Scott J. Eaton
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Education
- PhD (Chemical Engineering) University of Maine, Orono 2015
- MS (Mechanical Engineering) University of Tennessee, Knoxville 2006
- BS (Mechanical Engineering) University of Maine, Orono 2004
Research Interests
Dr. Eaton’s current research interests include multiphasic fuel injection dynamics, low temperature heterogeneous catalysis for emissions reductions and alternative fuels processing technologies.
Dr. Eaton engages in cross-cutting research to improve the efficiency and reduce emissions within our energy and transportation systems. His focus areas include alternative fuels processing, high efficiency clean combustion and exhaust aftertreatment catalysis. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2015 from the University of Maine where he helped develop the Thermal DeOxygenation process; a thermochemical conversion technology to transform cellulosic biomass into biofuels. He made discoveries in the decomposition of biomass-derived levulinate and formate salts which led to critical engineering design improvements and process scalability. He is Associate Faculty within UMaine’s Forest Bioproducts Research Institute where he continues to develop the biofuel technologies.
Dr. Eaton also has research and technology development experience within the private and government sectors. He completed a Post-Master’s research associateship at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Fuels, Engines and Emissions Research Center where he made contributions to Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine development as well as in the speciation and fate of exhaust impurities (such as metals and phosphorus) in catalytic exhaust systems. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer for two Maine-based start-up alternative fuels companies.
Dr. Eaton has authored 19 peer reviewed scientific journal articles and has been awarded six patents for alternative fuels technologies. He currently sits on the ASTM D37 standards committee and has received a diversity of funding including from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, Maine Technology Institute and the Department of Transportation.
Selected Publications
S.J. Eaton, A. Lanba. J. Qualls, D. Fransiscus, T. Werner, H. Nguyen and C. Bailey. “CubeSat Design Competition to Foster K-12 STEM Participation in Maine”. Proceedings of the ASEE 2022 Annual Conference 2022 Paper #36862
S.J. Eaton, S.A. Karunarathne, M. Kline, S. Payne, H.P. Pendse and M.C. Wheeler. “Combustion Dynamics of Crude and Upgraded Thermal Deoxygenation Oils in a Compression Ignition Engine”. Fuel. 2022 324(B), 124700.
Eaton, S.J. and M.C. Wheeler. “Intensification of Biomass Thermal Deoxygenation via a Two-Stage Process”. Ind. & Chem. Eng. Res. 2021 60(3), 1194-1199.
Wakshlag, J.J., Cital, S., Eaton, S.J., Prussin, R. and Hudalla, C. “Cannabinoid, terpene and heavy metal analysis of 29 over-the-counter commercial veterinary hemp supplements”. Vet. Med. Research and Reports 2020 11 45-55.
Kruse, C.J., DeSantis, L.M., Eaton, S.J. and Billings, R. “Marine Transportation and the Environment: Trends and Issues” Transportation Research News 2018 (313) 12-20.
Eaton, S.J., Wallace, T.T., Sarnacki, B.G., Lokocz-Adams, T., Kimball, R.W., Henry, J.A. and Harakas, G.N. “Combustion and emissions of glycerol emulsion fuel in a medium-speed engine”. J. Marine Eng. Tech. 2018 18(2) 102-11.
Eaton, S.J. and Harakas, G.N. Glycerol Containing Fuel Mixture for Direct Injection Engines. Canadian Patent #CA2837269A1, May 22nd, 2018.
Eaton, S.J. and Wheeler, M.C. “Reactions and kinetics of alkaline-earth metal levulinate and formate salt decomposition” Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2017 5(4) 3030-3045.
Kimball, R.W. Sarnacki, B.G., Eaton, S.J., Henry, J.A., Wallace, T.T., and Lokocz-Adams, T. “Diesel engine emissions/performance of emulsion marine fuels” Proceedings of the 17th Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU ADA 17) 2016.
Harakas, G.N., Eaton, S.J., Kimball, R.W., Braley, B.G. and Ring, R.C. Biodiesel Glycerol Emulsion Fuel Mixtures. U.S. Patent #9,303,228, April 5th, 2016.
Eaton, S.J., Beis, S.H., Karunarathne, S.A., Pendse, H.P. and Wheeler, M.C. “Hydrotreatment of thermal deoxygenation oils derived from biorenewable feedstocks” Energy & Fuels 2015 29(5) 3224-3232.
Eaton, S.J., Harakas, G.N., Kimball, R.W., Smith, J.A., Pilot, K.A., Kuflik, M.T. and Bullard, J.M. “Formulation and Combustion of Glycerol-Diesel Fuel Emulsions” Energy and Fuels 2014 28(6) 3940-3947.
Education
- PhD (Chemical Engineering) University of Maine, Orono 2015
- MS (Mechanical Engineering) University of Tennessee, Knoxville 2006
- BS (Mechanical Engineering) University of Maine, Orono 2004
Research Interests
Dr. Eaton’s current research interests include multiphasic fuel injection dynamics, low temperature heterogeneous catalysis for emissions reductions and alternative fuels processing technologies.