Expert Details

Biotechnology, Enzymes, Environmental Bioremediation, Regulatory Compliance

ID: 725879 Illinois, USA

Request Expert

Expert has over 40 years of experience in both basic and applied Biochemistry (biochemical research and enzymology) and Biotechnology. He is very successful in finding flaws in published and spoken materials. His strengths are in the fields of physical biochemistry, protein biochemistry, protein characterization, protein modification, protein stabilization and protein structure. He is familiar with many chromatography applications, as he has employed adsorption chromatography, as well as ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography (column and TLC) for small molecule and protein isolation, enzyme purification, and protein purification. A protein concentration process, usually via membranes and pressure filtration, followed the purifications. Some enzymes that he purified and studied were hemoglobin, methemoglobin, methemoglobin reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glucose isomerase, glucoamylase, and numerous other enzymes such as lipases, esterases (especially pig liver esterase), proteases, hydrolases, oxidative enzymes, and oxidoreductases, and other proteins such as immunoglobulins. He is very familiar with HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) and associated detectors. He is very strong in analytical biochemistry and has experience in managing an analytical biochemistry laboratory where such techniques as UV/Vis spectrophotometry, GC/MS, ion chromatography and the like were in common quantitative and forensic usage. He studied free radical biochemistry and showed its negative effects on various blood proteins and related it to peroxidase (HRP). He has had success in applied and industrial enzymology (biochemical process development), especially with immobilized enzymes.

Expert has over 23 years’ experience in the environmental, wastewater and air treatment areas, focusing on biological approaches. He has been an expert witness on approximately seven cases and has yet to be on the losing side. He is familiar with many areas of wastewater treatment, focusing on industrial and hazardous wastewater treatment. Examples of experience include, but are not limited to, biological industrial wastewater treatment such as the biological treatment of Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP)-impacted (contaminated) groundwater, fixed film reactors for reduction of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and COD, drinking water organics control using both biological treatment and activated carbon adsorption, anaerobic industrial wastewater digestion, both for sludge reduction and for co-metabolic treatment of halogenated hydrocarbons such as TCE, and nitrated compounds such as TNT and DNT (pink water), drinking water purification, especially nitrification – denitrification and BOD reductions as applied to the Space Station water recycling, in-situ groundwater treatment (toxic substance contaminated water treatment) using biological systems, and wastewater recycling, especially for the semi-conductor industry. He has significant experience in Asia (China, Taiwan, and Singapore) in the environmental area.

Expert has over 18 years experience in the regulatory field, focusing on such areas as chemical process safety engineering. He has been very successful in representing clients involved in alleged violation of OSHA and EPA regulations. He has worked with numerous clients to achieve compliance with various regulations, including EPA 112r (Risk Management Planning, RMP), TSCA regulations, especially involving PCBs, SARA Title III, EPCRA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations [especially 29 CFR 1910.119, Process Safety Management (PSM) and other areas such as OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030, confined space safety, etc]. He also has significant experience in food safety, especially HACCP and Sanitation SOPs. Much of his work has involved the food and beverage areas, especially involving ammonia refrigeration, and the chemical areas.

He is currently aiding ISoy Technologies, a small start-up firm, producing ferulated soybean oil glycerides in a reaction catalyzed by immobilized CalB [Candida antarctica lipase B]. The original technology was developed at the USDA Labs in Peoria, IL. ISoy is in the early production stage for this semi-synthetic hydrophobic additive used topically as both a sunscreen and an antioxidant. He successfully completed his biotechnology project for Gilead Sciences Inc. to produce immobilized pig liver esterase, ImPLE in commercial quantities. The regio- and stereospecificity of the ImPLE was essential for the production of Coviracil (Emtricitabine, FTC, Emtriva), the newer once-a-day nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor HIV/AIDS drug. He worked with scientists at Thermogen, Medichem and DeCode Genetics to develop a microbiological process for the synthesis of natural and unnatural amino acids based upon the use of hydantoinase and related enzymes.

Education

Year Degree Subject Institution
Year: 1978 Degree: Post Doctoral Scholar Subject: Biochemistry Institution: Cornell University
Year: 1976 Degree: PhD Subject: Biological Chemistry Institution: The University of Michigan
Year: 1971 Degree: BA Subject: Chemistry Institution: Queens College, CUNY

Work History

Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1999 to Present Employer: Undisclosed Title: President and Member Department:
Responsibilities:
He is currently a senior consultant, president and founder. His focus is on (1) biotechnology using immobilized enzymes to produce pharmaceutical intermediates, (2) Immobilized cells for industrial wastewater treatment and (3) Regulatory (OSHA, EPA) compliance
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1995 to 1999 Employer: Sole Proprietorship Title: Self Department:
Responsibilities:
His focus was on (1) biotechnology using immobilized enzymes to produce pharmaceutical intermediates, (2) Immobilized microorganisms for industrial wastewater treatment and (3) Regulatory (OSHA, EPA, DHS, DOT, USDA) compliance
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1996 to 1997 Employer: Honeywell International (fka AlliedSignal) Title: Project leader Department: Aerospace/Biotechnology
Responsibilities:
He was project leader involving the use of immobilized microorganisms for total water recycle for the Mars Lander/Space Station
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1994 to 1995 Employer: AlliedSignal Title: Manager Department: Environmental Systems and Services
Responsibilities:
He applied the use of immobilized cells for the biological treatment of hazardous waste and aided in the commercialization as co-founder of the Environmental Systems and Services business unit.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1985 to 1994 Employer: AlliedSignal Research & Technology Title: Research Scientist Department:
Responsibilities:
In this capacity he invented and patented a number of new technologies and materials for wastewater and groundwater pretreatment (received Special Award) based upon immobilized cell technology.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1982 to 1985 Employer: Signal-UOP Research Center Title: Research Specialist Department: Biochemistry
Responsibilities:
During this period of time his area of work was quite diverse, involving biochemistry, the corn wet milling area, immobilized enzymes, anti-microbial pharmaceuticals, coating technology and electro-biochemistry.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1978 to 1982 Employer: UOP Research Center Title: Senior Research Biochemist Department: Biotechnology Department
Responsibilities:
In this position his work focused on the industrial application of immobilized enzymes used in continuous processes.

Government Experience

Years Agency Role Description
Years: 2004 to 2008 Agency: Dept. of Agriculture Role: Consultant Description: Consulted on USDA-invented process via ISoy Technologies, for enzymatic production of soybean oil ferulated esters.

International Experience

Years Country / Region Summary
Years: 2006 to 2008 Country / Region: China (PRC) Summary: He went to China (PRC), Taiwan (ROC) and Singapore on a series of major consulting assignments for Honeywell. During these trips he made presentations to current and prospective customers for the wastewater and air treatment technologies that he had invented and patented while a Honeywell employee. He performed troubleshooting duties with problems that involved difficult-to-treat wastewater, both on-site and off-site. For example, he spent Christmas 2007 at the Hangzhou Transfar Whyyon Chemical Co site (a couple of hours from Shanghai, China) starting up the full-scale Biological Air Treater he had invented and patented. It is based upon a microbial fixed-film (immobilized) consortium and acts to irreversibly mineralize vaporous pollutants at the plant.
Years: 1996 to 2000 Country / Region: Taiwan (ROC) Summary: He aided CPC (Chinese Petroleum Company), Taiwan (ROC), in evaluating fixed film (biological) reactor technology for the treatment of toxic, difficult refinery waste streams, mostly derived from residual oil cracking.
Years: 1995 to 1995 Country / Region: Taiwan (ROC) Summary: He went to Taiwan to aid in developing a method of leaching or fixing heavy metals contaminating a major river in southern Taiwan.
Years: 2018 to 2018 Country / Region: China (PRC) Summary: International Trade Commission project

Career Accomplishments

Associations / Societies
American Chemical Society
Licenses / Certifications
He has special training:
· HAZWOPPER Refresher Training (8 hour Haz. Waste Operations Management), 1991 to Current (2008).
· Emergency Notification Release Reporting Training, EPCRA 304; CERCLA 103 (EPA Region 5), 1999
· Risk Management Program Assistance (IEMA), 1999
· Basic Ammonia Refrigeration, 1998
· Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE), 1996.
· Scorecard Training, 1996.
· Convenor, Pollution Prevention Biotechnology, Summer Biotechnology Institute, Northwestern University Center for Biotechnology, 1995.
· Sales Training Workshop (Institute for Business and Interpersonal Strategies) 1995.
· Customer Linked Commercialization & Customer Partnering, 1994.
Professional Appointments
He was appointed Trustee, Plum Grove Estates Sanitary District, by Cook County, Illinois, and is currently serving in his ninth year.
Awards / Recognition
Expert has received a number of awards and recognition, including:
• Special (Team) Recognition Award, AlliedSignal, April
• Special (Individual) Recognition Award, AlliedSignal
• Rackham Dissertation Grant, The University of Michigan
• Graduated (BA, Queens College) with departmentally-conferred honors
• Elected to Beta Delta Chi, Chemistry Honor Society, Queens College, CUNY
• New York State Regents Scholarship
Medical / Professional
Honors research, in the laboratory of Prof. Robert Engel, Queens College, CUNY, January 1970 through August 1971
Publications and Patents Summary
Expert has authored approximately 22 publications, 3 book chapters, and is an inventor on 13 issued patents, 3 pending patents, in biotechnology, including the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, industries, and for biological wastewater treatment.

Additional Experience

Expert Witness Experience
- Gave deposition, at request of MWRDGC attorneys (plaintiff), relating to allegation that company AY (defendant, an ex-client) was inappropriately discharging high-strength wastewater.
- In another case, collected data for defendant and wrote report outlining how alleged groundwater contamination at plaintiff residence was below state drinking water regulations.
- Gave deposition on same.
- Opposing attorney of above case (plaintiff) settled out of court due to strength of data, report and deposition.
- In another case, consulted for plaintiff in patent infringement case relating to the use of microorganisms to aid in the degreasing of machine parts.
- In another case, gave deposition on behalf of plaintiff on alleged groundwater contamination of drinking water with benzene and other petroleum components. Also performed calculations based upon EPA data on degree of effectiveness for activated carbon to remove the above contaminants. Settled out of court in favor of client.
- In another case, consulted & Expert Witness for defendant concerning alleged inflated product claims (microbiology, antimicrobials); wrote detailed technical critique / report; deposed; reviewed expert report
- In another case, consulted for defendant concerning alleged claims relating to the finding of food contamination. Wrote report.
- In another case was expert witness for defendant in biochemical patent infringement case involving use of protease enzymes for biological polymer alteration and allergan reduction; presented testimony at evidentiary hearing. Judge ruled Expert's testimony "compelling".
- Involved in four Inter partes review actions
- In summary, deposed 7 times, presented sworn testimony at evidentiary hearing and sworn testimony at one jury trial.
Training / Seminars
Presented as Invited Speaker, to Environmental Practice Specialty, American Society of Safety Engineers ASSE Headquarters, 1800 Oakton, Des Plaines, IL, USA. “Thoughts on International Trends (China) and Emerging Water Issues” April 13, 2007
Vendor Selection
In order to complete a high priority project for a major pharmaceutical firm, he procured, installed and validated a bioanalytical laboratory in six weeks.

Fields of Expertise

Request Expert

Dev Tool:

Request: expert/biotechnology-enzymes-environmental-bioremediation-regulatory-compliance
Matched Rewrite Rule: expert/([^/]+)(?:/([0-9]+))?/?$
Matched Rewrite Query: experts=biotechnology-enzymes-environmental-bioremediation-regulatory-compliance&page=
Loaded Template: single-experts.php