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(Oxford, UK, 20 May 2013) PhosphonicS Ltd, a leading precious metal recovery specialist, today announced the appointment of Dr Linda Bell as chief executive officer with immediate effect.
PhosphonicS uses proprietary chemistry to create ‘scavenger’ products based on functionalised silicas that enable the recovery of precious metals from industrial production processes and waste streams on a cost-effective basis. Clients include major mining companies, petroleum refineries, electronics companies and pharmaceutical and chemical firms worldwide.
The new CEO appointment will support the next stage in development of the company’s services and expansion of its operations.
Dr Bell has extensive experience of leading and growing science based international businesses in a range of industrial and process industries. She has also held senior management roles with plastics and speciality chemicals businesses including ICI.
Dr Bell joins from FTSE 250 global packaging group, DS Smith plc, where she was managing director of the liquid packaging and dispensing division with responsibility for six European sites. Prior to DS Smith she held a position as chief executive officer with Inca Digital Printers Ltd, an innovative large format digital inkjet technology company and subsidiary of Nikkei listed Dainippon Screen.
Dr Bell has also served as managing director of Servomex Group Ltd, part of Spectris plc. Servomex markets gas analysis instrumentation to blue chip companies in the petrochemical and chemical, metals and minerals, marine, laboratory and healthcare fields. Prior to Servomex, she held director and commercial management positions with ICI plc. Dr Bell holds a D.Phil in organometallic chemistry from the University of Oxford.
Dr Bell said: “PhosphonicS has a very exciting range of product application opportunities and is at the forefront of the development of advanced functionalised materials used to recover precious metals from a wide range of processes. I am delighted to be working with such a talented team to take the company to the next stage of its development.”
Commenting on the appointment, PhosphonicS chairman Nick Cross said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Linda to PhosphonicS. She brings considerable strategic, operational and commercial expertise to the company and will be instrumental in growing the business.”
Dr David Astles, who led the early development of the company and managed its transition from laboratory technology to commercialisation, has stepped down as CEO to pursue other opportunities. He will remain available to PhosphonicS as a consultant for up to twelve months.
Contact
Margaret Henry
PR Consultant
PhosphonicS
T: + 44 (0) 1865 261491
M: + 44 (0) 7771 377363
E: m.henry@oxin.co.uk
About PhosphonicS
PhosphonicS is a world leading developer of precious metal recovery processes in the Cleantech sector.
The company’s precious metal scavenger products enable the recovery and recycling of precious metals from refinery and mining processes and waste streams. Its small molecule purification process offers by-product and impurity removal from product streams, covering pharmaceutical, fine and speciality chemicals.
Precious metal catalysts are used in hydroformylation and hydrogenation reactions, in silane production, and in a range of chemicals processing. These catalysts rely on expensive platinum group metals: platinum, palladium rhodium, iridium gold and ruthenium. During processing and production some of these metals are recovered but significant amounts are lost, particularly in low concentration streams. Traditional incineration or extraction technologies cannot economically process streams below 10 parts per million.
PhosphonicS has estimated that $1.5bn of recoverable metal is being lost in low concentration streams across the chemical, petroleum and other industries.
The company’s materials allow the economic recovery of platinum group metals from low concentration industrial streams. Clients include a rapidly growing base of major mining companies, petroleum refineries, electronics manufacturers and pharmaceutical and chemical firms worldwide.
PhosphonicS is backed by a combination of private investors and venture capital funds. Its facility at Milton Park, Oxfordshire, UK, incorporates R&D, application development and customer support activities.
For more information: www.phosphonics.com
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