Jeff is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University working in the laboratory of his advisor, Professor Menachem Elimelech. He is expected to graduate with his doctorate in chemical engineering by May of 2007.
Prior to attending Yale, Jeff completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Dayton in Dayton, OH. During his time there, he participated in the cooperative education program, working at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and YSI, Inc. His research covered the areas of thin film tribology and characterization, biosensor development for glucose measurement, and water quality sensors for automated remote water quality monitoring.
Jeff began his research career at Yale with semester long projects with Professor Gary Haller and Professor Elimelech. With Professor Haller, Jeff synthesized and characterized carbon nanotubes using MCM-41. In his first project with Professor Elimelech, under the mentorship of now Professor Long Nghiem, Jeff conducted research on the removal mechanisms of endocrine disrupting chemicals with nanofiltration membranes.
Since the summer of 2003, Jeff has been conducting research on forward osmosis (FO) processes, most notably for desalination. Yale's novel ammonia carbon dioxide forward osmosis desalination process, developed and patented by fellow Yale Ph.D. student, Rob McGinnis, may be a reasonable alternative to more traditional, but energy intensive, desalination technologies such as multi-stage flash distillation (MSF) and reverse osmosis (RO). This membrane process relies on the use of a concentrated 'draw' solution, which has a higher osmotic pressure than the saline water feed. Water transports across a semi-permeable membrane by osmosis and into this draw solution, which is comprised of dissolved ammonia and carbon dioxide gases. These gases are then removed from the solution using low temperature stream stripping, yielding potable water.
Jeff's work at Yale has focused on characterizing the membrane transport phenomenon in FO, particularly the concept known as internal concentration polarization (CP). Internal CP has a detrimental effect on FO performance (water flux and salt rejection) and must be minimized if any osmotic process is to become economically viable. Jeff's experimental work has combined with a modeling effort, leading to suggestions of how future FO membranes should be designed.
Associated with the above work, a pilot scale FO demonstration plant is to be built and tested by Spring of 2007. This plant will include both the membrane separation step and the draw solute recovery by means of a reboiler stripper. The plant will produce 250 gallons of fresh water per day from a seawater feed source. Pictures of the plant can be viewed here.
Jeff has also been working on other aspects and uses of foward osmosis. In conjunction with Professor Sangyoup Lee, Professor Esperanza María García Castelló, and Dr. Baoxia Mi, the fouling propensity in FO processes has been explored. Also with Professor Castelló, Jeff has done some work on possible uses of FO in the food industry.
Jeff's other research activities are conducted in the area of osmotic power generation. Pressure retarded osmosis is a process that essentially converts osmotic pressure to electrical energy. In conjunction with his colleagues at Yale, Jeff has been involved with designing and patenting novel PRO technology.
McCutcheon, J. R., McGinnis, R. L., and Elimelech, M. "The Ammonia-Carbon Dioxide Foward Osmosis Process", Water Conditioning and Purification, Vol. 48, #10, Oct. 2006. PDF File
McCutcheon, J. R. and Elimelech, M. "Influence of concentrative and dilutive internal concentration polarization on flux behavior in forward osmosis", Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 284, 2006, pages 237-247. PDF File
McCutcheon, J. R., McGinnis, R. L., and Elimelech, M. "Desalination by Ammonia-Carbon Dioxide Forward Osmosis: Influence of Draw and Feed Solution Concentrations on Process Performance", Journal of Membrane Science, Vol.278, 2006, pages 114-123. PDF File
Gray, G., McCutcheon, J. R., and Elimelech, M. "Internal concentration polarization in forward osmosis: role of membrane orientation", Desalination, Vol. 197, 2006, pages 1-8. PDF File
McCutcheon, J. R., McGinnis, R. L., and Elimelech, M. "A Novel Ammonia-Carbon Dioxide Forward (Direct) Osmosis Desalination Process", Desalination, Vol. 174, 2005, pages 1-11. PDF File
Nghiem, L. D., McCutcheon, J. R., Schäfer, A. I., and Elimelech, M. "The role of endocrine disruptors in water recycling: risk or mania?", Water Science and Technology, Vol. 50, 2004, pages 215-220. PDF File
McGinnis, R. L., McCutcheon, J. R., Cerutti, D., Elimelech, M. Ammonia-Carbon Dioxide Osmotic Heat Engine for the Conversion of Low Grade Heat into Electricity. PCT. Pat Appl, Nov. 2006.
Chemistry, Energy, and the Environment, CHM 103, teaching assistant - Professor John Tully
Physical Chemistry, CHM 332, teaching assistant - Professor Charles Schmuttenmaer
Physical and Chemical Processes in Environmental Engineering, CME 624a, substitute lecturer - Professor Menachem Elimelech
Environmental Transport Processes, ENVE 372a, substitute lecturer - Professor Menachem Elimelech
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
North American Membrane Society
