Dr. Lee earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Seoul National University, Seoul, KOREA, in 1974 and in 1976, respectively. For his Master’s Degree, he was mentored by the late Professor Chai-Sung Lee. After military duty in his home country, he came to the United States in August 1977 to join the Ph.D. program at Case Western Reserve University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1980 under the advisorship of Dr. John C. Angus.
Dr. Lee joined The University of Akron as Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1980. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1985, then to Full Professor in 1988. Since 1988, he had also held the title of Robert Iredell Professor, a fully endowed chair-professorship. He also served as Department Head for 1988-1996. At Akron, he founded and led the Process Research Center (PRC), one of the State (OH)’s Centers of Excellence. In 1997, he left Akron to join the University of Missouri (Columbia, Missouri), where he held positions of Chairman and C. W. LaPierre Professor of Chemical Engineering from 1997 to 2005. For 2006-2010, he held the titles of Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering and UTC Professor of Transportation Fuels, at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri. At Rolla, he founded and directed the Laboratory of Transportation Fuels and Polymer Processing as a stand-alone off-campus R&D facility. For September 2010 – May 2020, he had held the titles of Russ Ohio Research Scholar in Coal Syngas Utilization, Ohio Eminent Scholar, and Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He had founded the Sustainable Energy and Advanced Materials (SEAM) Laboratory as a stand-alone off-campus research center. Dr. Lee has retired from his academic teaching and research career of 40 years, effective May 31, 2020. He continues his R&DD efforts in select technology areas of expertise as an independent researcher with Chemtech Innovators LLC (established in August 2020). The company has officially started its R&D operation effective January 1, 2021 under an LLC with corporate financial sponsorships. Its Headquarters and Design Center is located in Akron, Ohio and its R&D Center and Lab is located in Athens, Ohio. Dr. Lee’s prior accomplishments as a university professor are outlined below.
Dr. Lee is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1987, the Outstanding Researcher Award in 1993, and the first recipient of the Louis A. Hill Award for outstanding professional achievement in 1987. He is the only professor in the University (Akron) history who has received both teaching and research awards from the University Alumni Association. He has also received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Engineering, Seoul National University in 1994. Dr. Lee has also been nominated for the Case Professor of the Year, as well as the Edison Electric Institute Award. He was a finalist in 1989 and in 1992. In 1999, he was inducted as an overseas member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK). He received an Outstanding Teacher Award at Missouri S&T in 2009. From 2009-present, Dr. Lee has been a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Since 2015, he is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Dr. Lee is also an eminent scholar member of Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Golden Key National Honors Society, and a distinguished corporate member of the American Society of Patent Holders. In November 2013, he was inducted into the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame (ESHallofFame), and he has officially become the 55th enshrinee to the ESHallofFame. He is the first chemical engineer inducted into this historically honored group of total 65 enshrinees (as of 2019).
He has authored 12 books, edited a multi-volume encyclopedia, and published 9 major research monographs, 46 book chapters, over 150 refereed journal articles, and over 370 proceedings and conference papers. He has been awarded 35 U.S. patents and over 180 international patents, based on his creative research in novel processes and advanced functional products. He has received research grants and contracts for 110 projects totaling over $29.1MM as Principal Investigator (PI) and an additional $9.2MM as Co-PI for 10 projects. He has also designed and helped design twenty-one pilot plants and eight commercial and demonstration plants. Most of his inventions are being commercially utilized. Throughout his academic career, he has also taught a total of 32 different subjects in Chemical Engineering as classroom professor at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He has advised and mentored 56 Masters, 38 Ph.D.’s, and 24 Postdoctoral Fellows as their principal research advisor.
He is the Editor-in-Chief of Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing (EChP), published in 2006 jointly by CRC Press and Taylor & Francis. This encyclopedia is the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the field of chemical and process engineering. The Encyclopedia is available both as printed multiple volumes and as an online edition, which is being continuously updated and expanded. He has also served as the Series Editor of the Green Chemistry and Chemical Engineering book series published by CRC Press. The series has more than 25 titles in print and many more under authorship contract. Dr. Lee has long been serving as Member of the Editorial Board of Energy Sources. He also served on the International Advisory Board of the journal Energy Technology. He had served as the Editor of Reviews in Process Chemistry and Engineering (RPCE). He had also served as the U.S. Editor of Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering (KJChE).
His research specialties are in the areas of alternative and transportation fuels, advanced coal technology, clean biofuels, chemical process engineering, catalysis and catalytic process engineering, polymer synthesis and processing, polymer blends and composites, rubber &and pulp engineering, practical nanotechnologies, semiconductor grade crystalline polysilicon, and novel functional product development. To be specific, they include C1 Chemistry, silicon chemistry, hydrogen generation, fuel reforming, carbon dioxide conversion and capture, gas cleanup and purification, enhanced oil and gas recovery, methanol and DME synthesis, environmentally friendly synthesis of gasoline/diesel/olefins and oxygenates, Fischer-Tropsch, biomass conversion, clean biofuels, CO2-based oil shale technology, waterless fracking technology for shale gas, green chemistry and technology for petrochemicals, novel supercritical fluid technology, supercritical water oxidation and partial oxidation, supercritical materials processing, supercritical fluid polymerization, reactive polymer processing, biodegradable and bio-based polymers, material compatibilization, nanocomposites and micro-composites, polymer blends, structural composites, specialty multi-functional films, synthesis of nano-bio medicinal ingredients, functionally superior rubber formulation, scale-up and pilot plant studies, commercial process troubleshooting, high pressure and specialty reactor design, and more.
Dr. Lee has been active in AIChE activities, having served for 12 years in his early career as Program Chair of Solid Fuels and Alternate Energy as well as Program Chair (for 2 years) for Fuels & Petrochemicals Division (F&PD). He has chaired or co-chaired over 50 symposium sessions at the AIChE Annual and National Meetings. As a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), he has been very supportive of the AIChE activities and agendas. He also served on the Advisory Board of the International Pittsburgh Coal Conference for eleven years.
Dr. Lee has established unique and strong relationships with many chemical industries in diverse capacities as a university research contractor, as a grantee, as a collaborator, as a consultant, and as an advisor. Such companies include Kimberly-Clark, Dow Chemical, Radian, DRS Technical Services, DRS Sustainment Systems, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, B.F. Goodrich, Atofina Chemicals, TotalFinaElf, Arkema, PPG Industries, Monsanto, AMOCO, Water Technologies, Worrell Water Technologies, Samwha Solutions, SWS USA, Korea PTG Company, Yongsan Chemicals, Norton Chemical and Process Development, A. Schulman, Bausch & Lomb, Allied Signal, Alberee Products, Alberee R&D, Xytel, BASF, HVC, TRW, VSE, Midwest Ore Processing, Midwest Environmental Industries, Chemstress Consultants, American Plastics Corp., IMET Corporation, Bicron, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Western Research Institute (WRI), Brookhaven National Lab (BNL), and Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC). Many of these industries and their principals are either sponsoring and/or collaborating with Dr. Lee’s new venture of Chemtech Innovators, LLC.
Major Books
1. S. Lee, Author, “Methanol Synthesis Technology”, CRC Press, Boca Raton , FL , 1990.
2. S. Lee, Author, “Oil Shale Technology”, CRC Press, Boca Raton , FL , 1991.
3. S. Lee, Author, “Methane and Its Derivatives”, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York , NY , 1997.
4.S. Lee, Author, “Alternative Fuels”, Taylor & Francis, Washington , D.C. , 1997.
5. J. G. Speight and S. Lee, “Environmental Technology Handbook”, 2 nd Ed., Taylor & Francis, 2000.
6. J. Yen and S. Lee, Co-editors, “Proceedings of Fifth International Topical Conference on Polymerization and Polymer Processing”, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, New York, N.Y., 2002.
7. S. Lee, Editor, Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing (EChP), 5 volumes, 350 chapters, Taylor & Francis, 2006.
8. S. Lee, J.G. Speight, and S. Loyalka, “Handbook of Alternative Fuel Technology”, CRC Press, 2007.
9. S. Lee and Y.T. Shah, “Biofuels and Bioenergy: Processes and Technologies”, CRC Press, 2012.
10. S. Lee and K. Henthorn, Co-editors, “Particle Technology and Applications”, CRC Press, 2012.
11. S. Lee and D. Henthorn, “Materials in Biology and Medicine”, CRC Press, 2012.
12.S. Lee, J.G. Speight, and S.K. Loyalka, “Handbook of Alternative Fuel Technologies”, CRC Press, 2014.
13.S. Lee, author, “Oil Shale Technology, 2nd Edition”, being prepared.
Advanced Degree Students Advised
Guided and Advised 56 Masters, 38 Ph. D.’s, and 24 Postdoctoral Fellows.
Laboratory Facilities
The following equipment is fully functional and in good working order, and is available for full-time in Lee’s laboratories. Most of the equipment is modern and state-of-the-art.
DMTA, GC’s, GC/MS, FTIR, HPLC/GPC, DSC, TGA, Rheometer, Instron, Texture Analyzer, Coulter Counter, BET, Surface Analyzer, Poresizer, S Analyzer, CHN Analyzer, Cl Analyzer, Ash Fusion Analyzer, Proximate Analyzer, Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter, TOC Analyzer, Optical Microscope, Brabender Mixers, Henschel Mixers, 2 Twin-screw Extruders, Catalyst Extruder, Calendaring Machine, 3 Single-screw Extruders (2”, 1”, ½”), Injection Molding Machine, Ultracentrifuge, Refrigerated Centrifuge, Spectrophotometers, Autoclaves, Shakers, Flotation Cell, Cream Separator, Fermenters, Walk-in Incubator, Freeze dryer, Cryogenic grinder, Environmental Hood, Grinders and granulators, etc.
Reactors and process systems in the ChemTech Innovators R&D Center include 9 complete (self-peripheraled) supercritical fluid process minipilot/pilot systems, powder coating investigation system, 4 polymerization and graft-copolymerization reactor systems, supercritical polymerization reactor system, high shear mixing reactors, 5 autoclave based high-pressure catalytic reaction systems for transportation fuels research, 7 specialty high-pressure reactors (Inconel 625, Hastelloy C-276, Haynes 230, Haynes 282), mechanically agitated slurry reactor system for methanol and dimethylether synthesis, hydrogenation process system, continuous bioreactor system, Processall reactor system for large-batch reactive modification of polymers, Buchi and Ace glass reactor systems, Ziegler-Natta Catalytic Reactor System, ClO2 generation systems, continuous fluidized bed reactor for ZSM-type catalysts, coal desulfurization process system, fixed bed and fluidized bed steam stripping systems, 2 PEM fuel cell systems (1.2 kW and 5.0 kW), etc.
List of U.S. Patents Awarded
1. S. Lee and R. Joshi, “Enhanced Oil Recovery from Western United States Type Oil Shale Using Carbon Dioxide Retorting Technique”, U.S. Patent 4,502,942, March 5, 1985.
2. S. Lee, A. Sawant and C. J. Kulik, “Process for Methanol Catalyst Regeneration Using Crystallite Redispersion”, U.S. Patent 5,004,717, April 2, 1991.
3. S. Lee and V. Parameswaran, “Selective Extraction Process of Sulfur from U.S. Coals Using Supercritical Fluids”, U.S. Patent 5,080,692, January 14, 1992.
4. S. Lee and R. Rengarajan, “Catalytic Solid Phase Grafting of Polymers”, U.S. Patent 5,079,302, January 7, 1992.
5. S. Lee, M. Gencer, F. O. Azzam, and K. L. Fullerton, “Depolymerization Process”, U. S. Patent 5,386,055, January 31, 1995.
6. S. Lee and T. Cutright, “Bioremediation of PAH Contaminated Soil”, U.S. Patent 5,427,944, June 27, 1995.
7. S. Lee, M. R. Gogate and K. L. Fullerton, “Dimethyl Ether to Hydrocarbons/Gasoline Process”, U.S. Patent 5,459,166, October 17, 1995.
8. S. Lee and T. Cutright, “Nutrient Medium for the Bioremediation of PAH-Contaminated Soil”, U.S. Patent 5,508,194, April 16, 1996.
9. S. Lee and R. Sobocinski, “Polycarbonate-g-Polyacrylate by Graft Copolymerization”, U. S. Patent 5,510,429, April 23, 1996.
10. S. Lee and F. O. Azzam, “Oxidative Decoupling of Scrap Rubber”, U.S. Patent 5,516,952, May 14, 1996.
11.S. Lee and R. Rengarajan, “Flame-initiated Graft Copolymerization of Polymers”, U.S. Patent 5,571,869, November 5, 1996.
12.S. Lee, V. Parameswaran and C. J. Kulik, “Post-reduction Treatment of Alcohol Synthesis Catalysts with Carbon Dioxide”, U.S. Patent 5,622,907, April 22 1997.
13. S. Lee, S. Kwak and F. O. Azzam, “Graft Copolymerization in Supercritical Fluid Media”, U.S. Patent 5,663,237, September 2, 1997.
14. S. Lee, “Manufacturing Aqueous Chlorine Dioxide”, U.S. Patent 5,855,861, January 5, 1999 .
15. S. Lee and H. B. Lanterman, “A Novel Chlorine Dioxide Manufacturing Process – Product delivery and Treatment System”, U.S. Patent 6,051,135, April 18, 2000.
16. J. Wulff, M. Hulett, and S. Lee, “Internal Combustion System Using Acetylene Alternative Fuel”, U.S. Patent 6,076,487, June 20, 2000.
17. J. Wulff and S. Lee, “ Dual fuel composition including acetylene for use with diesel and other internal combustion engines”, U.S. Patent 6,287,351, September 11, 2001.
18. S. Lee, H. B. Lanterman, K. L. Fullerton, and P. Pettit, “Polymerization, Compatibilized Blending, and Particle Size Control of Powder Coatings in a Supercritical Fluid”, U.S. Patent 6,340,722, January 22, 2002.
19. J. W. Wulff, S. Lee, and M. Hulett, “ Internal combustion system adapted for use of a dual fuel composition including acetylene, U. S. Patent 6,575,147, June 10, 2003.
20. S. Lee, H. B. Lanterman, K. Fullerton, and P. Pettit, “Polymerization, Compatibilized Blending, and Particle Size Control of Powder Coatings in a Supercritical Fluid”, U.S. Patent 6,849,678, Feb. 1, 2005.
21. D. Benko, R. Beer, S. Lee, and K. Clark, “Devulcanization of Cured Rubber”, U. S. Patent 6,992,116, January 31, 2006.
22. S. Lee, H. B. Lanterman, A. Sardesai, J. Wenzel, B. Marshall, J. Yen, R. Amin-Sanayei, and M. Moucharik, “Polymerization of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) in a Supercritical Fluid Medium”, U.S. Patent No. 7,091,288, August 15, 2006.
23. S. Lee, A. Garcia, and J. Wootton, “ Systems for Water Purification through Supercritical Oxidation “, U.S. Patent No. 7,186,345, Issued March 6, 2007.
24. M. Gencer, S. Lee, A. Sardesai, and D. Kubik, “ Process for infusing an alkali metal nitrite into a synthetic resinous material “, U.S. Patent No. 7,217,749, Issued May 15, 2007.
25. M. Gencer, S. Lee, A. Sardesai, and D. Kubik, “ Process for incorporating one or more materials into a polymer composition and products produced thereby “, U.S. Patent No. 7,217,750, Issued May 15, 2007.
26. S. Lee and P. Roberts, “ Chlorine dioxide gel and associated methods “, U.S. Patent No. 7,229,647, Issued June 12, 2007.
27.J. Wulff, M. Hulett, and S. Lee, “Dual fuel composition including acetylene”, U.S. Patent No. 7,288,127, Issued October 30, 2007
28.A. Garcia-Ortiz, S. Lee, and J. Wootton, “Systems and methods for air purification using supercritical water oxidation,” U.S. Patent No. 7,722,823, Issued May 25, 2010
29.A. Garcia-Ortiz, S. Lee, and J. Wootton, “Systems and methods for air purification using supercritical water oxidation,” U.S. Patent No. 7,811,537, Issued October 12, 2010
30. J. Wootton, S. Lee, and A. Garcia-Ortiz, “Methods for supercritical water reformation of fuels and generation of hydrogen using supercritical water,” U.S. Patent No. 7,931,711, Issued April 26, 2011.
31. J. Wootton, S. Lee, and A. Garcia-Ortiz, “Systems and methods for supercritical water reformation of fuels and generation of hydrogen using supercritical water,” U.S. Patent No. 8,038,743, Issued October 18, 2011.
32.S. Lee and P. Roberts, “Chlorine dioxide gel and associated methods,” U.S. Patent No. 8,088,417, Issued January 3, 2012
33.S. Lee and P. Roberts, “Chlorine dioxide gel and associated methods,” U.S. Patent No. 8,202,546, Issued June 19, 2012.
34.J. Wootton, S. Lee, and A. Garcia-Ortiz, “Systems and methods for supercritical water reformation of fuels and generation of hydrogen using supercritical water,” U.S. Patent No. 8,404,008, Issued March 26, 2013.
35.S. Lee, “Fuel Performance Booster,” U.S. Patent No. 8,720,390, Issued May 13, 2014.size
Sunggyu Lee, PhD 