Alexander Anim-Mensah | |
---|---|
Born | Takoradi, Ghana |
Nationality | Ghanaian-American |
Education |
|
Occupation | Chemical engineer |
Known for | Contributions towards the field of membrane science and technology |
Honors | ITW's Distinguished Patent Fellow |
Alexander Anim-Mensah, also known as Alexander Raymond Anim-Mensah, is a Ghanaian-American chemical engineer, inventor, and author. He is especially known for contributions he made towards the field of membrane science and technology. He is a recipient of the Illinois Tool Works' Distinguished Patent Fellow Award. [1]
Anim-Mensah was born in Takoradi Ghana to two Kwahu parents. His late father, Kwame Anim-Mensah, was both a businessman and cocoa farmer while his late mother Kate Animah was a homemaker. He is one of thirteen children. He had his primary education at the Young Christian Preparatory School in Sekondi-Takoradi Ghana; [2] and his secondary education at the GSTS [3] where he obtained his Ordinary Level ("O") and Advanced Level ("A") certificates in Science and Technical education.
He obtained his PhD, MSc., and BSc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati-Ohio, [4] and also studied at North Carolina A&T State University, [5] and the KNUST, [6] respectively. Some of his numerous specializations include Technology, Operations and Value Chain Management Capability from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. [7] Intellectual Property Law & Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, Business Strategy from the University of Virginia Darden Business School, Global Energy Business from the University of Colardo, Marketing Mix Implementation from the IE Business School Madrid - Spain and Executive Certificates in both Advanced Project Management & Project Leadership from the University of Dayton - Ohio. [8]
Anim-Mensah started his career with an internship in 1995 at the West African Mills Co LLC (WAMCO) and in 1997 at the Ghana Cement Works all in Takoradi Ghana. [4] He obtained his chemical engineering bachelor's degree around 1998 at the KNUST and then taught Science & Math at the Takoradi Secondary School in Takoradi Ghana early in 1999 as part of a required one year National service. At the end of his National Service he joined Ghana's Tema Oil Refinery [2] as a Process & Environmental Engineer in early 2000, processing crude oil and managing its waste products. He then left Ghana after a year to North Carolina to pursue his master's degree in Chemical Engineering specializing in liquid carbon dioxide (liq-CO2) separation and recovery from process solutions without phase change enhanced by micelles in a crossflow microfiltration. [9] In 2003 he enrolled at the University of Cincinnati-Ohio's PhD chemical engineering program specializing in membrane science & technology specifically assessing solvent resistant polymeric nanofiltration membranes for small molecule purification and solvent recovery for re-use and other specialties.
He has worked at Procter & Gamble Cincinnati-Ohio, Siemens Water Technologies-Colorado, Veolia Water Technologies-Ohio, and currently works as the Engineer Manager with ITW's Food Equipment Group in the Dayton, Ohio area. He obtained his PhD, MSc and BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati-Ohio and studied at North Carolina A&T State University, Executive Certificate Construction Project Management from Columbia University, NY and then KNUST. He is a recipient of the Illinois Tool Works' Distinguished Patent Fellow Award.
Recipient of 2023 Black History & Lifestyle award, [10] 2022 Award for Contribution Towards the Membrane Science & Technology Field. [11]
His contribution included the use of acoustics, specifically Ultrasonic Time-Domain reflectometry (UDTR) for real-time investigation of solvent resistant polymeric membranes behaviors under compaction or swelling in organic environment.
Anim-Mensah used this already known UDTR technique for real-time studying of these specific polymeric membranes mechanical behavior while permeated during separation. The UDTR technique allowed correlating real-time polymeric membrane behaviors especially to their compaction and/or swelling characteristics to their performance which he defined a membrane dimensionless number β as the logarithmic of the ratio of swelling to compaction (i.e. β = log (Ls/Lc)) as important parameter underlying many polymeric membranes performance in organic solvent separation. The swelling obtained from the real-time swelling (Ls) data while membrane is not permeated and allowed to swell until steady state and the compaction (Lc) data obtained in real-time when the swollen membrane is compacted during permeation under a transmembrane pressure. This swelling and compaction data as well as the ratio provides some insight in understanding these membranes performances as well as being helpful in the design and selection of polymeric membranes and their solvent for optimum separation performance in the organic solvent environment. [12]
Anim-Mensah is involved in some thirty (30) inventions secured by US and international patents in areas including sensing, energy recovery, improved chemical & water use efficiencies, refrigeration & heat pumps, optimization, process & product improvements, waste minimization, and environmental impacts reduction. [3] [13] [14] [15]
In 2019, he was a recipient of the Illinois Tool Works Distinguished Patent Fellow Award [16] [17] [18] He has co-written two books [19] [20] and some technical papers in the area of membrane science and technology [21] [22] In his book Prediction of Polymeric Membrane Separation and Purification Performances he showed mathematically how the logarithm of ratio of membrane swelling (Ls) and compaction (Lc) measured in real-time correlated well with the membrane performance data (i.e. rejection) provided some insights.
As an innovation value chain processes and management specialist, Anim-Mensah was featured on the VOA NightLife Africa Radio on the subject of "How Effectively Harnessing of African Ideas is The Bedrock of African Industrialization". [23] He was featured on "Africa Must Industrialize Now: The Urgency for Value Addition to Africa Products" Webinar by AfCFTA Policy Network which featured Thomas Mensah (engineer) of Ghana, and Alvin Alexander, System Engineer and Founder at Orion Applied Science & Technology OrionAST. [24] The Doctor cofounded two NGOs [25] all in Ghana with some like-minded colleagues, as a way of giving back to especially support the youths as part of his public educational activities to support them to take their ideas to make positive globe impacts. Among others, he serves on several boards and holds membership in organizations including serving as an External Advisory Board Member at the University of Cincinnati's Chemical and Environmental Engineering Program; [26] and is on the board member of SAYeTECH Co. LLC, a small agriculture equipment business in Ghana [27]
The University of Ghana is a public university located in Accra, Ghana. It is the oldest public university in Ghana.
Obuasi is a gold mining community and town which is the capital of the Obuasi Municipal District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It lies in the southern part of the Obuasi Municipal, 39 miles south-west of Ashanti capital city Kumasi. Obuasi has a population of 175,043 people. Obuasi mining community has a mixture of the Ashanti people culture and the semi-island exclave Ashantiland.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), commonly known as UST, Tech or Kwame Tech, is a public university located in Kumasi, Ashanti region, Ghana. The university focuses on science and technology. It is the second public university established in the country, as well as the largest university in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
Richard Yeo Swee Chye is an American scientist with 17 U.S. patents, best known for his research on disposable diapers.
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah is a Ghanaian politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Takoradi constituency in the Western Region of Ghana. He had his secondary school at Mfantsipim School. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the deputy minister for Aviation in Ghana.
Helena R. Asamoah-Hassan is a Ghanaian librarian who is the present Executive Director of African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), the Board Chair for the Ghana Library Authority and the Secretary General of African Regional Memory of the World Committee
Thomas O. Mensah is a Ghanaian-American chemical engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of fiber optic manufacturing and nanotechnology. He has 14 patents, and was inducted into the US National Academy of Inventors in 2015. In 2017, Dr. Mensah served as Editor-in-Chief of the textbook Nanotechnology Commercialization, published by John Wiley & Sons.
Francisca Oteng-Mensah is a member of parliament of the New Patriotic Party for the Kwabre East Constituency and was known as the youngest parliamentarian of the fourth republic of Ghana at the time of her election in 2016.
Kofi Owusu Dua Anto, known mononymously as KODA, is a Ghanaian Gospel singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist from Takoradi.
Martin King Arthur popularly known as Kofi Kinaata is a Ghanaian musician and songwriter from Takoradi. He is noted for his Fante rap and freestyle.
Gifty Oware-Mensah is a Ghanaian politician and currently the deputy executive director of the National Service Scheme in Ghana. She has responsibility for administration and finance, helping to manage an annual personnel pool of about 100,000.
Ekow Mensah is a Ghanaian social entrepreneur and speaker who is founder and CEO of The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE).
Saviour Kwaku Adzika, popularly known as Corp Sayvee, is a Ghanaian hiplife recording artist from Takoradi. He is well known for his single "Fantefo Na Brofoa".
Cassiel Ato Baah Forson is a Ghanaian politician and member of parliament from 2009 to date. Dr. Forson first joined the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, before retaining his seat for the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam Constituency in the Central Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). In 2013 he served as the deputy minister for Finance.
Isaac Chukwu Udeh, popularly known as Chukwu the painter, is a Ghanaian painter, live painter, and performance artist. He is known for his reverse painting and has exhibited at Ghana Banking Awards in 2016 and 2017. His artwork exhibitions was unveiled at the MTN Heroes of Change 2019. He is known for his tribute painting for the late UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant.
Daniel Okyere Donkor popularly known with his stage name Mizter Okyere is a Ghanaian saxophonist and producer. In 2019, he was awarded the Best Instrumentalist of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
Ellis Owusu-Dabo is a Ghanaian academic and pro vice-chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Kwame Saarah-Mensah is a Ghanaian diplomat and politician. He served as Ghana's High Commissioner to India and is a former Minister of Youth and Sports. He was the Chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Council.