Clean Fuels Staff

Associate Director

Burt Davis
Associate Director - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Scientist IV/Engineer
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research focuses on direct and indirect liquefaction; Catalysis in Coal Conversion; Analysis of Synfuels Products; and the relationship between Coal Structure and Liquefaction Behavior. Also, documenter of historic scientific personalities through videotaping.

Muthu Kumaran Gnanamani
Research Scientist Senior - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research interests include Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; nano cobalt catalysts and their application in FT synthesis; microkinetic ttudies of C/C coupling. Expertise in ultra deep desulfurization of VGO and oxidative desulfurization of HDS diesel; synthesis and characterization of various mesoporous molecular sieves like MCM-41, HMS, SBA-15, SBA-16 and their aluminum, titanium, zirconium substituted materials; and testing catalysts for hydrodesulfurization, hydrogenation, and hydro cracking of various model compounds (Thiophene, cyclohexene, cumene) in a fixed-bed catalytic micro reactor operating at atmospheric pressure.

Uschi Graham
Research Scientist Prinicple - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research focus: Catalyst Materials for Fischer Tropsch Synthesis Applications; Catalysts for CO2 Reforming and Reduction; Mixed Plasma Reactors; CVD Applications; Carbon materials for Catalyst Supports; Oxide Nanowires, Nanotubes and Nanowebs; Characterization of Nanomaterials: XPS, XRD, SEM, HR-TEM, STEM and EELS; Nanomaterials from Flame Pyrolysis; Catalysts for Fuel Cells and Batteries; Nanoimaging of Tissue Materials and in situ Characterization.

Gary Jacobs
Research Engineer Principle - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Expertise includes Catalyst Characteraction: Synchrotron techniques (EXAFS, XANES, XRD); Vibrational spectroscopies (FTIR, Raman); Adsorption methods (physisorption, chemisorption); Temperature programmed methods (TPR, TPD, TPO, etc.); Probe reactions for active site characterization (e.g., ring opening, acid/base sites, metallic sites). Hydrogen Production Catalysis: Fuel processing catalysis for hydrogen production/purification - high/low temperature water gas shift, preferential oxidation; Storage and release of hydrogen via chemical carriers - steam reforming of alcohols, methanol synthesis. Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Cobalt-based catalysts for gas-to-liquids ... - characterization of metal-support effects (crystallite size, extent of reduction, site densities); - catalyst stability issues. Other Areas: Dehydrocyclization of paraffins; Solid superacid catalysts; Model catalysts.

Reunjie Liu
Visiting Scientist - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Wenping Ma
Research Engineer Senior - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Coal/Natural gas to liquid fuels; hydrogen production by water gas shift reaction; syngas production by dry/steam reforming of natural gas; catalysts for production of liquid and hydrogen fuels; modeling and simulation of reactor behaviors at steady and unsteady states.

Michela Martinelli
Visiting Scholar - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Wilson (Will) Shafer
Research Scientist Senior - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research focus in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS); FTS Products Separation (GC/LC) and Analysis (IR, MS, FID).

Dennis Sparks
Research Engineer Associate - Clean Fuels and Chemical
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Modification and operation of the prototype integrated process unit (PIPU) pilot plant; construction and operation of various bench-scale fixed bed and CSTR catalytic reactors.