Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering

Faculty & Staff

Dr. Matthew Alexander


Associate Professor

 

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, 1990, Purdue University

M.S. in Chemical Engineering, 1986, Georgia Institute of Technology

B.S. in Engineering Science and Chemistry, 1984, Trinity University

 

Research Specialties

Sustainable groundwater use

Industrial wastewater treatment

Renewable biofuel production processes

Chemical process sustainability

Remediation of hazardous wastes

Bioremediation processes

           

Professional Experience

  • Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK), Department of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering, Associate Professor, Aug 2015-current.
  • Leidos Inc (formerly SAIC or Science Applications International Corporation), Chemical Engineer, March 2001 – current.
  • Trinity University, Department of Engineering Science, Adjunct Professor, Aug 2006 – May 2010.
  • Operational Technologies Corporation, Environmental Technology Department, Manager of Environmental Technology Development, June 1993 – February 2001.
  • Southwest Research Institute, Research Engineer, July 1990 – June 1993.

 

Research and Scholarly Activities

 

Recent Publications

  • Aamir, H.M., Alexander, M.L., ul Haq, T. (2023) “Surface and Structural Modulation of Waste-Derived, Boron-Doped Carbon to Enhance its Adsorption Efficiency for Lead Removal from Wastewater”, ChemistrySelect (online) doi.org/10.1002/slct.202204249.
  • Bashir S., Li C., Huang Y., Palakurthi S., Wang Z., Olaseni Y., Villarreal P., Houf W., Alexander M., Ren J., Liu J., Wet-chemistry Derived Nanomaterials and Their Multidisciplinary Applications (Book Chapter 2A), Wang, S. Bashir and J. Liu, NanoChemistry: From Theory to Application for In-Depth Understanding of Nanomaterials, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin, Germany (ISBN 9783110739855), 2022
  • Ajala, S.O., Alexander, M.L. (2020) “Application of Bio-based Alkali to Induce Flocculation of Microalgae for Biofuel Production”, Biomass and Bioenergy, 132 (2020) 105431. DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.105431.
  • Ajala, S.O., Alexander, M.L. (2020) “Evaluating the Effects of Agitation by Shaking, Stirring and Air Sparging on the Growth and Biochemical Compounds Accumulation in Microalgae Cells”, Biofuels (online), DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2020.1714161.
  • Alexander, M. L. “In situ Treatment of a Dilute Chlorinated Solvent Plume in an Acidic Aerobic Aquifer”, Remediation, 2020; 30:25–35. DOI: 10.1002/rem.21641.
  • Alexander, M. L., Alarwan, N., Chandrasekaran, M., Sundaram, A., Milde, T., Rasool, S., “Preliminary Results from Experiments and Modeling for Investigation of Oily Sludge Biodegradation in a Wastewater Pond Environment”, Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 1659; DOI: 10.3390/app10051659.
  • Ajala, S.O., Alexander, M.L. (2019) “Assessment of Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Oocystis minuta for removal of sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate in wastewater”, Intl J Energy and Environmental Engineering (online), DOI: 10.1007/s40095-019-00333-0.
  • Ajala, S.O., Alexander, M.L. (2019) “Multi-objective Optimization Studies of Microalgae Dewatering by utilizing Bio-based Alkali: A Case Study of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Genetic Algorithm (GA)”, SN Applied Sciences (2020) 2:387. DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-2097-5.
  • Alexander, M. L., Adeniran, A., and Tovar, C. (2017) “Modeling of Water Quality Downgradient of a Mulch Biowall”, Remediation. 2017:28:55–61. DOI: 10.1002/rem.2154

 

Thesis and Project Advisor

  • Alexander has served as the thesis advisor for one Ph.D. student, 17 Masters Thesis students and 23 Masters Project students from 2015 to present.

 

Funded proposals

  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, “Uranium Mining Outlook for the State of Texas”, Principal Investigator, September 2023, $175,000.
  • Halliburton Foundation, “Preparing Future Workforce for Sustainable Environment with Data and Computer-driven STEM Training”, Principal Investigator, awarded August 2022, $15,000.
  • National Institute for Standards and Technology, “Develop, Implement and Integrate Standard Education Modules in Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical Engineering Curricula”, Co-principal Investigator, awarded September 2023, $129,735.
  • National Science Foundation, “CREST Center for Sustainable Water Use (CREST-SWU)”, Senior Personnel, awarded August 2019, $5,000,000
  • National Science Foundation, “Pathways of Excellence to Promote Seamless Transitions in the Engineering Majors”, Co-Principal Investigator, awarded July 2019, $2,392,470.
  • Halliburton Foundation, “Intervention in Middle and High School Science and STEM Classes to Increase Interest”, Co-Principal Investigator, awarded August 2018, $15,000.
  • Title V FP2S Grant for Course Redesign, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, “Incorporation of Active Learning for Improved Critical Thinking Skill Development in CHEN 2372”, awarded November 2022, $2,500.
  • Title V FP2S Grant for Course Redesign, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, “Incorporation of Research-focused Design Project into the GEEN 1201 CHNG Section”, awarded May, 2021, $2,500.
  • TAMUK Council for Undergraduate Research (TCUR), “Oily Sludge Biodegradation Enhancements Using Crude Oil Spill Technologies”, submitted December 2017, awarded February 2018.  Principle Investigator, February 1 to July 15, 2018, $4,500.
  • Title V I-CARE Grant for Course Redesign, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, “Understanding Resource Limitations by Incorporating Sustainability Concepts into Chemical Process Design”, awarded May, 2017, $2,500.
  • University Research Award, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, “Microalgal Triglyceride Production in Brackish Waters for Biodiesel Production”, awarded August 2016.  Principle Investigator, September 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017, $15,000.
  • TAMUK Council for Undergraduate Research (TCUR), “Carbon Release Profile from a Biowall Used for Groundwater Treatment”, submitted November 2015, awarded January 2016.  Principle Investigator, February 1 to August 3, 2016, $4,600.

 

Professional Affiliations

  • Member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (33 years), Director (3 years) and 2nd/1st/chair (3 years) of Environmental Division
  • Member of American Chemical Society (35 years)
  • Member of American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (10 years)
  • American Society of Engineering Education (5 years)

 

Professional Registrations

  • Professional Engineer –States of Texas (PE #85856) and Alabama (PE #34718)
  • Board Certified Environmental Engineer – American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists

 

 

Professional Awards

  • Outstanding Teacher Award, Gulf Southwest Section of American Society of Engineering Education, 2023
  • Dean’s Award for Service Excellence, Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2022
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2019
  • Technology Innovator of the Year, Texas A&M U-Kingsville, April 2018
  • Teacher of the Year Award Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering Department, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
  • San Antonio Business Journals’ 40 Under 40 List (1996)
  • S. Patent #5,348,803 – Microcapsules and Method for Degrading Hydrocarbons (1994)
Dr. Matthew Alexander