Bruce Firth Email & Phone Number

Woodridge, Illinois

Part of a strong technical and commercial team dedicated to bringing sustainably derived high performance materials to the market to address customer needs.Led the Consumer ingredients team to develop a wide range of new products (derived specifically from Elevance technology). This included; • The launch of two new commercial products (Clean 1200 and Clean 1000 as new solvents) and providing support for development of Stepan’s new product, Met 10U. • Development of new… Show more Part of a strong technical and commercial team dedicated to bringing sustainably derived high performance materials to the market to address customer needs.Led the Consumer ingredients team to develop a wide range of new products (derived specifically from Elevance technology). This included; • The launch of two new commercial products (Clean 1200 and Clean 1000 as new solvents) and providing support for development of Stepan’s new product, Met 10U. • Development of new unique products such as dimer acids and long chain esters (C26 and higher) to serve as building blocks for and even wider range of new materials. Led the Technical Service/Quality team where we implemented a new Quality Community of Practice (QCOP) within Elevance. We also assumed responsibility for quality assurance of all products produced within Elevance. Led the technical service and new product development aspects of the existing NatureWax business and resolved several critical problems with our key customer around product quality. Show less

Woodridge, Illinois

Using metathesis chemistry we developed the biorefinery concept of converting natural raw materials (such as soybean oil) to both high value chemicals and biofuels.Developed key elements of the Elevance biorefinery concept which allowed for the building of an 180 kMT unit directly from our lab and pilot plant results without the typical intermediate scale up step. Key accomplishments include;• Provided a “just in time” system for the preparation of a key metal… Show more Using metathesis chemistry we developed the biorefinery concept of converting natural raw materials (such as soybean oil) to both high value chemicals and biofuels.Developed key elements of the Elevance biorefinery concept which allowed for the building of an 180 kMT unit directly from our lab and pilot plant results without the typical intermediate scale up step. Key accomplishments include;• Provided a “just in time” system for the preparation of a key metal extractant so that the costly metathesis catalyst could be recovered from the biorefinery process streams. • Developed a new innovative process for passivation of the metathesis catalyst so that untoward isomerization of products would not occur. This process allows for the biorefinery to be run in a totally new way which saves significantly on capital costs. • Helped develop and support all of the analytical methodology for the biorefinery and trained all of the Indonesian team on the chemistry behind the operating unit. • Developed all of the data around using the biorefinery product streams (modified biodiesel as well as olefins) in the fuels area (biodiesel and jet fuel). Show less

Naperville Illinois

Managed a team of 20+ scientists and technicians who provided analytical services throughout BP. We developed the implemented the view that our analytical team could and would solve problems across the BP from upstream to downstream processes and products. Several key projects included;Developing analytical methodology to monitor impurities levels in propene used to make polypropylene. Our operating units demanded high purity propene since we had a very sensitive catalyst… Show more Managed a team of 20+ scientists and technicians who provided analytical services throughout BP. We developed the implemented the view that our analytical team could and would solve problems across the BP from upstream to downstream processes and products. Several key projects included;Developing analytical methodology to monitor impurities levels in propene used to make polypropylene. Our operating units demanded high purity propene since we had a very sensitive catalyst system. One particular unit started to produce off-color polypropylene unacceptable to our customers. This problem led to our team organizing and deploying resources to supply around the clock service to our business unit to identify the key impurity in the feedstock and then monitoring it for removal (via adsorption). This project lasted one month and basically saved the business from losing several key customers.With the introduction of ultra low sulfur diesel the specification for sulfur in diesel fuel dropped from 50 ppm to 15! To meet EPA standards (and avoid significant charges for any fuel not meeting the spec) our team was tasked with developing a method which was a quick, reliable and reproducible for use in the field where we had over 50 distribution points for this improved diesel fuel. This was accomplished by identifying a specific analytical measurement technology which had not been used for this purpose but which proved to be highly amenable to solving the problem. Our team developed the method, evaluated different competitive instruments and formally proposed to the Refining group the need for purchase of over 75 of these units. The group statistics around sulfur levels were handled on our team by having the system managers report their results on a daily basis. This centralization allowed for us to monitor the system in a unique manner and to date we have suffered no penalty for having diesel fuel come into the marketplace which did not meet specifications! Show less

Naperville, Illinois Research Campus

Served as the key technical support person on two key product areas in BP Chemicals (polybutene and naphthalene dicarboxylate). As such I made numerous joint calls with our Sales and Commercial teams to resolve customer issues as well as present new technology and work with them to implement improved processes using our products. Considered as a subject matter expert in each area with greater than 20 field calls/ presentations to customers in each area. Some highlighted examples of our… Show more Served as the key technical support person on two key product areas in BP Chemicals (polybutene and naphthalene dicarboxylate). As such I made numerous joint calls with our Sales and Commercial teams to resolve customer issues as well as present new technology and work with them to implement improved processes using our products. Considered as a subject matter expert in each area with greater than 20 field calls/ presentations to customers in each area. Some highlighted examples of our work include; Developed a unique analytical methodology which allowed BP for the first time to understand end group structure of their viscous polymers area products. This discovery led us to develop two new iterations on our existing product line making it much more reactive in our customer’s processes. These iterations solved numerous customer issues with the product and opened up new larger commercial opportunities. Developed a totally new vicious polymer (poly-1-butene) using what was then new catalyst technology (metallocene). This new polymer allows for a completely new hydrophobic backbone for new dispersants and other products. Resolved a key issue with the production of a BP analog to purified terephthalic acid (PTA). NDC (the naphthalate analog) could not run successfully in the commercial unit for long periods of time without fouling. I developed the understanding of the fouling issue and resolved it via a chemical washing step. This saved approx. $300k/month in both operational costs (cleaning fouled heat exchangers) and missed sales opportunities. Testified as an expert witness (for Amoco) in the legal battle between Lubrizol and Exxon over dispersant technology. Show less

Des Plaines, Il

Started my industrial career at UOP as a bench chemist developing antioxidants. Progressed to lead the resid upgrading and FCC group and then led the Sorbex separations area before joining BP - Amoco. Selected accomplishments include; Developed the first new phenolic antioxidant at UOP (UOP 333) which enhanced their position in the BHA/BHT business. Developed a new solid catalyst for selective ortho alkylation of phenols something which had not been done in the past and which… Show more Started my industrial career at UOP as a bench chemist developing antioxidants. Progressed to lead the resid upgrading and FCC group and then led the Sorbex separations area before joining BP - Amoco. Selected accomplishments include; Developed the first new phenolic antioxidant at UOP (UOP 333) which enhanced their position in the BHA/BHT business. Developed a new solid catalyst for selective ortho alkylation of phenols something which had not been done in the past and which allowed for continuous production of antioxidants vs. the batch methodology which has been used. Ortho alkylation is key to producing effective antioxidant structures. Produced 10 patents in less than four years on the bench at UOP.Promoted to lead both the resid/heavy oil upgrading and then the Sorbex (continuous countercurrent separation) group at UOP. Show less

Postdoctoral Study, Surface Modification Of Electrodes

Worked with Professor Larry Miller doing electrochemistry on modified surfaces. Our work was meant to induce chirality by having chiral.

Phd And Ms, Organic Reaction Mechanisms; Synthesis; Natural Products Chemistry

Worked under Professor Jacques Kagan in natural product isolation and identification (flavonoids) as well as doing mechanistic studies.