The David Graham Consultancy

in Science and Education

  Principal: Dr David G Lovering, PhD.

Home Page on really useful Electrochemistry



 

THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC

 

Welcome to The David Graham Consultancy (in Science & Education) Home Page on really useful electrochemistry and other matters. Everyone agrees that greening the planet is of great urgency and import. Everything we do in the material world involves chemical reactions - even breathing! Chemical reactions are concerned with moving electrons around to create different substances (physics deals with other particles). The most elegant method of adding, subtracting and redistributing electrons is to manipulate them directly at the required energy level through an electrode held at an appropriate voltage (rigorously "potential"). This is the realm of ELECTROCHEMISTRY - the topic area most likely to strike fear into undergraduate chemists (but only because it has been so underrated and badly taught for so long!). The reverse process holds true, ie by collecting electrons from a package of appropriate chemicals at a pair of electrodes and moving them through an external circuit, an electric current can be realised. Find a person who never uses batteries and you have found someone who doesn't have a vested interest in electrochemistry! Of particular interest to this webmaster :

  (i)the clean, efficient conversion of fuels directly into electricity via fuel cells (dynamic generation, usually from gaseous fuel), batteries (static generation and STORAGE - the only direct means of retaining electric charge, as chemical free energy, for immediate use), and supercapacitors (a special form of battery).

  (ii)the electrochemical remediation of waste waters, polluted by previous, as well as the present, generation! [Burning & heating can now often be considered outmoded as reaction strategies that have served us well since the Industrial Revolution - electrochemistry is the great white hope].

  (iii)the use of natural products for industrial applications (non-electrochemical) eg biomass for fuels, plant waste for polymers, animal waste for adhesives, paints, lubricants, etc. <>

(iv)the preparation, plating and processing of hi-tech materials (some electrochemistry may be involved) eg ceramics, magnetics, etc especially from molten and non-aqueous media.

(v)the all-new electric bicycle possibly one of the most important developments for personal transport at the start of C21. Aim is to redesign every aspect of this 'most efficient machine' to satisfy the demand for 1bn up to 2020. An entirely new motor concept is envisaged with advanced controllers and novel frame.

(vi)through the education arm of the Consultancy, helping folk to understand and use electrochemistry and related sciences to their benefit.

 (vii)instigation and management of R&D projects and science personnel for companies, establishments as well as individuals, including recommendation of possible collaborating parties, preparation of proposals, technical reviews, etc.

(viii)ON-SITE SEMINARS; Bespoke courses designed for company and individual requirements at their own premises, saving staff time and resources. Assistance can be given to locate other relevant courses within the academic sector. We can commission worldwide specialists in specific topic areas on your behalf. http://homepages.tesco.net/~davidgl

(xiv)textbooks still available:

Ionic Liquids, Inman & Lovering eds. Plenum, NY 1981 - a bit long-in-the-tooth, but unique subject matter encompassing the regime between melts and concentrated aqueous solutions rarely addressed elsewhere. Real-world chemistry!!

Molten Salt Technology, Lovering ed. Plenum, NY 1982 - definitely dated, but useful historical background.

Molten Salt Techniques, Lovering & Gale eds. Vol I-IV Plenum NY, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1991 - timeless how-to-do-it texts. Practical guidebooks, mainly delineated by anion melt type or physical technique. There was never a "right time" to pen the promised chapter dealing with the contentious nitrate melts, but this editor still offers consultancy in this area, important in heat transfer eg for solar collectors, extreme oxidation, explosives and other fields.

THE BURNING QUESTION: Does your Council/Retailer/Supplier recycle used batteries?! Although our council now collects all types of batteries we don't know what they do with them (apart from car batteries). Disposal of certain types like NiCads in the USA in domestic refuse can be a criminal offence! What do YOU do with spent batteries, especially nickel-CADMIUM (a very rare and very toxic element). And as for lithium cells, have you ever experienced a metal fire?! What would you use to extinguish it? Not water, we trust! Please help lobby to have ALL batteries recycled, not just collected - we cannot afford the loss or toxic hazard of them going to landfill. Start with a letter to your MP, MEP, or local council (US: read 'senator/congressman').

We hope you will find something of interest in these WEB PAGES. The "Home Page" describes the rural environs and politicing around Faringdon. The "What's Cookin' " (very long-winded, technical and for the specialist only) and "Useful Links" outline the main thrust of our activities; you may email us via embedded links. The "Links" page will also feature O&S of general interest and presently describes a means of completely removing some time-limited demo software inadvertently loaded into your system (or even a means of striking back!).

 If you are considering building an autonomous house, an electric bicycle/light vehicle (contact fcscooters-at-egroups.com and also email email : please contact me via my publisher

  If you are interested in fuel cell bikes and scooters, please sign on at : fcscooters-at-eGroups.com

 

 

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