Overview

Telephone: 01326 214370
Twitter: @RichCraneGeo

Overview:

Rich Crane is Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Mining at the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter. Prior to joining the CSM in 2017 I was Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow at the Universities of Cardiff, UNSW (Australia) and Bristol. I have PhD (Applied Geochemistry) and BSc (Environmental Geoscience) degrees from the University of Bristol. 

My research and teaching interests lie in the fields of extractive metallurgy, materials science, nanotechnology and applied geochemistry for a range of applications including: the development of novel mining techniques, mine site reclamation, waste treatment, water treatment and contaminant transport. I also like to apply a holistic approach which considers the wider environmental, cultural and political implications of such activity.

Within this the obvious “Grand Challenge” question is: “How can we obtain metals from the subsurface with drastically less energy input and generating little (or even zero) waste?” 

A particular target area for my research is on the development of next generation "key-hole" mining techniques, which comprise the direct injection of novel lixiviants (chemicals which can selectively dissolve target metals from within their host minerals) into primary ores and waste materials. This new approach could enable our continued procurement of Critical Raw Materials (which we urgently need for our new Green Economy) but with dramatically less energy requirement and environmental disturbance.

I am a member of the Environment: Metals, Microbes and Minerals (EM3) Research Group and the Mining, Environment and Society Research Group. Read more about my research interests here.

Publications:
My Google Scholar Profile

Opportunities: I am always interested to hear from prospective research students (MSc, MEng or PhD), postdoctoral researchers or other types of collaborators. Please get in touch if you have any interesting ideas. I am particularly interested in supervising PhD students (or collaborating on projects) in the following areas:

• Hydro/solvometallurgical leaching of ores and mine waste
• Innovative water treatment technology (particularly those focussing on redox manipulation)
• Recovery of ecomomically valuable and/or ecotoxic metals from mine water (particularly those focussing on acid mine drainage)

I currently have full funding for a PhD research project. If you already have a project in mind then please email me a brief overview along with your CV.  

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Publications

_{Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.}

| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2009 |

2023

• Yan Y, Ling Z, Shu W, Huang T, Crane R. (2023) Chromium removal from contaminated soil using a novel FeOx/granular activated carbon-based three-dimensional electrokinetic system, Chemical Engineering Journal, volume 455, DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2022.140613.
• Mahu E, Datsomor WG, Folorunsho R, Fisayo J, Crane R, Marchant R, Montford J, Boateng MC, Edusei Oti M, Oguguah MN. (2023) Human health risk and food safety implications of microplastic consumption by fish from coastal waters of the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean, Food Control, volume 145, pages 109503-109503, article no. 109503, DOI:10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109503. [PDF]

2022

• Hudson-Edwards K. (2022) A Multi-Scale Feasibility Study into Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Monitoring Using Same-Day Observations, Remote Sensing, volume 15, pages 15-15, DOI:10.3390/rs15010076.
• Noman EA, Al-Gheethi A, Al-Sahari M, Saphira Radin Mohamed RM, Crane R, Aziz NAA, Govarthanan M. (2022) Challenges and opportunities in the application of bioinspired engineered nanomaterials for the recovery of metal ions from mining industry wastewater, Chemosphere, volume 308, no. Pt 1, DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136165. [PDF]
• Al-Gheethi AA, Salleh MSM, Noman EA, Mohamed RMSR, Crane R, Hamdan R, Naushad M. (2022) Cephalexin Adsorption by Acidic Pretreated Jackfruit Adsorbent: A Deep Learning Prediction Model Study, WATER, volume 14, no. 14, article no. ARTN 2243, DOI:10.3390/w14142243. [PDF]
• Fitch V, Parbhakar‐fox A, Crane R, Newsome L. (2022) Evolution of Sulfidic Legacy Mine Tailings: A Review of the Wheal Maid Site, UK, Minerals, volume 12, no. 7, DOI:10.3390/min12070848.
• Okeme IC, Crane RA, Nash WM, Ojonimi TI, Scott TB. (2022) Characterisation of rare earth elements and toxic heavy metals in coal and coal fly ash, RSC Advances, volume 12, no. 30, pages 19284-19296, DOI:10.1039/d2ra02788g. [PDF]
• Al-Gheethi A, Sundram N, Crane R, Alburihi A, Mohamed RMSR, Al-Shaibani MM, Noman EA, Ponnusamy SK, Kamil NAFM. (2022) Metronidazole photocatalytic degradation by zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized in watermelon peel extract; Advanced optimization, simulation and numerical models using machine learning applications, Environ Res, volume 212, no. Pt E, DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2022.113537. [PDF]
• Vo TL, Nash W, Del Galdo M, Rezania M, Crane R, Mousavi Nezhad M, Ferrara L. (2022) Coal mining wastes valorization as raw geomaterials in construction: A review with new perspectives, Journal of Cleaner Production, volume 336, pages 130213-130213, article no. 130213, DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.130213. [PDF]

2021

• Meusburger JM, Hudson-Edwards KA, Tang CC, Connolly E, Crane RA, Fortes AD. (2021) Negative linear, in-plane zero and phase-transition-induced negative volume expansion in cranswickite-type MgSO 4 ·4D 2 O, Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and advances, volume 77, no. a2, pages c1243-c1243, DOI:10.1107/s0108767321084695.
• Meusburger JM, Hudson-Edwards KA, Tang CC, Crane RA, Fortes AD. (2021) Elasticity of selected icy satellite candidate materials (CO2, C6H6, MgSO4·7H2O and CaSO4·2H2O) revisited by dispersion corrected density functional theory, Icarus, volume 368, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114611.
• Martens E, Prommer H, Sprocati R, Sun J, Dai X, Crane R, Jamieson J, Tong PO, Rolle M, Fourie A. (2021) Toward a more sustainable mining future with electrokinetic in situ leaching, Sci Adv, volume 7, no. 18, DOI:10.1126/sciadv.abf9971. [PDF]
• Okeme IC, Martin PG, Jones C, Crane RA, Ojonimi TI, Ignatyev K, Megson-Smith D, Scott TB. (2021) An advanced analytical assessment of rare earth element concentration, distribution, speciation, crystallography and solid-state chemistry in fly ash, Spectrochimica Acta - Part B Atomic Spectroscopy, volume 177, DOI:10.1016/j.sab.2020.105950.

2020

• Ziwa G, Crane R, Hudson-Edwards KA. (2020) Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Microbiology of Cobalt in Mining-Affected Environments, Minerals, volume 11, no. 1, pages 22-22, DOI:10.3390/min11010022. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Comley S. (2020) Influence of social learning on the completion rate of massive online open courses, Education and Information Technologies, volume 26, no. 2, pages 2285-2293, DOI:10.1007/s10639-020-10362-6. [PDF]
• Chico-Ortiz N, Mahu E, Crane R, Gordon C, Marchant R. (2020) Microplastics in Ghanaian coastal lagoon sediments: Their occurrence and spatial distribution, Regional Studies in Marine Science, volume 40, pages 101509-101509, article no. 101509, DOI:10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101509. [PDF]
• Aderibigbe AD, Crane RA, Lees MR, Clark AJ. (2020) Selective uptake of Ag(I) from aqueous solutions using ionic liquid-modified iron oxide nanoparticles, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, volume 22, no. 8, DOI:10.1007/s11051-020-04944-1.
• Lag-Brotons AJ, Velenturf APM, Crane R, Head IM, Purnell P, Semple KT. (2020) Editorial: Resource Recovery From Waste, Frontiers in Environmental Science, volume 8, DOI:10.3389/fenvs.2020.00035.
• Adika SA, Mahu E, Crane R, Marchant R, Montford J, Folorunsho R, Gordon C. (2020) Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of Ghana, Marine Pollution Bulletin, volume 153, pages 110998-110998, article no. 110998, DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110998. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Sapsford DJ, Aderibigbe A. (2020) Chapter 11: Applications of Engineered Nanomaterials in the Recovery of Metals from Wastewater, RSC Green Chemistry, 266-285, DOI:10.1039/9781788016353-00266.
• Sapsford DJ, Crane RA, Sinnett D. (2020) Chapter 6: An Exploration of Key Concepts in Application of in Situ Processes for Recovery of Resources from High-volume Industrial and Mine Wastes, RSC Green Chemistry, 143-167, DOI:10.1039/9781788016353-00141.

2019

• Sapsford DJ, Crane RA, Sinnett D. (2019) Chapter 6 An Exploration of Key Concepts in Application of In Situ Processes for Recovery of Resources from High-volume Industrial and Mine Wastes, Resource Recovery from Wastes, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 141-167, DOI:10.1039/9781788016353-00141.
• Crane R, Sapsford D. (2019) Tunable formation of copper metal, oxide, chloride and hydroxyl chloride nanoparticles from aqueous copper solutions using nanoscale zerovalent iron particles, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, volume 9, pages 184798041988617-184798041988617, DOI:10.1177/1847980419886173. [PDF]

2018

• Timms WA, Acworth RI, Crane RA, Arns CH, Arns JY, McGeeney DE, Rau GC, Cuthbert MO. (2018) The Influence of Syndepositional Macropores on the Hydraulic Integrity of Thick Alluvial Clay Aquitards, Water Resources Research, volume 54, no. 4, pages 3122-3138, DOI:10.1029/2017WR021681.
• Crane RA, Sapsford DJ. (2018) Sorption and fractionation of rare earth element ions onto nanoscale zerovalent iron particles, Chemical Engineering Journal, volume 345, pages 126-137, DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2018.03.148.

2017

• Pullin H, Crane RA, Morgan DJ, Scott TB. (2017) The effect of common groundwater anions on the aqueous corrosion of zero-valent iron nanoparticles and associated removal of aqueous copper and zinc, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, volume 5, no. 1, pages 1166-1173, DOI:10.1016/j.jece.2017.01.038. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Sinnett DE, Cleall PJ, Sapsford DJ. (2017) Physicochemical composition of wastes and co-located environmental designations at legacy mine sites in the south west of England and Wales: Implications for their resource potential, RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING, volume 123, pages 117-134, DOI:10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.08.009. [PDF]

2016

• Bouzalakos S, Crane RA, McGeeney D, Timms WA. (2016) Stress-dependent hydraulic properties of clayey-silt aquitards in eastern Australia, Acta Geotechnica, volume 11, no. 5, pages 969-986, DOI:10.1007/s11440-016-0455-7. [PDF]
• Timms WA, Crane R, Anderson DJ, Bouzalakos S, Whelan M, McGeeney D, Rahman PF, Acworth RI. (2016) Accelerated gravity testing of aquitard core permeability and implications at formation and regional scale, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, volume 20, no. 1, pages 39-54, DOI:10.5194/hess-20-39-2016. [PDF]

2015

• Tepong-Tsinde R, Crane R, Noubactep C, Nassi A, Ruppert H. (2015) Testing Metallic Iron Filtration Systems for Decentralized Water Treatment at Pilot Scale, WATER, volume 7, no. 3, pages 868-897, DOI:10.3390/w7030868. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Dickinson M, Scott TB. (2015) Nanoscale zero-valent iron particles for the remediation of plutonium and uranium contaminated solutions, Chemical Engineering Journal, volume 262, pages 319-325, DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2014.09.084. [PDF]
• Timms WA, Crane R, Anderson DJ, Bouzalakos S, Whelan M, McGeeney D, Rahman PF, Guinea A, Acworth RI. (2015) Accelerated gravity testing of aquitard core permeability and implications at formation and regional scale, DOI:10.5194/hessd-12-2799-2015. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Cuthbert MO, Timms W. (2015) Technical Note: The use of an interrupted-flow centrifugation method to characterise preferential flow in low permeability media, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, volume 19, no. 9, pages 3991-4000, DOI:10.5194/hess-19-3991-2015. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Cuthbert MO, Timms W. (2015) Technical Note: The use of an interrupted-flow centrifugation method to characterise preferential flow in low permeability media, DOI:10.5194/hessd-12-67-2015. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Pullin H, Macfarlane J, Silion M, Popescu IC, Andersen M, Calen V, Scott TB. (2015) Field Application of Iron and Iron–Nickel Nanoparticles for the Ex Situ Remediation of a Uranium-Bearing Mine Water Effluent, Journal of Environmental Engineering, volume 141, no. 8, DOI:10.1061/(asce)ee.1943-7870.0000936. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Pullin H, Scott TB. (2015) The influence of calcium, sodium and bicarbonate on the uptake of uranium onto nanoscale zero-valent iron particles, Chemical Engineering Journal, volume 277, pages 252-259, DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2015.03.085. [PDF]
• Ndé-Tchoupé A, Crane R, Mwakabona H, Noubactep C, Njau K. (2015) Technologies for Decentralized Fluoride Removal: Testing Metallic Iron-based Filters, Water, volume 7, no. 12, pages 6750-6774, DOI:10.3390/w7126657. [PDF]

2014

• MacFarlane JW, Tesh SJ, Crane RA, Hallam KR, Scott TB. (2014) Synthesis of nano-composite surfaces via the co-deposition of metallic salts and nano particles, Materials Science and Engineering: B, volume 182, pages 59-68, DOI:10.1016/j.mseb.2013.11.011. [PDF]
• Timms WA, Crane R, Anderson DJ, Bouzalakos S, Whelan M, McGeeney D, Rahman PF, Guinea A, Acworth RI. (2014) Vertical hydraulic conductivity of a clayey-silt aquitard: accelerated fluid flow in a centrifuge permeameter compared with in situ conditions, DOI:10.5194/hessd-11-3155-2014. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Scott TB. (2014) The Removal of Uranium onto Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron Particles in Anoxic Batch Systems, Journal of Nanomaterials, volume 2014, pages 1-9, DOI:10.1155/2014/956360. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Scott T. (2014) The removal of uranium onto carbon-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron particles, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, volume 16, no. 12, article no. 2813, DOI:10.1007/s11051-014-2813-4. [PDF]
• MacFarlane JW, Payton OD, Keatley AC, Scott GPT, Pullin H, Crane RA, Smilion M, Popescu I, Curlea V, Scott TB. (2014) Lightweight aerial vehicles for monitoring, assessment and mapping of radiation anomalies, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, volume 136, pages 127-130, DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.05.008. [PDF]

2013

• Timms W, Whelan M, Acworth I, McGeeney D, Bouzalakos S, Crane R, McCartney J, Hartland A. (2013) A novel centrifuge permeameter to characterize flow through low permeability strata, ICPMG2014 – Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, CRC Press, 193-199, DOI:10.1201/b16200-20. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Scott TB. (2013) The Effect of Vacuum Annealing of Magnetite and Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles on the Removal of Aqueous Uranium, Journal of Nanotechnology, volume 2013, pages 1-11, DOI:10.1155/2013/173625. [PDF]
• Popescu (Hoştuc) I-C, Filip P, Humelnicu D, Humelnicu I, Scott TB, Crane RA. (2013) Removal of uranium (VI) from aqueous systems by nanoscale zero-valent iron particles suspended in carboxy-methyl cellulose, Journal of Nuclear Materials, volume 443, no. 1-3, pages 250-255, DOI:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.07.018. [PDF]

2012

• Caré S, Crane R, Calabrò PS, Ghauch A, Temgoua E, Noubactep C. (2012) Modeling the Permeability Loss of Metallic Iron Water Filtration Systems, CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water, volume 41, no. 3, pages 275-282, DOI:10.1002/clen.201200167. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Scott TB. (2012) Nanoscale zero-valent iron: Future prospects for an emerging water treatment technology, Journal of Hazardous Materials, volume 211-212, pages 112-125, DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.11.073. [PDF]

2011

• Scott TB, Popescu IC, Crane RA, Noubactep C. (2011) Nano-scale metallic iron for the treatment of solutions containing multiple inorganic contaminants, Journal of Hazardous Materials, volume 186, no. 1, pages 280-287, DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.10.113. [PDF]
• Noubactep C, Caré S, Crane R. (2011) Nanoscale Metallic Iron for Environmental Remediation: Prospects and Limitations, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, volume 223, no. 3, pages 1363-1382, DOI:10.1007/s11270-011-0951-1. [PDF]
• Crane RA, Dickinson M, Popescu IC, Scott TB. (2011) Magnetite and zero-valent iron nanoparticles for the remediation of uranium contaminated environmental water, Water Research, volume 45, no. 9, pages 2931-2942, DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2011.03.012. [PDF]

2009

• Dickinson M, Scott TB, Crane RA, Riba O, Barnes RJ, Hughes GM. (2009) The effects of vacuum annealing on the structure and surface chemistry of iron:nickel alloy nanoparticles, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, volume 12, no. 6, pages 2081-2092, DOI:10.1007/s11051-009-9767-y. [PDF]
• Scott TB, Dickinson M, Crane RA, Riba O, Hughes GM, Allen GC. (2009) The effects of vacuum annealing on the structure and surface chemistry of iron nanoparticles, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, volume 12, no. 5, pages 1765-1775, DOI:10.1007/s11051-009-9732-9. [PDF]

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