Invited Speakers

Block copolymer aggregates: soft nanoparticles for novel applications

Professor Simon Biggs (University of Leeds)

Abstract

Nanoparticles are very much an area of great interest within both academia and industry. Inorganic and metallic materials have been used to produce particulate formulations with many interesting and unique properties, such as nano-TiO₂ for sunscreen formulations. We are interested in using a bottom-up fabrication approach to produce smart nanoparticles that can then be used to fabricate more complex devices and materials. In this presentation I will give an overview of our work in this area with selected examples of the materials used and their applications.

Speaker Biography

Professor Simon Biggs was appointed to the Royal Academy of Engineering/BNFL Chair in Particle Science and Engineering at the University of Leeds in September 2002. He took this chair after spending 8 years at The University of Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia). Prior to this, he developed his research career through post-doctoral positions at the Institut Charles Sadron (Strasbourg, France) and the University of Melbourne (Australia). His undergraduate and doctoral education was undertaken in the UK at the University of Bristol from where he has a PhD in Colloid Chemistry.

The main research interests of Professor Biggs' group are in the field of colloid and interface engineering. He has a strong interest in the measurement, control, and manipulation of inter-particle forces to allow more efficient process engineering of particulate systems. He has pioneered the use of in-situ imaging with direct measurements of both adsorbed amounts and adsorption kinetics, using precision instrumentation such as light scattering, optical reflectometry and atomic force microscopy. Opportunities to exploit the knowledge gained from this work in the manufacture of novel encapsulated materials are now being explored and, in particular, the possibility of using cross-membrane emulsification technology as the basis for a series of novel production opportunities in encapsulation.

Simon Biggs has been the chief investigator on numerous research projects and he is an author of over 150 refereed publications. He is currently the Director of the Nexia Solutions University Research Alliance in Particle Science and Technology, a research centre currently employing over 30 researchers. He received the 2005 Beilby Medal from the RSC/IMMM/SCI awarded for a substantial contribution towards research of practical significance.

Particle Technology in Japan - a survey of trends and developments

Professor Ko Higashitani (Kyoto University)

Abstract

The histories and activities of the organizations of particle technology, especially of the Society of Powder Technology Japan established in 1945, the Association of Powder Process Industry & Engineering, Japan, and their collaborating works will be introduced, and the recent research trend of Japanese particle technology will be surveyed.

Speaker Biography

Professor Ko Higashitani graduated from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan in 1968. He worked on Hole Pressure Error Viscoelastic Fluids as a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Professor A. S. Lodge in the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. After he received his Ph.D. degree in 1973, he moved to the Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, as an assistant professor, and then became a full professor in 1983. He joined the Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University in 1992.

Professor Higashitani's major research interests are in the kinetic stability of colloidal particles in solutions, such as coagulation, breakup, adhesion, detachment of particles in fluids, slurry kinetics, etc. His current research topics include: Characterization of interfaces (solid/liquid, gas/liquid, solid/living cell) by atomic force microscope and inter-surface forces; Simulation of molecular behavior at solid-liquid interface and experimental investigation; Dynamic simulation of colloidal suspension and emulsion systems; Fundamental studies on chemical mechanical polishing.

Getting to the real meaning of physical characterisation data

Professor David Merrifield (GlaxoSmithKline)

Abstract

There is an increasing emphasis in the pharmaceutical and other industries to characterise the physical nature of its important substances. This has been driven by regulatory requirements, but also has become possible because of advances in measurement technology. The challenge remains to understand the significance of these data in regard of the performance of the substance both as a final product and during its manufacturing process.

Speaker Biography

Professor David Merrifield graduated in Chemistry at Bath University after which he joined Beecham Pharmaceuticals as an analytical chemist. He has remained in the pharmaceutical industry for over 30 years, gaining experience both in its product formulation and powder technology areas. His technical interests include the characterisation of active pharmaceuticals ingredients (APIs), relating this to their performance in products and in manufacturing processes. He has previously chaired the Particle Characterisation Interest Group of the RSC and currently holds a Visiting Professorship at the IPSE of the University of Leeds.

A survey of particle attrition phenomena relevant to fluidized bed combustion and gasification of solid fuels

Professor Piero Salatino (University of Naples)

Abstract

Attrition phenomena of raw solid fuels, of their chars, of residual ash particles remaining after complete carbon burnoff, of calcium-based sorbents used for in situ desulphurization have been studied by the research group in Naples over the last twenty years. The effort has been made to put attrition research into a comprehensive framework, especially as far as mutual effects of different modes of mechanical attrition (surface wear, impact) and of the progress of chemical reactions (combustion and gasification of fuels, calcination, sulphation and carbonation of the sorbents) are concerned. Aspects concerning attrition of fuel and residual ash particles and of calcium based sorbents will be separately addressed and discussed, pointing at the open issues and at the research priorities.

Speaker Biography

Professor Piero Salatino is the Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chairman of the Chemical Engineering Programme at the Universita degli Studi di Napoli "Frederico II". He is a member of the Editorial Board of Powder Technology, Combustion Science and Technology and Fuel Processing Technology. Professor Salatino is the author of about 180 publications in peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings relevant to the fields of Chemical Engineering, Combustion and Powder Technology. He is the project leader of several national and EU-funded research projects.

Developments in nanoparticle production from the gas phase and on-line characterization

Professor Andreas Schmidt-Ott (Delft University of Technology)

Abstract

In the size range of a few nanometers, all properties of matter become size dependent. This explains the importance of controlling particle size in addition to composition. The quantities of nanoparticulate material that are required strongly depend on the application and range from 10^-20 to 1 kg. Gas phase production of particles has advantages in particular with respect to surface purity. Methods of producing and size classifying nanoparticles are reviewed. Flexible methods with respect to particle composition exist. Electrospray and plasma production of particles deliver narrow size distributions under appropriate conditions and have the potential of delivering large amounts of nanoparticles, if scaling up is possible. Conventional as well as new methods for on-line characterization with respect to different properties and size separation of particles in gases are reviewed. Among others, a photoelectric separation unit is referred to, which is capable of distinguishing the third important feature besides composition and size that determines nanoparticle properties, namely morphology.

Speaker Biography

Professor Andreas Schmidt-Ott, born in 1952, completed his Ph.D. thesis at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland in 1979. He was then Research Fellow at Atmospheric Physics department and later Senior Research Scientist at the Solid State Physics Laboratory of the same institute. In 1988 he spent a term at the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of California, Los Angeles (S.K. Friedlander) as Visiting Assistant Professor before joining Duisburg University, Germany. Here he was first Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and then became professor in the Mechanical Engineering department of the same university. During 1996 - 1997 Professor Schmidt-Ott spent a 5 month sabbatical with K. Sattler at the Physics department (Nanoparticle Group) of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He was Deputy Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Faculty at Duisburg University from 1998 to 2001.

Since March 2001 he has been Professor of Particle Technology in the Nanostructured Materials Section at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. He served as Secretary General of the German Aerosol Association and Board Member of the American Association for Aerosol Research. He is or was a member of several Editorial Boards of scientific journals. His most prestigious award was the Smoluchowski Award, which he obtained in 1989.

Silver halide particle precipitation - 'last century' or nanoscale science?

Dr Jurjen Winkel (Kodak)

Abstract

Silver halide particles are at the heart of film based photographic systems, many of which are currently in decline with the onset of digital imaging. This talk will briefly describe silver halide photography and then go into the detail of the silver halide particle precipitation and the diverse range of materials that can be produced, both in terms of size and morphology as well as looking at some more futuristic applications.

Speaker Biography

Dr Jurjen Winkel has worked at Kodak for 12 years on silver halide particles with applications in colour negative film, photographic paper, graphic art film and printing plates and has more recently explored their potential in electronic systems.