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Energy and Environment Directorate

Andrew Schmidt

Andrew Schmidt

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 375-2280

Biography

Andy Schmidt's research interests include separations processing, hydrothermal processing and biomass conversion. At PNNL, his work in these areas has ranged from individual contributor and design engineer to flowsheet development, project feasibility and development and project management for industrial clients as well as Hanford Site contractors. Mr. Schmidt has made several contributions to the development of the K Basin Sludge Pretreatment System and to optimization testing and process start-up in support of the solution stabilization processing (magnesium hydroxide and oxalate precipitation) at the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP). For the K Basin projects, his work has included sampling and characterizing radioactive sludge samples, developing process testing strategies; preparing and overseeing process testing with radioactive and simulant materials; developing safety and design basis documents; and full-scale prototype equipment testing. For PFP, he has conducted process evaluation, safety analyses, planning, and testing. His work in the bioprocessing area has included developing and testing a process for the hydrolysis (hydrothermal and enzymatic) of corn and wheat fiber for the production of monosaccharides; and hydrothermal processing of industrial and municipal sludges for waste volume reduction. Mr. Schmidt served as a project manager and process engineer for the destruction of PCBs and dioxin using the Based Catalyzed Decomposition (BCD) process. This process received an R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine in 1992, and was recognized in 1993 with a Popular Science Award for Environmental Technology.

Education and Credentials

  • M.S., Chemical Engineering, Washington State University, 1987
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Washington State University, 1986

PNNL Patents

PNNL Publications

2024

2023

  • Daniel R.C., C. Burns, A.J. Schmidt, and M.R. Thorson. 2023. Rheology of a Wet Waste Feedstock. PNNL-33932. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Rheology of a Wet Waste Feedstock
  • Jiang Y., C.R. Mevawala, S. Li, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, M.R. Thorson, and L.J. Snowden-Swan. 2023. "Uncertainty Analysis for Techno-economic and Life-cycle Assessment of Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction with Centralized Upgrading to Produce Fuel Blendstocks." Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11, no. 3:Art. No. 109706. PNNL-SA-180749. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2023.109706
  • Kilgore U.J., S. Subramaniam, S.P. Fox, D.J. Cronin, M.F. Guo, A.J. Schmidt, and K. Kallupalayam Ramasamy, et al. 2023. "Wet air oxidation of HTL aqueous waste." Biomass & Bioenergy 176. PNNL-SA-175978. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2023.106889
  • Pires A.P., M. Garcia-Perez, M.V. Olarte, W.R. Kew, A.J. Schmidt, K. Zemaitis, and M.D. Denson, et al. 2023. "Comparison of the Chemical Composition of Liquids from the Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Lignocellulosic Materials." Energy and Fuels 37, no. 10:7221-7236. PNNL-SA-174549. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c03239
  • Zhu Y., Y. Xu, A.J. Schmidt, M.R. Thorson, D.J. Cronin, D.M. Santosa, and S.J. Edmundson, et al. 2023. Microalgae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading: 2022 State of Technology. PNNL-34032. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Microalgae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading: 2022 State of Technology

2022

  • Santosa D.M., L. Wendt, B.D. Wahlen, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, I.V. Kutnyakov, and R.T. Hallen, et al. 2022. "Impact of storage and blending of algae and forest product residue on fuel blendstock production." Algal Research 62. PNNL-SA-169550. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2021.102622
  • Snowden-Swan L.J., S. Li, M.R. Thorson, A.J. Schmidt, D.J. Cronin, Y. Zhu, and T.R. Hart, et al. 2022. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2022 State of Technology. PNNL-33622. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2022 State of Technology
  • Snowden-Swan L.J., S. Li, Y. Jiang, M.R. Thorson, A.J. Schmidt, T.E. Seiple, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2022. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2021 State of Technology. PNNL-32731. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1863608.Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2021 State of Technology

2021

  • Addleman R.S., A.J. Schmidt, L.F. Pease, M.J. Minette, M.R. Thorson, W. Chouyyok, and S. Lee, et al. 2021. Hydrothermal Liquid Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Materials. PNNL-31328. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrothermal Liquid Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Materials
  • Li S., Y. Jiang, L.J. Snowden-Swan, J.A. Askander, A.J. Schmidt, and J.M. Billing. 2021. "Techno-Economic Uncertainty Analysis of Wet Waste-to-Biocrude via Hydrothermal Liquefaction." Applied Energy 283. PNNL-SA-156267. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116340
  • Thorson M.R., D.M. Santosa, R.T. Hallen, I.V. Kutnyakov, M.V. Olarte, M.D. Flake, and G.G. Neuenschwander, et al. 2021. "SCALEABLE HYDROTREATING OF HTL BIOCRUDE TO PRODUCE FUEL BLENDSTOCKS." Energy and Fuels 35, no. 14:11346-11352. PNNL-SA-160510. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c00956

2020

  • Cordova L.T., B.C. Lad, S.A. Ali, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, K.R. Pomraning, and B.A. Hofstad, et al. 2020. "Valorizing a Hydrothermal Liquefaction Aqueous Phase through co-production of chemicals and lipids using the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica." Bioresource Technology 313. PNNL-SA-153615. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123639
  • Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, D.M. Santosa, and D.B. Anderson. 2020. "Economic Impacts of Feeding Microalgae/Wood Blends to Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading Systems." Algal Research 51. PNNL-SA-148746. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2020.102053

2019

  • Collett J.R., J.M. Billing, P.A. Meyer, A.J. Schmidt, A.B. Remington, E. Hawley, and B.A. Hofstad, et al. 2019. "Renewable diesel via hydrothermal liquefaction of oleaginous yeast and residual lignin from bioconversion of corn stover." Applied Energy 233. PNNL-SA-133222. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.115
  • Jiang Y., S.B. Jones, Y. Zhu, L.J. Snowden-Swan, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, and D.B. Anderson. 2019. "Techno-Economic Uncertainty Quantification of Algal-derived Biocrude via Hydrothermal Liquefaction." Algal Research 39. PNNL-SA-138139. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101450
  • Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, K.O. Albrecht, S.J. Edmundson, and D.B. Anderson. 2019. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Alternative Aqueous Phase Treatment Methods for Microalgae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading System." Algal Research 39. PNNL-SA-137970. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101467

2018

  • Jarvis J.M., J.M. Billing, Y.E. Corilo, A.J. Schmidt, R.T. Hallen, and T. Schaub. 2018. "FT-ICR MS Analysis of Pine-Algal HTL Biocrude Blends." Fuel 216. PNNL-SA-128145. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2017.12.016
  • Marrone P.A., D.C. Elliott, J.M. Billing, R.T. Hallen, T.R. Hart, P. Kadota, and J.C. Moeller, et al. 2018. "Bench-Scale Evaluation of Hydrothermal Processing Technology for Conversion of Wastewater Solids to Fuels." Water Environment Research 90, no. 4:329-342. PNNL-SA-131515. doi:10.2175/106143017X15131012152861

2017

  • Edmundson S.J., M.H. Huesemann, R. Kruk, T.L. Lemmon, J.M. Billing, A.J. Schmidt, and D.B. Anderson. 2017. "Phosphorus and Nitrogen Recycle Following Algal Bio-crude Production via Continuous Hydrothermal Liquefaction." Algal Research 26. PNNL-SA-124518. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2017.07.016
  • Elliott D.C., A.J. Schmidt, T.R. Hart, and J.M. Billing. 2017. "Conversion of a wet waste feedstock to biocrude by hydrothermal processing in a continuous-flow reactor: grape pomace." Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 7, no. 4:455-465. PNNL-SA-121004. doi:10.1007/s13399-017-0264-8
  • He Y., X. Li, X. Xue, M.S. Swita, A.J. Schmidt, and B. Yang. 2017. "Biological Conversion of the Aqueous Wastes from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae and Pine Wood by Rhodococci." Bioresource Technology 224. PNNL-SA-121581. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.10.059
  • Jarvis J.M., J.M. Billing, R.T. Hallen, A.J. Schmidt, and T. Schaub. 2017. "Hydrothermal Liquefaction Biocrude Compositions Compared to Petroleum Crude and Shale Oil." Energy and Fuels 31, no. 3:2896-2906. PNNL-SA-127214. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b03022
  • Marrone P.A., D.C. Elliott, J.M. Billing, R.T. Hallen, T.R. Hart, P. Kadota, and J.C. Moeller, et al. 2017. "Bench-Scale Evaluation of the Genifuel Hydrothermal Processing Technology for Wastewater Solids." In Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, (WEFTEC 2017), September 30 - October 4, 2017, Chicago, Illinois, 3032-3061. Alexandria, Virginia:Water Environment Federation. PNNL-SA-127937. doi:10.2175/193864717822157702

2016

  • Albrecht K.O., Y. Zhu, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, T.R. Hart, S.B. Jones, and G.D. Maupin, et al. 2016. "Impact of Heterotrophically Stressed Algae for Biofuel Production via Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Catalytic Hydrotreating in Continuous-Flow Reactors." Algal Research 14. PNNL-SA-112594. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2015.12.008
  • Jarvis J.M., N. Sudasinghe, K.O. Albrecht, A.J. Schmidt, R.T. Hallen, D.B. Anderson, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2016. "Impact of Iron Porphyrin Complexes when Hydroprocessing Algal HTL Biocrude." Fuel 182. PNNL-SA-116699. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2016.05.107

2015

  • Elliott D.C., P. Biller, A. Ross, A.J. Schmidt, and S.B. Jones. 2015. "Hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass: Developments from batch to continuous process." Bioresource Technology 178. PNNL-SA-105391. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.132

2014

  • Delegard C.H., S.I. Sinkov, J.W. Chenault, A.J. Schmidt, T.L. Welsh, and K.N. Pool. 2014. "Determination of Uranium Metal Concentration in Irradiated Fuel Storage Basin Sludge Using Selective Dissolution." Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 299, no. 3:1871-1882. PNNL-SA-98330. doi:10.1007/s10967-013-2884-1
  • Sudasinghe N., J.R. Cort, R.T. Hallen, M.V. Olarte, A.J. Schmidt, and T. Schaub. 2014. "Hydrothermal Liquefaction Oil and Hydrotreated Product from Pine Feedstock Characterized by Heteronuclear Two-Dimensional NMR Spectroscopy and FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry." Fuel 137. PNNL-SA-102800. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2014.07.069
  • Zhu Y., M.J. Biddy, S.B. Jones, D.C. Elliott, and A.J. Schmidt. 2014. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Liquid Fuel Production from Woody Biomass via Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) and Upgrading." Applied Energy 129. PNNL-SA-90421. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.03.053

2013

  • Elliott D.C., T.R. Hart, A.J. Schmidt, G.G. Neuenschwander, L.J. Rotness, M.V. Olarte, and A.H. Zacher, et al. 2013. "Process Development for Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae Feedstocks in a Continuous-Flow Reactor." Algal Research 2, no. 4:445-454. PNNL-SA-96121.

2006

  • Scott P.A., J.S. Fruchter, J.E. Szecsody, A.J. Schmidt, G.B. Mellinger, R.D. Scheele, and R.W. Shimskey, et al. 2006. "Overview of Technologies and Innovations Being Developed for Fluor Hanford Projects at the Hanford Site." In 2006 Waste Management Symposium: Global Accomplishments in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management:Education and Opportunity for the Next Generation of Waste Management Professionals. Tucson, Arizona:Arizona Board of Regents. PNNL-SA-47610.

2002

  • Elliott D.C., R.J. Orth, J. Gao, T.A. Werpy, D.E. Eakin, A.J. Schmidt, and G.G. Neuenschwander. 2002. "Biorefinery Concept Development Based On Wheat Flour Milling." In Fuel Chemistry Division Preprints American Chemical Society National Meeting, April 2002, 47, 361-362. Washington, District Of Columbia:American Chemical Society. PNNL-SA-35705.
  • Elliott D.C., R.J. Orth, T.A. Werpy, J. Gao, D.E. Eakin, A.J. Schmidt, and G.G. Neuenschwander, et al. 2002. "Biorefinery Concept Development Based on Wheat Flour Milling." In Bioenergy 2002, edited by John Crockett and Charles L. Peterson, 35. Boise, Idaho:Pacific Regional Biomass Energy Program. PNNL-SA-36480.

2000

1999

1998

  • Mong G.M., A.J. Schmidt, E.W. Hoppe, K.H. Pool, K.L. Silvers, and B.M. Thornton. 1998. K Basin Sludge Conditioning Process Testing Fate of PCBs During K Basin Sludge Dissolution in Nitric Acid and With Hydrogen Peroxide Addition. PNNL-11998. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
  • Pool K.H., C.H. Delegard, A.J. Schmidt, B.M. Thornton, and K.L. Silvers. 1998. K Basin Sludge Conditioning Process Testing Project Results from Test 4, "Acid Digestion of Mixed-Bed Ion Exchange Resin". PNNL-12107. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. K Basin Sludge Conditioning Process Testing Project Results from Test 4, "Acid Digestion of Mixed-Bed Ion Exchange Resin"
  • Schmidt A.J., G.M. Mong, E.W. Hoppe, S.O. Slate, K.L. Silvers, and B.M. Thornton. 1998. K Basin Sludge Conditioning Process Testing Partitioning of PCBs in Dissolver Solution After Nutralization/Precipitation (Caustic Adjustment). PNNL-11997. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

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