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Sohrab Rohani (P. Eng, FCIC) Professor of Chemical and Bio-Chemical
Engineering Department of Chemical &
Biochemical Engineering Faculty of Engineering , The University of Western Ontario |
Dr. Rohani is the past Chair of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department at the University of Western Ontario. He obtained his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Pahlavi (Shiraz) University and his Ph.D. from the University of Wales in Process Control. He spent two years at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich before joining the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Saskatchewan in 1982. He has spent sabbatical leaves at the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), England; ETH (Switzerland); the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Industries Chimiques (ENSIC), Nancy, France; and ApotexPharmaChem Inc. (Canada). He has been the recipient of Engineering Medal in Research and Development from the Professional Engineers, Ontario, in 2008 and Western Faculty of Engineering Award for Excellence in Research in 2009.
Dr. Rohani has over 200 refereed publications.
He is a registered professional engineer in Ontario and a
Fellow of Chemical Institute of Canada (FCIC). His main areas of
research are in the development and control of active pharmaceutical
ingredients,
process control applications, zeolitic nanomaterials and TiO2
nanophotocatalysts.
Dr. Rohani's research in the area of Crystallization
includes detailed experimental study of the kinetics of
nucleation, growth, agglomeration, and breakage in batch
and continuous systems. Study of the effect of additives,
control of crystal size distribution (CSD) and polymorphic
distribution, and development of instrumentation for the
control of pilot plants and industrial continuous cooling
crystallizers. Recovery of protein from oilseeds such as
canola and sunflower seeds by precipitation in a tubular
reactor and detailed modeling of the particle size
distribution are also investigated. The effect of micro-,
meso- and macro-mixing on the size distribution, shape and
morphology of the product in precipitation processes is
being studied, both experimentally and theoretically.
In the area of Process Control, two processes are
considered to study the efficacy of various control
algorithms: batch and continuous crystallization processes
and the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process. Uni- and
multi-variable model predictive control algorithms using
linear and non-linear models including artificial neural
networks are being studied. The geometric non-linear
control and the dynamic optimal control are also applied
to a batch crystallizer.
Prof. Rohani's research in the field of nanomaterials
includes fundamental and applied research on manufacturing
techniques, characterization, properties and environmental
applications of zeolitic like framework nano materials
including nano zeolites, metal organic frameworks (MOFs),
zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), mesoporous
materials, TiO2 nanotubes and nanoparticles, and
preparation of super-hydrophobic surfaces.
Ongoing Projects in CCPL and ZNML laboratories
The
Control and Crystallization of Pharmaceuticals Laboratory
in the University of Western Ontario ( CCPL-Western) provides expertise and state-of-the-art technology and instrumentation for the study of crystallization of bulk chemicals, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
In particular crystal engineering is used for the process
and product design in the following major areas:
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Control of continuous and batch crystallizers and development of a highly efficient numerical algorithm for the solution of the population balance equation
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Develop on-line sensors for the measurement of crystal suspension density, supersaturation and crystal shape, and
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Screening, characterization and control of polymorphism of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals
Due to the importance of zeolitic-like frame work
materials such as metal organic frameworks with huge
industrial potential in various areas including oil
industries, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and
environmental applications, we have recently established
the
Zeolitic and Nano Materials Laboratory (ZNML).
The objectives of the ZNML are:
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Develop novel rapid fabrication technologies for the
synthesis of zeolite-like frameworks by means of solvo-thermal
microwave and ultrasonic energies.
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Systematic study of CO2 capturing and
hydrogen storage by zeolite-like framework materials.
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Application of novel zeolite-like frameworks for
controlled
in-vitro drug release.
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Synthesis of nano-sized Y-zeolites in mesoporous
silica particles.
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New functional zeolite-like frameworks for enantio-selective
separation of pharmaceuticals.
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Fabrication of zeolite-like frameworks thin layer
membranes and investigation of their separation
properties.
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Mixed matrix membranes based on zeolite-like
frameworks materials/polymer membranes for gas
separation.
-
Environmental catalysts based metal cluster nano
particles
such as gold nano particles (GNP) loaded on
zeolite-like frameworks for CO oxidation, NOx
reduction etc.
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Contact Info
Thompson Eng. Bld., Rm. 457
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario,
Canada N6A 5B9
Phone:1-519- 661-4116
Fax: 1-519- 661-3498
Email: srohani@uwo.ca



