Rodney Finzel

Associate Professor of Chemistry

OFFICE
Chemistry Physics Bldg. 106B

VOICE
(516) 463-5535

FAX
(516) 463-6394

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Degrees

PHD, 1981, Northwstrn Univ; MS, 1977, Eastern Michigan Univ; BS, 1973, Eastern Michigan Univ

Bio

Research Interests: Thermal Depolymerization of Biopolymers

This research is carried out in collaboration with Changing World Technologies, Inc., who holds the patent on the Thermal Depolymerization (TDP) process. TDP technology converts organic waste into high-quality marketable end products, using water, pressure, and temperature in a totally contained system. Our research is primarily carried out with an automated 2L high pressure Parr reactor housed at Hofstra University. We also often analyze materials processed at the CWT pilot plant in Philadelphia. The first full scale 150-200 tom per day plant is currently being constructed for ConAgra in Missouri. Our research at Hofstra is centered on determining the reaction conditions and decomposition pathways for different types of biopolymers, including polypeptides, polysaccharides and fats. Students working on the project will interact with a team of scientists from around the country working on this important new technology. Depending on the particular project that the student chooses, he or she will be trained to run and interpret data using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), liquid chromatography LC), infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Recent Courses Taught

Course	Title	Level
CHEM 111	COMP APPLICATIONS IN CHEM	Undergraduate
CHEM 132A	ELEMNTS-ORGANIC CHEM	Undergraduate
CHEM 132B	ORGANIC CHEM LAB	Undergraduate
CHEM 135	FOUNDATIONS IN ORGANIC CHEM	Undergraduate
CHEM 137	FOUNDATNS IN ORGANIC CHEM LAB	Undergraduate
CHEM 151	UNDERGRAD RESEARCH 1	Undergraduate
CHEM 152	UNDERGRAD RESEARCH 2	Undergraduate
CHEM 152H	HONORS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH	Undergraduate
CHEM 191	THEORY OF ELECTRONS	Undergraduate
IDSS 003	INTRDISCPLNARY SCIENCE SEM III	Undergraduate