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Robert J. Farrauto

Professor of Professional Practice in Earth and Environmental Engineering

Farrauto focuses on technical applications directed towards solving environmental problems.

His research is both applied and fundamental and is focused on world needs. Exclusively funded by industrial companies, his research allows students to see catalysis applied to problem solving. His group studies CO2 capture from air and flue gas and its catalytic conversion to useful fuels and chemicals decreasing greenhouse gases in flue gas and the atmosphere.  His industrial research has led to new commercial catalysts for reducing toxic emissions from diesel engines and compact reactor designs for the future hydrogen economy utilizing fuel cells.

Farrauto received his BS in chemistry from Manhattan College in 1964, and his PhD in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1968. He spent 44 years in the catalytic industry (1968-2012) and has developed a number of commercial products. He holds 60 U.S. patents and his research has appeared in 140 peer-reviewed publications. After retiring from BASF as a Vice President of Research, he has been Professor of Practice in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia Engineering since 2012.

Research Areas

  • Carbon Management, Storage, Utilization, and Conversion
  • Environmental Catalysis
  • Carbon Capture and Storage Technology
  • Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (Resilience Technology)

Additional Information

  • Professional Experience
    • Professor of Professional Practice, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University in the City of New York, 2012–Present 
    • Research Vice President, BASF Catalysts (formerly Engelhard), 2008-2012 (retired)
    • Research Fellow, Engelhard (now BASF), 1990-2008
    • Section Head, Engelhard, 1976-1995
    • Research Chemist, Corning Glass Works, 1968-1976 
  • Professional Affiliations
    • American Institute of Chemical Engineers
    • American Chemical Society 
  • Honors & Awards
    • Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, Columbia University in the City of New York, 2016 
    • Ciapetta Lectureship Award sponsored by the North American Catalysis Society, 2008
    • Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Practice Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2005
    • International Precious Metal Institute (IPMI) Award for Outstanding Contributions in the field of precious metal catalysis, 2001
    • Cross Canada Lectureship Award sponsored by the Canadian Catalysis Society, 1998  
    • Co-author of three textbooks on environmental and industrial catalysis
  • Education
    • PhD, Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    • BS Chemistry, Manhattan College