Gary T. Rochelle

Gary T. Rochelle is a Professor holding the Carol & Henry Groppe Professorship in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, where he leads fundamental research in air pollution control and carbon management technologies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (1977)
• M.S. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1971)

His research focuses on thermodynamic and kinetic phenomena in aqueous systems for CO2 capture, acid gas treating, and flue gas desulfurization. He pioneers mass transfer modeling with chemical reaction, electrolyte thermodynamics, and innovative solvent development like piperazine-based systems. Recent work emphasizes pilot-scale validation of carbon capture processes and mitigation of solvent degradation.

Publication trends reveal evolving expertise from fundamental acid gas thermodynamics (1990s) toward integrated carbon management solutions, with current emphasis on process optimization, nitrosamine mitigation, and aerosol control in amine scrubbing systems.

Scientific Awards:

• Carol & Henry Groppe Professorship in Chemical Engineering

Professor Rochelle directs the Texas Carbon Management Program, advising four graduate students and two visiting researchers with funding from Department of Energy contracts (e.g., DE-AF26-99FT01029) and industry partnerships. His DOE-sponsored research established concentrated piperazine with advanced flash stripping as the benchmark amine scrubbing system.

The group operates a pilot-scale CO2 capture facility at Pickle Research Campus and collaborates internationally through events like GHGT-16 and the Carbon Management Research Review, focusing on scaling carbon capture technologies for power plant retrofits.