| RefNo | EC/1959/21 |
| Previous numbers | Cert XVI, 257; A56809 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Spence, Robert: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Description | Certificate of Election |
| Citation | B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D., D.Sc., F.R.I.C., C.B.
Studied organic oxidation reactions beginning with a study of condensation of aromatic ring structures by catalysed air oxidation of melts, and passing on to vapour phase oxidation of simple organic molecules. This was one of the earliest attempts at an application of the theory of chain reactions to combustion processes.
Free radicals likely to be of importance in combustion processes were produced by photolysis and some reactions of the free radicals explored. This led to recognition of the kinetic role of long lived excited states of molecules such as acetone.
Took up Atomic Energy work in 1945 in Canada and carried out experimental work on the separation of plutonium from irradiated uranium and fission products, which led directly to the basic flowsheet for the Windscale Plutonium chemical separation plant.
Has developed a rotary extractor for counter current solvent extraction of uranium which has been used in microanalysis. |
| Proposers | From Personal Knowledge: J D Cockcroft; H J Emeleus; E J Bowen; F E Simon; L E Sutton; C Hinton; G R Clemo; W G Penney; A C Egerton; Hugh Taylor |
| AccessStatus | Open |
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Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA3380 | Spence; Robert (1905 - 1976) | 1905 - 1976 |