Committee Members' Biographies
Dr Maurice Webb CChem FRSC
Chairman
Following a BSc in Chemistry at Manchester, a DPhil in metallocene chemistry at Sussex then a short spell teaching Physics, Maurice Webb's career has involved R&D and new business creation roles in a number of companies (CIBA-Geigy, Laporte, Unilever, ICI, Ineos); with Government Knowledge Transfer schemes and currently as an independent consultant. His primary interest is the industrial applications of materials chemistry, especially inorganics (e.g. silicas, zeolites, silicates, mixed metal hydroxides), in the consumer goods and chemicals-using industries (incl. healthcare, water and waste treatment, polymers, catalysts, toiletries and detergent and household products).
Professor Craig Williams CChem FRSC
Secretary
Prof. Craig Williams is Professor of Meso & Microporous Materials at the University of Wolverhampton, he has over 20 years experience within the zeolite community, establishing the meso and microporous research group at Wolverhampton in 1993 to study the problems involved in zeolite synthesis and isomorphous substitution. In 1999 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and has served the RSC as Secretary and Chair of the Analytical Division of the Midlands Region and Secretary of the Applied Materials Chemistry Group. He is also Secretary of the British Zeolite Association (BZA), for the second time. His research background is a balance of synthesis, diffusion and catalytic applications.
In 1994 his group discovered a method of loading zeolites with metals replacing up to 82.5% of the total aluminium content. This method involved the use of tetrahedral oxo anion metal species MO4n-. Initially work was centred on zeolite L and the substitution of iron and manganese into the zeolite framework. The work proved to be so successful that the methodology for iron and manganese substitution into a variety of zeolites was patented as well as being published. The iron containing zeolite L has been catalytically tested. This study showed that the product distribution for the framework iron species was very different from that achieved using iron ion-exchanged into the zeolite.
The research group at Wolverhampton also studies isomorphous substitution into aluminophosphate molecular sieves and again this work has been widely published. The group have also looked at minimising reagent waste during zeolite synthesis, examining zeolites as soil benefactors for the growth cereal crops and studied zeolite based auto catalysts.
Dr Philip Mitchell MRSC
Treasurer
Philip Mitchell was formerly Reader in Chemistry and Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow, University of Reading.
M.A., D.Phil. University of Oxford.
His specialities include inorganic chemistry especially molybdenum chemistry; catalysis and surface science; application of neutron scattering methods.
Dr Alan Armour CChem MRSC
Immediate Past Chairman
Alan studied chemistry at the University of Reading completing his PhD in 1972 on studies of molybdenum containing catalysts. Following a period with the UK Atomic Energy Authority he joined Climax Molybdenum with whom he has held a number of sales, marketing and technical development positions.
He is currently Director of Global Chemical Sales & Development and is the current Chairman of the Industrial Inorganic Chemicals Sector.
Mr Iain de Grey CSci CChem FRSC
Iain de Grey, a Chartered Industrial Chemist, is the Technical Manager for Pal International Ltd. Pal is a medium sized company, based in Leicestershire, manufacturing and supplying hygiene goods – wet wipes, chefs’ hats and barrier clothing. Their main markets are medical and healthcare, food and catering, and janitorial.
I was educated at Bedford Modern School and Manchester Metropolitan University (formerly the Polytechnic). I hold an honours degree in Applied Chemistry, became a Chartered Chemist in 1996, a Chartered Scientist in 2004, and was elected a Fellow of the RSC in 2009.
Dr Andrew Dunster CChem MRSC
Dr Andrew Dunster is the Principal Consultant at BRE (Building Research Establishment). Andrew manages projects on low carbon cements and the use of industrial by-products as construction aggregates, within BRE’s Building Technology Group. He also provides research and consultancy on construction products with recycled content (including rubber, plastics, glass). His other main areas of expertise are in the assessment and utilisation of slags from metals processing, performance of calcium aluminate cements, cement chemistry and the durability of concrete in aggressive environments.
He is currently working on several major market-focussed projects on low carbon cements, waste derived organic fibres and resource efficient and sustainable construction. Andrew has also published widely and his publications since the late 1980’s include many technical guidance documents and journal papers. He is also a member of the Sustainability Group of the Institute of Minerals, Mining and Metallurgy.
Dr Kevin Franklin CChem FRSC
Kevin Franklin is a Senior Scientist with Unilever Research & Development Port Sunlight. His current research interests are concerned with the design and development of new ingredients, formulations and technologies for personal care products. Prior to this his interests have included the synthesis, characterisation and properties of microporous materials such as zeolites, layered double hydroxides and silicas
Kevin studied for HNC Chemistry, and then GradRSC, before obtaining a PhD from City University in 1984. He then became a junior academic for a short spell at the University of Edinburgh before joining Unilever in 1988. He a Chartered Chemist and has been a FRSC since 1996. He is an author on over 40 academic papers and an inventor on a similar number of granted patents.
Dr Daniel Lynch MRSC
Dr Daniel Lynch is a materials chemist with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree (1990) and PhD (1994), from QUT in Brisbane (Australia). A postdoctoral fellowship at Cranfield University (UK) preceded a six-year university research fellowship at Coventry University, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2001 and a Reader of Applied Chemistry in 2007. He is the author of over 200 research publications; the principal inventor of patented technology and became the full-time Technical Director of Exilica Limited in 2007, a post that he had held on a part-time basis since Exilica’s incorporation as a university spin-out company in May 2005.
