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PROF. NICKOLAS J. THEMELIS, Columbia University
Professor Emeritus, Earth
and Environmental Engineering
Director, Earth Engineering Center, Columbia University
Chairman, U.S. Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council
(WTERT)
500 West
120th St., #918 Mudd, Columbia University, New York City, N.Y.
10027
Tel: (212) 854‑2138; Fax: (212) 854‑8362; njt1@columbia.edu;
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Themelis obtained his B. Eng. (British
Association Medal for Great Distinction) and Ph.D. degrees from McGill
University (Montreal, Canada) in chemical engineering.
In the first part of his career, he was
Director of the Engineering Division of the Noranda Research Center in
Pointe Claire where he invented and helped build the first continuous
smelting and converting process, called the Noranda Process. The Noranda
process combined smelting and converting and thus allowed the capture of
sulphur dioxide for the manufacture of sulphuric acid. At present there are six Noranda
process plants operating or under construction, at Noranda (Canada), Daye
(China), Shenyang (China), Port Kembla (Australia), Altonorte (Chile),
and Hudson Bay (Canada). Since its
inception, the Noranda process has reduced sulphur emissions to the
atmosphere from copper smelting by
millions of tons.
In
1972-1980, Prof. Themelis was Vice President of Technology of Kennecott
Corp., the major no-ferrous company at that time. He was appointed as
Professor by Columbia University (New York City, U.S.A.) in 1980 and was
elected to Stanley-Thompson Chair of Chemical Metallurgy in 1988. He was chairman of the Henry Krumb
School of Mines and founded Columbia’s Earth Engineering Center in 1996 (www.columbia.edu/cu/earth). In 1995, he introduced at Columbia
University the teaching of industrial ecology to engineers and in 1997 he
led the transformation of the historic School of Mines to the new
engineering discipline of Earth and Environmental Engineering and was
first chairman of the new Department. (www.seas.columbia.edu/krumb/).
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Dr.
Themelis has been consultant to industry and government in the areas of
process design and management of technical resources. He is member of the
U.S. National Academy of Engineering, member of the New York Academy of
Sciences, Fellow of the Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society, member
of the Metallurgical Society of Canada, Fellow of the Chemical Institute
of Canada, member of International Solid Wastes Association, the U.S. Air
and Waste Management Association and the Solid Wastes Association of
North America.
Professor Themelis was appointed as
Visiting Professor at Tohoku University (1993) and at the University of
Limoges (France, summers of 1996-1999). He has been invited lecturer at
the universities of Akita, Kyoto, and Tokyo, in Japan, the universities
of Chile and Santiago (Chile), Beijing University of Iron and Steel
Technology, Technical University of Athens, Berlin and Clausthal universities (Germany),
and several U.S. and Canadian universities.
Prof.
Themelis is founder and Chairman of the Waste to Energy Research and
Technology Council (WTERT, www.columbia.edu/cu/wtert), an
international consortium of universities, companies and governmental
organizations concerned with the recovery of energy and materials from
industrial and municipal wastes.
WTERT is advancing and promoting the
recovery of energy and materials from commercial and municipal solid
wastes, instead of landfilling them. Current research work is on
integrated waste management and the design of processes for material and
energy recovery from used products (www.columbia.edu/cu/wtert). Ongoing WTERT projects are designing waste-to-energy facilities for New
York City, Athens (Greece), Ptras (Greece), Santiago (Chile) and Rio de
Janeiro (Brazil). In 2004, Prof.
Themelis directed a U.S. national survey of the generation and
disposition of municipal solid wastes generation in 2002. This survey
comprises data submitted by the solid waste departments of the fifty
states and will be repeated in 2005.
Prof. Themelis is the recipient of
several professional awards (listed below), author of nearly 200
technical papers and books and inventor of twenty one patents related to
high temperature mineral and metal processing, including the Noranda
Process for continuous copper smelting and converting.
AWARDS
·
Honorary Member of
the Japan Institute of Metals (March 2006)
·
Environmental
Conservation Distinguished Service Award of the American Institute of
Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) (March 2004).
·
ALCAN Award of
Canadian Metallurgical Society (1997) for outstanding contributions to
mining and metallurgy.
·
Best Paper Award
(Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, 2002), International Thermal Spray
Society
·
Best Paper Award,
Metallurgical Society of Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
(1993)
·
Two gold medals of
the Metallurgical Society of the American Institute of Mining and
Metallurgical Engineers (AIME) for best paper published (1968, 1970)
·
ERCO award of the
Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering (1971).
·
Best Paper Award
Canadian Metallurgical Society (1993)
·
Extractive Metallurgy
Lecturer of AIME (1972),
·
McConnell
Environmental Award of the AIME (1984)
·
Columbia University
1987 Kohnstamm Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Industrial Chemistry
·
1987 Lecturer of the
British Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (1987)
________________________________________________________________________________
LIST OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS BY NICKOLAS J. THEMELIS (2000- 2007)
1.
Lee , S.H,
Themelis, N.J., Castaldi, M.J., “High-temperature Corrosion in
Waste-to-Energy Boilers” Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, vol. 16, p.
104-11, March 2007.
2.
Themelis,
N.J. , “Global Growth of Traditional and Novel Thermal Treatment
Technologies”, Waste Management World, Review Issue 2007-2008, p.
37-47, July-August 2007.
3.
Themelis,
N.J. P. Ulloa, “Methane generation
in landfills”, Journal of Renewable Energy, 32, 2007, p. 1243-1257;
www.aseanenvironment.info/Abstract/41014160.pdf, 2006.
4.
Matthews,
E. and N.J. Themelis, “Potential for reducing global methane emissions
from landfills”. Proceedings Sardinia 2007, 11th International Waste
Management and Landfill Symposium, Cagliari, Italy, 1–5 October 2007, pp.
2000-2030, 2007.
5.
Ulloa, P., N.J. Themelis, “Doubling the
Energy Advantage of Waste-to-Energy: District Heating in the NE U.S., Proc.
NAWTEC 15, p. 29-39, Miami, May 2007.
6.
Lee, S.H., N.J. Themelis, Marco J. Castaldi,
“Combating Corrosion in WTE Facilities – Theory and Experience”, Proceedings
of NAWTEC 14, pp.175-185, May 2006.
7.
Nakamura, M., Marco J. Castaldi, N.J.
Themelis, “Numerical Analysis of Size Reduction of Municipal solid Waste
Particles on the Traveling Grate of a WTE Combustion Chamber”,
Proceedings of NAWTEC 14 Conference, pp.125-130, May 2006.
8.
Simmons, P., N. Goldstein, S.M. Kaufman, N.J.
Themelis, and J. Thompson, Jr., “The State of Garbage in America”,
BioCycle (Journal of Composting & Organic Recycling), pp. 26-42,
April 2006.
9.
Simmons, P., S.M. Kaufman, and N.J. Themelis,
“State of Garbage in America Recycling Data Analysis”, BioCycle (Journal
of Composting & Organic Recycling), October 2006, p. 21-25 (2006).
10.
Sunk, W., N.J. Themelis, “Increasing the
Quantity and Quality of Metals Recovered at Waste-to-Energy Facilities”,
Proceedings of NAWTEC 14 Conference, pp, (165-174), May 2006.
11.
Themelis, N.J., “Gas turbine co-generation
improves energy recovery from WTE plants”, Waste Management World, Review
Issue 2006-2007, pp, 97-105, August 2006.
12.
Themelis,
N.J., “The Role of WTE in MSW Management in the US” MSW Management, pp,
(142-146), September/October 2006.
13.
Themelis, N.J. and Priscilla A. Ulloa,
“Capture and Utilization of Landfill Gas”, Renewable Energy 2005, WREN,
pp, (77-81). (http://www.sovereign-publications.com/renewable-energy-art.htm).
14.
Themelis, N.J. and N.A. Anid, Mercury Emissions from
Waste-to-Energy and Coal-fired Power Plants, Proceedings NAWTEC 13,
American Soc. Mech Eng., Orlando FL, p. 203-209 (2005).
15.
Themelis, N.J., The Puzzle of Drastic Reduction of Point Source
Emissions and Continuing High Deposition of Mercury in Florida,
Proceedings NAWTEC 13, American Soc. Mech Eng., Orlando FL, p. 11-16
(2005).
16.
Krishnan, N., and N.J. Themelis, Life cycle environmental impacts
of modern landfilling and waste-to-energy, Proceedings NAWTEC 13,
American Soc. Mech Eng., Orlando FL, p, 193-201 (2005).
17.
Themelis, N.J. and Priscilla Ulloa, Capture and Utilization of
Landfill Gas, Renewable Energy 2005, World Renewable Energy Network, p. 77-81 (2005).
18.
Themelis, N.J.. “Emissions from WTE and coal-fired power plants in
the US”, Waste Management World, Jluy-August 2005 Issue, p. 119-127
(2005).
19.
Themelis, N.J., Control of
Heat Generation during Composting, BioCycle, Jan. 2005, p.28-30 (2005)
20.
Themelis, N.J., Waste Management and Waste-to-Energy in the United
States, , Proc. Recupero Energetico dei Rifuiti, Politecnico Milano,
Piacenza (Jan.31-Feb. 3 2005).
21.
Kaufman, S.M., N. Goldstein, K. Millrath, and N.J. Themelis, The
State of Garbage in America, BioCycle, January 2004, p. 31-41
22.
Themelis, N.J. and Shefali Verma, Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Waste in MSW, Waste Management
World, Jan.-Feb 2004, p. 20-24.
23.
Themelis, N.J. and C. Todd, Recycling in a Megacity, J. Air and
Waste Manage. Assoc., p. 389-395, April 2004.
24.
Themelis, N.J. and Scott M. Kaufman, Waste in a land of plenty,
Waste Management World, Sept-Oct 2004, p 23-28 (2004)
25.
Themelis, N.J. and S.M. Kaufman, State of Garbage in America-Data
and Methodology Assessment, BioCycle, April 2004, p. 22-26.
26.
Themelis, N.J., An Overview of the global waste-to-energy
industry, Waste Management World, July-Aug. 2003, p. 40-47.
27.
Themelis,N.J., Analyzing data in State of Garbage in America, EPA
reports, BioCycle 44, no. 1 (2003): 22-25.
28.
Nakamura, M, Zhang, H, Millrath, K., and Themelis, N.J., Modeling
of Waste-to Energy Combustion with Continuous Variation of the Solid
Waste Fuel, Proceedings, ASME International Congress, Washington, D.C.
(November 2003).
29.
Millrath, K., and N.J. Themelis, Current Trends in the Waste to
Energy Industry, Proc. ASME International Congress, Washington, D.C.
(November 2003).
30.
Albina, D. O. and Themelis, N. J. Emissions from Waste-to-Energy:
A Comparison with Coal-fired Power Plants. 2003 ASME International
Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 2003; (IMECE2003-55295).
31.
Klein, A. and Themelis, N. J., Energy Recovery from Municipal
Solid Wastes by
Gasification, NAWTEC 11 Proceedings, ASME International, Tampa FL (April
2003)
32.
Klein, A., Zhang, H., and N.J. Themelis, Analysis of a
Waste-To-Energy Power Plant with CO2 Sequestration, NAWTEC11 Proceedings,
ASME International, Tampa FL (April 2003), p. 263-270
33.
Millrath, K. and N.J. Themelis, Waste as a Renewable Source of
Energy, 2003 ASME International Congress (IMECE2003-55258).
34.
Nakamura, M., Zhang, H., Millrath, K., and N.J. Themelis, Modeling
of Waste-to-Energy Combustion with Continuous Variation of the Solid
Waste Fuel, 2003 ASME International Congress 2003; (IMECE2003-55342).
35.
Themelis,N.J. A New Resource: The Waste-to-Energy Research and
Technology Council, North American Waste to Energy Conference (NAWTEC 11)
Proceedings, ASME International, Tampa FL (April 2003) (2003): 241-252.
36.
Nakamura, M, Zhang, H, Millrath, K., and Themelis, N.J., Modeling
of Waste-to Energy Combustion with Continuous Variation of the Solid
Waste Fuel, Proceedings, ASME International Congress, Washington, D.C.
(November 2003).
37.
Themelis,N.J. and P.Deriziotis, Substance and perceptions of
environmental impacts of dioxin emissions, NAWTEC 11 Proceedings, Tampa
FL (April 2003) (2003): 225-230.
38.
Themelis,N.J., An overview of the global waste-to-energy industry,
Waste Management World (2003): 40-47.
39.
Klein,A., Zhang H., Themelis N.J: Analysis of a Waste-To-Energy
Power Plant with CO2 Sequestration, NAWTEC 11 Proc., Tampa FL, 263-270 (April 2003).
40.
Klein,A., Themelis N.J: Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Wastes by Gasification, NAWTEC 11 Proceedings, Tampa FL,
p.241-252 (April 2003).
41.
Themelis,N.J., Kim,Y.H., and Brady,M.H., Energy recovery from New
York City municipal solid wastes, Waste Management & Research 20, no.
3 (2002): 223-233.
42.
Themelis,N.J., Integrated Management of Solid Wastes for New York
City, NAWTEC 10 Proceedings, Philadelphia, (April 2002) (2002).
43.
Themelis, N.J. and Gregory, A., Mercury Emissions from High
Temperature Sources in Hudson Basin, Proceedings NAWTEC 10, ASME
International, p. 205-215 (May 2002).
44.
Themelis,N.J., The
environmental impacts: Assessing waste-to-energy and landfilling in the
US, Waste Management World (2002): 35-41.
45.
Themelis,N.J. and Young Hwan Kim,. Material and Energy Balances in
a Large-scale Anaerobic Bioconversion Cell, Waste Management and Research
(2002): 234-242.
46.
Themelis, N.J., Steven Cohen, and Greg Frankel, Life After Fresh
Kills: Moving Beyond New York City’s Current Waste Management Plan,
Engineering and Public Affairs Joint report to Mayor M. Bloomberg,
December 2001, 66 pages.
47.
N.J. Themelis and A.F. Gregory, Sources and Material Balance of
Mercury in the NY-NJ Harbor, New York Academy of Sciences, Nov. 2001.
48.
T. H. Wakeman, N.J. Themelis, A basin-wide approach to dredged
material management in New York/New Jersey Harbor, J. Hazardous
Materials, 85, pp 1-13, 2001.
49.
B. Dussoubs, A Vardelle, G. Mariaux, N.J. Themelis, Modeling of plasma
spraying of two powders, J.of Thermal Spray Technology, March 2001, 10,
No.1, pp.105-110.
50.
M. Vardelle,
A.Vardelle, P.Fauchais, K-I. Li, N.J. Themelis, Controlling particle
injection in plasma spraying, Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, June
2001, 10, no 2, pp 267-286. (002 Best Paper Award of International
Thermal Spray Society).
51.
Vardelle, H. Zhang, N.J. Themelis, Modeling of in-flight oxidation
and evaporation of plasma-sprayed iron articles, Proceedings, 15th International
Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, 9-13 July 2001, Orléans, France, vol 2, pp
311-318.
52.
N.J. Themelis and Y.H. Kim, Energy Recovery: An essential tool of integrated waste management,
Proc. 33rd Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Wastes Conference,
Manhattan College, 2001, p.89-103.
53.
N.J. Themelis and H.Y. Kim, A re-usable landfill: The Aerobic
bioconversion cell, Proc. 33rd Mid-Atlantic Ind. and Hazardous Wastes
Conference, Manhattan College, 2001, p. 124-129.
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