Dr. Stanislav R. Stoyanov
Research in Hydrocarbon Recovery, Multiphase Systems, Oil Spills and Plant Biomass Valorization
Current research and/or projects
Biography:
I am a computational chemist with extensive and considerable experience in quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, statistical mechanics and methods for coupling these, as well as coarse-grained simulations for hydrocarbon recovery, plant biomass valorization, flocculation, demulsification, colloids, catalysis, electric field, electronic transport and charge transfer.
Research and/or project statements
Current Research Projects:
- Physico-chemical studies of the spill behavior of heavy oils for enhanced containment and recovery.
- Hydrocarbon recovery from challenging resources, such as oil sands and tight oil and gas.
- Valorization of lignocellulosic plant biomass to biofuels and advanced materials.
- Flocculants for removal of mineral solids from dilbit produced by non-aqueous extraction of bitumen from oil sands.
Professional activities / interests
Activities:
- Developed and led fruitful collaborations with the Imperial Oil Institute for Oil Sands Innovation (IOSI) on catalysts for bitumen hydrotreatment, bitumen recovery and impurities (Ni and V) removal, flocculation and dewatering of tailings, in collaboration with academic researchers from around the world.
- Established and led a large research initiative on rational design of nanocomposites, gels, inks, and foams based on cellulose nanocrystals.
- Championed and led a “Sandwich” Doctorate program with 3 universities in Brazil, and trained and supervised outstanding Ph.D. students in projects of strategic importance for Canada and Brazil in the areas of heavy petroleum and conversion of plant biomass to secondary biofuels and high-value chemicals. The collaboration network includes the State University of Campinas (UniCamp), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Fluminense Federal University (UFF), and Brazilian Network and School on Green Chemistry
Interests:
- Development of research collaborations in Canada and internationally.
- Engaging graduate students and visiting scholars in advanced collaborative research.
- Participation in policy development and international panels.
Education and awards
Ph.D. Chemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, USA, 2004.
M.Sc. Chemistry, University of Shumen, Shumen, Bulgaria, 1995.
Dora Wallace Hodgson Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, 2005.
International experience and/or work
I have established and lead highly productive research collaborations with academic and government partners in Brazil in the areas of extraction of heavy petroleum from oil sands, aggregation of asphaltenes, removal of contaminant metal ions from wastewater and valorization and thermochemical treatment of lignocellulosic biomass.
Additional links
Telephone: 1-780-987-8623
Key publications
- Lyubimova, O.; Stoyanov, S. R.; Gusarov, S.; Kovalenko, A. Electric Interfacial Layer of Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals in Aqueous Electrolyte Solution: Predictions by Molecular Theory of Solvation. Langmuir 2015, 31, 7106-7116. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00680
- Silveira, R. L.; Stoyanov, S. R.; Gusarov, S.; Skaf, M. S.; Kovalenko, A. Plant Biomass Recalcitrance: Effect of Hemicellulose Composition on Nanoscale Forces that Control Cell Wall Strength. J. Am. Chem. Soc. Commun. 2013, 135, 19048–19051. DOI: 10.1021/ja405634k
- Fafard, J.; Lyubimova, O.; Stoyanov, S. R.; Dedzo, G. K.; Gusarov, S.; Kovalenko, A.; Detellier, C. Adsorption of Indole on Kaolinite in Non-aqueous Media: Organoclay Preparation, Characterization, and Investigation by the 3D-RISM-KH Molecular Theory of Solvation. J. Phys. Chem. C 2013, 117 (36), 18556–18566. DOI: 10.1021/jp4064142
- Costa, L. M.; Hayaki, S.; Stoyanov, S. R.; Gusarov, S.; Tan, X.; Gray, M. R.; Stryker, J. M.; Tykwinski, R.; Carneiro, J. W. M.; Sato, H.; Seidl, P. R.; Kovalenko, A. 3D-RISM-KH Molecular Theory of Solvation and Density Functional Theory Investigation of the Role of Water in the Aggregation of Model Asphaltenes. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2012, 14, 3922–3934. DOI: 10.1039/c2cp23131j
- Laurentius, L.; Stoyanov, S. R.; Gusarov, S.; Kovalenko, A.; Du, R.; Lopinski, G.; McDermott, M. T. Evidence for a Carbon-Gold Covalent Bond in Diazonium Derived Aryl Films on Gold. ACS Nano 2011, 5, 4219–4227. DOI: 10.1021/nn201110r
Research facility
Expertise
Affiliations
Adjunct professor, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta.