Curriculum Vitae
Edward
W. Funk, Ph.D.
Chemical Engineering Consutant / Expert Witness
676 DeTamble Avenue
Highland Park, IL 60035
Ph 847-433-5659
ewf@ewfconsulting.net
Education
B.S., Engineering & Applied Science, Yale College
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Present Professional
President
EWF Consulting, Inc. 1992 - present
Expert witness on patent infringement and process/product liability cases with law firms. Cases include trade secret issues involving chemicals (epichlorohydrin, NutraSweet®, new HFC compounds, polymeric resins, metal-cleaning formulations, etc.). Experience includes expert reports, declarations, depositions, arbitration, and trial testimony.
Consulting on new process technology for chemical companies and national laboratories. Examples include membrane processes, catalytic reactors, advanced separation processes, novel green technology, and evaluation of emerging companies. Also author of 12 multi-client studies with “The Catalyst Group” on topics including membrane reactors, metal-organic frameworks for new catalysts and adsorbents, novel separations, process intensification, inorganic membranes, CO2 management.
Previous Experience
Professor of Chemical Engineering
University of Illinois, 1992-2008
Teaching of process design. This is the capstone, year-long course for seniors; student groups under my direction examined over 200 chemical processes using professional software for process modeling (Aspen, ChemCAD), and pinch analysis for design of heat exchanger networks. The design course I developed included financial analysis of processes using DCF concepts, input-output statistical and game-theory techniques, risk analysis, safety and environmental issues. Taught effective oral and written communication.
Manager of Chemical Process Technology
UOP > Signal Cos. > Allied-Signal > Honeywell, 1982-1992
Responsible for the commercial development of new products in the areas of petrochemicals, polymers, membranes and films, environmental processes, and chemical processing, and novel process systems.
This work led to new membranes, surface–modified films, ozone-friendly fluorocarbons (HFC 134a), and extraction processes for treating contaminated soils, conducting polymer resins, carbon molecular sieves, etc.
- Managed the advanced technology for UOP division of Honeywell, the process technology affiliate of Honeywell. This included petroleum processes and process technology in the food and related industries.
- Led the design effort that identified new commercial applications for oxygen-enrichment membranes and ultrafiltration processes for food processing.
- Lead technology manager in the Dow/Honeywell patent infringement suit, which resulted in a $30 million award to Honeywell.
- Project Manager for a $5 million Department of Energy contract on the development of energy saving membrane processes. The yield from this contract included the first commercial processes for hydrocarbon separations, and a gas-membrane process for removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas.
- Obtained for Honeywell R&D contracts from NASA and Los Alamos and established joint R&D projects with Kraft and Procter & Gamble.
Senior Research Engineer
Corporate Research, ExxonMobil, 1973-1982
- Established a new program on the extraction of oil from Canadian tar sands and obtained the key patents. Directed the laboratory studies, developed unique software for process analysis, and built a small-scale demonstration unit.
- Developed new test methods for the characterization of asphaltenes, lubricating oils, and synthetic fuels.
- Served as the principal engineer in the investigation of potential uses of supercritical fluid technology within Exxon's business units.
- Was lead engineer of the engineering/chemistry team that commercialized Exxon's FLEXSORB process for the use of aqueous tertiary amines for removal of acid gases from natural gas.
Technology Fellow
Ford Foundation, Chile 1971-1973
Professor Universidad Tecnica del Estado. Consultant to SOQUIMICH, manager of Chilean nitrate and copper assets.
Professional Activities
Author of 40 technical papers and 35 presentations at technical meetings, national laboratories and industrial research centers. Author of six U.S. patents.
Publications / Presentations / Patents
- Funk, E.W., and Prausnitz, J.M., "Thermodynamic Properties of Liquid Mixtures: Aromatic-Saturated Hydrocarbon Systems," Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 9, 8 (1970)
- Thermodynamic Properties of Aromatic-Saturated Hydrocarbon Mixtures, API Division of Refining, Houston, Texas, May 1970
- Funk, E.W., and Prausnitz, J.M., "Vapor-Liquid Equilibria for Propane-Propylene," sAIChE Journal, 17, 254 (1971)
- Preston, G.T., Funk, E.W., and Prausnitz, J.M., "Solubilities of Hydrocarbons and Carbon Dioxide in Liquid Methane and Liquid Argon," Journal of Physical Chemistry, 75, 2345 (1971)
- Funk, E.W., and Prausnitz, J.M., "Estimation of Binary Parameters (Henry's Constant and van Laar Parameter)," IEC Process Design and Development, 10, 405 (1971)
- Funk, E.W., and Prausnitz, J.M., "Entropies of Vaporization for Fluorocarbons and Hydrocarbons from the Hildebrand Rules," Journal of Physical Chemistry, 75, 2530 (1971)
- Preston, G.T., Funk, E.W., and Prausnitz, J.M., "Effect of Temperature on Henry's Constant for Simple Mixtures," Physics and Chemistry of Liquids, 2, 193 (1971)
- Funk, E.W., Chai, F.C., and Prausnitz, J.M., "Thermodynamic Properties of Liquid Mixtures Containing Aromatic and Saturated Hydrocarbons," Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data, 17, 24 (1972)
- Equilibrio de Fases en Sistemas de Petroleo, Congreso de Quimicos, Santiago, Chile, January 1972
- Funk, E.W., "Activity Coefficients at High Concentrations in the Hydrochloric Acid-Sodium Chloride-Water System," IEC Process Design and Development, 13, 352 (1974)
- Vega, R., and Funk, E.W., "Solid-Liquid Equilibria in Concentrated Aqueous Salt Solutions - Systems with a Common Ion," Desalination, 15, (1974)
- Irani, C., and Funk, E.W., "Supercritical Separations Using Gases," Chapter 3, Volume 4, Recent Developments in Separation Science, N.N. Li, Editor, 1976
- Extraction of Athabasca Tar Sands, Laboratory Seminar, Imperial Oil, Sarnia, Canada, June 1976
- Heavy Hydrocarbon Processing: An Overview, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1977
- Solvent Extraction of Tar Sands: The Process and Economics, Syncrude Canada Limited, Edmonton, Canada, November 1977
- Funk, E.W., and Gomez, E., "Determination of Vanadium in Athabasca Bitumen and Other Heavy Hydrocarbons by Visible Spectroscopy," Analytical Chemistry, 49, 972 (1977)
- Funk, E.W., "Study of Heavy Hydrocarbons by Inverse-Phase Chromatography," I&EC Product Research and Development, 16, 115 (1977)
- Funk, E.W., Irani, C.A., Espino, R.L., "Tar Sands Extraction Process," U.S. Patent 4, 036, 732 (July 1977)
- Funk, E.W., "Behavior of Tar Sand Bitumen with Paraffinic Solvents and its application to Separations for Athabasca Tar Sands," American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel, 23, 81 (1978)
- Funk, E.W., "Athabasca Bitumen recovery Process," Oilweek Canada, October 23, 44 (1978)
- Interfacial Effects in Separations for Tar Sands, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota, July 1978
- Behavior of Athabasca Tar Sand Bitumen, American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel, Miami Beach, September 1978
- Thermodynamics of Aqueous Salt Systems, NSF Symposium on Thermodynamics Applied to Industrial Needs, Washington, D.C., October 1979
- Processing and Recovery of Heavy Hydrocarbons, Departmental seminar, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, November 1979
- Funk, E.W., "Behavior of Tar Sand Bitumen with Paraffinic Solvents," Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 57, 333 (1979)
- Pirkle, J.C., Funk, E.W., and May, W.G., "Computer Design of Multistage Sedimentation Operation for Separation of Asphaltenes, Sand, and Bitumen in Tar Sands," Proceedings of the 1979 Summer Computer Simulation Conference, Toronto, Canada, 213 (1979)
- Funk, E.W., "Thermodynamics of Concentrated Salt Solutions: A Review of Theory and Applications," Chapter 37, 717-739, ACS Symposium Series 133, Washington, D. C., 1980
- Electrokinetics and Other Similar Effects, The Filtration Society, King of Prussia, Pa., March 1980
- Selective Absorption of Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Solutions of Methyldiethanolamine, AIChE Meeting, Houston, Texas, April 1981
- Phase Equilibria in Mixtures of Athabasca Bitumen with Alcohol and Paraffin Solvents, AIChE Meeting, Houston, Texas, April 1981
- Phase Equilibria of Heavy Hydrocarbon Systems, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, Yale University, February 1982
- Li, N.N., and Funk, E.W., "Separations Based Upon Reversible Complexation," Proceedings of the Joint Meeting of Chemical Engineers of AIChE and CIESC, Vol. 1, 496 (1982)
- Funk, E.W., May, W.G., Pirkle, J.C., "Solvent Extraction Process for Tax Sands," U.S. Patent 4, 347, 118 (August 1982)
- Membrane Separation Processes, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., September 1982
- Phase Equilibria of Heavy Hydrocarbon Systems, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, May 1983
- Membrane Separation Processes for Acid Gases, AIChE Summer Meeting, Denver, Colorado, August 1983
- Polymeric Membranes for Petrochemical Separations, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, October 1983
- Membrane Separations for Liquid Systems, Membrane Symposium, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, October 1983
- Membrane Separations with Polymeric films, ACS Meeting, Rock River Selection, Beloit College, November 1983
- Separations for Closed-Loop Space Stations, Marshall Spacecraft Center, Huntsville, Alabama, September 1984
- Membrane Separations for Hydrocarbon Systems, U.S. Department of Energy Symposium, Clemson University, October 1984
- Membrane Systems for Spacecraft Living, NASA Ames Research Laboratory, San Jose, California, October 1984
- An Industrial Perspective on Teaching Separation Science, AIChE National Meeting, San Francisco, November 1984
- Funk, E.W., May, W.G., and Pirkle, J.C., "Processing Approach for the Solvent Extraction of Athabasca Tar Sands," AIChE Energy Progress Quarterly, 4, 12 (1984)
- Kulkarni, S.S., Funk, E.W., Li, N.N., Riley, R.L., "Membrane Separation Processes for Acid Gases," AIChE Symposium Series, No. 229, Vol. 79, 172 (1984)
- Separation of Heavy Oils Using Supercritical Fluids, ACS National Meeting, Chicago, September 1985
- Membrane Separations in This World and Beyond, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, Michigan State University, October 1985
- Membrane Technology for Acid Gas Separation, DOE Membrane Symposium, Knoxville, Tennessee, October 1985
- Novel Separations with Polymeric Membranes, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, March 1986
- The Effect of Impurities on Membrane Performance, AIChE Meeting, New Orleans, April 1986
- Application of Membrane Technology in the Paper and Pulp Industry, American Chemical Society, New York, April 1986
- Advanced Membranes for Spacelab Water Management, American Chemical Society, New York, April 1986
- Funk, E.W., Chang, Y.A., Kulkarni, S.S., "Membrane Separation of Hydrocarbons," U.S. Patent 4, 595, 507 (June 1986)
- Funk, E.W., Kulkarni, S.S., Chang, Y.A., "Membrane Separation Process," U.S. Patent 4, 671, 126 (October 1986)
- Funk, W.S., and May, W.G., "Thermodynamic Analysis of Separation Processes for Athabasca Tar Sands," Energy Sources, 8, 177 (1986)
- Kulkarni, S.S., Funk, E.W., and Li, N.N., "Hydrocarbon Separations with Polymeric Membranes," AIChE Symposium Series, No. 250, Vol. 82, 78 (1986)
- Li, N.N., Funk, E.W., Kulkarni, S.S., "An Industrial Perspective on Teaching Separation Science," AIChE Symposium Series, No. 250, 202 (1986)
- Funk, E.W., Kulkarni, S.S., Swamikannu, A.X., "Effect of Impurities on Cellulose Acetate Membrane Performance," AIChE Symposium Series, No. 250, 27 (1986)
- Savage, D.W., Funk, E.W., "Selective Absorption of H2S and CO2 Into Aqueous Solutions of Methyldiethalolamine," Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., 25, 326 (1986)
- Membrane Technology for Hydrocarbon Separations, North American Membrane Society Meeting, Cincinnati, June 1987
- Use of Statistics For Membrane Optimization, AIChE National Meeting, New York, N.Y., November 1987
- Funk, E.W., Kulprathipanja, "Separation of Monosaccharides with Mixed Matrix Membranes," U.S. Patent 4, 735, 193 (April 1988)
- Funk, E.W., and S.S. Kulkarni, "Multicomponent Membranes," U.S. Patent 4, 737, 165 (April 1988)
- Funk, E.W., and Kulprathipanja, S., "Preparation of Gas Selective Membranes," U.S. Patent 4,737,104 (June 1988)
- Funk, E.W., Kulkarni, S.S., Gatsis, J., "Membrane Separation of Hydrocarbons Using Cycloparaffinic Solvents," U.S. Patent 4, 750, 990 (June 1988)
- Acid Gas Removal. Sixth Annual Membrane Technology Planning Conference, BCC Communications, Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 1988
- Funk, E.W., and Li, N.N., "Novel Dynamic Membranes-Formation and Process Applications," Separation Technology, 155, 1989
- Funk, E.W., Li. N.N., "Purification of Natural Gas by Membranes," Gas Separation Technology, Vansant, E.F. and Dewolfs, R., Editors, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1990
- Swamikannu, A.X., Funk, E.W., Li, N.N., "Recovery of Space Station Wash Water by Membrane Technology," International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes, Chicago, August 1990
- Sedath, R.H., Li, N.N., Funk, E.W., "Reduction of Fouling in Ultrafiltration Membranes via Surface Fluorination," International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes, Chicago, August 1990
- Kulprathipanja, S., Funk, E.W., Li, N.N., "Mixed Matrix Membranes," International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes, Chicago, August 1990
- Membrane Technology Applications in the Chemical Process Industries, Short Course, International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes, Chicago, August 1990
- Membrane Separations in the Petrochemical Industry, 8th Annual Membrane Technology Planning Conference; BCC Communications, Newton, Massachusetts, October 1990
- New Membrane Processes for Oil Upgrading, Chevron Research Membrane Conference, Richmond, California, November 1990
- New Membrane Processes in an Environment of Change, Departmental Seminar, Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University, April 1991
- Organic Separations with Membranes, First Hanford Separation Symposium, Richland, Washington, July 1991
- New Applications of Membrane Technology for the Chemical Industry, Plenary Lecture, Canadian Chemical Engineering Society, Vancouver, October 1991
- Manufacturing Process for Cellulose Acetate Membranes and Industrial Uses, 7th Symposium on Separation Science and Technology, Knoxville, Tennessee, October 1991
- Mixed Matrix Membranes, AIChE National Meeting, Los Angeles, California, November 1991
- Ultrafiltration, Chapters 27-31. Membrane Handbook, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1992
- Process Analysis of Membrane Separations, Departmental Seminar, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, April 1992
- Surface Modification of Membranes, 10th Annual Membrane Technology Planning Conference, BCC Communications, Newton, Massachusetts, October 1992
- Membranes Tailored for Aqueous Phase Separations, AIChE National Meeting, Miami Beach, Florida, November 1992
- Inorganic Separation Technology, Invited Lecture, Los Alamos National Laboratory, November 1992
From 1992 – present, all publications were non-public, multi-client studies or confidential to a particular client.