Prof Cox's distinguished career in ion exchange
7 Dec 2011
The prestigious international medal,
the Carl Hanson Award, is jointly
awarded by SCI and DECHEMA
every three years to an eminent
scientist in the field of solvent
extraction.
At the recent International
Conference on Solvent Extraction
(ISEC) held in September in
Santiago, Chile, the medal was
presented by Prof Geoffrey
Stevens, Secretary-General of
the International Committee for
Solvent Extraction, to Prof
Em Michael Cox, University of
Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
Prof Cox's interest in
solvent extraction began in 1969
when he spent a sabbatical
at the Department of Trade
and Industry's Warren Spring
Laboratory in Stevenage, where he
collaborated with Dr Douglas Flett
on the extraction of metals using
commercial chelating reagents
using the AKUFVE equipment
developed by a previous medal
winner, Jan Rydberg.
For nearly fifty years, Prof
Cox has been instrumental in the
development of new concepts and
novel technologies in the areas of
solvent extraction and ion exchange
of metals, with a particular focus on
their industrial applications and
developments.
The international impact of his
work generated new research lines
abroad, mostly initiated by the long
list of European and other visitors
that worked in his laboratories over
the years. He also played a big role
in the transfer of new technologies
to countries developing their
industrial and research base.
In 1973 the Russian Academy
of Science awarded him the
Kurnakov Memorial Medal for
his work on solvent extraction of
metals. Prof Cox has published
widely as author, editor and as a
contributor to books. In addition
to his research, he made significant
contributions to the worldwide
promotion of solvent extraction
through his long association with
both the SCI Separation Science and
Technology Group and as Secretary
of the International Committee on
Solvent Extraction (1993-2004).
In such capacities, he
contributed to the organisation
of many international meetings,
including ISEC93 for which he
was Secretary. For these activities,
SCI awarded him the Lampitt
Medal in 2003. A third area in
which he has made an important
contribution is on the organisation
of graduate courses that integrated
the academic background with
the practical aspects of industrial
processes. In recognition of his
outstanding achievements over
his long career at the University of
Hertfordshire, he was granted the
title of Professor Emeritus and, in
2008, he was awarded a Fellowship
of the university.
Prof Cox has also been
active in the field of ion exchange
since 1977, especially in the use of
this technology in the purification
of potable water, and is currently
the Chairman of the IEX2012
Organising Committee.
This year, the journal Solvent
Extraction and Ion Exchange published a special issue: Recent
Developments in Solvent Extraction
and Ion Exchange: A Tribute
to the Career Contributions of
Prof Michael Cox (below).
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