University of Oklahoma || College of Engineering

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL

Current
Conoco/DuPont Professor,
George Lynn Cross Research Professor,
School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering

Education
B.A., Texas A&M University (1974);
M.Div., Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (1977);
M.S. Texas A&M University (1979);
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin (1983);

Experience

Associate Dean of Engineering, The University of Oklahoma (1998-2005)
Director, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, The University of Oklahoma (1991-1998)
Professor of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Oklahoma (1992 to Present)
Program Director, Interfacial, Transport and Separation Processes Program, The National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. (July 1988 to July 1989)
Principal, SouthWest NanoTechnologies, LLC, Norman, Oklahoma, (2003 to Present)
Principal, Surbec Environmental, LLC., Norman, Oklahoma (1996 to Present)
Principal and President, Surfactant Associates, Inc., Norman, Oklahoma (1987 to Present)
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Oklahoma (1987 to 1992)
Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Oklahoma (1982 to 1987)

CONTACT
jharwell@ou.edu
(405) 325-4375
Institute for Applied Surfactant Research
Surfactant Associates, Inc.
Surbec Environmental, LLC.
Southwest Nanotechnologies, Inc.

Research Interests

Almost all of my research concerns surfactants and colloid science; much of it is directly related to applications. I am very interested in seeing people use what I have discovered or developed. Consequently, the importance of surfactants and colloid science in many different industrial applications involves me in a variety of technologies.

My research ranges from applied areas such as environmental remediation (in-situ ground water remediation) or polymer composites (modification fillers and reinforcers by admicellar polymerization), to basic areas such as microemulsion theory and surfactant precipitation, which support the large number of industries that utilize surfactants. Applications of my research range from remediation of ground water contaminated by fuels or solvents, to novel materials for new tire treads, to improved cleaning formulations. All of these topics are connected through the importance of surfactants in controlling interfacial properties in engineering systems.

Recently I have found myself being drawn into nanotechnology research, especially in the area of fullerene nanotubes and nanotube reinforced composites. Surfactants will play critical roles in the evolution of this technology, from catalyst preparation, to dispersal of nanotubes in a matrix, to development of the separations processes required to produce commercial quantities of fullerene nanotubes.

Selected Publications (2004 to 2005)

E.A. Acosta, T. Nguyen, A. Witthayapanyanon, J.H. Harwell, D.A. Sabatini, “Linker-based Bio-compatible Microemulsions,” Environ. Sci Technol., 39(5), 1275-1282, 2005.

J.L. Salager, R.E. Anton, D.A. Sabatini, J.H. Harwell, E.J. Acosta, L. I. Tolosa, “Enhancing Solubilization in Microemulsions – State of the Art and Current Trends,” J. Surfactants and Detergents, 8(1), 3-21, 2005.

E. Szekeres, E. Acosta., D.A. Sabatini, J.H. Harwell, “Preferential Solubilization of Dodecanol from Dodecanol-Limonene Binary Oil Mixture in Sodium Dihexyl Sulfosuccinate Microemulsions: Effect on Optimum Salinity and Oil Solubilization Capacity Corresponding,” J. Colloid Interface Sci., 287, 273-287, 2005.

J.F. Scamehorn, J.H. Harwell, “Precipitation in Surfactant Mixtures,” in Mixed Surfactant System, M. Abe and J.F. Scamehorn, Eds., Marcel Dekker, New York, Chapter 18, pages 601-655, 2005.

J.D. Childs, E. Acosta, R.C. Knox, J.H. Harwell, D.A. Sabatini, “Improving the Extraction of Tetrachloroethylene from Soil Columns Using Surfactant Gradient Systems,” J. Contam. Hydrol., 71(1-4), 27-45, 2004.

N.P. Hankins, J.H. Harwell, “Application of Coherence Theory to a Reservoir Enhanced Oil Recovery Simulator,” J. Petrol. Sci. Engr., 42(1), 29-55, 2004.

E. Szekeres, D.A. Sabatini, J.H. Harwell, “A Two-State Model for Selective Solubilization of Benzene-Limonene Mixture in Sodium Dihexyl Sulfosuccinate Microemulsion,” Langmuir, 20(16), 6560-6569, 2004.

E. Acosta, J.H. Harwell, D.A. Sabatini, “Self-Assembly in Linker Modified Microemulsions,” J. Colloid Interface Sci., 274(2), 652-664, 2004.

J.H. O'Haver, R. Walk, B. Kitiyanan, J.H. Harwell, and D.A. Sabatini, “Packed Column and Hollow Fiber Air Stripping of a contaminant-Surfactant Stream”, Journal of Environmental Engineering , 130(1), 4-12, 2004.

Jeffrey H. Harwell

Research Interests

Selected Publications (2004 to 2005)