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Laureate Professor John Ralston

john ralstonContact Details
Tel: +61 8 8302 3066
Fax: +61 8 8302 3683
Email: john.ralston@unisa.edu.au

Position
Director, Ian Wark Research Institute
Laureate Professor of Physical Chemistry and Minerals Processing

Qualifications
Dr.h.c. Abo Akademi, Finland (2002); PhD Melbourne (1978); DIC Imperial College London (1974); DipEd Melbourne (1971); MSc Melbourne (1970; BSc(Hons) Melbourne (1968)

Background
John is a Physical and Colloid Chemist with complementary training in metallurgy, whose research interests embrace various aspects of interfacial science and engineering. John is the founding Director of The Wark and a Professor of Physical Chemistry and Minerals Processing. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the Ian Wark Research Institute in 1994 and over the past two decades, he has actively supervised more than sixty PhD research students. These students have gone on to establish successful careers in universities, industry and other research institutions all around the world. He is the author of over 260 refereed journal articles and textbook chapters, plus numerous conference papers and industry reports, acts as referee for major international journals and is presently a Council Member of the International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists (IACIS).  Since 1984, John has been awarded over $100M in competitive grant funding from the Australian Research Council, the Department of Education, Science and Training and national and international private industry.

Throughout his career he has held invited Professorships in Cape Town, Lulea, Bristol, Utah and Florida and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the Abo Akademi in Finland, as well as Honorary Professorships in Materials Science and Engineering at Tianjin University in China and the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo.

John was the principal researcher who led the initiative to establish the Australian Mineral Science Research Institute (AMSRI) which commenced on 1 January 2006. AMSRI is a virtual institute in particle science and engineering, with its headquarters at The Wark and involves collaborative research at the Universities of Queensland, Melbourne and Newcastle. Major international companies are involved, through AMIRA International, along with overseas collaborators, in this long term strategic research project.

Outside science, he has a strong interest in literature, world history, travelling and sport, especially skiing.

Honours and Awards
1986    Senior Fulbright Fellowship
1993    Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
1995    RK Murphy Medal in Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering awarded by the RACI
1997    RSC Australasian Lectureship in Chemistry
2002-04    President of the Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Division of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
2003    Australian Federal Government Centenary Medal
2005    AE Alexander Memorial Lecturer for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Colloid and Surface Chemistry Division
2005    Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
2006    Elected to the Council of the Australian Academy of Science
2006    Appointed Laureate Professor by the University of South Australia
2006    Chemeca Medal for Outstanding Service and Contribution to Chemical Engineering - Australia’s highest award in Chemical Engineering
2006    South Australian Premier’s Award for Research Leadership
2007    South Australian Scientist of the Year
2007    South Australian of the Year
2008    Officer of the Order of Australia

Australian Academy of Science Citation, May 2005
“John Ralston is an internationally recognised expert in colloid and surface chemistry and their application in metallurgical engineering and technology. His research is internationally recognised in the physical chemistry of mineral flotation processes, the surface chemistry of metal sulphides, and the static and dynamic wetting behaviour of simple and structured solid surfaces. In 1994 he established the Ian Wark Research Institute, which is now recognised worldwide for its fundamental research in interfaces, initially with a strong mineral focus. The Institute is an Australian national treasure that has now broadened its activities across many disciplines. Ralston excels in the application of his science to real world problems.”

Scientific Focus
John is a physical chemist, specialising in colloid and surface chemistry, with complementary training in metallurgical engineering and technology, who has made major contributions to the:

• interactions of bubbles and particles, emphasising the fundamental physical chemistry of the elementary steps of collision, attachment (eg three phase contact line kinetics for a S/L/V system) and detachment. This work has included a very comprehensive collision model and the extension of these elementary process descriptions to interactions in mixed, turbulent systems, including ores, in landmark papers.
• solid-liquid interfacial chemistry of metal sulphides, oxides and silicates, including the action of organic and inorganic reagents. Of particular significance is his work on metal sulphide surfaces, including observations of the earliest stages of heterogeneous oxidation and the first quantitative detection of elemental sulphur.
• static and dynamic aspects of surface wetting, including surfaces which respond to external light, electric potential (electrowetting) and thermal influences.
• scanning probe microscopy in imaging and colloid probe modes, of solid and fluid surfaces. This has involved the direct measurement of bubble-particle interaction forces and the first determination of the line tension (SLV) of surface “nanobubbles”. The first direct link between polymer adsorption at the solid-liquid interface and the structure of the solid surface has been demonstrated.
• use of infrared spectroscopy to identify the presence of dissolved gas at the hydrophobic solid-water interface, its link to surface heterogeneity and an interpretation of the hydrophobic force based on the alteration only of DLVO interactions.
• the application of this research in industry (minerals, pharmaceutical, specialty manufacturing and chemical industry).

Publications (2005 to present)
1. P. Mpofu, J. Addai-Mensah and J. Ralston, “Interfacial Chemistry, Particle Interactions and Improved Dewatering Behaviour of Smectite Clay Dispersions”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, 75, 155-171 (2005).
2. N. Lake, J. Ralston and G. Reynolds, "Light Induced Surface Wettability of a Tethered DNA Base", Langmuir, 21, No. 25, 11922-11931 (2005).
3. D.R. Snoswell, J. Duan, D. Fornasiero, and J. Ralston, “Colloid Stability of Synthetic Titania and the Influence of Surface Roughness”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 286, 5260535 (2005).
4. S.N. Tan, R.J. Pugh, D. Fornasiero, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “Foaming of Polypropylene Glycols and Glycol/MIBC Mixtures”, Minerals Engineering, 18, 179-188 (2005).
5. K.E. Bremmell, D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “Pentlandite-Lizardite Interactions and Implications for their Separation by Flotation”, Colloids and Surfaces A., 252, 207-212 (2005).
6. S.N. Tan, D. Fornasiero, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “Marangoni Effects in Aqueous Polypropylene Glycol Foams” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 286, 719-729 (2005).
7. A. Kanta, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “Thermally and Photo-Induced Changes in the Water Wettability of Low-Surface-Area Silica and Titania”, Langmuir, 21, 6, 2400-2407 (2005).
8. G.B. Kaggwa, S. Froebe, L. Huynh, J. Ralston and K. Bremmell, “The Morphology of Adsorbed Polymers and Solid Surface Wettability”, Langmuir, 21, No. 10, 4695-4704 (2005).
9. D.R.E. Snoswell, J. Duan, D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “The Selective Aggregation and Separation of Titania from a Mixed Suspension of Silica and Titania” International Journal of Mineral Processing, 78, 1-10 (2005).
10. S.N. Tan, D. Fornasiero, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “The Role of Surfactant Structure on Foam Behaviour”, Colloids and Surfaces, 263, 233-238 (2005).
11. D.R.E. Snoswell, J. Yang, J. Duan, D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “Dissolved Gas, Very Small Bubbles and Interparticle Interactions”, Innovations in Natural Resource Processing, Proceedings of the JD Miller Symposium, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc., 57-83 (2005).
12. A. Kanta, R. Sedev, and J. Ralston, “Preparation of Silica-on-Titania Patterns with a Wettability Contrast”, Langmuir 21, No. 13, 5790-5794 (2005).
13. D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “Cu(II) and Ni(II) activation in the flotation of quartz, lizardite and chlorite”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, 76, 75-81 (2005).
14. J. Addai-Mensah, J. Ralston, “Investigation of the role of interfacial chemistry on particle interactions, sedimentation and electroosmotic dewatering of model kaolinite dispersions”, Powder Technology, 160, 35-39 (2005).
15. J. Ralston, “Solid-Liquid Interactions and Functional Surface Wettability”, Australian Journal of Chemistry, 58, 644-654 (2005).
16. J. Ralston, I. Larson, M. Rutland, A. Feiler and M. Kleijn, “Atomic Force Microscopy and Direct Surface Force Measurements”, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 77, No. 12, 2149-2170 (2005).
17. A. Boulton, D. Fornasiero, J. Ralston, “Effect of Iron Content in Sphalerite on Flotation”, Minerals Engineering, 18, 1120-1122 (2005).
18. N. Mishchuk, J. Ralston and D. Fornasiero, “Influence of Very Small Bubbles on Particle/Bubble Heterocoagulation”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 301, 168-175 (2006).
19. N. Mishchuk, J. Ralston and D. Fornasiero, "Influence of Very Small Bubbles on Particle/Bubble Heterocoagulation", Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 301, 16-175 (2006).
20. S.N. Tan, D. Fornasiero, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “The Interfacial Conformation of Polypropylene Glycols and their Foam Properties” Minerals Engineering, 19, 703-712 (2006).
21. D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “Effect of Surface Oxidation Products on the Collectorless Flotation of Copper-Activated Sphalerite”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, 78, 231-237 (2006).
22. J. Ralston, D. Fornasiero, D. Snoswell, J. Duan, “Multiple Bubble Particle Capture: Critical Role of Hydrodynamics and Interfacial Science in Flotation Rate Constant Prediction”, Proceedings of Beneficiation of Phosphates Conference IV , Edited by P. Zhang, J. Miller, H. El-Shall and R. Stana, SME, 3-13 (2006).
23. L. Huynh, D. Beattie, D. Fornasiero, J. Ralston, “Effect of polyphosphate and naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate on the rheological properties of dewatered tailings and cemented paste backfill”, Minerals Engineering, 19, 28-36 (2006).
24. D. Beattie, L. Huynh, G. Kaggwa and J. Ralston, “Influence of Adsorbed Polysaccharides and Polyacrylamides on Talc Flotation”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, 78, 238-249 (2006).
25. L. Chiem, L. Huynh, J. Ralston and D. Beattie, “An In Situ ATR-FTIR Study of Polyacrylamide Adsorption at the Talc Surface” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 297, 54-61 (2006).
26. A. Kanta, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “The Formation and Stability of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Octadecylphosphonic Acid on Titania” Colloids and Surfaces, 291. 51-58 (2006).
27. G. Kaggwa, L. Huynh, J. Ralston and K. Bremmell, “The Influence of Polymer Structure and Morphology on Talc Wettability” Langmuir, 22, 3221-3227 (2006).
28. D. Palms, C. Priest, R. Sedev, J. Ralston, G. Wegner, “Direct Crystallisation of Zinc Oxide on Patterned Surfaces” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 303, 333-336 (2006).
29. A. Kanta, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “Thermal and Photo-Induced Wettability for Patterned Titania and Silica”, Functional Fillers and Nanoscale Minerals, Edited by J. Kellar, 89-100 (2006).
30. S. Millefiorini, A. Tkaczyk, R. Sedev, J. Efthimiadis and J. Ralston, “Electrowetting of Ionic Liquids”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128, No. 9, 3098-3101 (2006).
31. A. Borysenko, B. Clennell, R. Sedev, J. Ralston and D. Dewhurst, “Wettability Measurements in Model and Reservoir Shale Systems”, Society of Core Analysts Conference Proceedings, 3, 1 (2006).
32. M. Mezger, H. Reichert, S. Schoder, J. Okasinski, H. Schroder, H. Dosch, D. Palms, J. Ralston, V. Honkimaki, “The Water Gap at Hydrophobic Interfaces”, Proc National Ac. Sci., 103, No. 49, 18401-18404 (2006).
33. J. Addai-Mensah, L. Huynh and J. Ralston, “Interfacial Chemistry, Particle Interactions and Dewatering Behaviour of Titanium Dioxide Suspensions”, Interfacial Phenomena in Fine Particle Technology, Sixth UBC-McGill-UA International Symposium, 45th Annual Conference of Metallurgists of CIM, Edited by Z. Xu and Q. Liu, 89-98 (2006).
34. J. Addai-Mensah and J. Ralston, “Fundamental and Applied Dewatering Studies of Clay Mineral Dispersions”, Interfacial Phenomena in Fine Particle Technology, Sixth UBC-McGill-UA International Symposium, 45th Annual Conference of Metallurgists of CIM, Edited by Z. Xu and Q. Liu, 163-176 (2006).
35. D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, Effect of MgO Minerals on Pentlandite Flotation, Proceedings of XXIII International Mineral Processing Congress, Turkey, 3-8 Sept, 750-755 (2006).
36. J.Addai-Mensah and J. Ralston, “Improving the Consolidation of Mineral Dispersions via Electroosmotic Dewatering”, Proceedings of XXIII International Mineral Processing Congress, Turkey, 3-8 Sept (2006).
37. J. Ralston, D. Fornasiero, S. Grano, J. Duan and T. Akroyd, “Reducing Uncertainty in Mineral Flotation – Flotation Rate Constant Prediction for Particles in an Operating Plant Ore” R P King Special Edition of International Journal of Mineral Processing, 84, 89-98 (2007).
38. J. Ralston, D. Fornasiero and S. Grano, “Pulp and Solution Chemistry”, Froth Flotation: A Century of Innovation, Edited by M.C. Fuerstenau, G. Jameson and R-H. Yoon, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. (SME), Part 2, 227-258 (2007).
39. A. Kanta, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “Fabrication of Silica-on-Titania and Titania-on-Silica Nanoparticle Assemblies”, Colloids and Surfaces, 292, 1-7 (2007).
40. E. Bertrand, T.D. Blake, V. Ledauphin, G. Ogonowski, J. De Coninck, D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “Dynamics of Dewetting at the Nanoscale Using Molecular Dynamics”, Langmuir, 23, 3774-3785 (2007).
41. C. Gontijo, D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “The Limits of Coarse Particle Flotation”, Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Special Issue, October 2007, 739-747 (2007).
42. J. Zhou, D.A. Beattie, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “Synthesis and Surface Structure of Thymine-Functionalized Self Assembled Monolayer Protected Gold Nanoparticles”, Langmuir, 23, 9170-9177 (2007).
43. C. Priest, R. Sedev and J. Ralston, “Asymmetric Wetting Hysteresis on Chemical Defects”, Physical Review Letters, 99, 026103 (2007).
44. J. Yang, J. Duan, D. Fornasiero and J. Ralston, “Kinetics of Nanobubble Formation at the Solid-Water Interface”, Special Issue Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 9, 6327-6332 (2007).
45. J. Zhou, D.A. Beattie, J. Ralston, R. Sedev, “Colloid Stability of Thymine Functionalised Gold Nanoparticles” Langmuir, 23, 12096-12103 (2007).
46. M.B. Clennell, A. Borysenko, D. Dewhurst, R. Sedev, J. Ralston, and K. Liu, Wettability Characterization and Non-Invasive Monitoring of Effect of Crude Oil Treatment of Cap-Rock Shale Minerals, Soc. Core Analysts Conf. Proc. 4, 1-12 (2007).
47. M.B. Clennell, A. Borysenko, I. Burgar, K. Liu, R. Sedev, and J. Ralston, Dielectric and Combined NMR/Capillary Pressure Methods for Monitoring Liquid/Air and Liquid/Liquid Interface Evolution: Application to Rock and Mineral Wettability Studies, Soc. Core Analysts Conf. Proc. 39, 1-12 (2007).
48. D. Fornasiero, D., M.U. Trinh, and J. Ralston, Stabilisation studies of nucleic acid transfection complexes. Proceedings of the Chemeca 2007 conference, Melbourne, Sept 23-26, Engineers Australia, pp. 22-27, (2007).
49. K. Quast, K., L, Ding, D. Fornasiero, and J. Ralston, Hydrophobicity of Coal Particles. Proceedings of the Chemeca 2007 conference, Melbourne, Sept 23-26, Engineers Australia, pp. 1903-1908, (2007).
50. K. Quast, L. Ding, D. Fornasiero, and J. Ralston, Effects of particle size on coal flotation. Proceedings of the Chemeca 2007 conference, Melbourne, Sept 23-26, Engineers Australia, pp. 332-337, (2007).
51. J. Zhou, R. Sedev, D.A. Beattie, J. Ralston, “Light-Induced Aggregation of Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles Capped by Thymine Derivatives”, Langmuir, available online, 10.1021/la703746w (in press, 2008).
52. C. Priest, N. Stevens, R. Sedev, W. Skinner and J. Ralston, “Inferring Wettability of Heterogeneous Surfaces by ToF-SIMS”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 320, 563-568 (2008).

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