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Research Group

Tracy J. Benson, Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Jack Gill Endowed Chair
Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering


Tracy J. Benson, Ph.D.

Undergraduate Students Mentored

High School Students Mentored

  • Jennifer Watters (Silsbee ISD) – graduated in 2019
  • Dylan Stephens (Silsbee ISD) – currently in chemical engineering at Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô

Graduate Students and Post Doctorates Mentored

  • Rafiq Islam (Ph.D. Student) – Dissertation Title “Hydrotalcite/Ligand Catalysts for the Formation of Glycerol-free Biodiesel from Lipid Oil Feedstocks Using Dimethyl Carbonate” (Graduated May 2013)
  • Yishan Zhang (Ph.D.) – Dissertation Title “Synthesis of Novel Catalysts for the Trireforming Conversion of Carbon Dioxide” (Graduated Dec 2014)
  • Erfan Raihan (Ph.D.) – Dissertation Title “Catalyst Design and Synthesis for the Conversion of CO2 and Steam to Syngas using UV/VIS Light” (Expected Graduation May 2016) Yogesh Kurle (M.S.) – Thesis Title “Process Development for Triacylglycerol Conversion to a Glycerol-free Biofuel” (Graduated Dec 2011)
  • Karishma Piler (Ph.D. – Candidate) “Synthesis and Material Characterization of TiO2 – SWCNT Nanocomposites and Their Application in Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Useful Hydrocarbons” (Graduated: Dec 2018)
  • Linh Doan (Ph.D.) “Estimating Thermodynamic Properties for the Removal of H2S Using Amine and Ionic Liquid Absorbents for Midstream Processes” (Graduated Dec 2020)
  • Yogesh Kurle (M.S.) – Thesis Title “Process Development for Triacylglycerol Conversion to a Glycerol-free Biofuel” (Graduated Dec 2011)
  • Thomas Zacharia (M.S.) – Thesis Title “Multi-metal Nanoparticle Catalyst Synthesis Using Reverse Micelle Technique” (Graduated Dec 2012)
  • Hayat Raza (M.S.) – Thesis Title “Aspen Simulation of Hydrothermal Liquefaction Process for the Conversion of Algae to Renewable Fuels and Chemicals” (Graduated May 2014)
  • Khaled Alamr (M.S.) – Thesis Title “Reactor Design and Optimization for Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide” (Graduated Aug 2014)
  • Joshua Borton (M.S.) – Thesis Title “Parametric Study for Triazabicyclodecene Catalyzed Biofuel Using High Free Fatty Acid Feedstocks” (Graduated Dec 2014)
  • Keyvan Mollaeian (M.S. Student) – Thesis Title “Layered Double Hydroxide Catalyst for the Conversion of Crude Vegetable Oils to a Sustainable Biofuel” (Graduated May 2015)
  • Frank Lopez (M.S.) – “Kinetic Evaluation of Lipid Oil Conversion to Biofuel Using Layered Double Hydroxide Doped with Triazabicyclodecene Catalyst” (Graduated Dec 2016)
  • Mihir Kulkarni (M.S.) – “Synthesis and Characterization of Supported Nickel Nanoparticles on Titanium Dioxide Using Reverse Micelles” (Graduated May 2017)
  • Ashik Mahmud (M.S.) – “A Parametric Analysis for the Formation of Nano-particle Catalyst Sites Using Reverse Micelle Synthesis Techniques” (Graduated Dec 2017)
  • Adeniji Adetayo (M.S.) – “Evaluation of the Intraparticle Mobility of Group I, II, and VIIIB Poisons in Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Catalysts Under Reaction Conditions” (Graduated Dec 2017)
  • Juan Cruz (Post Doctoral Research Associate) – Research included fundamental chemistries for the reverse micelle formation and subsequent use for nanoparticle, multi-metal catalysts