Dr Rachel Smith

BEng (Hons), PhD

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Senior Lecturer

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director

rachel.smith@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 8255

Room F55, Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Dr Rachel Smith
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Room F55
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD

Profile

I completed my BEng in Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland, Australia, in 2000, and my PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Queensland in 2008. I joined the Department of Chemical Engineering at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia as a post-doctoral research fellow in 2008.

In February 2012 I joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield as a lecturer.

I am interested in the study of particulate systems in industries including pharmaceuticals, foods, detergents, biological processing and water, using a combination of experimental and computational simulation tools.

Research interests

Wet granulation design and scale-up, DEM/CFD modelling of particulate processes, drug delivery methods, biological and water systems modelling.

I am also a founding member of the Pharmaceutical Engineering Interest Group.

Publications

Journal articles
Chapters
Conference proceedings papers
Presentations

Journal articles

Ge R, Cumming DJ & Smith RM (2022) Discrete element method (DEM) analysis of lithium ion battery electrode structures from X-ray tomography-the effect of calendering conditions. Powder Technology, 403.
de Koster SAL, Liu LX, Litster JD & Smith RM (2021) High-shear granulation: An investigation into granule breakage rates. Advanced Powder Technology.
Hu K, Reed D, Robshaw TJ, Smith RM & Ogden MD (2021) Characterisation of aluminium black dross before and after stepwise salt-phase dissolution in non-aqueous solvents. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 401. View this article in WRRO
Farber L, Al-aaraj DK, Smith R & Gentzler M (2020) Formation and internal microstructure of granules from wetting and non-wetting efavirenz/iron oxide blends. Chemical Engineering Science, 227.
Aldakheel F, Ismail MS, Hughes KJ, Ingham DB, Ma L, Pourkashanian M, Cumming D & Smith R (2020) Gas permeability, wettability and morphology of gas diffusion layers before and after performing a realistic ex-situ compression test. Renewable Energy, 151, 1082-1091.
Arjmandi-Tash O, Tew JD, Pitt K, Smith R & Litster JD (2019) A new mathematical model for nucleation of spherical agglomerates by the immersion mechanism. Chemical Engineering Science: X, 4. View this article in WRRO
de Koster SAL & Smith RM (2019) High shear granulation: an investigation into the granule consolidation mechanism. Powder Technology, 355, 514-525. View this article in WRRO
Yusof N, Green J, Pitt K, Arjmandi-Tash O, Campbell AI, Ahmadian H, Tantawy H & Smith R (2019) A novel method for the analysis of particle coating behaviour via contact spreading in a tumbling drum: Effect of coating liquid viscosity. Powder Technology. View this article in WRRO
Pitt K, Smith RM, de Koster SAL, Litster JD & Hounslow MJ (2018) Kinetics of immersion nucleation driven by surface tension. Powder Technology, 335, 62-69. View this article in WRRO
Pitt K, Peña R, Tew JD, Pal K, Smith R, Nagy ZK & Litster JD (2018) Particle design via spherical agglomeration: A critical review of controlling parameters, rate processes and modelling. Powder Technology, 326, 327-343. View this article in WRRO
Ireland E, Pitt K & Smith R (2016) A review of pulsed flow fluidisation; the effects of intermittent gas flow on fluidised gas–solid bed behaviour. Powder Technology, 292, 108-121.
Rennie AJR, Martins VL, Smith RM & Hall PJ (2016) Influence of Particle Size Distribution on the Performance of Ionic Liquid-based Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors. Scientific Reports, 6(1), 22062-22062. View this article in WRRO
Wesley DJ, Smith RM, Zimmerman WB & Howse JR (2016) Influence of Surface Wettability on Microbubble Formation. Langmuir, 32(5), 1269-1278.
Kariuki WIJ, Freireich B, Smith RM, Rhodes M & Hapgood KP (2013) Distribution nucleation: Quantifying liquid distribution on the particle surface using the dimensionless particle coating number. Chemical Engineering Science, 92, 134-145.
Smith RM & Litster JD (2012) Examining the failure modes of wet granular materials using dynamic diametrical compression. Powder Technology, 224, 189-195.
Smith RM, Liu LX & Litster JD (2010) Breakage of drop nucleated granules in a breakage only high shear mixer. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE, 65(21), 5651-5657.
Liu LX, Smith R & Litster JD (2009) Wet granule breakage in a breakage only high-hear mixer: Effect of formulation properties on breakage behaviour. POWDER TECHNOLOGY, 189(2), 158-164.
Hapgood KP, Litster JD & Smith R (2003) Nucleation regime map for liquid bound granules. AICHE JOURNAL, 49(2), 350-361.

Chapters

(2016) Production, Handling and Characterization of Particulate Materials Springer International Publishing
Hapgood KP & Smith RM () Wet Granulation and Mixing, Pharmaceutical Blending and Mixing (pp. 153-182). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Conference proceedings papers

Pitt K, Smith RM, Hounslow MJ & Litster JD (2015) Kinetics of immersion nucleation driven by surface tension.. 7th International Granulation Workshop. Sheffield, UK, 1 July 2015 - 3 July 2015.
Wang M, Shepherd WJ, Smith R & Jensen H (2015) The effect of pipe diameter on hydrogen sulfide build-up in rising mains – model study. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage Modelling. Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada, 20 September 2015 - 23 September 2015. View this article in WRRO
Smith RM, Davis NJ & Litster JD (2015) Predicting local shear in powder flow using DEM. 7th International Granulation Workshop. Sheffield, UK, 1 July 2015 - 3 July 2015.
Kariuki WIJ, Smith RM, Rhodes M & Hapgood KP (2011) Prediction of particle liquid coverage in fluid bed granulation. 5th International Granulation Workshop. Lausanne, Switzerland, 20 June 2011 - 22 June 2011.
Smith R, Calvert G, Hassanpour A, Hare C, Feng Y, Rhodes M, Hapgood KP & Ghadiri M (2011) Simulation of liquid binder distribution in fluidised bed granulation using the particle coating number. 5th International Granulation Workshop. Lausanne, Switzerland, 20 June 2011 - 22 June 2011.
Smith R, Calvert G, Hassanpour A, Hare C, Feng Y, Hapgood KP & Ghadiri M (2010) Investigation of liquid distribution in fluidised bed granulation using a single particle surface coverage fraction. Chemeca. Adelaide, Australia, 26 September 2010 - 29 September 2010.
Kariuki WIJ, Smith R, Rhodes M & Hapgood KP (2010) Prediction of liquid coverage in fluid bed granulation. Chemeca. Adelaide, Australia, 26 September 2010 - 29 September 2010.
Smith R, Calvert G, Hassanpour A, Hare C, Feng Y, Rhodes M, Hapgood KP & Ghadiri M (2010) Computational study of liquid distribution in an air fluidised bed using a single particle surface coverage. 6th World Congress on Particle Technology. Nuremberg, Germany, 26 April 2010 - 29 April 2010.
Smith R, Liu LX & Litster JD (2009) Breakage of drop nucleated granules in a breakage only high shear mixer. 9th International Symposium on Agglomeration. Sheffield, UK, 24 June 2009 - 26 June 2009.
Smith R, Litster JD & Page NW (2009) Diametrical compression of wet granular materials. 9th International Symposium on Agglomeration. Sheffield, UK, 24 June 2009 - 26 June 2009.
Smith R, Calvert G, Hassanpour A, Hare C, Feng Y, Rhodes M, Hapgood KP & Ghadiri M () Numerical investigation of liquid binder distribution in fluidized bed granulation using the single particle spray flux. Particulate Processes in the Pharmaceutical Industry III. Gold Coast, Australia, 24 July 2011 - 29 July 2011.
Smith R & Litster JD () Wet granule breakage in the breakage only granulator. International Fine Particles Research Institute Meeting. Perth, Australia, 8 July 2007 - 11 July 2007.
Litster JD, Smith R, Liu LX, Suhairi NN & Page NW () Studies of wet granule breakage in a laboratory scale breakage only granulator. PARTEC. Nuremberg, Germany, 27 March 2007 - 29 March 2007.
Litster JD, Smith R & Page NW () Wet granule breakage in high shear mixer granulation. Fifth World Congress on Particle Technology. Florida USA, 23 April 2006 - 27 April 2006.
Litster JD, Smith R & Page NW () Dynamic mechanical properties of partially saturated granules. Fifth World Congress on Particle Technology. Florida USA, 23 April 2006 - 27 April 2006.
Smith R, Litster JD & Iveson SM () Wet granule breakage in pharmaceutical granulators. Particle Science Summer School in Winter. Florida USA, January 2003 - January 2003.
Smith R, Hapgood KP & Litster JD () Mechanical dispersion regime in high shear mixer granulators. 6th World Congress on Chemical Engineering. Sydney, Australia, 23 September 2001 - 27 September 2001.

Presentations

Yusof NB, Pitt KE, Green J, Campbell AI, Ahmadian H, Gupta P, Greener S & Smith RM A novel method for the analysis of particle coating behaviour via contact spreading in a tumbling drum. AIChE Annual Meeting 2016.
Al-aaraj DKA, Litster JD & Smith RM An investigation into growth of non-wetting system in high shear granulation. AIChE Annual Meeting 2016.
Yusof NB, Pitt KE, Green J, Campbell A, Ahmadian H, Gupta P, Greener S & Smith RM A novel method for the analysis of particle coating behaviour via contact spreading in a tumbling drum. Joint IFPRI Robert Pfeffer Symposium & UK Particle Technology Forum.
Al-aaraj DKA, Litster JD & Smith RM An Investigation into growth of non-wetting system in high shear granulation. Joint IFPRI Robert Pfeffer Symposium & UK Particle Technology Forum.
Mohd Yusoff SN, Biggs CA & Smith RM Breakage behavior of flocs at different shear rates. Joint IFPRI Robert Pfeffer Symposium & UK Particle Technology Forum.
Shamsudin ISB & Smith RM Modelling of collision of two spherical particles and a single particle with a wall in normal direction through Discrete Element Method modelling as a preliminary study of granule breakage in a high shear mixer. Joint IFPRI Robert Pfeffer Symposium & UK Particle Technology Forum.
Alhabeshi LGA & Smith RM Wet granulation: an investigation into distribution nucleation using particle coating number. Joint IFPRI Robert Pfeffer Symposium & UK Particle Technology Forum.
Green J, Pitt K, Ahmadian H, Greener S, Gupta P & Smith RM Spray coating of powders and liquid contact transfer: prediction and scale-up. Joint IFPRI Robert Pfeffer Symposium & UK Particle Technology Forum.