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People Eric J. Beckman

George M. Bevier Professor of Engineering

Co-Director, Mascaro Sustainability Initiative


412-624-4828
Fax: 412-624-7820
Office: 153E Benedum Hall

Education

PhD (Polymer Science and Engineering), University of Massachusetts, 1988

Professional Interests

Dr. Beckman joined the department in 1989. Prior to that he held a postdoctoral research appointment at Battelle's Pacific Northwest Laboratory. Dr. Beckman also previously held industrial positions at Monsanto Plastics & Resins, and in Union Carbide's Silicones and Urethanes Intermediates Division.

Dr. Beckman's research encompasses two major areas; use of carbon dioxide as either a solvent or raw material, and polymer chemistry & processing. Recent work has focused on:

  • Emulsion and dispersion polymerization on CO2
  • Copolymerization of CO2 and cyclic ethers to form polycarbonates
  • Generation of hydrogen peroxide in CO2
  • Extraction of heavy metals using CO2 technology
  • Enzymatic polymerization (with A.J. Russell)
  • Design of polymers for use in medical applications (with W.R. Wagner, A.J. Russell).
  • Design of photoreversible polymeric hydrogels (with A.J. Russell)

Selected Publications

J. Guan, M.S. Sacks, E.J. Beckman, W.R. Wagner, “Biodegradable poly(ether ester urethane)urea elastomers based on poly(ether ester) triblock copolymers and putrescine: synthesis, characterization and cytocompatibility” Biomat. (2004), 25, 85.

E.J. Beckman, “Supercritical and Near-critical CO2 in Green Chemical Synthesis and  Processing”, review in  J. Supercrit. Fl. (2004), 28, 121.

A.D. Kasnevich, E.J. Beckman, Oxidation Reactions in CO2, invited paper in Chim. Oggi (Chemistry Today), (2004), 22, 38.

E.J. Beckman, “A Challenge for Green Chemistry: Designing Molecules that Readily Dissolve in Carbon Dioxide”, invited paper in Chem. Comm. (2004), 17, 1885.

L.J. Shi, K.A. Boduch-Lee, J.T. Henssler, E.J. Beckman, T.M. Chapman, “Synthesis and Characterization of Alkylated N-Vinyl Formamide Monomers and their Polymers”, J. Polym. Sci. Part A-Polym. Chem. (2004), 42, 4994.

B. Baradie, M.S. Shoichet, Z.H. Shen, M.A. McHugh, L. Hong, Y. Wang, J.K. Johnson, E.J. Beckman, R.M. Enick, “Synthesis and solubility of linear poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-vinyl acetate) in dense CO2: Experimental and molecular modeling results”, Macromolecules (2004), 37, 7799.

C. M. McLeod, R.S. McHenry, E.J. Beckman, C.B. Roberts, “Synthesis and Stabilization of Silver Metallic Nanoparticles and Prematallic Intermediates in Perfluoropolyether/CO2 Reverse Micelle Systems” J. Phys. Chem. B (2003), 107, 2693.

Z. Shen, M.A. McHugh, J. Xu, J. Belardi, S. Kilic, A. Mesiano, S. Bane, C. Karanikas, E.J. Beckman, R.M. Enick, “CO2-Solubility of Oligomers and Polymers that Contain the Carbonyl Group” Polymer (2003), 44, 1491.

S. Kilic, S. Michalik, Y. Wang, J.K. Johnson, R.M. Enick, E.J. Beckman, “Effect of Grafted Lewis Base Groups on the Phase Behavior of Model Poly(dimethyl siloxanes) in CO2”, invited paper in Industr. Eng. Chem. Res. (2003), 42, 6415.

V.K. Potulri, A.D. Hamilton, C.F. Karanikas, S.E. Bane, J. Xu, E.J. Beckman, R.M. Enick, “The High Solubility of  Per-Acetylated alpha, beta, and gamma-Cyclodextrin”, Fl. Phase Equil. (2003) 211, 211.

E.J. Beckman, “Green Chemical Processing Using CO2”, invited paper in Industr. Eng. Chem. Res. (2003), 42, 1598.

E.J. Beckman, “Production of H2O2 in CO2 and its use in the Direct Synthesis of Propylene Oxide”, Invited paper in Green Chem. (2003), 5, 332.

 

Benedum Hall

Dedicated in 1971, Benedum Hall is home to exploration and discovery.

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