Home >> Research Overview >> Research by Faculty Member
John L. Falconer

Professor and Associate Chair
University of Colorado President's Teaching Scholar
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Co-Director
(303) 492-8005
john.falconer@colorado.edu

Education

• Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering), Stanford University (1974)
• B.E.S. (Chemical Engineering), The Johns Hopkins University (1967)

Awards

• University of Colorado CRCW Faculty Fellowship (2004-05, 1997-98, 1980-81)
• 2005 ASEE Annual Converence Best Zone Paper Award
• University of Colorado President's Teaching Scholar Scholar (the University’s highest teaching recognition, a lifetime appointment, 2000-)
• Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Work Award (1999)
• Chemical Manufacturers Association National Catalyst Award for Excellence in Teaching (1997)
• ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Outstanding Teaching Award (1997)
• Departmental Outstanding Teaching Awards (1988, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000)
• James & Catherine Patten Professor (1992-1996)
• ACS Colorado Section Award in Chemistry (1992)
• College of Engineering Outstanding Advisor Award (1992)
• College of Engineering Research Award (1991)
• Hutchinson Memorial Teaching Award, College of Engineering (1990)

Selected Publications

S. Li, R. Krishna, J.L. Falconer, R.D. Noble, “Modeling Permeation of CO2-CH4 and CO2-N2 Mixtures across SAPO-34 Membrane with Maxwell-Stefan Equations, Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, in press (2006).

M. Yu, J. Hunter, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “Adsorption of benzene mixtures on silicalite-1 and NaX zeolites”, Microporous Mesoporous Materials 96, 376-385 (2006).

S. Li, J. L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “Improved SAPO-34 membranes for CO2/CH4 separations”, Advanced Materials 17, 2601-2603 (2006).

J.G. Martinek, T.Q. Gardner, R.D. Noble, and J.L. Falconer. “Modeling Transient Permeation of Binary Mixtures through Zeolite Membranes”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Research 45, 6032-6043 (2006).

S. Preis, J.L. Falconer, R. del Prado Asensio, N.C. Santiago, A. Kachina, J. Kallas, “Photocatalytic oxidation of gas-phase methyl tert-butyl ether and tert-butyl alcohol”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 64, 79-87 (2006).

Arruebo, M., J.L. Falconer, R. D. Noble, “Separation of binary C5 and C6 hydrocarbon mixtures through MFI zeolite membranes”, J. Membrane Science 269, 171-176 (2006).

M. Yu, J.L. Falconer, R.D. Noble, “Adsorption of Liquid Mixtures on Silicalite-1 Zeolite: a Density-Bottle Method”, Langmuir 21, 7390-7397 (2005).

M. Hong, J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “Modification of B-ZSM-5 and SAPO-34 Membranes for H2 Separation by Catalytic Cracking of Methyldiethoxysilane”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Research 44, 4035-4041 (2005).

Li, S., Martinek, J., Falconer, J.L., and Noble, R.D., "High-Pressure CO2/CH4 Separation Using SAPO-34 Membranes", Ind. Eng. Chem. Research 44, 3220-3228 (2005).

Kulprathipanja, A., G. O. Alptekin, J.L. Falconer, and J.D. Way, “Pd and Pd-Cu Membranes: Inhibition of H2 Permeation by H2S”, J. Membrane Science 254, 49-62 (2005).

Li, S., G. Alvarado, J.L. Falconer, R.D. Noble, “Effect of Impurities on CO2/CH4 Separation in SAPO-34 Membranes”, J. Membrane Science 251, 59-66 (2005).

Bowen, T.C., R.D. Noble, and J.L. Falconer, “Fundamentals and Applications of Pervaporation through Zeolite Membranes”, J. Membrane Science 245, 1-33 (2004).

Gardner, T.Q., J.L. Falconer, and R.D. Noble, “Characterization of ZSM-5 and ZSM-11 Zeolite Membranes by Transient Permeation of Butanes”, AIChE Journal 50, 2816-2834 (2004).

Li, S., J.L. Falconer, R.D. Noble, “SAPO-34 Membranes for CO2/CH4 Separation”, J. Membrane Science 241, 121-135 (2004).

Kulprathipanja, A., G. O. Alptekin, J.L. Falconer, and J.D. Way, “The Effect of Water Gas Shift Gases on Pd-Cu Alloy Membranes”, Ind. Eng Chem. Research 43, 4188-4198 (2004).

Bowen, T.C., Wyss, J.C., Noble, R.D., and Falconer, J.L, “Measurements of Diffusion through a Zeolite Membrane using Isotopic-Transient Pervaporation”, Microporous Mesoporous Materials 71, 199-210 (2004).

Bowen, T.C., Wyss, J.C., Noble, R.D., and Falconer, J.L., “Inhibition during Multicomponent Diffusion through ZSM-5 Zeolite”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Research 43,  2598-2601 (2004).

Kulprathipanja, A. and J.L. Falconer, “Partial Oxidation of Methanol for Hydrogen Production using  ITO/Al2O3 Nanoparticle Catalysts”, Applied Catalysis A 261, 77-86 (2004).

Preis, S. and J.L. Falconer, “Gas-Phase Photocatalytic Oxidation of Motor Fuel Oxygenated Additives”, J. Water Science Technol. 49, 141-145 (2004).

Skoulidas, A.I., T.C. Bowen, J.L. Falconer, R.D. Noble, and D.S. Sholl, “Comparing Atomistic Simulations and Experimental Measurements for CH4/CF4 Mixture Permeation through Silicalite Membranes”, J. Membrane Science 227, 123-136 (2003).

Research Interests

Professor Falconer's research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis, the preparation and characterization of zeolite membranes, and the applications of zeolite membranes in selective separations. He has published more than 180 papers in refereed journals and his publications have been been cited more than 4900 times.

Educational Interests

Emphasis in classroom teaching is on conceptual understanding and active learning. Conceptests and peer instruction are used in class with IR transmitters. Co-Director of NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates.