Stewart P. Lewis

Short Bio:

Dr. Stewart P. Lewis is an independent researcher who has specialized in the area of green polymer science for over twenty years. The main thrust of his research has been on the development of commercially viable, albeit environmentally responsible means for effecting the production of commodity polymers from olefins (e.g., terpenic resins, butyl rubber, and polyisobutene) via the cationic methodology. Lewis has achieved many firsts in the polymer field including: multiple methods for carrying out such polymerizations in the absence of halogenated solvents and in aqueous media, acid initiators that maintain their activity indefinitely even in water, systems that operate in a catalytic manner and do not generate acid waste, and chemistry that can be employed effectively at very high reaction T (most cationic polymerizations are cryogenic). Additional areas where Lewis has made contributions include the synthesis of perfluoroarylated Lewis acids commonly used in applications such as activators for metallocenes in coordination polymerization and the synthesis of unique polymers derived from agricultural feedstocks (e.g., soybean oil). Lewis is an inventor on four US Patents and also on one pending World Patent application.

In his part time, Dr. Lewis has been a lecturer and teacher at a number of colleges (e.g., Ferrum, PSU) and in 2024 finished an extensive work (i.e., Codex of Cationic Polymerization) on the non-living cationic polymerization of olefins (ca. 1,500 pages) which is currently in the final stages of proofing prior to publication. His research has also been featured on the front cover of Journal of Polymer Science. Lewis is currently active in a number of conferences that focus on cutting-edge developments in the areas of catalysis (Catalysis and Reaction Engineering, chair) and polymer science (Polymer Connect, keynote speaker) and founded the basis of what is the International Symposium on Green Chemistry and Polymers at SIPS by Flogen in 2018. Outside of chemistry he is actively involved in mid-scale sustainable agricultural projects involving the organic production of vegetables and herbs and donates food to needy individuals in the Appalachian region on a regular basis.