 2014.

MANUSCRIPTS UNDER PREPARATION

Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, Sushil Adhikari, Vaishnavi Srinivasan, and Nourredine Abdoulmoumine. “Kinetic study of two-phase reforming of aqueous fraction of bio-oil using Ru supported on Al2O3”.

CONFERENCES / PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS

Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, Sushil Adhikari, Vaishnavi Srinivasan and Nourredine Abdoulmoumine “Kinetic study of two-phase reforming of aqueous fraction of bio-Oil Using Ru supported on Al2O3”, AIChE Annual meeting San Francisco, CA, USA, November 3 – November 8, 2013.

Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, and Sushil Adhikari “Parametric Study of methane and carbon dioxide reforming in Synthesis Gas”, 243rd ACS National Meeting, in San Diego, CA, USA, March 25-29, 2012.

Narendra Sadhwani, Mario Eden, Sushil Adhikari, Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, and Nourredine Abdoulmoumine “Effect of Temperature and Oxidizing medium on syngas composition in Southern Pine Gasification”, AIChE Annual meeting Pittsburgh, PA, USA, October 28 – November 2, 2012.

Kanel, S. R., Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan, Barnett, M. O.,Clement, T.P “Removal of uranium from groundwater using different types of synthetic and natural hydroxyapatite material”, 235th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, in New Orleans, LA, USA, April 6-10, 2008.

An active member of “National Biodiesel Board” (NBB) for the academic years 2014 and 2015.

An active member of “American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers” (ASABE) for the academic year 2013.

PROPOSAL

Sushil Adhikari and Shyamsundar Ayalur Chattanathan. Acquisition of a mass spectrometer for catalyst characterization. Alabama Agriculture Experiment Station (04/26/12-10/31/12). $26,100.

AWARDS

Honorable Mention Award at Graduate Engineering Research Showcase held by Auburn University on September 13, 2012 (Cash prize: $ 500).

3rd prize at the Lignocellulosic Biofuels Conference poster presentation held by the Biosystems Engineering Department and the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts at Auburn University on June 13 -15, 2012 (Cash prize: $ 200).

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