Experience Chemist and Chemical Operations Professional

OVERVIEW

Detail-oriented Scientist/ Manager with over ten years of expertise in polyolefins (PE and PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Experience/training includes new product development, process development, troubleshooting process issues and improving existing processes, leading PHA’s & MoC’s and conducting process safety and EHS training. Adept at all levels of R&D, personnel management, plant production, developing intellectual properties and providing technical solutions to customers/operations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

•New Product Development/ R&D/ Process Development

•Personnel management

•Developing PSM Standards and Procedures

•Hazard Analysis (HAZOP)

•PHA/ MoC

•Meeting Goals & Objectives

•Technical Services

•Plant Production

•Polyolefins/ PVC Stabilization

C:areer Highlights

•Have extensive experience in R&D of new products such as alkylphneols, phosphites and other polymer additives

•Managed production units and twenty four personnel in plant

•Introduced several new products into plants

•Developed, optimized and implemented several processes in plant

•Conducted 10+ Pre Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR)

•Experience with PHA Pro and EC Suites software for MoC

•Experienced auditor for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications

•Certified in DOT and Hazardous Material Awareness training

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Galata Chemicals LLC, New Orleans, LA (Feb 2016 to Feb 2021)

Unit Operations Superintendent -Mixed Metal Stabilizers and Epoxy Departments (March 2020- to Feb 2021)

As a unit superintendent (Production Manager), I managed all aspects of production related to two units within Galata Chemicals including twenty four direct reports. My duties included but were not limited to:

Led, supervised and directed unit personnel for two production units (24/7 operations)

Increased PVC stabilizer unit throughput by more than 40% using process optimization and statistical methods

Responsible for initiating MoC’s, PHA and PSSR for new processes

Responsible for investigating any process failure and conduct root cause analysis (RCA)

Oversaw unit productivity, on stream time, monitored yields and quality performance

Coached, mentored and developed team members to reach their full potential

Ensured operation within defined environmental parameters resulting in overall waste reduction

Implemented process changes and capital projects leading to enhanced uptime with increased productivity

Managed respective unit budget (> 500K per unit)

Implemented production objectives through out two units resulting in less overtime and saving the company more than $150K

Provided technical expertise to identify and improve production issues for several processes and products

Trained in SAP

Technical Services Specialist (Feb 2016- March 2020)

Interacted with customers to solve complex technical issues with PVC stabilization including product performance, customer complaints, global compliance issues and product recommendations

Visited customers as part of the technical group, to understand requirements and suggest the appropriate stabilizer products

Developed stabilizer packages in laboratory as per customer requirements

As a project lead, developed two phenol-free phosphites for polyolefins and PVC in less than a year which has given the company a significant advantage over its competitors, enabling access to a > $500K market

Independently developed two new phenol-free overbased barium intermediates for the use in PVC stabilizers

Assigned lead in the plant for improving cycle times, yields and throughput for solid stabilizers

Managed and trained junior chemists, laboratory technicians and interns with several analysis methods

Experienced in synthesis and process development of metal soaps such as barium, zinc, calcium and tin stearates

Experience in synthesis of tin catalysts for Poly Urethane (PU)

Expertise in the synthesis of tin, sulfur and zinc based intermediates

Experience in running analytical instrumentation such as GC, FTIR, NMR, 13C, ICP, XRF etc

Sunstrand LLC, Louisville, KY (Start up company) (Dec 2014 - Feb 2016)

Senior Scientist

Project lead for the setup of the entire chemical laboratory

Managed capital expenditure of > $50,000 for the setup of the laboratory

Managed and supervised two junior chemists to oversee their day-to-day activities

Developed and optimized the process for extraction of fibers from natural plant materials such as bamboo, flax, hemp and jute

Developed various processes for the surface modification of fibers with silanes and other surface modifiers to increase their compatibility in plastics

Developed process for acetylation of wood fibers to increase the hydrophobicity and compatibility in plastics

Addivant USA LLC. (Formerly Chemtura Corporation), Morgantown, WV (May 2013 – Oct 2014)

Senior Research and Development Chemist

Carried out research for developing phenol free phosphites and polymeric phosphites; project lead for the development of polymer inhibitors for styrene

Project lead for the decontamination and recycling of spent acid produced during inhibitor production (Stage – Gate)

Developed cost-effective route for decontamination and recycling of spent acid leading to estimated cost savings of $1000 per batch

Trained plant operators in understanding new decontamination process (union environment)

Carried out detailed Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) and Pre startup Safety Review (PSSR) for a new decontamination process

Independently managed, developed and synthesized a new ‘green’ inhibitor for styrene monomer

Experienced in project management from Kepner-Tregoe

Dover Chemical Corporation, Dover, OH (Aug 2010 – Apr 2013)

Research and Development Chemist

Conducted research on new polymeric alkyl and aryl phosphites

Conducted extensive research on phenol free phosphites

Assigned product manager in the development of a new alkyl phenol project reporting directly to the VP Research and Development

Independently managed, developed and successfully scaled up process (40MT) of a new alkylated phenol into the plant

Carried out process hazard analysis (PHA) and Pre Startup Safety Review (PSSR) with safety manager for alkyl phenol production in accordance with plant protocols

Initiated MoC for distillation set up for new alkylphenol proces

Developed new route for removal of catalyst used in above alkyl phenol process, which has been applied successfully in the plant for other alkyl phenols as well resulting in better product quality

Successfully streamlined existing manufacturing process for a lubricant by reducing cycle time by 50%, thereby doubling production while saving $2000 per batch and increasing orders

Independently developed a cheap and cost-effective process for removing catalyst residue from liquid phosphites resulting in superior product quality

Acquired expertise in literature and patent search

Assisted the Technical Director with regulatory compliance of phosphites for sale in USA (FDA) and Europe (SML) as well as for filing TSCA and LVE for new compounds

EDUCATION

Currently pursuing Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification

M.S. Inorganic Chemistry (August 2005 - May 2010)

Department of Chemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

Advisor: Professor Christopher C. Landry

Thesis Title: Oxovanadium complexes supported on acid-prepared mesoporous silica (APMS) for catalytic oxidation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide.

Graduate Student at University of Mississippi (August 2003 – May 2005)

M.S. Organic Chemistry (Specialization: Dyes and Pigments) (September1998 - June 2002)

University Department of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India.

Advisor: Professor Vinod R. Kanetkar

Thesis Title: Studies in Intermediates and Dyes.

Analytical Expertise

Organic and inorganic characterization: FTIR, GC, GC-MS, HPLC, SEC, GPC, XRF and ICP

Materials chemistry and catalyst characterization: Nitrogen physisorption, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), solid state diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DR-UV-vis)

Software: ChemDraw, Sci-Finder Scholar, Origin, Empower-2 PHA Pro, EC Suites

Publications and Presentations

Rahul Patel, Dr. Michael Jakupca Dr. Don Stevenson, Jacob Lance and Nina Ruegg

Improvements In Performance With Alkylphenol-Free Phosphite Stabilizers Dover Chemical Corporation, SPE Polyolefins Conference 2013 Houston, Texas

Rahul Patel, Dr. Michael Jakupca Dr. Don Stevenson, Jacob Lance and Nina Ruegg

Ancillary Benefits of an Alkylphenol-Free High Molecular Weight Phosphite Stabilize Dover Chemical Corporation, SPE Polyolefins Conference 2012 Houston, Texas

Rahul S. Patel and C.C. Landry “Room temperature oxidation of 2-chloroethyl-ethylsulfide (CEES) using acid-prepared mesoporous silica (APMS) supported oxo vanadium catalysts”; Northeast Regional ACS meeting (NERM), June 2008, Burlington VT, Paper

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