Dr Stephen F. Ralph

Qualifications:
B.Sc Hons (U of Queensland)
Ph.D (U of Queensland)

Research interests:
Separation and Recovery of Gold and other Metals using Conducting Polymers. Conducting polymers are an exciting new class of materials that combined the physical properties of classical polymeric materials with the electrical conductivity of metals. We are pursuing two different approaches for separation or recovery of metal ions using conducting polymers. The first approach involves the use of conducting polymer composite materials for the direct recovery of metal ions from solution. This method shows great promise for the recovery of gold, as it can remove large quantities of gold from solution in a facile and highly selective fashion. Our current studies are centred on the evaluation of the gold uptake properties and physical characteristics of composite materials prepared using different substrates, in order to determine which is most suitable for use in an industrial situation. Our second approach to metal ion recovery involves the use of conducting polymer membranes as selectively permeable barriers to metal ions. These membranes are used in an electrochemical transport cell to separate a solution containing metal ions from a solution containing no metal ions. Transport of metal ions across the membrane only occurs when an electrical stimulus is applied to the membrane. We are currently exploring the effect on the transport properties of the membrane of incorporating metal complexing groups such as calixarenes and cyclodextrins.

Memberships:
Member, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

Subjects taught:
CHEM101, 105, 211, 214, 311, 33

5 key publications:

1. J. M. Davey, S. F. Ralph, C. O. Too and G. G. Wallace, “Synthesis, Characterisation and Ion Transport Studies On Polypyrrole/Polyvinylphosphate Conducting Polymer Materials”, Synthetic Metals, 99, 191 (1999).

2. J.M. Davey, P.C. Innis, S.F. Ralph, C.O. Too, G.G. Wallace and A.C. Partridge, “Electrohydrodynamic Synthesis, Characterisation and metal uptake studies on Polypyrrole Colloids Stabilised by Polyvinylphosphate dopant”, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 175, 291 (2000).

3. J.M. Davey, C.O. Too, S.F. Ralph, L.A.P. Kane-Maguire and G.G. Wallace, “Conducting Polyaniline/Calixarene Salts: Synthesis and Properties”, Macromolecules, 33, 7044 (2000).

4. V. Misoska, J. Ding, J.M. Davey, W.E. Price, S.F. Ralph and G.G. Wallace, “Polypyrrole Membranes Containing Chelating Ligands: Synthesis, Characterisation and Transport Studies”, Polymer, 42(21), 8571 (2001).

5. W.E. Price, S.F. Ralph and G.G. Wallace, “Separation and Recovery of Gold and Other Metals Using Conducting Polymers”, Aust. J. Chem., 54, 615 (2001).

email: stephen_ralph@uow.edu.au
phone: +61 (0)2 4221 4286
office: 18-226