Biochemical Engineering

In the area of biochemical engineering, Professor Parulekar's research deals with production of extracellular and intracellular enzymes/proteins by recombinant and wildtype microorganisms, production of biochemicals using immobilized cell reactors, animal cell cultivations, and biodegradation of agrowaste-based polymeric products.

The research with recombinant organisms is aimed at gaining a fundamental understanding of hostplasmid interactions in these species and the effect of these interactions on plasmid replication, cell growth, and product gene expression. His research with wildtype microorganisms is directed toward understanding the mechanism of synthesis of extracellular enzymes such as amylases and proteases. The research dealing with immobilized cell reactors is focused on the study of alteration in cellular metabolism due to immobilization and implications of such alteration in the design of these reactors. The research with animal cell cultivations is concerned with shear sensitivity of animal cells, its implications in metabolic activities of animal cells, and identification of operating strategies for optimal production of desired metabolites in animal cell cultures. The research with agrowaste-based polymeric products is focused on studying the biodegradability characteristics of these products using enzyme mixtures, suspension and immobilized cultures of cell species responsible for biodegradation, soil columns, and understanding the kinetic and transport effects.

Chemical Reaction Engineering

In the area of chemical reaction engineering, his research is concerned with identification of optimal reactor structures for complex reaction networks and investigation of forced periodic operation of continuous flow (CSTR and tubular) reactors. Experimental investigation of production of acetylene, ethylene, ethane, and higher hydrocarbons via oxidative pyrolysis of methane and halomethanes in flow reactors is currently under investigation. The theoretical counterpart of this research is concerned with the development of detailed chemical kinetic models for this process.

Singh, D., V.R. Mandalika, S.J. Parulekar, and A.S. Wagh, "Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Ceramic for 99Tc Immobilization," J. Nucl. Mat. (in press).

Parulekar, S.J., “Numerical Problem Solving in Undergraduate Reaction Engineering,” Chem. Eng. Ed. (in press).

Parulekar, S.J., “Reflections on Project-Based Learning in Graduate Courses”, Chem. Eng. Ed. , 38(4), 262-267 (2004).

Cinar, A., S.J. Parulekar, C. Undey, and G. Birol, “Batch Fermentation: Modeling, Monitoring, and Control,” ISBN: 0-8247-4034-3, Marcel Dekker, New York (2003).

Parulekar, S.J., “Optimal Forced Periodic Operations of Continuous Processes,” Chem. Eng. Sci. , 58, 5173-5194 (2003).

Benedict, D.J., S.J. Parulekar, and S-P. Tsai, “Esterification of Lactic Acid and Ethanol With/Without Pervaporation,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. , 42, 2282-2291 (2003).

Birol, I. , S.J. Parulekar, and F. Teymour, “Effect of Environment Partitioning on the Survival and Coexistence of Autocatalytic Replicators,” Phys. Rev. E, 66, 051916 (1-19) (2002).

Khalili, N.R., J.D. Vyas, W. Weangkaew, S. Wastefall, S.J. Parulekar, and R. Sherwood, “Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbon and Bioactive Sorbent Produced from Paper Mill Sludge,” Sep. Purif. Technol., 26, 295-304 (2002).

Birol, G., C. Undey, S.J. Parulekar, and A. Cinar, “A Morphologically Structured Model for Penicillin Production,” Biotechnol. Bioeng., 77, 538-552 (2002).

Parulekar, S.J., "Forced Periodic Operations of Continuous Recombinant Cell Cultures Subject to Antibiotic Selection Pressure," Chem. Eng. Sci. , 56, 6463-6484 (2001).

Alkhateeb, M., S.J. Parulekar, J.R. Selman, and S. Al-Hallaj, “Macrohomogeneous Modeling of Porous SOFC Electrodes,” The Ninth International Sy mp osium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC-IX), Quebec City , Canada (May 2005).

Chen, H-M., S.J. Parulekar, and A. Zdunek, “Degradation Study of a Copper Electroplating Bath by Electrochemical I mp edance Spectroscopy,” 207 th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, Quebec City , Canada (May 2005).

Parulekar, S.J., “ Modeling of Co mp artmentalized Processes,” British Petroleum Innovene Research Center , Naperville , IL (May 2005).

Parulekar, S.J., “Ethanol-Based Esterification of Lactic and Succinic Acids with Pervaporation - Analysis and Experiments,” Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, I mp erial College , London , United Kingdom (August 2005).

Parulekar, S.J., “Recent Experiences with Co mp artmentalized Processes,” Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , United Kingdom (August 2005).

Alkhateeb, M., S.J. Parulekar, J.R. Selman, and S. Al-Hallaj, “Macrohomogeneous Modeling of SOFC Electrodes,” The 56 th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, Busan, Korea (September 2005).

Chen, H-M., S.J. Parulekar, and A. Zdunek, “An Electrochemical I mp edance Spectroscopy Study of Chloride and 3-Mercapto-1-Propane Sulfonic Acid Interactions in Acidic Copper Electroplating Bath,” AIChE 2005 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH (November 2005).

Parulekar, S.J. and P. Ingle, “Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Commensalistic Cultures with Kinetic Feedback,” AIChE 2005 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati , OH (November 2005).

Parulekar, S.J. and P. Ingle, “The Influence of Kinetic and Spatial Segregation on Fate of Commensalistic Cultures,” AIChE 2005 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati , OH (November 2005).

Alkhateeb, M., S.J. Parulekar, J.R. Selman, and S. Al-Hallaj, “Macrohomogeneous Modeling of SOFC: Analysis of Dry Methane Fuel,” AIChE 2005 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati , OH (November 2005).

Parulekar, S.J., “Numerical Problem Solving in Undergraduate Reaction Engineering,” AIChE 2005 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati , OH (November 2005)