Alexander Anim-Mensah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Anim-Mensah
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| Born |
Takoradi, Ghana
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| Nationality | Ghanaian-American |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Chemical engineer |
| Known for | Contributions towards the field of membrane science and technology |
| Honors | ITW's Distinguished Patent Fellow |
Alexander Anim-Mensah is a Ghanaian-American chemical engineer, inventor, and author. He is well-known for his important work in the field of membrane science and technology. He received the Distinguished Patent Fellow Award from Illinois Tool Works.
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Life and Career Journey
Anim-Mensah was born in Takoradi, Ghana. His parents were from the Kwahu area. His father was a businessman and cocoa farmer, and his mother was a homemaker. He is one of thirteen children.
He went to Young Christian Preparatory School for his early education. Later, he attended GSTS. There, he earned certificates in Science and Technical education.
Higher Education and Special Skills
Anim-Mensah earned his PhD, MSc, and BSc degrees in chemical engineering. He studied at the University of Cincinnati-Ohio, North Carolina A&T State University, and the KNUST. He also learned about Technology, Operations, and Value Chain Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. He also studied Intellectual Property Law at the University of Pennsylvania.
Working Life
Anim-Mensah began his career with internships in Ghana in 1995 and 1997. After getting his bachelor's degree around 1998, he taught science and math at Takoradi Secondary School. This was part of his required one-year National service.
In 2000, he joined Ghana's Tema Oil Refinery. He worked there as a process and environmental engineer. He helped process crude oil and manage its waste. After a year, he moved to North Carolina to study for his master's degree. His focus was on separating liquid carbon dioxide.
In 2003, he started his PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Cincinnati-Ohio. He specialized in membrane science and technology. This involved studying special membranes that could filter small molecules and recover solvents for reuse.
He has worked at several big companies. These include Procter & Gamble, Siemens Water Technologies, and Veolia Water Technologies. Currently, he is an engineering manager with ITW's Food Equipment Group in the Dayton, Ohio area.
Awards and Recognition
Anim-Mensah received the Illinois Tool Works' Distinguished Patent Fellow Award in 2019. He also received the 2023 Black History & Lifestyle award. In 2022, he was honored for his contributions to the Membrane Science & Technology Field.
Amazing Research and Inventions
Anim-Mensah's research focused on how special filters, called polymeric membranes, behave. These membranes are like very thin sieves that can separate tiny particles or liquids. He used a technique called ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry (UDTR). This method uses sound waves to study how these membranes change when they are used.
He found a way to measure how much a membrane swells or compacts. This helped him understand how well the membrane would perform. He even created a special number, called beta (β), to describe this behavior. This helps engineers choose and design better membranes for filtering different substances.
Anim-Mensah has been involved in about thirty inventions. These inventions are protected by US and international patents. They cover areas like sensing, energy recovery, and improving how chemicals and water are used. His work also helps reduce waste and environmental impacts.
He has also co-written two books and several technical papers. One of his books, Prediction of Polymeric Membrane Separation and Purification Performances, explains his mathematical findings about membrane performance.
Helping Others and Education
Alexander Anim-Mensah is an expert in how new ideas become useful products. He was featured on the VOA NightLife Africa Radio. He talked about how African ideas can help Africa's industries grow. He also spoke at a webinar about why Africa needs to industrialize now.
He co-founded two NGOs in Ghana with friends. These organizations aim to support young people. They help young people develop their ideas to make a positive impact on the world. He also serves on several boards. For example, he is an External Advisory Board Member for the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Program at the University of Cincinnati. He is also on the board of SAYeTECH Co. LLC, an agriculture equipment business in Ghana.
