Emeritus Professor
Phone: (775) 784-6950
Fax: (775) 327-5059
Office: LMR 466
E-mail: smithrw@unr.edu

Education

• B. S. Mining Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1950
• S. M. Metallurgy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1955
• Ph. D. Mineral Engineering, Stanford University, 1969

Research Interests

• Abstraction of metal ions from aqueous solution by microorganisms and aquaphytes;
• Removal of oil from contaminated water and water-in-oil emulsions by aquaphytes;
• flotation of microorganisms;
• effect of microorganisms on minerals and the flotation process;
• flocculation of mineral suspensions using microorganisms;
• bioremediation of toxic effluents from mineral processing and hydrometallurgy plants;
• remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils and water;
• fundamentals of the flotation process (structure - performance relationships of flotation collectors; very fine particle flotation; effect of frothers on collector function; role of multivalent modifier ions in flotation; fundamentals of amine flotation of quartz).

Recent Publications

• R.W. Smith and M. Miettinen, "Microorganisms in flotation and flocculation: future technology or laboratory curiosity," Proceedings, Centenary of Flotation Symposium, Ed. G.J. Jameson, 693-697 (2005).
• R.W. Smith and K.A. Altman, "Activated alumina for the removal of selenium from heap leach detoxification solutions," Miner. Metall. Proc., 21 [1] 27-32 (2004).
• T.H. Ribeiro, R.W. Smith, and J. Rubio, "A dried hydrophobic aquaphyte as an oil filter for oil/water emulsions," Spill Sci. Techn. Bull., 8 (2003) 483-489.
• R.W. Smith and S.G. Groudev, "Mineral processing wastes and their remediation," Principles of Mineral Processing, SME, Eds. M.C. Fuerstenau and K. Han, 491-516 (2003).
• C.B. Lacher and R.W. Smith, "Kinetics of adhesion of Hg(II) onto Potomogenten Natans," European Journal of Mineral Processing, 3 (2002) 221-230.
• K.A. Altman, D.L. Taylor, and R.W. Smith, "Statistical approach to using metallurgical data to improve the accuracy and information obtained from financial analyses," Mining Engineering, 54 [1] 39-42 (2002).
• C. Lacher and R.W. Smith, "Sorption of Hg(II) by Potomogenten Natans dead biomass," Minerals Engineering, 15 [3] 187-191 (2002).
• J. Rubio, M.L. Souza, and R.W. Smith, "Overview of flotation as a wastewater treatment technique," Minerals Engineering, 15 [3] 139-155 (2002).
• G.X. Wang, M.C. Fuerstenau, and R.W. Smith, "Removal of metal ions by nonliving water hyacinth roots," Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, 16 [1] 41-47 (1999).
• I.A.H. Schneider, R.W. Smith, and J. Rubio, "Effect of mining chemicals on biosorption of Cu(II) by the non-living biomass of the macrophyte Potamogeton Lucens," Minerals Engineering, 12 [3] 255-260 (1999).
• X.P. Zheng, R.W. Smith, R.K. Mehta, M. Misra, and A.M. Raichur, "Anionic flotation of apatite from dolomite modified by the presence of a bacterium," Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, 15 [2] 52 (1998).
• A.M. Raichur, M. Misra, S.A. Davis, and R.W. Smith, "Flocculation of fine coal using synthetic and biologically derived flocculants," Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, 14 [1] 22-26 (1997).
• Y. Wei, K. Zhong, E.V. Adamov, and R.W. Smith, "Semi-continuous biooxidation of the Chongyang refractory gold ore," Minerals Engineering, 10 [6] 577-583 (1997).
• X. Zheng and R.W. Smith, "Dolomite depressants in the flotation of apatite and collophane from dolomite," Minerals Engineering, 10 [5] 537 (1997).
• R.W. Smith, "Kinetic aspects of aqueous aluminum chemistry: environmental implications," Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 194 (1996) 81-94.
• X.P. Zheng, M. Misra, R.W. Smith, and J.K. Qiao, "Fersmite flotation with diphosphonic acid and other collectors," Minerals Engineering, 9 [3] 331 (1996).
• A.M. Raichur, M. Misra, and R.W. Smith, "Differential adhesion of hydrophobic bacteria onto coal and associated minerals," Coal Preparation, 16 [1/2] 51 (1995).
• I.A.H. Schneider, J. Rubio, M. Misra, and R.W. Smith, "Eichhornia Crassipes as biosorbent for heavy metal ions," Minerals Engineering, 8 [9] 979 (1995).
• M. Misra, S. Chen, R.W. Smith, and A.M. Raichur, "Mycobacterium phlei as a flotation collector for hematite," Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, 10 [4] 170-175 (1993).
• M. Misra, R.W. Smith, J. Dubel, and S. Chen, "Selective flocculation of fine coal with hydrophobic Mycobacterium Phlei," Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, 10 [1] 20-23 (1993).
• R.W. Smith, M. Misra, and S. Chen, "Adsorption of a hydrophobic bacterium into hematite: implications in the froth flotation of the mineral," Journal of Industrial Microbiology, 11 [2] 63-68 (1993).
• R.W. Smith, Z. Yang, and R.A. Wharton, "Flotation of Chlorella Vulgaris with anionic, cationic and amphoteric collectors," Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, 8 [1] 22-26 (1991).
• R.W. Smith and J.L. Scott, "Mechanisms of dodecylamine flotation of quartz," Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 7 [2] 81 (1990).