Dr. Pedro E. Arce
Professor and Chair

Contact Info:
Tennessee Tech University
Department of Chemical Engineering
Prescott Hall-Room 214
1020 Stadium Drive
Box 5013
Cookeville, TN 38505-0001
Phone: (931) 372.3189
Fax (931) 372.6352
E-mail:parce@tntech.edu

Electrokinetics and Electrophoresis • Non-thermal High Oxidation Methods • Nano-structured soft (gel and colloidal) materials for bioseparations and drug delivery • Engineering Education

Education

Honors and Awards

Research Statement

The current focus of Dr. Arce’s research efforts is on the analysis and prediction of the Rate of Transport and Consumption of Solutes (colloidal particles, macromolecules, contaminants, and drugs) in multiscale systems ranging from the earth environment (soils) to microenvironments (microfluidics) and the nanoscale (gel and colloidal materials with internal architectures). In particular, he is interested in advancing the understanding, the development, and/or the improving of applied field sensitive technologies. This is a relevant family of problems in modern chemical and biological engineering with one interesting characteristic - its common scientific core that permeates all systems. This core includes electrostatics, colloidal and microhydrodynamics, chemical kinetics, and bio-particle/surface interaction. Applied field process technologies have applications in soil remediation, contaminant degradation, material development for bioseparations and drug delivery, and biomicroflows (kidney, arteries, and lungs), among others. Dr. Arce’s group has recently identified the word Electrokineic-Hydrodynamics or EKHD to describe applications whose applied field is electrical.

For “low” values of the electrical field (in the order of minivolts), our past research efforts have yielded novel nano-templated gels with unique characteristics for electrophoresis separation, uncovered the key role of the internal architecture of the material in predicting transport rates in (isotropic and non-isotropic) porous or fibrous media, and led to a priori design or implementation criteria in capillary and free-flow electrophoresis devices and electrokinetic soil remediation. For “high” field values (in the order of several kilovolts), our group has pioneered the application of non-thermal plasma to organic contaminant reduction (removal of phenol, fumics, and proteins) in liquid phase and suggested fundamental reactor design equations for the gas phase. In addition, promising experimental results have been obtained in particle electrosettling in water.

Current efforts focus on building on previous accomplishments and fostering new and mutually beneficial collaborations. For example, we are developing the next generation of non-thermal plasma reactors in aqueous and gas phase, working on the synthesis and characterization of novel nano-polymer and colloidal-structured materials for bioseparations and drug delivery, and have initiated the analysis and design of micro-electrokinetics devices (MED) for sensoring and clinical uses as well as begun studies in bio-electrokinetic remediation in soils.

Studies in Low Reynolds Hydrodynamics and collaboration of colleagues at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, GFDI ( Florida State University) have led to the discovery of a novel internal microflow (i.e., “puddle” formation flow) in large drops moving in high viscous fluids. Further experimental and simulations aspects are currently being studied. Micromixing of fluids and Earth Mantle Dynamics are two key applications of this novel flow.

Dr. Arce is deeply committed to the development and enhancement of the efficient learning methodologies in the engineering curricula where his focus is on active and collaborative learning environments and learning techniques of high retention. He has championed the use of the “Colloquial Approach,” the “The Principal Objects of Knowledge or POK’s,” the “(Sport) Coach Model of Instruction,” and more recently, “High Performance Learning Environment or Hi-PeLE,” “Personalized Class Binders or PCB,” and up-scaling approaches of transport and reaction processes in systems with multiscales and multiphases. Dr. Arce is a frequent invited workshop conductor on these topics in Latin American Countries (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay) and in the USA (ASEE-SE Annual Meetings).

Acknowledgements: Dr. Arce acknowledges collaboration with and partial support from the Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources and the Center for Manufacturing Research at Tennessee Tech and collaboration with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute (GFDI) at Florida State University, as well as with the Universidad Catolica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.

Recent Publications

P.E. Arce, M. Quintard, S. Whitaker, 2005, “The Art and Science of Upscaling,” Chapter 1 in Chemical Engineering: Trends and Developments, edited by M.A. Galán and Eva Marin de Valle, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., England, (2005).

M. Oyanader, P. Arce, A. Dzurik, "Design Criteria for Soil Cleaning Operations in Electrokinetic Remediation. Hydrodynamic Aspects in an Annular Geometry," I&EC Research, 44 (16), 6200 (2005). Invited contribution to the MILORAD P. DUDUKOVIC FESTSCHRIFT: PART 2.

M. Oyanader and P. Arce, "Role of Geometrical Dimensions in Electrophoresis Applications with Orthogonal Fields," Electrophoresis, 26, 2857 (2005).

E. Erdmann, M.O. Oyanader, P. Arce, “Effect of Joule Heating and of Material Voids on Free-Convective Transport in Fibrous or Porous Media with Applied Electrical Fields,” Electrophoresis, 26, 2867 (2005).

M. Oyanader and P. Arce, "A New and Simpler Approach for the Solution of Electrostatic Potential Differential Equation," Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 284, 315-322 (2005).

Selected Publications (PDF)