Gabriel Mbuyi Kalala
Whitby,ON
Summary
Seasoned Lecturer and Researcher from Wits University, adept in high-temperature crude oil distillation and catalytic process development. Spearheaded a copper-zinc waste recovery process, securing $170,000 CAD in profits. Excel in project management and mentoring, with proficiency in Aspen Plus and critical thinking. Achieved 80% conversion in catalytic processes, demonstrating exceptional analytical and leadership skills.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lecturer and Researcher
Wits University
01.2014 - 01.2024
- Built and operated a High Temperature Crude Oil Pilot (HTCOP) distillation plant with HTM Company
- Conducted research on Refinery of Petroleum oil, Coal-to-liquid (CTL) and gas-to-liquid (GTL) processes
- Performed design, simulation and operation of pilot plant; conceptual, basic & detailed designs
- Assessed risk, hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies, for the health and safety of both company staff and the wider community
- Lectured applied Mechanics and mathematical modelling to 350 students and provided 1:1 mentoring to students
- Provided tutoring to engineering students in areas of Mathematics, Thermodynamics, Physics, Chemistry and Process at both basic and advanced levels
- Supervised 300 students during laboratory practical sessions on heat and mass transfer design calculations
- Provided students with additional assignments and performed evaluations of designed syllabus
Consulting Engineer & Researcher
Centre of Process and Material Synthesis
01.2007 - 01.2013
- Conducted research on development of new catalytic processes for gas-to-liquid technologies focusing on the design of hybrid gold-based catalysts by co-precipitation of gold, copper and zinc
- Led a team of 3 technicians to operate high pressure laboratory catalytic reactors (Methanol and DME synthesis) and optimized process parameters to achieved 80% conversion in a single pass
- Built and operated an experimental setup for catalysis research to track and monitor the progress of catalysts selectivity, activity and CO conversion
- Analysed products from the reactor using a computerized system of gas chromatography (capillary and packed columns) coupled to Clarity software and excel spreadsheets for data collection and processing
- Controlled laboratory reactors parameters by checking temperature, flow and pressure measurement and control to avoid catalyst de-activation and their variation within specified limits
- Operated instruments for catalyst characterization (e.g
- BET surface area, temperature-programmed techniques (TPR, TPD, TPO and/or TPSR), thermal gravimetric analysis and differential thermal (scanning) analysis, XRD) to obtain information on its structure and morphology and predict its behavior
- Troubleshooted laboratory instruments and performed repairs on the rig in collaboration with laboratory technicians to avoid delay in gas synthesis process
- Issued a certificate of compliance after confirming that chemicals, laboratory supplies, stainless steel tubing, fittings, valves and instruments ordered are conformed to safety standards required for high pressure and high temperature operation to prevent onsite mishaps
Process Engineer
CMSK - Gecamines
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Designed a copper-zinc waste recovery process that was successfully implemented at a pilot level, returning an upward of $170,000 CAD in profits by the end of the second year of operation
- Coordinated various aspects of the process engineering design, planning, and development of the concentrator of copper and cobalt
- Provided guidance to a team of 10 engineers undertaking mine development feasibility studies, conducted subsequent development studies of metallurgical process plants
- Assisted in the development of processing plans, methods, design, material handling, staffing requirements, and cost analysis in order to achieve recovery of 80% of cobalt concentrate
- Conducted routine laboratory tests and quality control using XRF, SAA and potentiometric instruments
- Designed, installed and commissioned new production units, monitored modifications and upgrades, and troubleshooted existing processes
Education
M.Sc - Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa01.2011
B.Sc - Chemical Engineering
University of Lubumbashi
D R Congo01.2003
Skills
- Project Management Tools: Primavera
- MS-Project
- Critical Path Method
- SolidWorks
- Auto CAD
- Aspen Plus
- Hysis
- G-PROMS
- Pipesim
- ChemCAD
- Pareto chart
- Histogram
- Control chart
- Fishbone
- Check sheet
- Scatter plot
- Advanced Excel
- SQL
- Tableau
- Power BI
- MS-Excel
- MS-Word
- MS-PowerPoint
- MS-Visio
- Outlook
Certification
- Project Management, 01/01/14
- Instrumentation and process control in Refining, 01/01/13
- Practical Thermodynamics, 01/01/07
- Design and Analysis of Experiments, 01/01/07
- Integrated Process Synthesis, 01/01/09
- Reactor Network Design and Optimization, 01/01/07
- Introduction to Oil and Gas Offshore - Pipelines, 01/01/13
- Process Optimization (Linear Programming, Non Linear Programing, Mixed Integer Programming, Quadratic Programming, etc.), 01/01/14
- Thermal Plasma Processes, Fundamental and Applications, (Furnaces), 01/01/12
- Safety Certificate from Occupational Health & Safety Consultants OHASAC, 01/01/08
- First aid Procedure Certificate, OHASAC, 01/01/09
Timeline
Lecturer and Researcher
Wits University
01.2014 - 01.2024
Consulting Engineer & Researcher
Centre of Process and Material Synthesis
01.2007 - 01.2013
Process Engineer
CMSK - Gecamines
01.2003 - 01.2006
M.Sc - Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering
University of the Witwatersrand
B.Sc - Chemical Engineering
University of Lubumbashi
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