Satish J. Parulekar

Education

Ph.D. from Purdue University (Chemical Engineering, 1983)
M.S. from University of Pittsburgh (Chemical Engineering, 1979)
B.S. from University of Bombay, India (Chemical Engineering, 1978)

Research Interests

Professor Parulekar's research interests are biochemical engineering and chemical reaction engineering. His present research activities in these areas are:

Biochemical Engineering

In the area of biochemical engineering, Professor Parulekar's research deals with production of extracellular and intracellular enzymes/proteins by recombinant and wildtype microorganisms, production of biochemicals using immobilized cell reactors, animal cell cultivations, and biodegradation of agrowaste-based polymeric products.

The research with recombinant organisms is aimed at gaining a fundamental understanding of hostplasmid interactions in these species and the effect of these interactions on plasmid replication, cell growth, and product gene expression. His research with wildtype microorganisms is directed toward understanding the mechanism of synthesis of extracellular enzymes such as amylases and proteases. The research dealing with immobilized cell reactors is focused on the study of alteration in cellular metabolism due to immobilization and implications of such alteration in the design of these reactors. The research with animal cell cultivations is concerned with shear sensitivity of animal cells, its implications in metabolic activities of animal cells, and identification of operating strategies for optimal production of desired metabolites in animal cell cultures. The research with agrowaste-based polymeric products is focused on studying the biodegradability characteristics of these products using enzyme mixtures, suspension and immobilized cultures of cell species responsible for biodegradation, soil columns, and understanding the kinetic and transport effects.

Chemical Reaction Engineering

In the area of chemical reaction engineering, his research is concerned with identification of optimal reactor structures for complex reaction networks and investigation of forced periodic operation of continuous flow (CSTR and tubular) reactors. Experimental investigation of production of acetylene, ethylene, ethane, and higher hydrocarbons via oxidative pyrolysis of methane and halomethanes in flow reactors is currently under investigation. The theoretical counterpart of this research is concerned with the development of detailed chemical kinetic models for this process.

Publications

Peng, F., Y. Li, P. Nash, J.F. Cooper, S.J. Parulekar, and J.R. Selman, “Direct Carbon Fuel Cells – Wetting Behavior of Graphitic Carbon in Molten Carbonate,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 41, 18858-18871 (2016). – Invited Paper.

Ninawe, P.R. and S.J. Parulekar, “Drug Delivery Using Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Gel Spheres,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 51, 1741-1755 (2012). – Invited Paper.

Parulekar, S.J., “Effect of Spatial Segregation on Commensalistic Cultures - Series Reactors,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 51, 1525-1542 (2012). – Invited Paper. Ninawe, P.R. and S.J. Parulekar, “Drug Loading Into and Drug Release from pH- and Temperature-Responsive Cylindrical Hydrogels,” Biotechnol. Prog., 27(5), 1442-1454 (2011).

Ninawe, P.R. and S.J. Parulekar, “Drug Loading Into and Drug Release from pH- and Temperature-Responsive Cylindrical Hydrogels,” Biotechnol. Prog., 27(5), 1442-1454 (2011).

Inamdar, S.I., I.A. Karimi, S.J. Parulekar, and B.D. Kulkarni, “A Sharp Cut Algorithm for Optimization,” Comp. Chem. Eng., 35, 2716-2728 (2011).

Parulekar, S.J., “Fate of Commensalistic Cultures in Identical Coupled Bioreactors,” Chem. Eng. Sci.66(6), 1100-1122 (2011).

Bule, M.V., K.M. Desai, B. Parisi, S.J. Parulekar, P. Slade, R.S. Singhal, and A. Rodriguez, “Furan Formation During UV-Treatment of Fruit Juices,” Food Chemistry, 122(4), 937-942 (2010).

Ninawe, P.R., D. Hatziavramidis, and S.J. Parulekar, “Delivery of Drug Macromolecules from Thermally-Responsive Gel Implants to the Posterior Eye,” Chem. Eng. Sci., 65(18), 5170-5177 (2010).

Ninawe, P.R., D. Hatziavramidis, and S.J. Parulekar, “Delivery of Drug Macromolecules from Thermally-Responsive Gel Implants to the Posterior Eye,” Proceedings of the 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Montreal, Canada, ISBN 0-920804-44-6 (2009).

Chen, H-M., S.J. Parulekar, and A. Zdunek, “Interactions of Chloride and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) in Acidic Copper Sulfate Electrolyte,” J. Electrochem. Soc., 155(5), D341-D348 (2008).

Chen, H-M., S.J. Parulekar, and A. Zdunek, “Interactions of Chloride and 3-Mercapto-1-Propanesulfonic Acid in Acidic Copper Sulfate Electrolyte,” J. Electrochem. Soc., 155(5), D349-D356 (2008).

Parulekar, S.J., “Analysis of Pervaporation-Aided Esterification of Organic Acids,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 46, 8490-8504 (2007).

Parulekar, S.J., “Numerical Problem Solving Using MATHCAD in Undergraduate Reaction Engineering,” CACHE News, No. 65, Winter 2007/2008 (2007).

Benedict, D.J., S.J. Parulekar, and S-P. Tsai, “Pervaporation-Assisted Esterification of Lactic and Succinic Acids with Downstream Ester Recovery,” J. Membr. Sci. , 281, 435-445 (2006).

Parulekar, S.J. and P. Ingle, “Continuous Commensalistic Cultures with Kinetic Feedback - Static and Dynamic Behavior,” AIChE J., 52(8), 2949-2963 (2006).

Singh, D., V.R. Mandalika, S.J. Parulekar, and A.S. Wagh, "Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Ceramic for 99Tc Immobilization," J. Nucl. Mat., 348(3), 272-282 (2006).

Parulekar, S.J., “Numerical Problem Solving Using Mathcad in Undergraduate Reaction Engineering,” Chem. Eng. Ed., 40(1), 14-23 (2006).

Chang, H.T., S.J. Parulekar, and M. Ahmed, “A Dual-Growth Kinetic Model for Biological Wastewater Reactors,” Biotechnol. Prog., 21(2), 423-431 (2005).

Alkhateeb, M., S.J. Parulekar, J.R. Selman, and S. Al-Hallaj, “Macrohomogeneous Modeling of Porous SOFC Electrodes,” Proceedings of the Electrochemical Society, PV2005-07, 738-748 (2005).

Zdunek, A., D.N. Sanz, C. Gabrielli, P. Mocoteguy, H. Perrot, H-M. Chen, and S.J. Parulekar, “Electrochemical Impedance Monitoring of Copper Damascene Chemistries,” Proceedings of the 2005 Semiconductor Wet Processes Conference, Santa Clara, CA (2005).

Parulekar, S.J., “Reflections on Project-Based Learning in Graduate Courses”, Chem. Eng. Ed., 38(4), 262-267 (2004).

Parulekar, S.J., “Systematic Performance Analysis of Continuous Processes Subject to Multiple Input Cycling,” Chem. Eng. Sci., 58, 5173-5194 (2003).

Benedict, D.J., S.J. Parulekar, and S-P. Tsai, “Esterification of Lactic Acid and Ethanol With/Without Pervaporation,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 42, 2282-2291 (2003).

Benedict, D., S.J. Parulekar, and S-P. Tsai, “Pervaporation-Aided Production of Ethyl Lactate,” Advanced Membrane-Based Separations, 2003 Topical Conference Proceedings, AIChE Publications, New York (2003).

Birol, I., S.J. Parulekar, and F. Teymour, “Effect of Environment Partitioning on the Survival and Coexistence of Autocatalytic Replicators,” Phys. Rev. E, 66, 051916 (1-19) (2002).

Birol, G., C. Undey, S.J. Parulekar, and A. Cinar, “A Morphologically Structured Model for Penicillin Production,” Biotechnol. Bioeng., 77, 538-552 (2002).

Khalili, N.R., J.D. Vyas, W. Weangkaew, S. Wastefall, S.J. Parulekar, and R. Sherwood, “Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbon and Bioactive Sorbent Produced from Paper Mill Sludge,” Sep. Purif. Technol., 26, 295-304 (2002).

Parulekar, S.J., "Forced Periodic Operations of Continuous Recombinant Cell Cultures Subject to Antibiotic Selection Pressure," Chem. Eng. Sci., 56, 6463-6484 (2001).

Khalili, N.R., E. Chaib, S.J. Parulekar, and D. Nykiel, “Performance Enhancement of Batch Aerobic Digesters via Addition of Digested Sludge,” J. Haz. Mat., B76, 91-102 (2000).

Parulekar, S.J., "Analysis of Forced Periodic Operations of Continuous Bioprocesses - Multiple Input Variations", Chem. Eng. Sci., 55, 513-533 (2000).

Books

Cinar, A., S.J. Parulekar, C. Undey, and G. Birol, “Batch Fermentation: Modeling, Monitoring, and Control,” ISBN: 0-8247-4034-3, Marcel Dekker, New York (April 2003).