Pfeffer honored by leading engineering institute

Robert Pfeffer, a research professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Particle Technology Forum PSRI Lectureship in Fluidization Award on Nov. 19 at the organization’s annual meeting in Philadelphia.

The award, which includes of a $1,000 honorarium, is sponsored by Particulate Solid Research, Inc. (PSRI) – an international consortium of companies that conducts large-scale, applied research programs in fluidization, solids transport and other fluid-particle areas for its member companies.

It recognizes Pfeffer’s significant international contributions to fundamental and applied research in the field of fluidization and fluid-particle flow systems.

As part of the recognition, Pfeffer presented a lecture on his research, titled "Fluidization of Nanopowders" to an audience of about 100 AIChe members at the annual the meeting.

Pfeffer recently retired from his position as Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He remains active in research with students and colleagues at Arizona State University.

In bestowing the award, the Particle Technology Forum noted Pfeffer's pioneering research in dry-particle coating and granulation, supercritical coating of nanoparticles, and nanofluidization and nanomixing. His work was recognized as having made a significant mark on chemical engineering literature, and led to new technological developments in a variety of industries.