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Cynthia Piantadosi

Cynthia graduated her Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Physics (Honours) from the School of Applied Physics, University of South Australia in 1997. She was then awarded a summer vacation scholarship and spent her Christmas vacation with the Light Scattering Laboratory in 1997 doing research on pigment particles in collaboration with Research Laboratories of Australia.

Prizes and Scholarships:

1998-2002:
In 1998 Cynthia was awarded an industry PhD scholarship and completed her PhD (conferred 2002) in Applied Science at the University of South Australia.

1997-8:
Summer Vacation Scholarship. “The Behaviour of Charged Particle Dispersions in Printing Technology” (8 weeks). This project was carried out in conjunction with Research Laboratories of Australia.

1996:
Prize for Achievement in Applied Physics (awarded for outstanding academic achievement over the duration of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Physics).

1996:
John Dalby Scholarship prize (awarded to the student with the most distinguished performance in the Applied Physics subject in the first and second year levels of the Bachelor of Applied Science course in Applied Physics at the University of South Australia).

1996:
AIP Claire Carani Memorial Prize in Physics. The prize recognizes outstanding achievement in second year level physics by women.

1995:
DSTO prize for improvement in applied physics.

My PhD project was sponsored by the Australian Mineral Industries Research Association (AMIRA) in conjunction with:

• Rio Tinto Ltd

• Minera Alumbrera Ltd

• Mt. Isa Mines Ltd

• Cytec Ltd

• Magotteaux Australia

• WMC Resources Ltd

• BHP Cannington

• Falconbridge Ltd

• Pasminco Ltd

• Normandy Golden Grove Operations

• Anglo Platinum.

Cynthia was then employed (2001) by the University of South Australia as a Research Associate. She was involved in a number of industry research projects.

They include:

• The recovery of Cu from chalcopyrite-pyrite containing concentrates, ores and tailings.
• A project sponsored by Rio Tinto Ltd. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) are employed to probe the elemental composition and speciation of surface layers of the chalcopyrite during various stages of leaching. These measurements were coupled with solution concentration analyses to achieve an understanding of the leach mechanism.
• Increasing the flotation efficiency of pentlandite and pyrrhotite. A project sponsored by Anglo American Platinum Corporation Ltd. XPS and TOF-SIMS analysis are employed to determine whether copper activation to Anglo Platinum metals is of any benefit in the recovery of sulfide minerals. Cu activation is employed to improve the floatability of valued minerals.
• Bioleaching - A joint collaboration between the School of Biological Sciences University of Wales in Bangor, and the Center for Pharmaceutical Research in the school of Pharmaceutical, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences. The use of bioleaching for minerals processing is a rapidly growing area. Expertise in surface analytical techniques is essential to identify surface speciation.

The outcomes of this research have provided industry sponsors with innovative solutions and technologies for environmental issues.

 

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