Invited Speakers

Particle Technology in Catalyst Formulation

Professor Hugh Stitt (Johnson Matthey plc)

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalysts are particulate products ranging in size from 50 micron to several mm. Particle technology plays a critical role in their manufacture. The presentation will describe the particulate structures of catalyst and catalysis across lengthscales from nanometres to metres. The typical manufacturing routes will be summarised and research and applications case studies used to demonstrate the role of particle technology in the manufacture of catalysts

Speaker Biography

Professor Hugh Stitt is a Consultant Chemical Engineer in Johnson Matthey's Technology Centre. He has over 20 years industrial experience in catalytic reaction engineering and in research and process development for catalyst manufacture with specialisations in reaction kinetics, reactor design, fluid mixing, fluid and particle flow modelling and process tomography. He has over 70 refereed Journal publications and is a Visiting Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham and st Queen's University Belfast. He is a Fellow of the IChemE and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

In-situ Monitoring of complex materials

Dr Richard Tweedie (Industrial Tomography Systems plc)

Abstract

Producing increasingly complex products more efficient, presents significant challenges to the process engineer. Many modern products have complex microstructures simply in order to meet their performance requirements in a particular market. While, at the same time reducing product price through use of lower cost ingredients with inherently variable properties so requiring tight quality control to maintain a consistent product. This in turn places a higher demand on process control and quality management during their manufacture. The ultimate drive for is to enable more direct observation of the process in real time in true process conditions. On-line characterisation offers the tight control demanded with reduced costs. The on-line environmental also presents new dimensions in characterisation; it is no longer just a case of what is it, but also where and when. However adaption of laboratory methods has significant disadvantages, especially at High Concentration which is the typical process condition. High Concentration not only is difficult to characterise due to its opacity, but also because the material is no-longer the ideal, well behaved, benign substance it was at a few tenths of a percent in the lab. Therefore sensors are needed which can not only see through the pipe but also handle the environment and the chemistry. This talk examines the challenges of characterising complex and high concentration processes and describes some of the novel technologies being developed to provide not only information on the structure but also on the process performance.

Speaker Biography

Richard has been involved in the commercialisation of analytical instrumentation for 16 years. Originally, an electronics and software engineer he developed emergency medical systems for Marquette Inc, He completed a PhD in Biomedical Instrumentation developing on-line spectroscopy systems for blood cells. Malvern Instruments persuaded him that particles where very similar to blood cells. He joined Malvern Instruments to work on dynamic light scattering, but he became quickly involved in high concentration measurements through developing ultrasound spectroscopy systems eventually becoming Programme Manager of Dispersion Technology. Richard also managed Malvern Instrument external research collaboration including its partnership with University of Leeds. He now works at ITS where he is developing ultrasound spectroscopy system for a wide range of complex materials including suspensions, emulsions, gels and pastes.

Particle formulation in the nuclear industry: mix and match

Dr Dominic Rhodes (NNL, Sellafield, UK)

Abstract

The nuclear industry shares many similarities to the chemical industry, however the radioactive nature of the material brings some significant additional challenges for scientists and engineers to overcome. This brings some unique challenges to the industry. On line characterisation offers the prospect of high quality control in particle formulation, however the complexity of engineering even existing off the shelf characterisation equipment into nuclear plant is hugely expensive. At line / off line characterisation can give additional product information however comes with additional challenges including nuclear transport issues and costs. Particle formulation changes therefore present some unique challenges, especially with very old plant where there is very limited ability to make any changes to either production plant or analysis. This talk examines the challenges of particle formulations in the nuclear industry and shows examples of some of the unique solutions used.

Speaker Biography

Dominic has a degree in Mining Engineering, PhD in Mineral Processing from Nottingham University and a post doc in Chemical and Environmental Engineering also at Nottingham University where he worked on coal research. He has worked in Africa mining Gold, Diamonds, Platinum and Coal industries and now has >20 industrial years experience in particle technology. He joined BNFL in 1995 and now is the NNL Research Fellow in particle technology area at the Sellafield nuclear complex where he continues to support a large of operational plant at the site as well as also undertaking long term research. He maintains excellent links with other industries and chairs several cross industry projects as well as giving strong support to the professional bodies. He has authored a large number of external technical papers across a broad range of subjects and lectures widely. Dominic has supervised many highly successful PhD students, post docs and undergraduates over the last 10+ years in many universities across a variety of departments. He has also been both the recipient of, and also short listed for, several awards. Dominic maintains strong interests in other areas as well, notably Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Innovation and Imaging / Tomography. He also leads the NNL STEM / Youth based CSR activities.

Knowledge Transfer Networks: Chemistry Innovation, Technology Strategy Board and project funding

Darren Ragheb (Chemistry Innovation KTN, Runcorn, UK)

Abstract

Over the last ten years there has been a growing trend for companies to look outside of their organisation to access new ideas, expertise and technologies – a concept popularised as open-innovation (OI). With a focus on the chemistry-using industries, this talk will explore why OI and collaborative working are of increasing importance to companies (and universities), some of the current approaches and associated challenges to doing it well, and in turn provide an overview of the relevant support initiatives and funding mechanisms in the UK. The talk also aims to emphasise how an open-innovation/collaborative mind-set, the application of associated skills/best practice and awareness of the relevant support infrastructure can enrich the careers of individual researchers, in both industry and academia.

Speaker Biography

Darren currently manages the national Product Design programme at Chemistry Innovation, leading knowledge transfer and open innovation activities to enable better design and production of novel products which deliver benefits to consumers through their properties or function. Darren is also part of Chemistry Innovation’s projects team, supporting industry access to R&D public funding and the development of winning consortia and compelling project proposals across the chemistry-using industries. Darren holds an MChem Chemistry degree from The University of Leeds and following a spell at the Forensic Science Service as a DNA Analyst, worked for Syngenta as a Formulation Design Chemist delivering novel products for global agrochemical markets.

Particle Technology and the Forum

Professor Richard Holdich (Loughborough University)

Abstract

Over the past 30 years I have seen Particle Technology keep pace with some dramatic changes in industrial outlook and direction. The 'old' industries have not gone away, even in countries such as the UK, they still contribute very significantly towards the economy, but 'new' industries and themes have evolved, or at least the contribution of Particle Technology towards those new directions has become recognised. Recent examples include 'nanotechnology' (but it is interesting to reflect on the fact that nanostabilised emulsions were reported by Pickering back in 1907), and the role of Particle Technology in Formulation Science and Engineering. Formulation is a vast subject encompassing the 'Fast Moving Consumer Goods' market we are all familiar with from our trips to the supermarket, through the need to form reliable mixtures (often with great care in the pharmaceutical and nuclear industries), through to the fine chemical and catalytic using industries. The challenges in these industries are often the same, and progress towards meeting these challenges can be accelerated by the sharing of knowledge and techniques. This is the main aim of meetings such as this one, aimed as one of relevance to cross-industrial practice, and at the up-coming members of the research community - those of you who will shape the future of the subject and its application. A particular example of how things have evolved is in the subject of making particles, such as encapsulated ones, a subject now close to my heart and with relevance to all industrial sectors dealing with formulated products.

Speaker Biography

After graduation in Minerals Engineering from Birmingham University Richard worked for British Aluminium at their Gerrards Cross research park, on projects for aluminium smelters and alumina based chemical products. He took a job as a Research Assistant at Exeter University, and completed a PhD at the same time, on filtration and sedimentation before moving back to Birmingham University as a Research Fellow, where he ran a project on particle leaching and separations. He later joined the Particle Technology group at Loughborough University, founded by Brian Scarlett, and Richard became a professor of Chemical Engineering in 2008. His speciality is in the research of aspects of Particle Technology, with particular emphasis on: separations (www.filtration-and-separation.com);membrane emulsification and encapsulated particle production (www.micropore.co.uk);and in Particle Technology teaching (www.particles.org.uk).He has a strong interest in the use of Information Technology and Expert Systems, as well as the Internet, for the impact of research and for training.