ALEXANDER K. BONSU

*** ***** *****

Birmingham, AL 35242

205-***-****

SUMMARY

Ph. D. Chemical Engineering on Claus reaction in a fluidized bed. Has broad R&D background and start-up experience in coal combustion, coal gasification, black liquor combustion using fluidized bed technology and refuse derived fuel gasification. Also have extensive background in chemical recovery, pulping, bleaching, recycled paper, process modeling and CO2 capture processes using solvents and membranes. Successfully integrated strong scientific knowledge and engineering background into developing business opportunities by improving existing processes and developing new processes.

While working for Domtar in Canada, I spent a lot of time in mills implementing new processes and improving existing processes. I worked on black combustion using the Copeland fluid bed technology. In 1988 I worked full time in a mill during the start-up of a green field mill. Between 1990 and 1994 I spent 67% of my time in an International Paper mill at Georgetown, South Carolina implementing a new chemical recovery process based on black liquor combustion using fluid bed technology. At Southern Company I work full time on a demonstration plant for clean coal combustion, and gasification processes using fluid bed technology and also CO2 capture processes using solvents and membranes.

Ph. D. Thesis was on Claus reaction in a fluidized bed. DEA Studies in France at IGC was on maleic anhydride production in a fluidized bed.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

INNERPOINT ENERGY, Kirkwood, MS Nov 2014 - Present

Modeled, designed, built and operated wet scrubber for removing tar from the syngas produced from the gasification of refuse derived fuel.

Wrote operating procedures for wet scrubber.

Assisted in improving the performance of a moving bed gasifier for RDF.

Prepared a performance report for the energy station involving RDF gasifier, wet scrubber for syngas and genset for producing power.

Formulated solvent mixture to prevent gelling and to dissolve tar in syngas.

POWER SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT FACILITY - Southern Company, Wilsonville, AL 1997- April 2014, Principal Engineer

Modeled, designed, built, modified and operated a demonstration unit for coal gasification and combustion based on fluid bed technology.

Assisted in designing and building a pilot plant for separating hydrogen from syngas using membranes.

Working on high temperature system for removing tar from syngas.

Worked on CO2 capture processes for syngas and flue gas using chemical and physical solvents and membranes.

Developed a dynamic and steady state models for CO2 capture from syngas based on ammonia.

Assisted in designing a pilot plant for CO2 capture from syngas using ammonia.

Assisted in designing pilot plants for CO2 capture from flue gas using amines.

Modeled a Selexol process for CO2 and H2S capture from a commercial gasification plant.

Wrote the operating procedure for the major equipment and the entire plant for coal combustion and gasification based on fluid bed technology.

Reviewed and modified P&ID for high pressure coal combustion and gasification system based on fluid bed technology.

Worked on solid transfer and cooling systems from high pressure combustion and gasification reactors using fluid bed technology.

Configured the logic system for the fuel feed systems to high pressure vessels.

Working on compressors, high performance butterfly valves, refractory lined pipes, high temperature filters and fluid-bed combustor, gasifier, coolers and heat exchangers.

Conducted research into black liquor gasification. Proposed new processes for black liquor gasification using fluid bed technology.

Assisted in writing the PSDF Five Year Plan to Solicit funds from DOE for CO2 Capture Programs.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER CORPORATE RESEARCH CENTER, Tuxedo, NY 1989-1997 R&D Engineer

Developed a process to dry lime mud to improve lime quality, reduce lime kiln energy consumption by 2 million Btu per ton of lime, and increase lime capacity by 40%

Developed and patented a pressurized causticizing process that reduces the reaction time from three hours to fifteen minutes. This process was implemented in an International Paper mill.

Developed a chemical process for the new Kraft recovery process autocausticizing process based on fluid bed technology, eliminating lime kiln. The capital and operating cost savings are $40M (million) and $5M, respectively.

Developed a process for making polysulfide from white liquor. Conducted experiments for the pulping process yielding an increase of nearly 5% points and a potential annual profit of $500M if it is implemented company wide.

Conducted extensive pulping and bleaching tests with and without polysulfide/anthraquinone and compared the fiber strength and optical properties and refining energy.

Investigated the effect of the age of trees on the strength properties of fiber.

Investigated the following process: Waste Water Sludge Treatment, Closed-Cycle Mill Recovery System. Production of Ozone from Phosphorous, Recycle Paper and Application of Pneumapress to lime mud and brownstock washing.

Performed the experiments, computer modeling and the economic analysis of the application of Pneumapress to lime mud and brownstock washing. The fuel energy savings to the lime kiln is about 2 million Btu per ton of product and discount cash flow (DCF) is about 40%. The Pneumapress increases kiln capacity by 40%. Applying Pneumapress and pressurized causticizing together will reduce the area and capital cost of the caustic plant by nearly 70%. For brownstock washing the Pneumapress is capable of increasing the weak black liquor solids from the conventional level of 14% to 25%. The DCF of using Pneumapress for brownstock washing was nearly 50%.

Investigated surfactants indicating that they can be used to improve the agglomeration and separation of ink particles. Established that it is economically advantageous to use peracids instead of hydrogen peroxide to bleach deinked pulp.

Identified barriers to creativity at the Corporate Research Center and made recommendations for improvement. Developed a program to improve the presentation skills of members in my group. Set up program to feature a couple of projects every month from different groups and invited the entire staff of the Research Center to brainstorm and generate ideas for those projects.

Worked on black liquor combustion in a fluidized for nearly 5 years.

DOMTAR RESEARCH CENTER, Montreal, Canada 1981-1989 Research Scientist

Conducted laboratory and pilot plant studies into the development of an abatement system for hydrogen sulfide and organic sulfides produced during wood digestion in the kraft process. Designed and supervised the construction, start-up and commissioning of the commercial unit.

Developed a correlation between the concentrations of carbon monoxide and organic sulfides from a study of the emissions of gases and particulates from the recovery furnace and the lime kiln.

Conducted pulping and bleaching studies and evaluated the effect of pulping and bleaching conditions on the strength properties of the fiber.

Conducted research to improve the chemical recovery and energy utilization of the kraft process. Developed a process to improve the causticizing efficiency of the caustic plant. Obtained a patent for this process. Developed an automatic control system for the causticizing plant.

Prepared a report on the economic evaluation of Direct Alkaline Recovery System (DARS) and established that its capital cost is lower than the conventional recovery system by about 40%.

Evaluated the A.D. Little Computer Model for the Kraft Recovery Furnace and established that the model needed further improvement to make it capable of predicting the performance of a recovery boiler.

Studied the treatment of spent liquor from a corrugated medium plant with anaerobic digestion and established its viability.

Implemented causticizing control systems in two kraft mills: at Red Rock with Fisher Provox and at Windsor with Honeywell TDC 3000

Worked on black liquor combustion at a mill using Copeland fluid bed technology.

EDUCATION

University of British Columbia, 1/764/81, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering

University of McGill, 9/7411/75, M.Eng., Chemical Engineering

Institut du Genie Chimique (Toulouse), 9/736/74, D.E.A. (Diplome des Etudes Approfondis), Chem. Eng.

University of Science and Technology (Ghana), 9/686/72, B.Sc. (First Class Honors), Chemical Technology

PATENT

Countercurrent Causticizing Process

Singlestage Pressurized Causticizing

Multisulfidity Chemical Recovery System

Sesquisulfate Acid Separator

Polysulfide Production Using Barium Sulfate and Manganese Dioxide

Polysulfide Production Using Pulp and Manganese Dioxide

Chlorine Dioxide Production Using Chlorine, Oxygen and Radio Frequency Discharge Spark

PUBLICATIONS

"Claus Reaction in a Fluidized Bed", Presented at Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers (CSChE) Conference in Edmonton, Alberta 1980.

"Fluidized Bed Claus Reaction Studies", Chemical Engineering Science, 40 (1). 2737, 1985.

"Standby Wet Scrubber for Kraft Digester Blow and Relieved Gases", CPPA Technical Section, Environment Conference, Toronto, Ontario, September 1985.

“Power from PRB – Four Conceptual IGCC Plant Designs Using the Transport Gasifier”, Twenty-Second Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 13-Sep-2005.

“Impact of CO2 Capture on Transport Gasifier IGCC Power Plant”, Thirty-First International Technical Conference on Coal Utilization and Fuel Systems, May 21-25, 2006, Clear Water, FL, USA.

AWARDS

First Place in the 1967 Mathematics Competition, Mathematics Association of Ghana

Best Scholar of the Year, University Hall, University of Science & Technology, Ghana, 1972

Father Claver Award for the Best Final Year Project, University of Science & Technology, Ghana, 1972

Doughlas Jones Environment Award, Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, 1986

International Paper Creativity and Innovation Achievement Award, 1993

Best Engineer Award at Southern Company at Research and Environment Association, 2003

COMPUTER SKILLS

Strong background in using, Excel, Mathcad. Aspen, ProMax, Hysis, and OLI-ESP in modeling processes and designing equipments.

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