Joseph J. Biernacki, DRE

University Distinguished Faculty Fellow and Professor
Highest Degree University: Cleveland State University 
Department: Chemical Engineering
jbiernacki@tntech.edu
Prescott Hall (PRSC) 312 
PO Box: 5013 
(931) 372-3667 
Webpage
Cementious Systems • Biofuels Production • Engineering Education

 

Web Links

International Summit on Cement Hydration Kinetics
Web tools for research and education
Cement Hydration Kinetics and Modeling
Computer Aided Molecular Design
Access the Tennessee Tech X-ray Diffraction Laboratory

Education
Doctor of Engineering (DRE), Chemical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 1988
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 1980

Honors and Awards

• 2016 American Ceramic Society Brunauer Award for best paper
• 2016 American Ceramic Society Della Roy Lecture
• 2016 Chemical Engineering Education "Top 5" paper recognition
• 2016Tennessee Tech Department of Chemical Engineering, Outstanding Teacher Award
• 2015Tennessee Tech College of Engineering Teacher Scholar Award
• 2014Tennessee Tech College of Engineering Teacher Scholar Award
• 2013Tennessee Tech College of Engineering Teacher Scholar Award
• 2012 Leighton E. Sissom Innovation and Creativity Award
• 2011 University Distinguished Faculty Fellow
• 2011 American Ceramic Society (ACerS) Fellow
• 2009Tennessee Tech Caplenor Research Award
• 2008Tennessee Tech Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award
• 2007 American Concrete Institute ( ACI), Fellow
• 2007 ACerS (American Ceramic Society) Profiles in Excellence
• 2007Tennessee Tech College of Engineering Brown-Henderson Award, for outstanding Engineering faculty
• 2006 QEP Award for Innovative Instruction, for integration of laboratory and lecture
• 2006 ASEE Corcoran Award, best paper, J. J. Biernacki, A Course-level Strategy for Continuous Improvement, Chem. Eng. Ed., 39(3) 186-193 (2005)
• 2006 ASEE, Southeast Section, Thomas C. Evans Award, best paper, J. J. Biernacki, A Course-level Strategy for Continuous Improvement, Chem. Eng. Ed., 39(3) 186-193 (2005)
• Annals of Research in Engineering Education, Winter 2006, Vol. 2, No. 1 - J. J. Biernacki, A Course-level Strategy for Continuous Improvement, Chem. Eng. Ed., 39(3) 186-193 (2005)
• 2005Tennessee Tech Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB) Award, Tennessee Tech University
• 2002-2003Tennessee Tech Outstanding Faculty Award for Professional Service
• 2002Tennessee Tech Leighton E. Sissom Innovation and Creativity Award
• 2002Tennessee Tech Kinslow Engineering Research Award

Research Statement

The primary emphasis of my research group is to develop fundamental kinetic and thermophysical data for materials synthesis. Materials in this case are primarily ceramics, but may include composites of ceramics, metals and polymers. While my specific focus changes from project to project, there are several themes: stoichiometry and hydration kinetics of portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials and characterization of the microstructure and transport processes in the same; synthesis kinetics and associated transport processes of ceramic materials; and kinetics of synthesis and degradation of organic materials, particularly at high temperatures, e.g. biomass pyrolysis.

Publications

Most Recent

• J. J. Biernacki, J. W. Bullard, G. Sant, K. Brown, F. P. Glasser, S. Jones, T. Ley, R. Livingston⁸, L. Nicoleau, J. Olek, F. Sanchez⁵, R. Shahsavari¹¹, P. E. Stutzman, K. Sobolev, T. Prater, Cements in the 21st Century: Challenges, Perspectives, and Opportunities, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., Invited Feature Article, 100 (7), 2746-2773 (2017).
• J. D. Murillo, J. J. Biernacki, A. S. Mohammad and S. Northrup, Biomass Pyrolysis Kinetics an Opportunity for Molecular-scale Research: Advancing Reactor Design and Optimization, Brazilian J. Chem. Eng., 34(1), 1-18 (2017).
• J. J. Biernacki, The Degrees of Freedom Concept – Extending the Domain, Chem. Eng. Ed., 20(2), 114-124 (2016).
• M.Gottapu and J. J. Bierancki, A Multi-ionic Continuum-Based Model for C₃S Hydration, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 98(10), 3029-3041 (2015).
• M. Gottapu and J. J. Biernacki, An Advanced Single-Particle Model for C₃S Hydration – Validating the Statistical Independence of Model Parameters, Computers and Concrete, 15(6), 989-999 (2015).
• J. D. Murillo, J. J. Biernacki and S. Northrup, High-temperature Molecular Dynamic Simulation of Cellobiose and Maltose, AIChEJ., 61(8), 2562-2570 (2015).

Other Select

• J. D. Murillo, G. L. Norris and J. J. Biernacki, The Southern Grassroots Biofuels Project: A Participatory Study of Conservationists and Stakeholders from Two Upper Cumberland Counties, Sociology Spectrum, 35(4), 249-371 (2015).
• B. Agee, D. Swartling, and J. J. Biernacki,Wolff-Kishnerreduction Reactions Using a Solar Irradiation Heat Source and a Green Solvent System, Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews,7 (4), 283-392 (2014).
• J. D. Murillo, E. A. Ware and J. J. Biernacki,Characterization of Milling Effects on the Physical and Chemical Nature of Herbaceous Biomass with Comparison of Fast Pyrolysis Product Distributions Using Py-GC/MS, J.Analy. Appl. Pyrol.,108, 234-247 (2014).
• N. Shlonimskaya, J. J. Biernacki, H. M. Kayello and D. P.VisocJr., An Application of Computer-Aided Molecular Design (CAMD) Using the Signature Molecular Descriptor – Part 2.Evaluating Newly Identified Surface Tension Reducing Substances for Potential Use as Shrinkage Reducing Admixtures, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 97 (2) 365-377 (2014).
• H. M. Kayello, N. K. R. Tadisina, N.Shlonimskaya, J. J. Biernacki and D. P. VisocJr., An Application of Computer-Aided Molecular Design (CAMD) Using the Signature Molecular Descriptor – Part 1.Identification of Surface Tension Reducing Agents and the Search for Shrinkage Reducing Admixtures, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 97 (2), 378-385 (2014).

Recent Courses Taught

Undergraduate:

• CHE 4410 (F2016) - Chemical Engineering Design I
• CHE 4420 (S2017) - Chemical Engineering Design II

Graduate:

• CHE 4790 (S2017) Special Topics in Gel Science