James Burrington

Biography

Dr. Burrington is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from John Carroll University in 1973 and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977 for his research on the synthesis and reaction mechanisms of novel nitrogen‑containing compounds.

He joined BP (formerly Standard Oil) in 1977 as a Senior R&D Chemist with assignments in fundamental and exploratory catalysis. He advanced to the position of Research Associate in 1982, Research Supervisor in 1984, and Research Manager in 1988. He made significant technical contributions to the fundamental understanding of mechanisms of heterogeneous and molecular catalysis, and to the discovery of new catalytic processes of commercial potential, including catalytic oxidation, ammoxidation, olefin dimerization and carbonylation reactions. As research manager, he was responsible for industrial biotechnology research, university research awards and grants, and analytical research and technical support.

In 1993, he joined The Lubrizol Corporation in Wickliffe, Ohio, and was promoted to Senior Fellow in 1998, and to Lubrizol Fellow, the highest technical rank in the corporation, in 2006. At Lubrizol he has been responsible for applied research in catalysis, process chemistry and the development of new lubricant additives, and most recently, bio-derived sustainable performance chemistries. He retired from Lubrizol in 2021 to pursue independent communication, education and consulting in science and technology topics at NiceChemistry.com where he is founder and principal scientist. Area of interest include catalysis, renewable chemistry, controlled release and specially additives.

Dr. Burrington is an inventor of 61 US Patents and an author of 47 scientific and technical publications, which span Dr. Burrington’s 43-year career in catalysis and process chemistry, fine and specialty chemicals, lubricant and rubber additives, and controlled release technology. A major focus of Dr. Burrington’s work has been the discovery, understanding and commercial application of novel chemical technologies for improved sustainability, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced activity chemistries.

Dr. Burrington has made numerous presentations to technical societies on his work in fundamental and applied catalysis, the commercial development of biotechnology, university/government/industry collaboration, and lubricant additives. He received the American Chemical Society Cleveland Section's Morley Award in 2022, the American Chemical Society Energy and Fuels Division Distinguished Researcher Award in 2015, the Cleveland Technical Society Council Technical Achievement Award in 1986, and the Lubrizol Award for Chemistry Undergraduates in 1973. In 2006, he was awarded the Lubrizol Winner Circle Award for discovery and commercialization of controlled release additives gel technology, an innovation which provided $30MM in sales for additized oil filter applications.

He has written a textbook entitled “Industrial Catalysis: Chemistry and Mechanism,” published by World Scientific/Imperial College Press in 2016, aimed at providing upper level undergraduate and graduate chemistry students with an introduction to fundamental and applied principles of catalysis including the chemistry behind major commercial processes and the mechanism by which they operate. He is an adjunct professor in the Chemistry Departments of John Carroll University, Case-Western Reserve University, and The University of Akron.

He is a Fellow (class of 2013) of the American Chemical Society (ACS), and has held offices in the ACS within the Petroleum Division as Secretary (1983‑86), Chair (1988‑89 and 1991‑92), Program Committee (1998-2001), and was co-developer/organizer of many Division Symposia, including those on “Solid Acid Catalysis (ACS Fall 1997 National Meeting), “Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Lubricant Additives (ACS Spring 2000 National Meeting), and “Catalysis, Processes and Reactors for Ultra-Clean Gasoline and Diesel Fuels”, ACS Fall 2003 National Meeting). He has served in other positions within the ACS, including ACS Biotechnology Secretariat as General Secretary (1987‑88), on ACS Council (Petroleum Division, 1992-1995, 1997-2000), and on the Board Committee on Science (1996-2001). Within the Cleveland Section, he was chair in 1997/98, Program Chain in 1996/97, a program committee member in 1983, 84 and 87 and served on the Cleveland Section Award (Morley Award) Committee in 1989-92.
He has also served as President of the Pittsburgh‑Cleveland Section of the North American Catalysis Society (1983‑84), and of the Ohio Institute of Chemists (1990-92).

He served for twelve years in US. Army Reserve (retired as Captain) and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1983 for outstanding performance in the production of technical intelligence on developments in energy storage and materials topics.