Expert Details
Salt Extraction From Brines, Solar Pond Design and Operation
ID: 730556
Washington, USA
engineer ranges from
troubleshooting existing production sites, to designing and operating new facilities. Business plans and market investigations have
supported new ventures. He has knowledge of the salt business on all continents. Expert is an expert in extracting sodium
chloride from seawater, terminal lakes such as Searles Lake and Amboy, and from underground brines, salt dome brines, and
salars.
Expert' management experience spans the range from supervisor to CEO. He has experience in the bulk chemicals, paper, fertilizer, ozone and salt industries.
Expert has used his education and experience to troubleshoot and recommend and monitor changes to existing facilities. He has also designed new salt production facilities up to 4 million tons per year.
He has managed the installation of small projects; and the design, planning, procurement, construction and startup of large projects.
The solar salt industry basically extracts salt (sodium chloride) from seawater. Other sources of salt brines include terminal inland lakes, brines from underground salt sources, and salars. Other minerals from brine such as calcium chloride and magnesium salts have also been recovered. Expert has experience in these areas.
Expert has designed and constructed levees/dikes to construct evaporation ponds to evaporate and manipulate mineral brines for salt and other minerals. He has also used ponds to clean up waste sites involving brines, e.g. aluminum manufacturing, geothermal wells, agricultural runoff, etc.
Expert has completed market assessments in the developing world to support business plans for new ventures.
Expert has completed due diligence in the salt industry to advise investors regarding potential investments.
Wrote business plan and investigated markets for a 4 million ton per year salt facility. Designed the process, procured the major equipment, oversaw construction, and trained staff. Developed a solar iodized salt production and distribution plan for Eastern Tajikistan to reduce iodine deficiency disorders. Wrote the business plan for a large international NGO. Evaluated restoration alternatives for the Salton Sea (the largest lake in California) and designed the proposed full-size facility with the goal of stopping the growth in size and salinity of the lake. Designed and operated the first pilot ponds to determine brine characteristics. Preliminary evaluations for new/expanded salt facilities in Ghana. Developed concepts and reviewed contractor plans to minimize the amount of salt water in a geothermal waste consolidation project for the largest utility in California. Cleanup is complete.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1968 | Degree: BS | Subject: Chemical Engineering | Institution: Stanford University |
| Year: 1968 | Degree: BA | Subject: Economics | Institution: Claremont McKenna College |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1999 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Provide consulting services to the solar salt industry, and recommend environmental cleanup options for contaminated brines. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to 2011 | Employer: Salt Investment | Title: CEO | Department: |
Responsibilities:Chief Executive Officer for a startup company in Djibouti Africa. Previously COO, and Project Manager. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1977 to 1998 | Employer: Cargill | Title: Operations Manager | Department: West Coast Salt Operations |
Responsibilities:Manage the operations of five salt production facilities on the west coast of the US. Previously production manager and maintenance manager. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1974 to 1977 | Employer: Valley Nitrogen Producers | Title: Maintenance Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Provide engineering capability to the largest fertilizer manufacturer on the west coast. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1968 to 1974 | Employer: Proctor & Gamble | Title: Manager | Department: Maintenance |
Responsibilities:Manage the maintenance function in assignments in bulk chemicals and paper manufacturing. Included the startup of a new paper making facility. |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2007 to 2011 | Country / Region: Djibouti | Summary: CEO of a startup salt production company in Djibouti, Africa. Designing and building a 4 million ton per year salt production facility. Procurement and construction management. Staff development, sales, government and investor relations. |
| Years: to Present | Country / Region: Tajikistan | Summary: Developed a solar iodized salt production and distribution plan for Eastern Tajikistan to reduce iodine deficiency disorders. Wrote the business plan for a large international NGO. |
| Years: to Present | Country / Region: Ghana | Summary: Preliminary evaluations for new/expanded salt facilities. |
| Years: to Present | Country / Region: Eritrea | Summary: Did preliminary study for a new solar salt facility. |
| Years: to Present | Country / Region: Australia | Summary: Studied and made recommendations to remedy biologic problems in the solar ponds at Port Hedland. |
Additional Experience
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Attended many seminars in management techniques, organizational development, safety, and maintenance. Selected as trainer for a major business initiative at Cargill. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Sourced and purchased all major equipment for a 4 million ton per year salt facility in Djibouti Africa. Arranged transport to Djibouti for purchases made from all points of the globe. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Expert has visited or worked at many of the large salt production facilities around the world. He is familiar with the technologies, markets, trends, people and cost factors in the salt industry. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert has experience in team development, organizational development and facility startups. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| German | Studied at college level in Germany. Was fluent. Now not so fluent. |
Fields of Expertise
evaporite salt, saline deposit, sodium salt, salinity, sodium chloride, business management, operations management, industrial chemical production, chemical processing plant design, facility design, construction project management, private construction, brackish water, brine, brine mineral recovery, levee, pond, market assessment, due-diligence investigation, construction document, industrial plant construction, earthmoving equipment, industrial construction management, general contractor, surface mining, lock out tag procedure, manufacturing facility design, mineral extraction, chemical marketing, continuous production, chemical plant operation, marine shipping, plant operations management, chemical operation troubleshooting, project cost management, chemical plant start-up, salt water, construction equipment, chemical process equipment, chemical plant management, A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction Program, construction engineering, chemical research and development, contractor safety management, construction safety management, competitive analysis, chemical plant layout, chemical plant troubleshooting, construction contract, cost analysis, machine safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, chemical plant manufacturing, personal protection equipment, production process, safety management, industrial safety, industrial plant, process engineering, construction, process management, occupational safety, plant layout, manufacturing, economic analysis, ditch, contractor safety, construction safety, construction planning, construction cost