Radio 4 Material World: Zeolites (last half of the programme)
University Shambles - my first novel
I began my career in industry, spending 5 years with Beecham Pharmaceuticals and Wellcome Research. I graduated from Sussex University obtaining both my B.Sc and D.Phil there, and then worked for 2 years at Leicester University as a post-doctoral fellow with Professor M.C.R.Symons, FRS. I was appointed to a "new-blood" lectureship in Chemistry at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London University, and then moved to LJMU as Research Professor in Chemistry in 1994.
In August 2003, I set-up as an independent consultant dealing with energy and environment issues, in which capacity I am currently involved in projects concerning land remediation, heavy metal and radioactive waste management, radiation effects on biomolecules and on satellite components, alternative fuels and energy sources based on biomass and algae, and hydrothermal conversion of biomass and algae to biochar, fuels and feedstocks for industry.
I am based in Reading in the U.K.
Recent research/consultancy projects:
- Zeolites, clays and other nanoporous media in heavy-metal pollution and radioactive waste management.
- Land decontamination from pesticides and chemical waste.
- Radiation effects on biomolecules and on satellite components
- New fuels and alternative energy sources based on biomass and algae.
- Biochar and hydrothermal conversion of biomass and algae to biochar, fuels and petroleum-independent feedstocks for industry.
- Peak oil and the need to develop localised less transport-dependent societies.
- Peak oil and farming with low inputs: permaculture and regenerative agriculture.
- Phosphate recovery from wastewater using algae.
One current environmental project is concerned with using natural zeolites (clinoptilolite) to clean liquid nuclear waste from the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia.
My publications run to 200 articles and books
I write a column for the internet-based magazine, Scitizen.com on "Future Energies" http://scitizen.com/future-energies/.
My own blog "Energy Balance" is at http://ergobalance.blogspot.com
In 2003, I was awarded a Higher Doctorate (D.Sc) by the University of Sussex.
I have given invited lectures at many international conferences and in university departments around the world, and radio and televised interviews, on a range of subjects, and more recently at popular science venues, e.g. Cafe' Scientifique, on the theme of world oil running-out.
Email: cjrhodes@fresh-lands.com
My first novel University Shambles is available at http://www.universityshambles.com
