Palmer, Dr. James

Virgil Orr Professor

Director Chemical Engineering and Industrial Engineering

Current Curriculum Vitae

Degrees

PhD-Chemical Engineering: University of Arkansas - 1997
BS-Chemical Engineering: University of Arkansas – 1992

Licensed PE (Arkansas); active security clearance

Experience

Teaching

Since joining Louisiana Tech in the Fall of 2000, I have taught the entire Senior Chemical Engineering Design Sequence (I, II, III) every year. In addition, I have taught two undergraduate classes (fluid mechanics and heat transfer), and two graduate classes. The first graduate class was an elective on my research focus, Chemical Microsystems. The second class, Microsystems Design, Fabrication, and Testing (MSE 510), is the capstone class for the professional track MicroSystems Engineering (MSE) degree at Louisiana Tech University. The laboratory and course was developed by Dr. Hegab and me (including creation of an entirely new processing lab dedicated to teaching) with $150k in funding from the University and the State of Louisiana.

MSE 510 is a 3 SCH class/lab primarily taught in the summer. Students simulate a micro heat-exchanger using COVENTOR software and fabricate their designs in silicon using photolithography and wet etching techniques. The micro heat-exchangers are characterized at each processing step and the thermal performance of the final device is tested (design parameter is 95 W/in² – similar to the thermal characteristics in current microprocessors). The students write a report and give an oral presentation analyzing each fabrication step and provide specific recommendations for future work.

Industry/Government

2003, participated in the Naval Research Summer Faculty Research Program at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C.

July 1999 – September 2000 Albemarle Corporation – Process Technology Division

Participated in startup of a world scale 50,000-metric ton flame retardant plant. Studied the impact of impurities on the thermodynamics in the solvent recovery section of a process (both modeling and generation of experimental data to confirm model). Supervised kinetic studies of product thermal degradation in the purification section of a process.

April 1997 – July 1999 Albemarle Corporation – Research and Development

Performed both pilot and bench scale experiments for the production of metallo-organic compounds. Was instrumental in the successful scale-up of Albemarle’s most complicated chemical process at that point (defined as number of reaction steps). Was the lead engineer for the development of a new product. Studied the effect of solid/liquid phase equilibria on chiral resolutions. Applied for a US process patent with coworkers in the area of solid/liquid separations (US patent number 6,469,212).

Undergraduate internship experiences include a semester at Los Alamos National Laboratory (chemical and laser sciences), and a summer at Texaco’s process research facility in Port Arthur TX, and Texaco’s central engineering and purchasing office in Houston TX.

Contact Info

Office: Bogard Hall 222
Email: jpalmer@coes.latech.edu
Phone: (318) 257-2885
Home Page: www.latech.edu/~jpalmer

Mailing Address: 600 W. Arizona, Ruston LA 71272

Areas of Specialization

Microreactors
Nanotechnology

Research Areas/Interests

My research group is focused on utilizing and applying micro and nanotechnology with chemical engineering principles to a number of challenges facing our world today. I am specifically interested in homeland security and biofuel applications. One currently funded project is to study and improve the performance of enzymes immobilized on surfaces using layer-by-layer nano self-assembly. In the past, we have studied a variety of unit operations in microchannel systems and would be interested in applying this technology to achieve process intensification.

Research Grants/Contracts

“Superior Graduate Fellows Supporting Three Centers of Excellence in Engineering”, Louisiana Board of Regents – Graduate Fellows, $200,000, July 2010 to June 2015, Principal Investigator.
“Nanoengineered Systems for Biomedical Engineering and Energy Research”, Department of Energy, $500,000 (my part $50,00 not including fringe), October 2010 to September 2011, Co-Investigator.
Frymaster industry contract $50,000, January 1, 2011 – March 31, 2011, Co-Investigator.
Kingtool industry contract $100,000, September 2010 – current, Co-Investigator.
“Nanoengineered Systems for Biomedical Engineering and Energy Research”, Department of Energy, $1,435,000 (my part $100,00 not including fringe), October 2009 to September 2010, Co-Investigator.
“Superior Graduate Fellows Supporting Three Centers of Excellence in Engineering”, Louisiana Board of Regents – Graduate Fellows, $100,000, July 2009 to June 2014, Principal Investigator.
“NUE: Teaching Undergraduates Nanomanufacturing Engineering (TUNE)”, National Science Foundation, $200,000, October 2008 to September 2010, Principal Investigator.
“Nanoengineered Systems for Biomedical Engineering and Energy Research”, Department of Energy, $1,435,000 (my part $113,478 not including fringe), October 2008 to June 2009, Co-Investigator.
“FTIR for Undergraduate Education and Research”, BoRSF-ENH, $45,454, July 2007 to June 2008, Principal Investigator.
“Enhancing Micro/Nanotechnology Education with Hands-on SEM”, BoRSF-ENH, $60,630, July 2007 to June 2008, Co-Investigator.
“Visualization of Chemical Engineering Processes in the Undergraduate Laboratories using a Large Venue Projector”, Student Technology Fee Program, $20,000, February 2007 to May 2007, Principal Investigator.
“Layer-by-Layer Nano Self-Assembly for Enzyme Immobilization”, BoRSF-RCS, $113,491, July 2006 to June 2009, Principal Investigator.
“Enhancing Nanotechnology Education with Hands-On Scanning Microscopy”, BoRSF-ENH, $50,000, July 2005 to June 2006, Co-Investigator.
“Technician for New Degree Programs”, North Louisiana Partnership for Innovation, $10,000, May 2005 to April 2006, Co-Investigator.
“Production of Monodisperse Alginate Microparticles for Glucose Sensor Applications”, LaTech Research Council, $1000, June 2004 to August 2004, Principal Investigator.
“Development of Nano/Microsystems Laboratory in Bogard Hall”, Student Technology Fee Program, $150,000, October 2003 to May 2004, Co-Investigator.
“Technician Support for Micro/Nano Laboratory and Degree Program”, North Louisiana Partnership for Innovation, $10,000, June 2003 to May 2004, Principal Investigator.
“Acquisition of a Mass Spectrometer for Undergraduate Laboratories and Research”, BoRSF-ENH, $84,635, July 2002 to June 2003, Principal Investigator.
“NUE: Teaching Nanosystems to Early College Students with Active Learning Experiences”, NSF, $99,998, June 2004 to May 2006, Co-Investigator.
“Microfluidic Membrane Concentrator for use with Chemical Warfare Sensors”, CEnIT, $20,000, November 2002 to August 2003, Principal Investigator.
“Membrane Separation in a Chemical Microsystem”, LaTech Research Council, $500, summer research grant - June 2002 to August 2002, Principal Investigator.
“Implementing an Experimental Design Process in the Senior Chemical Engineering Design Curriculum”, BoRSF-ENH, $35,285.86, July 2001 to June 2002, Principal Investigator.
“Incumbent Worker Training Program”, Louisiana Department of Labor, $213,482, Project director from May 2001 to January 2002.

Publications

R. Nassar, X. Wu, M. Paun, W. Dai, J. Palmer; “A Mathematical Model Characterizing the Diffusion Properties of Microcapules”; Chemical Engineering Communications, Vol 198, Issue 1, Jan 2011, pp. 33 – 45.
Palmer, J; “Cleaner, Cheaper Fuels Are Enzymes the Key?”; Nano Magazine, Issue 16, February 2010, pp. 23 – 25, ION Publishing Ltd. (ISSN 1757-2517).
Palmer J.; Hegab, H.; “Developing An Open Ended Junior Level Laboratory Experience to Prepare Students for Capstone Design”; American Society for Engineering Education 2010 Annual Conference, AC 2010-364.
Nassar, R.; Palmer, J.; Wu, Y.; Dai, W.; McShane, M.; “Modeling Transport Phenomena of FITC Labeled Dextran in Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules”; Chemical Engineering Communications, Vol. 196, Issue 7, July 2009, pp. 812-823.
Ramprasard, S.; Palmer, J.; “A Silicon Microseparator Based Pervaporation Process for Separation of Ethanol/Water Mixtures using a Polymer Membrane”; Separation Science and Technology, Vol. 42 (11), pp. 2483-2499, 2007.
Forrest, S.; Elmore, B.; Palmer, J.; “Activity and Lifetime of Organophosphorous Hydrolase Immobilized using Layer-by-Layer Nano Self-assembly on Silicon Microchannels”; Catalyst Today, Vol. 120(1), pp. 30-34, 2007.
Nassar, R.; Hu, J.; Palmer, J.; Dai, W.; “Modeling of Cyclohexene Hydrogenation and Dehydrogenation Reactions in an Open Flow Microreactor System”; Catalyst Today, Vol. 120(1), pp. 121-124, 2007.
Nagineni, V.S.; Zhao, S.; Potluri, A.; Liang, Y.; Siriwardane, U.; Seetala, N.; Fang, J.; Palmer, J.; Kuila, D.; “Microreactors for Syn-gas Conversion to Higher Alkanes: Characterization of Sol-gel Encapsulated Nanoscale Fe-Co Catalysts Fabricated in the Microchannels”; Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 44(15), pp. 5602-5607, 2007.
Dai, W.; Feng, Z.; Nassar, R.; Palmer, J.; “Modeling of a Binary Melt Crystallization Process”; Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A, Vol. 49, pp. 831-850, 2006.
Hegab, H.; Napper, S.; Palmer, J.; “Development of a Nanosystems Engineering Undergraduate Degree”; Innovations in Engineering Education 2005: Mechanical Engineering Education, Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads 2005, pp. 11-16.
Nagineni, V.S.; Zhao, S.; Potluri, A.; Liang, Y.; Siriwardane, U.; Seetala, N.; Fang, J.; Palmer, J.; Kuila, D.; “Microreactor Research and Development at Louisiana Tech University: Fabrication of Silicon Microchannel Reactors for Catalyst Studies on Conversion of Cyclohexene and Syngas to Alkanes”; Y. Wang, J. Holladay; Microreactor Technology and Process Intensification No. 914; ACS, September 2005.
Zeng, L.; Palmer, J.; “Enhancement of Micromixing Tees Using Ultrasound Energy”; Y. Wang, J. Holladay; Microreactor Technology and Process Intensification No. 914; ACS, September 2005.
Zhao, S.; Hu, J.; Kuila, D.; Besser, R.; Nassar, R.; Palmer, J.; “Nanoscale Platinum Catalyst in Microreactors for Preferential Oxidation of CO for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Feeds”; Y. Wang, J. Holladay; Microreactor Technology and Process Intensification No. 914; ACS, September 2005.
Forrest, S.; Elmore, B.; Palmer, J.; “Activity and Lifetime of Urease Immobilized Using Layer-by-Layer Nano Self-Assembly on Silicon Microchannels”; Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 121, Issue 1-3, pp. 85-92, 2005.
Jones, F.; Forrest, S.; Palmer, J.; Lu, Z.; Elmore, J.; Elmore, B; “Immobilized Enzyme Studies in a Microscale Bioreactor”; Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 113, Issue 1-3, pp. 261-272, 2004.
Gupta, N.; Patel, A.; Nassar, R.: Lvov, Y.; McShane, M.; Palmer, J.; “Study of Transport Phenomena of FITC Labeled Dextran Through Nano Self-Assembled Microshells”; Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects Vol. 245, pp. 137-142, 2004.
Dai, W.; Feng, Z.; Nassar, R.; Palmer, J.; “A Combined Analytic and Numerical Method for Predicting the Solid Layer Growth from Melt Crystallization”; Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, 44: 577-590, 2003.

Presentations

Palmer, J; Hegab, H.; “Developing An Open Ended Junior Level Laboratory Experience to Prepare Students for Capstone Design”; American Society for Engineering Education 2010 Annual Conference, June 23, 2010, Louisville KY.
J. Palmer, H. Hegab; “Teaching Undergraduates Nanomanufacturing Engineering (TUNE)”; National Science Foundation Engineering Education Awardees Conference, February 1^st 2010, Reston VA.
J.Palmer, H. Hegab; “Teaching Undergraduates Nanomanufacturing Engineering (TUNE)”; American Institute for Chemical Engineering Fall National Meeting, November 9^st 2009, Nashville TN.
J.Palmer, Y. Lvov, H. Hegab, D. Snow; “Large Scale Reactors to Reduce Cellulosic Ethanol Costs”; Louisiana Tech University Energy Systems Conference 2009, November 5^st 2009, Shreveport LA.
J. Palmer, H. Hegab; “Teaching Undergraduates Nanomanufacturing Engineering (TUNE)”; National Science Foundation Engineering Education Awardees Conference, February 1^st 2009, Reston VA.
L. Norris; S. Reddy, L. Dale Snow; J. Palmer; “Enzymatic activity of cellulose immobilized on glass using layer-by-layer self-assembly”; 30^th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, May 4, 2008, New Orleans, LA.
J. Palmer, S. Reddy, L. Dale Snow; “Enzyme Immobilization in Chemical Microsystems at Louisiana Tech”; AIChE Spring 2007 National Conference, April 25, 2007, Houston TX.
S. Ramprasard, J. Palmer; “Pervaporation Process in a Microfluidic Device for Dehydration of Ethanol”; North American Membrane Society National Conference, May 17, 2006, Chicago IL.
K. Vejella, X. Wu, R. Nassar, M. McShane, J. Palmer; “Generation of Mono-dispersed Alginate Microspheres using Microfluidics”; NLPI CIBI/Bio Research Day, May 1^st, 2006, Shreveport LA.
S. Reddy; J. Elmore, J. Cook. L. Dale Snow, B. Elmore, J. Palmer; “Urease Immobilization using Layer-by-Layer Nano Self-assembly in a Microfluidic Device”; NLPI CIBI/Bio Research Day, May 1^st, 2006, Shreveport LA.
S. Reddy; L. Dale Snow; B. Elmore; J. Palmer; “Improved Analytical Methods and Quantifying Mass Deposition of Urease Immobilized using Layer-by-Layer Nano Self-Assembly”; 28^th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, April 30, 2006, Nashville, TN.
J. Palmer; “Chemical Microsystems at Louisiana Tech University”; Invited speaker for Hunter Henry Lecture Series at MS State University, March 28, 2006, Starkville MS.
K. Vejella, X. Wu, R. Nassar, J. Palmer; “Preparation of Monodispersed Alginate Microspheres”; 2006 AIChE Southern Regional Conference, March 11, 2006, Starkville MS.
R. Nassar, J. Hu, J. Palmer, W. Dai, “Statistical Modeling of an Open Flow Microreactor System”, 1st International Conference on Experiments/Process/System Modeling/Simulation/Optimization, July 2005, Athens, Greece.
J. Palmer, B. Elmore, “Enzyme Immobilization using Nano Self-Assembly Applied to Silicon Microreactors”, 19^th North American Catalyst Society, May 2005, Philadelphia PA.
Hegab, H.; Napper, S.; Palmer, J.; “Development of a Nanosystems Engineering Degree”; 2005 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Orlando, FL; (conference proceeding subjected to six peer reviewers).
J. Palmer, “Process Intensification with Microfluidics”, Hunt Guilliot & Associates in Ruston LA, November 10, 2004.
J. Palmer, D. Kuila, J. Fang; “Microseparators”, presentation to ConocoPhillips at Tech, August 2004.
S. Forrest, B. Elmore, J. Palmer; “Activity and Lifetime of Urease Immobilized using LbL Nano Self-assembled on a Silicon Microchannel”, 26^th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, May 2004, Breckenridge CO.
J. Palmer, “Microseparators”, Engineering and Science Foundation meeting, January 24, 2004.
D. Kuila, J. Palmer, J. Fang, “Microreactors at Louisiana Tech University”, Great Lakes Chemical Company, El Dorado AR, December 19, 2003.
J. Palmer, “Microseparators”, Innovative Venture Research – PFI meeting at Tech, November 19, 2003.
S. Ramprasad, S. Forrest, S. Zhao, R. Kumar, Y. Lvov, R. Nassar, B. Elmore, D. Kuila, J. Palmer, “Microreactor and microseparator research at Louisiana Tech’s Institute for Micromanufacturing”, American Chemical Society National 2003 Fall conference, N.Y., N.Y. (invited presentation).
S. Nayak, E. Stein, N. Gupta, J. Palmer, M. McShane, “Transport of macromolecules through polyelectrolyte microcapsules – effect of molecular size and shell materials”, American Chemical Society National 2003 Fall conference, N.Y., N.Y.
D. Kuila, J. Fang, T. Cui, K. Varahramyan, U. Siriwardane, R. Nassar, J. Palmer, S. Naidu, V.S. Nagineni, A Potluri, S. Zhao, Y. Liang, W. Cao, J. Hu, “Microreactor Research at Louisiana Tech University’s Institute for Microomanufacturing, American Chemical Society National 2003 Fall conference, N.Y., N.Y.
V. Nagineni, R. Goduguchinta, S. Zhao, R. Aithal, Y. Liang, J. Fang, S. Vegesna, U. Siriwardane, S. Naidu, J. Palmer, D. Kuila, “Microreactor with sol-gel encapsulated catalysts for syn-gas conversion to higher alkanes”, American Chemical Society National 2003 Fall conference, N.Y., N.Y.
J. Palmer, “Microreactor and Nanotechnology Research at Tech”, Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Maryland, July 30, 2003.
R. Nassar, J. Palmer, W. Dai, M.McShane, N. Gupta, Y. Lvov, “Modeling of FITC-Dextran Release in Polyelectrolyte Nanocapsules”, Hawaii International Conference on Statistics and Related Fields, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 5-8, 2003.
Palmer, J.; Ramprasad, S.; Forrest, S.; “Pervaporation of Ethanol/Water in a Chemical Microsystem”, Proceedings for the AIChE Spring 2003 National Conference; New Orleans, LA; April 1, 2003.
Gupta, N.; Patel, A.; L’vov, Y.; McShane, M.; Palmer, J.; “Study of Transport Phenomena of FITC Labeled Dextran Through Nano Self-Assembled Microshells”; Proceedings for the AIChE Spring 2003 National Conference; New Orleans, LA; April 1, 2003.
Gupta, N.; Patel, A.; L’vov, Y.; McShane, M.; Palmer, J.; “Study of Transport Phenomena of FITC Labeled Dextran Through Nano Self-Assembled Microshells”; 58^th Southwest American Chemical Society Regional Meeting, November 3-6, 2002.
Ramprasad, S.; Palmer, J.; “Microscale Ethanol/Water Separation by Pervaporation”; Louisiana Conference on Commercial Applications of Microsystems, Materials, and Nanotechnologies, Oct 21-22, 2002.
D. Kuila, J. Palmer, “Chemical Microsystems at Louisiana Tech University”, Gaylord Chemical Corporation; Bogalusa LA, Feb. 7, 2002.
J. Palmer, “Chemical Microsystems at Louisiana Tech University”, University wide Brown Bag Lunch organized by Dr. Linda Ramsey, November 5, 2001.
J. Palmer, L. Zeng, “Comparison of Micromixer with Conventional Static Mixer for Use in Fast Competitive Reactions,” SPIE, October 2001
J. Palmer, L. Zeng, “Design and Fabrication of a Micromixer for Chemical Synthesis in Highly Corrosive Environments,” 2^nd Louisiana Conference on Microfabrication and Materials Science, August 2001
J. Palmer, J. Maples, B. Sexton, R. Garner, R. Penny, “Comparison of Mixing Performance of a Small Diameter Mixing Tee Versus a Commercial Static Mixer,” TexMEMS, June 2001.
J. Palmer, “Crystallization in Industry”, Sigma Xi Chapter at Louisiana Tech University, May 17, 2001.
J. Palmer, “Microreactors at Louisiana Tech”, CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL, March 2001.
J. Palmer, J. Li, R. Ulrich, “Finite-Element Modeling of a Hot Filament CVD Diamond Reactor Optimized for Large Area Deposition,” Applications of Diamond Films and Related Materials, NIST August 1995.
G. Zhao, J. Palmer, D. Nelms, R. Ulrich, “Aerosol MOCVD Feed System for Forming Superconducting Thin Films,” 185^th Electrochemical Society Meeting, May 1994.