Milorad "Mike" Dudukovic's primary interest is in chemical reaction engineering involving kinetic-transport interactions in multiphase systems. His research group is currently involved in developing novel experimental techniques for fluid dynamic and transport studies in multiphase systems and in advancing the state of the art of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) multiphase models through improved closure schemes. Trickle-beds, slurry bubble columns, ebullated and fluidized beds, and riser reactors are studied as well as rotating packed beds with two phase flow, photo-chemical reactors, catalytic distillation and asymmetric reverse flow packed bed systems.

Mike's research is conducted through the Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory (CREL) which is supported by over a dozen major chemical and petroleum companies. The close ties between CREL and industry assure rapid transfer of students' work to industrial practice and keep the group focused on important problems of practical significance. Due to this broad exposure to a variety of reaction engineering problems CREL graduates are highly regarded and sought after by industry.

Examples of recent research accomplishments involve: 1) Development of computer assisted radioactive particle tracking (CARPT) facility coupled with gamma ray computed tomography (CT) for studies of multiphase flows. This is a unique facility and the only one capable of providing information on phase holdups, velocity profiles and turbulent parameters in systems with a high volume fraction of the dispersed phase. The expanding CARPT-CT database is used to improve CFD models for multiphase systems and to select environmentally friendly reactors for conversion of natural and synthesis gas to fuels and chemicals, 2) A novel coupling of exothermic and endothermic reactions has been achieved in a reverse flow reactor leading to potential improved efficiencies and energy savings, 3) Rate based models have been developed for catalytic distillation and the advantages of photochemical reactive distillation demonstrated in chlorination of toulene. Both methods lead to improved selectivity and reduced pollution.

Work in progress includes computational fluid dynamics, CARPT-CT experimentation, trickle beds, rotating packed beds, reverse flow and synthesis of environmentally friendly processes.