2022 Ralph Peck Lecture: Darsh Wasan

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McCormick Tribune Campus Center Auditorium
Darsh Wasan

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering presents the 2022 Ralph Peck Lecturer: Darsh Wasan, Vice President for International Affairs and Distinguished Motorola Professor of Chemical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology. Wasan's lecture is titled, "Behavior of Nanofluids and Colloidal Dispersions Confined Between Surfaces-Evolution of Novel Fluid-Particle Interaction Forces and Their Applications."

The lecture will be followed by the Darsh T. Wasan Retirement Ceremony from 1 - 2 pm in the MTCC Ballroom.

The event will be live streamed on YouTube

Abstract: Nanofluids which are suspensions of nanometer size particles, polymer latexes, globular proteins and surfactant micelles have significant applications in nanotechnology and biological systems. For example, their thin liquid films are spread on solid surfaces to build nano structured materials, such as light emitting displays, color shifting inks, solar cells, and biochemical sensors. The spreading and wetting behavior of nanofluids have been pursued by us experimentally and theoretically in recent years. Our research group made innovative use of thin nanofluidic liquid films formed from concentrated particle suspensions, surfactant micelles and globular proteins to probe particle-particle and particle-confining surface interactions in colloidal dispersions such as foams and emulsions. This technique enabled us to discover novel fluid-particle-confining surface oscillatory structural forces and particle structuring transitions under film confinement. Our research opened new vistas in dispersion science and technology and industrial process improvements in diverse multiphase processing operations such as in processing nuclear waste for DOE, fat-free formulations for Kraft Foods, replacing detergents that are derived from petroleum products with environmental friendly inorganic particles as “green Cleaners” for Proctor & Gamble, formulating fracturing fluids for Frac Tech Services and nanofluids for enhancing oil recovery from tight reservoirs for Chevon.

Biography: Darsh T. Wasan led Illinois Tech’s international initiatives for 26 years, serving as the university’s chief ambassador. Wasan is a University Distinguished Professor at Illinois Tech, and a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering and the Indian National Academy of Engineering. Since joining the Illinois Tech faculty in 1964, he has made wide-ranging contributions to the university. In 1988 he secured a gift of a five-building campus from CPC International, Inc., and with an initial grant of $3.7 million from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he founded an innovative national center for research and education in food safety and technology—now called the Institute for Food Safety and Health. In 1997 he initiated the delivery of cutting-edge master’s programs to India via distance learning programs. He established centers in India, Europe, China, and Korea; forged relationships with universities around the world; and increased international enrollment from 15 percent to 50 percent of Illinois Tech’s total enrollment. In his 57 years at Illinois Tech, he has also held nearly every leadership post, including department chair, interim dean of engineering, vice president for research and technology, provost, and senior vice president for academic affairs.

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