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Solvent Extraction and Solvent Absorption Research from The University of Melbourne in Australia

Lecture: Solvent Extraction and Solvent Absorption Research from The University of Melbourne in Australia 

Lecturer: Dr. Kathryn Smith, The University of Melbourne, Australia 

Time: 9:30 am, Nov 11, 2015 

Location: Meeting Room 205 of Administration Building 

Introduction of Lecturer: 

Dr Kathryn Smith is a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne in Australia. Kathryn has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Bachelor of Science with majors in Chemical Engineering and Pharmacology. She completed her PhD studies in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne, where her thesis work focused on the performance and scale-up of solvent extraction columns for alkaloid extraction. Kathryn's research interests are in the areas of separations processes, in particular solvent extraction for hydrometallurgical and pharmaceutical applications and solvent absorption for CO2 capture. She has experience in laboratory based research and in the operation of industry based pilot plants. 

Selected publications: 

1.   “Pilot plant results for a precipitating potassium carbonate solvent absorption process promoted with glycine for enhanced CO2 capture”, Smith, K.H, Lee, A, Mumford, K, Li, S, Indrawan, I, Thanumurthy, N, Temple, N, Anderson, C, Hooper, B, Kentish, S, Stevens, G., Fuel Processing Technology, 2015, 135, 60-65. 

2.   “Energy and exergy analyses of an integrated gasification combined cycle power plant with CO2 capture using hot potassium carbonate solvent”, Li, S; Jin, H, Gao, L; Mumford, K, Smith, K, Stevens, G., Environmental Science & Technology, 2014, 48(24), 14814-14821. 

3.   “Demonstration of a concentrated potassium carbonate process for CO2 capture”, Smith, K., Xiao, G., Mumford, K., Gouw, J., Indrawan, I., Thanumurthy, N., Quyn, D., Cuthbertson, R., Rayer, A., Nicholas, N., Lee, A., Da Silva, G., Kentish, S., Harkin, T., Qader, A., Anderson, C., Hooper, B. and Stevens, G., Energy & Fuels, 2014, 28 (1), 299-306. 

4.   “Pre-combustion capture of CO2 - Results from solvent absorption pilot plant trials using 30wt% potassium carbonate and boric acid promoted potassium carbonate solvent, Smith, K.H., Anderson, C.J., Tao, W., Endo, K., Mumford, K.A., Kentish, S.E., Qader, A., Hooper, B. and Stevens, G.W., International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2012, 10(0), 64-73. 

5.   “Performance and Scale up of Karr Reciprocating Plate Extraction columns”, Smith, K.H., Bowser, T. and Stevens, G.W., Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 2008, 47, 8368-8375. 

Lecture Abstract:  

Increasing environmental and technological demands have led to the development of new processing technologies especially in the field of separations processes. Australia and China face similar challenges in developing new separations technologies that can meet modern processing demands such as strict product quality requirements, new environmental legislation, energy efficiency demands and the need for cost reduction. In this presentation I will discuss some research completed by the Separations Group at The University of Melbourne in the fields of solvent extraction for pharmaceutical and hydrometallurgical applications and solvent absorption for CO2 capture applications.