Advanced Coal Preparation and Beyond (PDF)

Dr. S. Komar Kawatra obtained an M.S. in Physics from the University of Poona, India and a PhD in Metallurgy from the University of Queensland, Australia. At present he is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech). His research focuses on the optimization of mineral processing operations and reusing industrial wastes.

His research experience includes work at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Trombay, Bombay, India; Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia; and Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology, Ottawa; the National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S.; the University of Alberta; and Michigan Tech.

Dr. Kawatra has received several awards from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration including: the Distinguished Member Award, the Taggart Award, the Gaudin Award, and the Presidential Citation. He has also received the Robert H. Richards Award and the Frank F. Aplan Award from the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Engineers, the Michigan Tech Research Award and Graduate Student Mentor Award, the IEEE Certificate of Service, and the Michigan Association of Governing Boards Distinguished Faculty Member Award. He completed the Fulbright Scholarship Program in 2012.

Dr. Kawatra has received several patents stemming from his research. One notable patent is for the E-Iron Nugget Process (U.S. Patent No. 7,632,330), which produces iron using environmentally-benign reducing agents. This process was independently found to be commercially viable by Purdue University. Carbontec Energy Corporation recently formed E-Iron International, LLC to construct a 300,000 tonnes/year plant in Burns Harbor, Indiana, which will sell to a U.S. market which currently imports 4MM tonnes/year of pig iron.

Dr. Kawatra is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, published by Taylor and Francis.