Hekmat Kawas
B.Eng. Chemical Engineering (Dec 2026) · Junior Metallurgist
Open to full-time new graduate roles in process engineering, metallurgy, and R&D. Bridging pilot-scale operations, process design, and data-driven optimization.
- recurring revenue from 75+ formulations taken to production
- $725K+
- recurring revenue from 75+ formulations taken to production
- Mg extraction after optimizing a pilot leach circuit
- 89 → 91%
- Mg extraction after optimizing a pilot leach circuit
- faster filtration from a redesigned filter press
- 23%
- faster filtration from a redesigned filter press
- lithium recycling plant designed (capstone)
- 15,000 t/yr
- lithium recycling plant designed (capstone)
Projects
About
Chemical Engineering student at Toronto Metropolitan University completing my final course (graduating Dec 2026) and available now for full-time new graduate roles. Currently working as a Junior Metallurgist in process research at Ortech Inc. Hands-on experience optimizing pilot-scale leach circuits, scaling extraction processes, and developing powder coating formulations in R&D. Skilled in mass and energy balances, equipment and piping sizing, and tools like Aspen Plus, SolidWorks, and Python.
Core competencies
- Pilot-Scale Operations & Hydrometallurgy (Leaching, Filtration)
- Process Design (Mass & Energy Balances, PFDs, Equipment Sizing)
- Process Simulation & Modeling (Aspen Plus, HYSYS, Python)
- Safety & SOP Development (WHMIS, Acid Handling)
Skills
Process Engineering
Software & Programming
Lab & Process Skills
Experience
Junior Metallurgist - Process Research
Ortech Inc.May 2026 – PresentMississauga, ON- Optimized Mg extraction in a pilot-scale HCl leach circuit by testing acid concentrations from 10–20%, identifying 16% as optimal and raising extraction from 89% to 91%.
- Redesigned pilot filter press setup for leach residue separation, expanding filtration area from 8 to 12 plates and revising the operating procedure to cut filtration time by 23%.
- Co-designed and scaled extraction processes for magnesium chloride recovery, introducing a water-wash and vacuum filtration protocol that recovered 93% purity silica from the process residue.
- Diagnosed and repaired leaking lines and miscalibrated dosing pumps across pilot plant and lab unit operations, cutting chemical consumption by 5% and reducing downtime by 1 hour/day.
- Wrote 3 SOPs for pilot plant HCl charging and acid transfers and trained a new hire on safe acid handling.
- Co-authored a client technical report on pilot-scale MgCl₂ leach results, compiling test data and mass balances.
R&D Lab Technician
Protech GroupJan 2025 – Aug 2025Toronto, ON- Prepared and validated powder coating formulations using mixing, extrusion, and grinding, including 75+ that advanced to full-scale production, generating 70 tons annually and $725K+ in recurring revenue.
- Resolved 5+ contamination cases by systematically isolating raw materials, equipment, and process steps, raising batch pass rates by 20% and freeing lab capacity that added $15K+ in profit.
- Analyzed Excel batch data on resin ratio, cure time, and pigment load to find patterns in successful trials, cutting trial iterations and saving 5 hours per formulation.
- Digitized manual batch records and lab documentation for 200+ formulations, cutting record retrieval time and reducing downtime by 7% ($10.5K+ annual savings).
- Diagnosed dispersion and formulation-balance failures in client samples, adjusting formulations, grinding and baking times, and extruder settings until samples passed client evaluation.
Let's talk
Open to full-time new graduate roles in process engineering, metallurgy, and R&D, and available to start now.