Jafar Soltan PhD

Experience and Education

Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan

Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1998
M.Sc. (ENG), Shiraz University, 1992
B.Sc. (ENG), Abadan Institute of Technology (Currently: Petroleum University of Technology), 1988
Professional Engineer (APEGS, Saskatchewan)

Research Projects

My current areas of research interests are:

Treatment of Polluted Air

We do research on a wide range of catalysts and processes for treatment of polluted air. The presence of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (e.g. benzene, acetone, solvents) in air can cause odor problems and potentially health concerns. Catalytic processes based on controlled reactions with ozone gas are used to oxidize organic air pollutants under controlled conditions with minimum consumption of energy.

Degradation of Emerging Pollutants in Water

One area of research related to water treatment is catalytic advanced oxidation technologies. Ongoing research is focused on environmental catalysis and application of ozone and advanced oxidation processes to remove emerging pollutants (e.g. such as bisphenol A, pesticides, residual pharmaceuticals and personal care products) from water and wastewater. Emerging pollutants have been detected in bodies of water in Canada and around the world. Their presence in water can be a serious health concern for aquatic life and humans. Recent reports about the presence of these pollutants in water and their alarmingly adverse effects on fish population and characteristics indicate that there is a real demand for knowledge and effective technologies for their removal in water and wastewater treatment industries.

Application of Ultrasound in Decomposition of Toxic Chemicals in Water

Application of ultrasound energy in water leads to extreme conditions in the system. In a sonicated medium, an extremely large number of sub-micron size bubbles are generated and the bubbles collapse in a matter of microseconds. While the reaction medium stays at a mild temperature, high temperatures (in the range of 5000 °C), high pressures (in the range of 1000 atm) and high cooling rates (~1000 °C/s) occur inside the collapsing bubbles. Under these extreme conditions, harmful chemical compounds can be decomposed.  In addition, a large number of active chemical species are generated in the reaction medium outside the collapsing bubbles. We focus on the decomposition of harmful chemicals in water and mathematical modeling of the phenomena in sonication processes.

Using Functionalized Adsorbents to Remove Residual Antibiotics in Wastewater

The use of antibiotics in veterinary and human medicine is widespread. Antibiotics that are used in industrial animal production facilities can find their way into the environment mostly through waste and manure handling and management processes. An important health risk of the presence of antibiotics in nature is the increase in the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria strains, which in turn is of great health and ecological concern. We work on the development of functionalized adsorbents and the associated processes to effectively remove the antibiotics from wastewater streams.

• J. Soltan, 2006. Reduction of VOC by dissolved gas floatation system. Iranian Patent, No 38505103, August 20.
• J. Soltan, 2006. Gas-induced reactor for ozonation of polluted water systems. Iranian Patent No 38505104, August 20.