For more information
To learn more about the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of South Carolina, call or mail us at:
The University of South Carolina
Department of Chemical Engineering
2C02, Swearingen Engineering Center
301 South Main Street
Columbia, SC 29208
Ph 803.777.4181
Fax 803.777.8265
Maps:
USC campus
Columbia, SC
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Michael A. Matthews
Professor and Chair
Adjunct Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
The Matthews research group works on understanding thermodynamic, transport, and kinetic behavior of solvents and materials that may promote more green and sustainable methods of chemical and material manufacturing.
With funding from the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering), Matthews directs a Bioengineering Research Partnership team of three universities that is investigating the mechanisms by which supercritical carbon dioxide-based solvents sterilize bacterial spores. The potential application is low temperature, non-toxic methods for sterilizing and cleaning novel temperature sensitive biomaterials.
Professor Matthews and Professor Weidner are supported by the National Science Foundation to investigate novel, low-temperature electro-organic synthesis of specialty chemicals using ionic liquids as the solvent and electrolyte. This may provide means to eliminate environmentally-harmful solvents and decrease the energy required for chemical manufacturing.
The Department of Energy and Department of Defense are funding research on the low-temperature gas/solid hydrolysis of chemical hydrides to produce hydrogen for fuel cell applications.
Matthews also leads a large NSF educational project (the Research Communications Studio) on behalf of the department and college, investigating the cognitive development of undergraduate and graduate students who work in collaborative teams. Matthews and collaborators in engineering and liberal arts are developing effective tools for mentoring education and cognitive development by focusing on the various kinds of communications required in a research team.
Education
- Ph. D., Texas A&M University (1986)
- B. S., Texas A&M University (1979)
Selected Publications
- "Electrochemically Generated Superoxide Ion in Ionic Liquids: Applications to Green Chemistry", I. M. AlNashef, M. A. Matthews, and J. W. Weidner, “Ionic Liquids as Green Solvents: Progress and Prospects.” R. D. Rogers and K. R. Seddon, Eds. ACS Symposium Series 856, 2003. American Chemical Society, Washington DC.
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"Diffusion Coefficients of Methyl Orange in Dense Carbon Dioxide with the Micelle-forming Surfactant Dehypon Ls-54", James M. Becnel and Michael A. Matthews. J. Chem. Eng. Data, 48(6), 1413-1417 (2003).
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"Equilibrium and Kinetics Properties of p-Dichlorobenzene and Toluene on Silica Gel in Dense CO2 by Chromatography Analysis", Xiaoning Yang and Michael A. Matthews, Chemical Engineering Journal, 93, 163-172 (2003).
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"Superoxide Electrochemistry in an Ionic Liquid", I. M. AlNashef, M. L. Leonard, M. A. Matthews, and J. W. Weidner, I&EC Research, 41 (18), 4475-4478 (2002).
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"Production of Hydrogen from Chemical Hydrides via Hydrolysis with Steam", R. Aiello, J. H. Sharp, and M. A. Matthews, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 24(12), 1123-1130, 1999.
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