Whiting, W. B. Professor Emeritus Chemical Engineering Division University of Nevada, Reno Reno, NV 89557-0136  USA wwhiting@unr.edu

Registered Professional Engineer Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley M.S.Ch.E., Polytechnic University, Brooklyn B.S.Env.E., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Dr. Whiting's major research interest is at the intersection of thermodynamic models, experimental data, statistics, and chemical process design.  He focuses on process simulation and uncertainty analysis to reduce risk, increase safety, and improve environmental performance of chemical plants.  He has developed equations of state and mixing rules for traditional, continuous-thermodynamics, and group-contribution models; algorithms for robust and efficient calculation of azeotropic and multiphase equilibria; and Monte Carlo techniques for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of process designs to random, systematic, modeling, and computational errors.

Selected Publications

Vasquez, V. R., W. B. Whiting, and M. M. Meerschaert "Confidence Interval Estimation Under the Presence of Non-Gaussian Random Errors: Applications to uncertainty analysis of chemical processes and simulation," Computers and Chemical Engineering, 34(3), 298-305 (2010).

Turton, R., R. C. Bailie, W. B. Whiting, and J. A. Shaeiwitz, Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Chemical Processes, 3rd edition, (text book) Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2009.

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "Accounting for Both Random  Errors and Systematic Errors in Uncertainty Propagation Analysis of Computer Models Involving Experimental Measurements with Monte Carlo Methods," Risk Analysis, 25(6), 1669-1681 (2005).

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "Incorporating Uncertainty in Chemical Process Design for Environmental Risk Assessment," Environmental Progress, 23(4), 315-328 (2004).

Vidaurre, G., Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting,   Applications in Chemical Kinetics Models,"/span> Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 43, 1395-1404 (2004).

Vasquez, V. R.,  and W. B. Whiting, "Analysis of Random and Systematic Error Effects on Uncertainty Propagation in Process Design and Simulation Using Distribution Tail Characterization," Chemical Engineering Communications, 191, 278-301 (2004).

Turton, R., R. C. Bailie, W. B. Whiting, and J. A. Shaeiwitz, Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Chemical Processes, 2nd edition, (text book) Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003.

Clarke, D. D., V. R. Vasquez, W. B. Whiting, and M. Greiner, "Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis of Heat-Exchanger Designs to Physical Properties Estimation," Applied Thermal Engineering, 21, 993-1017 (2001).

Xin, Y., and W. B. Whiting, "Case Studies of Computer-Aided Design Sensitivity to Thermodynamic Data and Models," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 39, 2998-3006 (2000).

Xin, Y., V. R. Vasquez, and W. B. Whiting, "Effect of Regression Approach in the Estimation of Nonlinear Model Parameters on Process Design and Simulation:  applications to kinetic and thermodynamic models," Computers and Chemical Engineering, 24, 1269-1274 (2000).

Brennecke, J.F., J. A. Shaeiwitz, M. A. Stadtherr, R. Turton, M. J. McCready, R. A. Schmitz, and W. B. Whiting, "Minimizing Environmental Impact of Chemical Manufacturing Processes," Proceedings of the 2000 Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, St. Louis, MO, June 2000, session 2513.

Xin, Y., V. R. Vasquez, and W. B. Whiting, "Automatic Re-Weighting of Maximum Likelihood Functions for Parameter Regression," European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering-10, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000, 85-90.

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "Regression of Binary Interaction Parameters for Thermodynamic Models Using an Inside-Variance Estimation Method (IVEM)," Fluid Phase Equilibria, 170, 235-253 (2000).

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis of Thermodynamic Models Using Equal Probability Sampling (EPS)," Computers and Chemical Engineering, 23, 1825-1838 (2000).

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "A Sampling Technique for Correlated Parameters in Nonlinear Models for Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis," AIChE Symp. Ser., 96(323), 490-493 (2000).

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "Effect of Systematic and Random Errors in Thermodynamic Models on Chemical Process Design and Simulation:  A Monte Carlo Approach," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 38, 3036-3045 (1999).

Whiting, W. B., V. R. Vasquez, and M. M. Meerschaert, "Techniques for Assessing the Effects of Uncertainties in Thermodynamic Models and Data," Fluid Phase Equilibria, 158-160, 627-641 (1999).

Turton, R., R. C. Bailie, W. B. Whiting, and J. A. Shaeiwitz, Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Chemical Processes, (text book) Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1998.

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "Uncertainty of Predicted Process Performance due to Variation in Thermodynamics Model Parameter Estimation from Different Experimental Data Sets," Fluid Phase Equilibria, 142, 115-130 (1998).

Brennecke, J.F., J. A. Shaeiwitz, M. A. Stadtherr, R. Turton, M. J. McCready, R. A. Schmitz, and W. B. Whiting, "Minimizing Environmental Impact of Chemical Manufacturing Processes," Proceedings of the 1998 Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, Seattle, WA, June 1998, session 1526.

Whiting, W. B., J. A. Shaeiwitz, R. Turton, and R. C. Bailie, "Fitting the Essentials into the ChE Curriculum:  Ethics, Professionalism, Environmental Health & Safety," Proceedings of the 1998 Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, Seattle, WA, June 1998, session 2213.

Vasquez, V. R., and W. B. Whiting, "Effect of Data Type on Thermodynamic Model Parameter Estimation:  A Monte Carlo Approach," Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, 37, 1122-1129 (1998).

Maier, R. W., and W. B. Whiting, "The Variation of Parameter Settings and Their Effects for the Simulated Annealing Algorithm," Computers & Chemical Engineering, 23, 47-62 (1998).

Shaeiwitz, J. A., W. B. Whiting, and D. Velegol, "A Large-Group Senior Design Experience," Chem. Eng. Educ., 30, 70-75 (1996).

Whiting, W. B., "Effects of Uncertainties in Thermodynamic Data and Models on Process Calculations," J. Chem. Eng. Data, 41, 935-941 (1996).

Shaeiwitz, J. A., W. B. Whiting, R. Turton, and R. C. Bailie, "The Holistic Curriculum," J. Engr. Educ., 83, 343-348 (1994).

Lim, K.-H., D.H. Smith, and W.B. Whiting, "Excess Enthalpies and Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium Phase Compositions of the Nonionic Amphiphile 2-Butoxyethanol + Water," J. Chem. Eng. Data, 39, 399-403 (1994).

Hou, H.-M., S.-H. Wang, and W.B. Whiting, "The Synthetic Data Method," Chem. Eng. Educ., 28, 146-149 (1994).

Bailie, R.C., J.A. Shaeiwitz, and W.B. Whiting, "An Integrated Design Sequence: Sophomore and Junior Years," Chem. Eng. Educ., 28, 52-57 (1994).

Reed, M.E., and W.B. Whiting, "Sensitivity and Uncertainty of Process Designs to Thermodynamic Model Parameters: A Monte Carlo Approach," Chem. Eng. Comm., 124, 39-48 (1993).

Tong, T.-M., M.E. Reed, and W.B. Whiting, "The Effect of Uncertainties in Thermodynamic Data and Model Parameters on Calculated Process Performance," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 32, 1367-1371 (1993).

Whiting, W.B., "Simulation in the Chemical Engineering Classroom," Chem. Eng. Educ., 27, 220-224 (1993).

Eubank, P.T., A.E. Elhassan, M.A. Barrufet, and W.B. Whiting, "Area Method for Prediction of Fluid-Phase Equilibria," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 31, 942-949 (1992).

Whiting, W.B., "Errors: A Rich Source of Problems and Examples," Chem. Eng. Educ., 25, 140-144 (1991).

Kneisl, P., J.W. Zondlo, W.B. Whiting, and M. Bedell, "The Effect of Fluid Properties on Ebulliometer Operation," Fluid Phase Equilibria, 46, 85-94 (1989).

Wang, S.-H., and W.B. Whiting, "Parameters for the Perturbed-Hard-Chain Theory from Characterization Data for Heavy Fossil Fuel Fluids," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 27, 1058-1065 (1988).

Wu, C.-S., and W.B. Whiting, "Interacting Jets in a Hot Fluidized Bed," Chem. Eng. Comm., 73, 1-17 (1988).

Wang, S.-H., and W.B. Whiting, "A Comparison of Distribution Functions for Calculation of Phase Equilibria of Continuous Mixtures," Chem. Eng. Comm., 71, 127-143 (1988).

Kneisl, P., J. W. Zondlo, and W. B. Whiting, "An Apparatus for Measurement of Multiple-Phase Equilibria at Elevated Pressures," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 27, 1541-1543 (1988).

Mori, H., K. Raghunathan, and W.B. Whiting, "A Technique for Measurement of Jet Penetration in Hot Fluidized Beds with a Modified Pitot-Tube Probe," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 27, 1101-1016 (1988).