BIOGRAPHY

Aurora Fernández is one of SENSIA's most experienced engineers and infrared imaging technology experts. She has played an integral part in the company's development and growth upon joining the company with her degree in mechanical engineering. Her deep understanding of physics has allowed SENSIA to develop top-notch infrared cameras for SO2 detection and many other industrial applications that boost plant safety and efficiency across numerous sectors.

BIOGRAPHY

Mahdi Ashkanani, based in Kuwait, is currently a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Kuwait Oil Company. Mr Ashkanani brings experience from previous roles at Kuwait Oil Company. He holds a 1997 - 2001 Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering @ University of Colorado at Denver. With a robust skill set that includes EPC, Gas, Petroleum, Refinery, FEED and more.

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

Leah Goettler is a Process Engineer with over seven years of experience with SGS Sulphur Experts. During this time, she has helped more than 50 different sulphur recovery units across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Her primary area of expertise is sulphur plant troubleshooting and optimization. She has presented at the world-renowned Sulphur Experts training seminars, and also co-authored and presented the 2021 paper “The Impact of Biofeed Co-processing on Conventional Refinery Amine, Sour Water Stripping, and Sulphur Recovery Units”. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta and is currently located in the Netherlands.

BIOGRAPHY

Baylee Thompson is a process engineer based in Salt Lake City, UT for Wood Group PLC, she graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky. She has multiple years of experience in Sulfur processes from both a design and operating background including turnarounds, startups and shutdowns, and day to day operations. Baylee now works primarily on sulfur unit design, optimization, and burner fabrication.

BIOGRAPHY

After his master’s degree in chemical engineering, Robert Kahr started his work at Kanzler Verfahrenstechnik GmbH (KVT) joining the development team of the sulfuric acid related technologies (OXYSULF). He is since responsible for most of the OXYSULF projects of KVT worldwide. Over the past 20+ years he gained a lot of experience in project management, process engineering and commissioning of plants in the field of the environmental technologies developed by KVT.  

At present, Robert leads the product group OXYSULF and is responsible for all projects related to sulfur processing.  

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Dimitrios Dimitrakis is a Chemical Engineer, Group Leader Catalyst and Reactor Engineering in the Institute of Future Fuels of the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR e.V.). Before joining DLR in 2022, he was an Affiliated Researcher in the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH 2017 - 2021), following a position as Research Engineer (CERTH 2011 – 2017).

He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering (AUTH 2017, with distinction) and has led several EU, national and services to the industry research projects. His research interests include high temperature thermochemistry and (solar) reactor engineering for hydrogen and fuels production.

BIOGRAPHY

Martin Kürten began his career in the Sulphuric Acid Industry in 1995. He spent his first 17 years within the Bayer AG Group in different Affiliates and positions such as Project Engineer, Construction Manager, Project Manager, Maintenance Manager, Reliability Manager for Sulphuric Acid and Down Stream Plants like Oleum distillation, Oleum 65 Production Ultra high purity acid, Sodium bisulphite, and others.

From 2006 until 2013 he was Technology Provider in projects for non-Bayer Clients such as Glencore, Aurubis, Lanxess, Atlantic Cooper, Nrystar, Anglo American and other Sulphuric acid producers. He was responsible for multiple different project steps starting from first studies until commissioning. He is a patent owner for sulphur combustion chambers, Quasi isothermal SO2 contact (BAQYIK® / CORE® Process), SO2 Absortion and Desorption process. Since 2014 he has been with the company Grillo Chemicals GmbH as the Head of Sulphuric Acid Department with P&L Responsibility for Spent acid regeneration, SO2 liquid production and Sulphuric acid/oleum production. 

BIOGRAPHY

Bas Janssen obtained his Bachelor degree of Industrial Engineering in 2005, after which he started building his industry knowledge by working for large equipment manufacturers. Within Alfa Laval from 2006 - 2012 as an Industry Support Engineer for Plate Heat Exchangers and Separators. And from 2012 to 2024 for Pentair/Emerson in various roles, starting as Inside Sales Engineer sizing control valves, later on as Inside & Export Sales Manager, towards Business Unit Manager Europe for all sliding stem control valves. In March this year he started as Sales Director for Voovio Technologies. No longer supporting the industry with mechanical solutions, but now with a much more pressing challenge: capturing tribal knowledge and training of field operators on flawless procedure execution. Especially in a world where human mistakes are not just costly from a financial perspective but could have far-reaching personal and environmental consequences.

BIOGRAPHY

Susanna Voges studied Process Engineering at Hamburg University of Technology, where she also obtained her PhD in Process Engineering from the Institute of Thermal Separation Processes in 2008. She started her career in chemical industry joining BASF late 2007. At BASF she had different functions in technical development, working on the design of key equipment for CAPEX projects, troubleshooting at production plants and on process and production optimization. Coming back from an overseas assignment, which implied setting up a regional process engineering hub for Asia Pacific in Shanghai, she eventually joined manufacturing in early 2016. After a total of six years in pigments production as a production manager and later as a plant manager she decided to join Voovio Technologies in early 2022 in order to serve the industry with innovative solutions for some of its most pressing needs. 

BIOGRAPHY

Steve Puricelli is currently the Senior Technical Director at Saconix, a sulfuric acid logistics and marketing company. Over the course of his career, he has designed, started up and analyzed operating problems on a wide variety of sulfuric acid plants. He has also worked to bring several new technologies from the laboratory to commercial operation. Mr Puricelli also had P&L responsibility for several businesses and was a member of the MECS management team for many years. In the early days of his career, Mr Puricelli worked in a support and operating role at a manufacturing company that produced nitrogen fertilizers, flexible urethanes (Toluene diisocyanate) and sulfuric acid. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Missouri S&T and a Masters of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

BIOGRAPHY

Nelson Clark is a Chemical Engineer, graduated from the University of São Paulo, MBA Maua, with 30+ years working in the sulfuric acid industry in drying and absorption processes, mass transfer. He had several articles and papers published and presented at conferences, has patents granted in Brazil, the United States and Europe in the areas of mass transfer (drying and absorption with sulphuric acid of air and gases), energy recovery and mist elimination. For more than 30 years, he has been the creator and organizer of COBRAS, the Brazilian Sulphuric Acid Congress, which is now the second largest event on the subject in the world. He is currently Technical Director at Clark Solutions.

BIOGRAPHY

Bas Janssen obtained his Bachelor degree of Industrial Engineering in 2005, after which he started building his industry knowledge by working for large equipment manufacturers. Within Alfa Laval from 2006 - 2012 as an Industry Support Engineer for Plate Heat Exchangers and Separators. And from 2012 to 2024 for Pentair/Emerson in various roles, starting as Inside Sales Engineer sizing control valves, later on as Inside & Export Sales Manager, towards Business Unit Manager Europe for all sliding stem control valves. In March this year he started as Sales Director for Voovio Technologies. No longer supporting the industry with mechanical solutions, but now with a much more pressing challenge: capturing tribal knowledge and training of field operators on flawless procedure execution. Especially in a world where human mistakes are not just costly from a financial perspective but could have far-reaching personal and environmental consequences.

BIOGRAPHY

Baylee Thompson is a process engineer based in Salt Lake City, UT for Wood Group PLC, she graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky. She has multiple years of experience in Sulfur processes from both a design and operating background including turnarounds, startups and shutdowns, and day to day operations. Baylee now works primarily on sulfur unit design, optimization, and burner fabrication.

BIOGRAPHY

Leah Goettler is a Process Engineer with over seven years of experience with SGS Sulphur Experts. During this time, she has helped more than 50 different sulphur recovery units across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Her primary area of expertise is sulphur plant troubleshooting and optimization. She has presented at the world-renowned Sulphur Experts training seminars, and also co-authored and presented the 2021 paper “The Impact of Biofeed Co-processing on Conventional Refinery Amine, Sour Water Stripping, and Sulphur Recovery Units”. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta and is currently located in the Netherlands.

BIOGRAPHY

Mahdi Ashkanani, based in Kuwait, is currently a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Kuwait Oil Company. Mr Ashkanani brings experience from previous roles at Kuwait Oil Company. He holds a 1997 - 2001 Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering @ University of Colorado at Denver. With a robust skill set that includes EPC, Gas, Petroleum, Refinery, FEED and more.

BIOGRAPHY

Steve Puricelli is currently the Senior Technical Director at Saconix, a sulfuric acid logistics and marketing company. Over the course of his career, he has designed, started up and analyzed operating problems on a wide variety of sulfuric acid plants. He has also worked to bring several new technologies from the laboratory to commercial operation. Mr Puricelli also had P&L responsibility for several businesses and was a member of the MECS management team for many years. In the early days of his career, Mr Puricelli worked in a support and operating role at a manufacturing company that produced nitrogen fertilizers, flexible urethanes (Toluene diisocyanate) and sulfuric acid. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Missouri S&T and a Masters of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

BIOGRAPHY

Susanna Voges studied Process Engineering at Hamburg University of Technology, where she also obtained her PhD in Process Engineering from the Institute of Thermal Separation Processes in 2008. She started her career in chemical industry joining BASF late 2007. At BASF she had different functions in technical development, working on the design of key equipment for CAPEX projects, troubleshooting at production plants and on process and production optimization. Coming back from an overseas assignment, which implied setting up a regional process engineering hub for Asia Pacific in Shanghai, she eventually joined manufacturing in early 2016. After a total of six years in pigments production as a production manager and later as a plant manager she decided to join Voovio Technologies in early 2022 in order to serve the industry with innovative solutions for some of its most pressing needs. 

BIOGRAPHY

Aurora Fernández is one of SENSIA's most experienced engineers and infrared imaging technology experts. She has played an integral part in the company's development and growth upon joining the company with her degree in mechanical engineering. Her deep understanding of physics has allowed SENSIA to develop top-notch infrared cameras for SO2 detection and many other industrial applications that boost plant safety and efficiency across numerous sectors.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Dimitrios Dimitrakis is a Chemical Engineer, Group Leader Catalyst and Reactor Engineering in the Institute of Future Fuels of the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR e.V.). Before joining DLR in 2022, he was an Affiliated Researcher in the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH 2017 - 2021), following a position as Research Engineer (CERTH 2011 – 2017).

He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering (AUTH 2017, with distinction) and has led several EU, national and services to the industry research projects. His research interests include high temperature thermochemistry and (solar) reactor engineering for hydrogen and fuels production.

BIOGRAPHY

After his Ph.D. at the Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, Hanno Hintze started working at the R&D department of Aurubis AG, Hamburg in 1999. From 2001 - 2015 he was Production Manager and since 2012 director of the sulphuric acid department of Aurubis Hamburg, being responsible for the copper smelter offgas and wastewater treatment. After being director of the Hamburg primary smelter Projects (2015-2018) in 2018 he took over responsiblility for the large acid and wastewater projects at Aurubis Group Technology. In 2006 Dr.-Ing. Hintze started leading the technical working group on sulphur within the German VCI, and he is a member of the IPPC technical working groups of the non ferrous metals BREF and the waste gas common BREF taking care of SO2 emissions off sulphuric acid plants.

BIOGRAPHY

Martin Kürten began his career in the Sulphuric Acid Industry in 1995. He spent his first 17 years within the Bayer AG Group in different Affiliates and positions such as Project Engineer, Construction Manager, Project Manager, Maintenance Manager, Reliability Manager for Sulphuric Acid and Down Stream Plants like Oleum distillation, Oleum 65 Production Ultra high purity acid, Sodium bisulphite, and others.

From 2006 until 2013 he was Technology Provider in projects for non-Bayer Clients such as Glencore, Aurubis, Lanxess, Atlantic Cooper, Nrystar, Anglo American and other Sulphuric acid producers. He was responsible for multiple different project steps starting from first studies until commissioning. He is a patent owner for sulphur combustion chambers, Quasi isothermal SO2 contact (BAQYIK® / CORE® Process), SO2 Absortion and Desorption process. Since 2014 he has been with the company Grillo Chemicals GmbH as the Head of Sulphuric Acid Department with P&L Responsibility for Spent acid regeneration, SO2 liquid production and Sulphuric acid/oleum production. 

BIOGRAPHY

Nelson Clark is a Chemical Engineer, graduated from the University of São Paulo, MBA Maua, with 30+ years working in the sulfuric acid industry in drying and absorption processes, mass transfer. He had several articles and papers published and presented at conferences, has patents granted in Brazil, the United States and Europe in the areas of mass transfer (drying and absorption with sulphuric acid of air and gases), energy recovery and mist elimination. For more than 30 years, he has been the creator and organizer of COBRAS, the Brazilian Sulphuric Acid Congress, which is now the second largest event on the subject in the world. He is currently Technical Director at Clark Solutions.

BIOGRAPHY

After his master’s degree in chemical engineering, Robert Kahr started his work at Kanzler Verfahrenstechnik GmbH (KVT) joining the development team of the sulfuric acid related technologies (OXYSULF). He is since responsible for most of the OXYSULF projects of KVT worldwide. Over the past 20+ years he gained a lot of experience in project management, process engineering and commissioning of plants in the field of the environmental technologies developed by KVT.  

At present, Robert leads the product group OXYSULF and is responsible for all projects related to sulfur processing.  

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

Ben Spooner has been testing and troubleshooting amine plants for 25 years. In this paper he will discuss the topic of amine carryover from a regenerator. Although a relatively uncommon event, when it does happen it can be catastrophic for the sulphur plant.

BIOGRAPHY

Jochen studied chemistry at the Johannes-Gutenberg- University in Mainz, Germany with a focus on polymer- and organometallic chemistry, followed by a diploma in polymer chemistry at the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany. After finishing his PhD at the Max-Planck- Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany, he joined BASF in 2017 as Lab Leader in R&D. In 2022, Jochen joined BASF’s Process Catalyst Division to work as Technology Manager for Sulfuric Acid Catalysts for the EMEA region. Here, he supports clients to achieve their emission and production targets with BASF’s cutting-edge catalyst technologies for sulfuric acid production.

BIOGRAPHY

Anders Theilgaard Madsen holds a PhD-degree in chemistry and chemical engineering from the Technical University of Denmark. After his studies he has worked as postdoc and senior researcher within environmental catalytic processes on the Technical University of Denmark. Anders joined Topsøe in 2014 and has worked since then as principal scientist within R&D Clean Air catalysts group with developing, modelling and testing of catalysts and catalytic systems. His professional interests include development of environmental and oxidation catalysts and processes, especially regarding sulfur-containing gases.

BIOGRAPHY

Martin Alvarez holds an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires. He joined Topsoe in February 2019, where he has worked as a Specialist within the Clean Air Catalyst department giving technical support to sulfuric acid clients worldwide. Before joining Topsoe, Martin worked as a Process Engineer for 5 years in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

BIOGRAPHY

Rob Marriott is the Alberta Sulphur Research Ltd (ASRL) Director of Research (DOR) and the NSERC ASRL Industrial Research Chair in Applied Sulfur Chemistry. He is responsible for guiding the ASRL Core research program and teaches as an Associate Professor within the Department of Chemistry. His current research interests range from applied chemical thermodynamics of complex systems, souring of reservoir fluids, sulfur deposition, hydrate formation, sulfur recovery and high-pressure fluid purification. Prior to taking over as DOR, he spent 8 years with ASRL as a Research Scientist and Project Manager and 5 years as an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. He has authored over 50 published research papers, more than 100 conference presentations and over 130 confidential research contract reports.

BIOGRAPHY

In his current position, Dr. Johannes Hofer is the Head of the Catalysis and Analytics group of P&P Industries AG, based in Austria. Innovating at the company since 2018, he has held several positions as a Project Manager, R&D Manager and Head of Research and Development. His work is focused on the development of new catalytic systems for the oxidation of SO2 in Sulphuric acid plant systems to hydrocarbon and ammonia removal in waste gas treatment. With international experience from working on plant systems of international clients he applies a scientific approach to solving problems at industrial scale. 

BIOGRAPHY

Martin Taylor is the Manager, Sulfur Technologies, for Bechtel Energy Technologies & Solutions based in Houston, TX, USA. His experience includes design, troubleshooting, consulting, commissioning, and start-up of sulphur related units such as amine, sour water, SRUs, tail gas treating units, etc. for the last 20+ years. Martin has patents and patents pending for technologies in and around the sulphur industry. Martin earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a M.S. in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX, USA.

BIOGRAPHY

Anders Theilgaard Madsen holds a PhD-degree in chemistry and chemical engineering from the Technical University of Denmark. After his studies he has worked as postdoc and senior researcher within environmental catalytic processes on the Technical University of Denmark. Anders joined Topsøe in 2014 and has worked since then as principal scientist within R&D Clean Air catalysts group with developing, modelling and testing of catalysts and catalytic systems. His professional interests include development of environmental and oxidation catalysts and processes, especially regarding sulfur-containing gases.

BIOGRAPHY

Jochen studied chemistry at the Johannes-Gutenberg- University in Mainz, Germany with a focus on polymer- and organometallic chemistry, followed by a diploma in polymer chemistry at the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany. After finishing his PhD at the Max-Planck- Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany, he joined BASF in 2017 as Lab Leader in R&D. In 2022, Jochen joined BASF’s Process Catalyst Division to work as Technology Manager for Sulfuric Acid Catalysts for the EMEA region. Here, he supports clients to achieve their emission and production targets with BASF’s cutting-edge catalyst technologies for sulfuric acid production.

BIOGRAPHY

In his current position, Dr. Johannes Hofer is the Head of the Catalysis and Analytics group of P&P Industries AG, based in Austria. Innovating at the company since 2018, he has held several positions as a Project Manager, R&D Manager and Head of Research and Development. His work is focused on the development of new catalytic systems for the oxidation of SO2 in Sulphuric acid plant systems to hydrocarbon and ammonia removal in waste gas treatment. With international experience from working on plant systems of international clients he applies a scientific approach to solving problems at industrial scale. 

BIOGRAPHY

Martin Alvarez holds an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires. He joined Topsoe in February 2019, where he has worked as a Specialist within the Clean Air Catalyst department giving technical support to sulfuric acid clients worldwide. Before joining Topsoe, Martin worked as a Process Engineer for 5 years in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

BIOGRAPHY

Michael Gaura is responsible for the spectroscopic products designed, sold, shipped and supported by AMETEK Process Instruments. This includes Ultraviolet (UV), Infrared (IR), Tunable Diode Laser (TDL) and X-ray Transmission (XRT) based analyzers. The measurements provided by these analyzers can be found in Natural Gas transmission and processing, Refining, Petrochemical, Gas Bottling, Chemical, and Steel manufacturing facilities around the world. Mr Gaura has led presentations focused on application optimization and technical measurement solutions at industry focused events for over 15 years. He has also written articles that can be found in various publications. Since joining AMETEK in 2017, he has increased his focus on the measurement needs of end users that are operating sulphur recovery units. Mr Gaura has a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a MBA from Oklahoma State University.

BIOGRAPHY

Trevor Mwanza has worked in Zambia copper mines for more than ten years. He has experience in mineral beneficiation, copper smelting and sulphuric acid production.

BIOGRAPHY

Mason Lee has spent 30 years on combustion and thermal process as a Senior Engineer, in this time he has acquired a variety of skills and accumulated many experiences in fluid dynamics analysis, advanced combustion technology, acoustic assessment, noise control and vibration analysis.

He has lead engineering design, fabrication and commissioning for combustion equipment and thermal systems, launched R&D studies for thermodynamics and combustion analysis in support of SRU projects. Mason is a Licensed Professional Engineer registered from Ontario, Canada and a member of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering from USA.

BIOGRAPHY

Steffen holds a diploma degree in mechanical engineering and a PhD in advanced control theory, both from Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany. He is working for Metso and its predecessor companies since 2013. Steffen’s work is strongly focused on digitalization and digital solutions in the process industry. The work includes advanced process control solutions, simulations, data analytics, and health monitoring solutions. He was involved in several deliveries of digital solutions worldwide. In his current role, he is working as Director, Metals and Chemical Processing Technologies in Oberursel, Germany.

BIOGRAPHY

Ron Pitman is the Manager of Technology (SME) for Crude, Sulfur, Energy, and Utilities in Motiva’s corporate Technical Excellence group.   A Technical Leader with over 30 years of demonstrated success in process engineering management, operations management, technical support, and plant optimization that also includes 6 years of nuclear power experience in the US Navy.

BIOGRAPHY

Ayman Abd El Hafeiz has 17 years' experience of chemical industries field (Fertilizers) Main Success in sulfuric acid process as a project and Plant manager. plant manager for 1500 TPD, plant manager for 640 TPD & Utilities and Project manager for reviving old sulfuric acid plant 620 TPD which was a success case study participated in Sulphur + Sulphuric acid 2020 conference. He has lead engineering team for re-design, fabrication and commissioning for combustion and thermal equipment’s. In 2018 he received his M.Sc from Suez canal university.

BIOGRAPHY

Ben Spooner has been testing and troubleshooting amine plants for 25 years. In this paper he will discuss the topic of amine carryover from a regenerator. Although a relatively uncommon event, when it does happen it can be catastrophic for the sulphur plant.

BIOGRAPHY

Martin Taylor is the Manager, Sulfur Technologies, for Bechtel Energy Technologies & Solutions based in Houston, TX, USA. His experience includes design, troubleshooting, consulting, commissioning, and start-up of sulphur related units such as amine, sour water, SRUs, tail gas treating units, etc. for the last 20+ years. Martin has patents and patents pending for technologies in and around the sulphur industry. Martin earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a M.S. in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX, USA.

BIOGRAPHY

Mason Lee has spent 30 years on combustion and thermal process as a Senior Engineer, in this time he has acquired a variety of skills and accumulated many experiences in fluid dynamics analysis, advanced combustion technology, acoustic assessment, noise control and vibration analysis.

He has lead engineering design, fabrication and commissioning for combustion equipment and thermal systems, launched R&D studies for thermodynamics and combustion analysis in support of SRU projects. Mason is a Licensed Professional Engineer registered from Ontario, Canada and a member of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering from USA.

BIOGRAPHY

Michael Gaura is responsible for the spectroscopic products designed, sold, shipped and supported by AMETEK Process Instruments. This includes Ultraviolet (UV), Infrared (IR), Tunable Diode Laser (TDL) and X-ray Transmission (XRT) based analyzers. The measurements provided by these analyzers can be found in Natural Gas transmission and processing, Refining, Petrochemical, Gas Bottling, Chemical, and Steel manufacturing facilities around the world. Mr Gaura has led presentations focused on application optimization and technical measurement solutions at industry focused events for over 15 years. He has also written articles that can be found in various publications. Since joining AMETEK in 2017, he has increased his focus on the measurement needs of end users that are operating sulphur recovery units. Mr Gaura has a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a MBA from Oklahoma State University.

BIOGRAPHY

Rob Marriott is the Alberta Sulphur Research Ltd (ASRL) Director of Research (DOR) and the NSERC ASRL Industrial Research Chair in Applied Sulfur Chemistry. He is responsible for guiding the ASRL Core research program and teaches as an Associate Professor within the Department of Chemistry. His current research interests range from applied chemical thermodynamics of complex systems, souring of reservoir fluids, sulfur deposition, hydrate formation, sulfur recovery and high-pressure fluid purification. Prior to taking over as DOR, he spent 8 years with ASRL as a Research Scientist and Project Manager and 5 years as an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. He has authored over 50 published research papers, more than 100 conference presentations and over 130 confidential research contract reports.

BIOGRAPHY

Ron Pitman is the Manager of Technology (SME) for Crude, Sulfur, Energy, and Utilities in Motiva’s corporate Technical Excellence group.   A Technical Leader with over 30 years of demonstrated success in process engineering management, operations management, technical support, and plant optimization that also includes 6 years of nuclear power experience in the US Navy.

BIOGRAPHY

Florian Kistl has spent over four years as a member of CS Combustion Solutions' Team of experts for burners and incineration applications and has brought experience from all different kinds of sulphuric acid production processes from his time as Head of Sales.

BIOGRAPHY

Giovanni Manenti has spent more than 20 years, in engineering and manufacturing companies, in the design and product development for process heat transfer equipment. He has focused his activity on "hot & heavy" equipment like process gas boilers, transfer-line exchangers, waste heat recovery units, heaters, and syngas prototype equipment. Mr. Manenti counts several international patents on heat transfer technology and holds a PhD in chemical engineering at Politecnico diMilano.

BIOGRAPHY

Stefan Bräuner, a graduate in Mechanical and Process Engineering from TU Darmstadt, Germany, has held various positions within Metso’s Roasting & Sulphuric Acid department. His roles have spanned from process engineering and plant commissioning to leading R&D activities and heading the department for several years. Stefan spent some years in Metso’s Australian office as a Regional Technical and Sales Director, where he supported Roasting and Sulphuric Acid technologies in both greenfield and brownfield projects. Recently, Stefan returned to the technology center in Germany, maintaining his focus on sulphuric acid projects. Whether on the metallurgical or fertilizer side, Stefan has a deep interest in energy efficiency and digitalization.

BIOGRAPHY

Carolina graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As a student, she completed one year of internship experience working for companies such as Canfor and Worley Chemetics. Carolina joined Worley Chemetics in Vancouver in 2020 as a process engineer shortly after completing her degree. She has had the opportunity of contributing to the design and startup of projects in many of the technologies that Worley Chemetics offers including sulfuric acid, chlor-alkali and chlorine dioxide. Carolina also assisted with the development of the CORE-SO2™ technology and the test program in the Chemetics CORE-S pilot plant.

BIOGRAPHY

Jan-Willem Hennipman, PDEng, is one of the technology specialists of Worley Comprimo, with a broad knowledge in all aspects of sulphur recovery, sour water stripping and amine treating. Jan-Willem has more than 20 years of engineering experience in the oil and gas industries. Before that he worked 10 years as a process engineer for a pharmaceutical company. He holds a MS degree in Chemical Engineering and a Professional Doctorate in Engineering from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Ferra is a Process Performance Manager for REXA and has worked at REXA for eleven years. REXA makes high performance electro-hydraulic actuators used in critical applications requiring precise positioning and reliability. REXA is recognized as a leading customer-centric solutions provider enabling end-users to optimize process efficiency and enhance safety. In his role, Mark creates marketing messaging highlighting the application ROI and/or safety improvements using REXA actuators. Previously Mr. Ferra worked seven years for Freeport McMoRan as a Chief Engineer in the Marketing Technical Services group. Mr. Ferra has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Arizona State University and lives with his family in Phoenix, Arizona.