Dr Kate Pitt
Post Doctoral Research Associate
Particle Products Group
Tel: +44 (0)114 222 7644
email : k.pitt@sheffield.ac.uk
Biography
I graduated from Keele University in 2002 with a PhD in Chemistry. I was based within the Crystal Science Group and my project was titled `The controlled crystallisation of calcium carbonate´. The aim of this project was to establish links between the crystallographic form of materials and their functional properties.
I joined the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield in October 2001, as a postdoctoral researcher within the Particle Products Group, working for Prof. Mike Hounslow. The aim of my project was to study how the shape and habit of crystals affect their aggregation behaviour. This was a 3-year collaborative project between the Particle Products Group and the Crystal Science Group at Keele University.
In 2005 I moved away from the lab to work for Open University at their headquarters in Milton Keynes. Here I was based within the Innovation and Enterprise Team in the Research School, which deals with Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer.
In 2008, I moved back to the Particle Products Group at the University of Sheffield to pursue another postdoctoral project in crystal aggregation.
Current Research Projects
Crystal Aggregation and Computer Modelling:
This is a collaborative project between the University of Sheffield (Prof. Mike Hounslow) and University College London which started in January 2008. The objective of this work is to extend the science and engineering knowledge of aggregation during crystallisation, by an investigation into how solid-state properties of crystals affect their aggregation behaviour. Materials of study include calcium oxalate monohydrate and calcium carbonate.
Granulation Research:
Since January 2011, I have also been working with Prof. Salman's Granulation Research Group, and I am a member of the organising committee of the 6th International Granulation Workshop.
Publications
K. Pitt, G.P. Mitchell, A. Ray, B.R. Heywood, M.J. Hounslow. Micro-mechanical model of calcium oxalate monohydrate aggregation in supersaturated solutions: Effect of crystal form and seed concentration. Journal of Crystal Growth 361 (2012) 176-188
W.N. Al Nasser, K. Pitt, M.J. Hounslow, A.D. Salman. Monitoring of aggregation and scaling of calcium carbonate in the presence of ultrasound irradiation using focused beam reflectance measurement. Powder Technology, doi:10.016/j.powtec.2012.03.021 (2012)
J.C. Austin, K.E.Pitt, P.W. Haycock, B.R. Heywood, S.D. George, J. Liddle. Broad spectrum element-specific X-ray Imaging NDT & E International 37 229-236 (2004)
A. L. Braybrook, B.R. Heywood, R.A. Jackson, K. Pitt. Parallel Computational and Experimental Studies of the Morphological Modification of Calcium Carbonate J. Cryst. Growth 243 336-334 (2002)
A.K. Contos, J.M. James, B.R. Heywood, K. Pitt, P. Rogers. Morphoanalysis of Baterially Precipitated Calcium Carbonate from Weebubbie Cave, Australia. Geomicrobiology 18 (3) 331-343 (2001)
B.R. Heywood, K. Pitt, S. Hill, S.J. Williams. Bioinspired Templates for the Controlled Nucleation and Growth of Inorganic Materials MRS Proc 260, 1-12 (2000)