Arun S Moharir

Biography

B.Tech. Chemical Engg., Nagpur University, 1975 Ph.D. Chemical Engg., I.I.T., Kanpur, 1980

Research Interest

The Adsorptive Separations, both gas and liquid phase, has been the main area of research. Comprehensive generic simulation models for liquid phase SMB (Simulated Moving Bed) process has been developed and tested for systems of industrial importance such as Parex process for p-Xylene, Molex process for n-paraffins separation from kerosene feedstock. etc. A versatile generic simulation model has been developed for PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) process which covers all variations such as VSA, PVSA, RCPSA etc. The model covers all embodiments of hardware such as 2, 3, or multi-bed systems. Extension of the work to cascaded PSA process to handle separations of systems offering low selectivity and which would otherwise not fit the selection criteria for employment of Adsorptive separation, has been proposed and its applicability for Argon separation from Argon-Oxygen mixture has been conceptually demonstrated. The PSA model has been used for Design and Development of a process for natural gas treatment. An industrial unit has been commissioned based on this work, Another area of interest is reactor modelling and simulation. Simulation based optimization/debottlenecking studies have been used for sulphuric acid manufacturing, hydrogenation, vegetable oil splitting etc. The reactors involved include packed bed catalytic reactors, non-catalytic spray columns, trickle bed reactors etc.