Start date
September 2011

Email
pascalaa@mcmaster.ca

Education
B.Sc. Chemical and Process Engineering, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago (2005 - 2008)

Work Experience
Process Engineer - BHP Billiton (2008-2011)
University Intern (Engineering) - BHP Billiton (May - August 2007)
University Intern (Projects) - BHP Billiton (May - August 2006)

Research Title
Semicontinuous Biomass to Dimethyl ether production

Research Objectives
Dimethyl ether (DME) is a clean fuel which can be used as a fuel additive or alternative to diesel and liquefied petroleum gas. This clean fuel when produced from biomass is of considerable interest as it presents both a solution to mitigating climate change and reducing dependency on petroleum fuels. However, the process by which it DME is produced form biomass must be economical for its use as a fuel.

Semicontinuous separation systems which allow for the combination of multiple separation steps using a single distillation column integrated with one or more middle vessels have shown to be economical at intermediate production rates. The goal of our research is to develop a dynamic model and control system for the semicontinuous process and use it to help assess its profitability and commercial suitability.

MACC Publications

• Pascall, A., Adams, T. A. II Semicontinuous separation of bio-dimethyl ether from a vapor-liquid mixture, Ind Eng Chem Res,, 53 5081-5102 (2014) [ Publisher Version ]
• Pascall, A., Adams, T. A. II Semicontinuous separation of dimethyl ether (DME) produced from biomass., Can J Chem Eng,, 91 1001-1021 (2013) [ Publisher Version ]
• Adams, T. A. II, Pascall, A. Semicontinuous thermal separation systems, Chemical Engineering & Technology,, 35 (7) 1153-1170 (2012) [ Publisher Version ]