Education

• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Rice University

Courses

• CHEE 2331 Chemical Processes
• CHEE 3366 Topics in Physical Chemistry
• CHEE 6366 Fundamentals of Catalysis
• CHEE 6388 Catalytic Processes

Research Interests

Professor Richardson’s research involves experimental heterogeneous catalysis as related to industrial catalytic processes. Topics include:

• Heterogeneous catalysis and catalytic processes, reactor engineering, catalyst preparation and characterization, catalyst design
• Solar energy, solar receiver design, solar related chemical processes
• Catalytic processes for the destruction of hazardous wastes
• Gas to liquid conversion processes
• High temperature superconductivity and processing of ceramic superconductors
• Solid oxide fuel cells, ceramic membrane reactors
• Combinatorial Catalysis

Current Funded Projects

1. "Catalyst Lifetime Studies for Chlorinated Steam Reforming", Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center.
2. "More Efficient Catalysts for Exothermic Chemical Processes", Texas Coordinating Board ATP Program.
3. "SHS and Ceramic Membrane Reactors", Materials Science and Engineering Center at the University of Houston. Jointly with Prof. D. Luss.
4. "Improved Halogen Resistance of Catalytic Oxidation Through Efficient Catalyst Testing", Gulf Coast Hazardous Substances Research Center. Jointly with Prof. R. C. Willson.

Graduate Students Supervised

• S. A. Brown
• U. Fitzi
• H. Gadala
• D. Hill**
• B. LeClerc
• S. Modi
• Y. Peng
• J. T. Richtie*
• M. Shafiei

* joint with D. Luss
**joint with R. C. Willson

Awards and Honors

• 2001: President-elect, University of Houston chapter of Sigma Xi.
• 1999: Best Applied Paper Award, South Texas Section, AIChE
• 1997: Abraham Dukler Distinguished Faculty Award, Cullen College of Engineering Alumni, University of Houston
• 1993: Senior Faculty Research Award, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston
• 1989: Best Applied Paper Award, South Texas Section, AIChE