IngChem (Slovak Technical University, Bratislava, 1990)
PhD Chemical Engineering (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1997)
Curriculum Vitae
Room: M209
Tel: 0141 548 2410
Email: jan.sefcik@strath.ac.uk
Teaching
- Particle Technology, 18442
- Particle and Colloid Engineering, CP506
- Chemical Engineering Design, 18475
Departmental Administrative Duties
- Deputy Head of Department
- Board of Study
- 4th Year Academic Year Coordinator
Research Interests: Colloidal Engineering
This research group deals with materials and processes at colloidal (i.e., nanometer to micrometer) length scales. Nanoscale materials are unique because interfacial phenomena and metastability play key roles in their preparation, properties and applications. Fundamental questions framing our research include: how can one control assembly of nanoparticles and nanostructured materials; what is the kinetics and selectivity of their assembly processes as a function of process conditions; how to quantitatively model and experimentally characterize these processes in order to allow their design and optimization in the spirit of chemical engineering. There are widespread commercial applications of nanomaterials as well as numerous economically significant issues related to processing of colloidal systems in chemical, food and biotechnology industries. Examples of our research interests include nanoparticle aggregation and gelation, colloidal stability and aggregation of proteins, formation of protein coated microcrystals, and population balance modelling of particle formation processes.
Projects
- Population balance modelling of protein aggregation - Peter Grancic
- Antisolvent crystallisation of pharmaceuticals - Anna Jawor-Baczynska
- Scale-up of mixing processes in antisolvent crystallisation (EPSRC & XstalBio) - Andrew Brown
- Experimental diagnostics for crystal breakage in flows (Merck) - Katarzyna Sypek
- Phase behaviour of polymer-clay nanocomposites (EPSRC) - Dr Nadeem Javid
Selected Publications
- M. Kroslak, J. Sefcik, M. Morbidelli, "Effects of temperature, pH, and salt concentration on beta-lactoglobulin deposition kinetics studied by optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy" Biomacromolecules, 8, 963-970 (2007)
- M. Soos, J. Sefcik, M. Morbidelli, "Investigation of aggregation, breakage and restructuring kinetics of colloidal dispersions in turbulent flows by population balance modeling and static light scattering" Chemical Engineering Science, 61, 2349-2363 (2006)
- P. Sandkuhler, J. Sefcik, M. Morbidelli, "Kinetics of aggregation and gel formation in concentrated polystyrene colloids" Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 108, 20105-20121 (2004)
- P. Sandkuhler, J. Sefcik, M. Morbidelli, "Kinetics of gel formation in dilute dispersions with strong attractive particle interactions" Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 108, 133-143 (2004)
- P. Sandkuhler, J. Sefcik, M. Lattuada, et al. "Modeling structure effects on aggregation kinetics in colloidal dispersions" AIChE Journal, 49, 1542-1555 (2003)
- J. Sefcik, W.A. Goddard, "Thermochemistry of silicic acid deprotonation: Comparison of gas-phase and solvated DFT calculations to experiment" Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 65, 4435-4443 (2001)
