Current Projects

Project Title Development of In-Motion Pyrolysis Systems for Biochar Incorporation.
Role Principal-Investigator
Funding Agency Shell International Exploration and Production, Inc.
Funding Amount $800,000
Duration September 1, 2022 – 31 August 2025

 

Project Title Testing Agreement: Conversion of Landfill Wastes into Biofuels and Power
Role Principal-Investigator
Funding Agency eAI Institute, Houston, Texas
Funding Amount $750,000
Duration December 2021 – December 2023

 

Project Title Testing Agreement: Design and Development of Gasification and Anaerobic Digestion System for Dairy and Feedlot Manure in Hereford, Texas
Role Principal-Investigator
Funding Agency Frontier Energy, LLC (c/o Cole Mitchell, Austin, Texas)
Funding Amount $60,000/year for 2 years.
Duration August 2021– August 2023

 

Title:

Operation and Maintenance of a TCEQ Air Monitoring Station (PM2.5) in the Bryan-College Station Area
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)/US EPA Air Monitoring Site Project
Total Funding Amount: [$26,159/for year 1; $27,959 for year 2 and $27,959 for Year 3]
Date: September 2020 –2025
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI’s:  None

 

Title: Development of Small Wind Power Generation Systems for Rural Applications (Robert S. Conley Wind Energy Endowment)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Robert S. Conley Wind Energy Endowment
Amount: [$50,000 Endowment+$68,907 Interest] Responsible for $68,907
Date: September 2005 – Present

 

Past Projects (Mixed)

Project Title Design of a Fluidized Bed Gasification System for Power Generation for Deployment at a Military Facility in Austin, Texas (Camp Mabry Army Base) Using Wood Pallets
Role Principal-Investigator
Funding Agency LoCoal, LLC, Austin, Texas (c/o Miles Murray and Petey Peterson)
Funding Amount $150,000
Duration November 2020 – August 2021

 

Project Title Advanced Solar Energy-Assisted Water Desalination System in High Salinity and Brackish Water Areas with Controlled Greenhouse for Sustainable Agriculture: A Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Nexus Project
Role US Principal-Investigator (Egypt PI – Dr. Mohamed R. O. Ali, Minia University) US Co-PI: Dr. Rabi Mohtar and Dr. Mustafa Akbulut
Funding Agency US: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) and Egypt: Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF)
Funding Amount US: $173,383; Egypt: $106,185; Total: $279,568
Duration March 2018 – February 2021

 

Title: Development of Simple and Quick Measurement Techniques to Update the PM Emission Factors for Dairies and Feedlots in Texas While Evaluating the Current Levels of Pathogens in Collected Dust Samples
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: State Initiative
Total Funding Amount: [$88,639/for year 1 and $88,652 for year 2]
Date: September 2020 –2022
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI’s:  Dr. Zong Liu

 

Project Title Determination of Cumulative PM2.5 Emission Factors for Agricultural Operations Using Primary PM2.5 Fraction and CMAC Modeling of Secondary PM2.5
Role Co-Principal-Investigator
PI Dr. Calvin B. Parnell, Jr.
Co-PI Russell McGee
Funding Agency Texas State Air Quality Program (TSAQP)
Funding Amount Year 1: $61,267; Year 2: 61,267 Responsible for $20,000
Duration 1 September 2019 – 30 August 2021

 

Title: Demonstration of Water Purification/Treatment/Recycling and Power Generation with Net Metering in a Commercial-Sized University Dairy Operated by the Dairy Industry
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: USDA-NRCS-CIG Grant, Washington, DC
Total Funding Amount: $783,283 Responsible for $633,283
Date: September 29, 2014 – September 30, 2016
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Mark Gillman, Global Restoration, Inc

 

Past Projects (Energy, Competitive)

 

Title: Sustainable Feedstock Production for Bioenergy
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Sungrant SouthCentra Region
Total Funding Amount: $162,000: Assigned to SCC: $25,000
Date: October 2012-September 2015
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Clyde Munster

 

Title: Optimizing the Logistics of a Mobile Fast Pyrolysis System for Sustainable Bio-Crude Oil Production
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: SUNGRANT Initiatives, North Central Region
Amount: $890,862 Responsible for ($306,199+$306,199=$612,398)
Date: July 2009 – December 2012
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Clyde Munster, Tony Provin, Don Vietor, Marco Palma, Sandun Fernando

 

Title: Production of JP-8 (Aviation Fuel) from Lignocellulosic Biomass
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: US Department of Defense (DOD)
Amount: $2,300,916; Responsible for ($189,221+$186,498=$375,719)
Date: January 2008 – December 2011
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Mark Holtzapple

 

Title: Development of Skid Mounted Gasification System for Heat and Power Generation
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: SUNGRANT Initiatives, South Central Region
Amount: $279,368: Responsible for ($140,488+$93,726+$45,154)
Date: September 2007 – August 2010
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s:  Co-PI: Dr. Farmer (Texas Tech) and Dr. Theegala (LSU)

 

Title: Root Cause Analysis of Changes in NOx Emissions Due to Biodiesel Combustion in Diesel Engines
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
Amount: $600,000: Responsible for $169,758
Date: October 2007 – September 2009
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Dr. Tim Jacobs, ME, TAMU

 

Title: Demonstration of an Advanced Thermal Gasification and Digestion of Animal Manure to Useful Fuel
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: USDA/NRCS/CIG Grant
Amount: $60,000; Responsible for $17,142
Date: July 2007 – May 2009
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Dr. Mukhtar and Dr. Engler

 

Title: Economic Viability of Alternative Bioenergy Feed stocks and Ethanol Production Systems in Texas Under Alternative Policy Provisions 
Role: Collaborator
Funding Agency: Texas Agri-Life Research/Texas Legislature
Amount: None to Co-PI
Date: March 2008 – February 2009
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Dr. James Richardson

 

Earmark Research Projects

 

Title: Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability Using Biomass from Dairy and Beef Animal Production Facilities.
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: DOE
Amount: $3M/yr spread over 5 years: Responsible for $328,994
Date: 2005-2010
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s:  PI: Dr. Annamalai

 

Title: Bioenergy Alliance High-Tonnage Bioenergy Crop Production and Conversion into Conventional Fuels
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: USDOE
Amount: $3,000,000 for 3 years: Responsible for ($65,251+$88,567+$81,243 = $235,061)
Date: June 2008 – May 2011
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s:  PI: Dr. Mark Holtzapple

 

Air Quality Project, Multi-Institutional/Multi-PI: Competitive

 

Title: Air Quality: Odor, Dust and Gaseous Emissions from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in the Southern Great Plains
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: USDA-CSREES
Amount: Total:$2.1M: Responsible for ($22,106+$30,806+$23,123+$29,900 +$30,000+35,000+$23,968=$194,903)
Date: 2005-2010 and 2013
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Dr. John Sweeten

 

Title: Improvements of PM10 Emission Factors for Almond Harvesting
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Almond Board of California
Amount: $24,337 (2003); $28,000 (2004) $38,365 (2005); $83,174 ($40,592, 2006); $83,861 ($27,384, 2007); 82,151 ($41,612, 2008); (05-09 total = $200,290)
Date: July 2003 – 2009
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Dr. Parnell, Jr.

 

Past Research Project (Mixed Sources; Industry, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, etc.)

 

Title: Integrated and Consolidated Processes for Biofuel Using Low Lignin Sorghum Feedstock
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas A&M AgriLife Research Seed Grant
Amount: $200,000 Responsible for $20,000
Date: September 2013 – August 30, 2015
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s:  PI: Dr. Joshua Yuan, TAMU

 

Title: Gasification of Dairy Manure for Power Generation
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas A&M AgriLife Research Seed Grant
Amount: $100,000
Date: September 2013 – August 30, 2014

 

Title: Pyrolysis of Biosolids (Wastewater Sludge)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Arriba Energy, Houston, Texas
Date: 2013-2014

 

Title: Development of Refinery-Grade Biooil with Consistent Properties Using Blended Feedstocks
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas Agri-Life Research Bio-energy Initiatives Program
Amount: $200,000 Responsible for ($85,000+85,000)
Date: September 2011 – August 2013
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Drs. Sandun Fernando, Clyde Munster, Tony Provin, and Marco Palma

 

Title: Gasification of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) Demonstration
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: SDL Citadel Global, LLC, Dallas, Texas
Date: 2012 – 2013

 

Title: National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bio-Products (NAABBP)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: USDOE
Amount: $44 Million: Responsible for $148,988
Date: January 2010 – December 2012
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Dr. Jose Olivares

 

Title: Fluidized Bed Gasification of Urban Waste (Municipal Solid Wastes MSW) for Electrical Power Production
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: SDL Citadel Global, LLC, Dallas, Texas
Date: September 2011 – August 2012

 

Title: Enhancing the Quality of Marketable Products from Mobile Fast Pyrolysis of Ligno-Cellulosic Biomass
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas A&M AgriLife Research Bioenergy Initiatives Program
Amount: $100,000 (2009-2010); $100,000 (2010-2011) Responsible for

$43,000 YR1 + $45,000 YR2
Date: September 2009 – August 30, 2011
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Dr. Munster, Dr. Fernando

 

Title: Development of Switchgrass and Rice Cultivars for Bio-energy Feedstock
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas Agri-Life Research Bio-energy Initiatives Program
Amount: $198,119 Responsible for ($14,000)
Date: September 2009 – August 2011
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Dr. Rodante E. Tabien

 

Title: Benefits of Onsite Energy Production (from Cotton Gin Trash)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Cotton Incorporated
Amount: $50,000 Responsible for ($30,000)
Date: September 2010 – August 2011
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Calvin B. Parnell, Jr.

 

Title: Upgrade of BETA Lab Online Gas Analyzers
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Permanent University Funds (PUF-COALS)
Amount: $12,500
Date: Sept 2008 – August 2010

 

Title: Development of Mobile Fast Pyrolysis Technology
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Permanent University Funds (PUF-COALS)
Amount: $70,000
Date: Sept 2009 – August 2010

 

Title: Upgrade of Beta Lab Ethanol Fermentation System
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Permanent University Funds (PUF-COALS)
Amount: $25,000
Date: Sept 2008 – August 2009

 

Title: Gasification of Rice Straw
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Chevron, CA
Date: 2009-2010

 

Title: Upgrade of BAEN Dynamometer Lab
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Permanent University Funds (PUF-COALS)
Amount: $15,000
Date: Sept 2007 – August 2008

 

Title: Gasification of Cotton Gin Trash for Heat and Power Generation
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Cotton Foundation
Amount: $15,000; 15,000; 11,250
Date: Sept 2005 – August 2008

 

Title: Manufacture of Biodiesel and Biodiesel Blends from Cottonseed Oil and Evaluation of Exhaust Emissions and Improving Cold Flow Properties
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas Department of Agriculture
Amount: $11,690 Responsible for ($8,240)
Date: September 2006- August 2007
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: PI: Dr. Muhammad S. Alam (FPRDC)

 

Title: Upgrade of Waters High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Permanent University Funds (PUF-COALS)
Amount: $6,000
Date: Sept 2006 – August 2007

 

Title: Gasification of Wood Chips
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Mississippi State University c/o Dr. Lester Pordesimo
Amount: $2,000
Date: 2008-2009

 

Title: Oil Seed Press for Biodiesel Project
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Bruce Roth
Amount: $2,000
Date: 2007 –2008

 

Title: Gasification of Chicken Manure
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: American Heat and Power, LLC c/o Dr. Dareen Habetz
Amount: $5,000
Date: 2007 –2008

 

Title: Development of an Innovative Protocol to Determine Reactive Organic Gases (ROG) in Animal Farms
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA)
Amount: $16,000
Date: October 2004 – December 2005

 

Teaching Related Projects

 

Title: Preparing Underrepresented Scholars for Challenges in Bioenergy Systems Engineering and Sustainability – A Research and Leadership PhD Program
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: USDA, Washington, DC
Amount: $234,000+$58,500
Date: September 2012 – August 2013
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Drs. Clyde Munster, Sandun Fernando, Don Vietor, Tony Provin and Manuel Pina

 

Title: Sloan Fellowship for Underrepresented Minorities
Role: Mentor and Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Sloan Foundation, New York
Amount: $34,000/student x 3 students
Date: September 2012 – August 2013
Other PI’s./Co-PI’s: Co-PI: Dr. Clyde Munster and Dr. Patricia Smith

 

 

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