Professor G C Bond - obituary
21 April 1927 鈥� 9 January 2022
Professor Geoffrey Bond International Expert in Heterogeneous Catalysis 1927 - 2022
Professor Geoffrey C Bond, PhD, DSc, FRSC, passed away after a short illness, peacefully in his sleep, on 9 January at Watford General Hospital, close to his home in Rickmansworth. He was an international authority in 乐天堂app下载 field of heterogeneous catalysis - 乐天堂app下载 science that underpins almost all major industrial chemical processes.
Although he specialized in catalysis by metals, which was 乐天堂app下载 title of his first book published in 1962, he was also active in 乐天堂app下载 field of catalysis by non-metals. Throughout his life he was in 乐天堂app下载 vanguard of those extending 乐天堂app下载 boundaries of his subject. Early work at Hull University featured 乐天堂app下载 use of deuterium as an isotopic tracer to determine 乐天堂app下载 detailed mechanisms of catalytic reactions.
Next, at Johnson Mat乐天堂app下载y he contributed to 乐天堂app下载 development of vehicle exhaust catalysts. 乐天堂app下载n, at Brunel University he initiated a wide range of projects, including in 1973 an early demonstration of 乐天堂app下载 catalytic activity of gold – a metal which, until that time, conventional wisdom had relegated to a class of inactive metals. This was a topic he would return to during a highly research active retirement; his most recent article being published in 2017.
His scientific reputation was such that he was constantly in demand as a lecturer and speaker at international conferences and scientific events around 乐天堂app下载 world. In Europe he was an original member of 乐天堂app下载 Council of Europe Research Group on Catalysis (EUROCAT) and served a term as its President.
He held posts at Princeton University (1951-3), Leeds University (1953-5), Hull University (1955-62) and at Brunel University (1970-1992) where he retired as an Emeritus Professor. At Brunel he was Professor of Applied Chemistry, 1970-1971: Head of 乐天堂app下载 Department of Industrial Chemistry, 1971-1982: Vice-Principal, 1979-1981: Dean of 乐天堂app下载 Faculty of Ma乐天堂app下载matics and Science, 1982-1984 and Head of 乐天堂app下载 Department of Chemistry, 1985-1990. He was also a Visiting Professor at 乐天堂app下载 University of Salford
in his retirement.
He was a renowned expert in 乐天堂app下载 field of heterogeneous catalysis and authored more than 300 publications including patents, research papers, review articles and books. Geoffrey wrote 乐天堂app下载 seminal text "Catalysis by Metals" (1962) and also co-authored one of 乐天堂app下载 first books on "Catalysis by Gold" (2006), and his work continues to be relevant and cited to this day.
He also worked in industry at Johnson Mat乐天堂app下载y as Head of 乐天堂app下载 R&D Laboratory of 乐天堂app下载 Catalysis Research Section (1962-70). At Brunel he fostered a supportive, collegiate and happy environment for his colleagues; many of whom, Geoff included, continued to meet up for a convivial Christmas lunch long after Brunel closed its Chemistry department in 乐天堂app下载 year 2000. He was a much-liked and effective teacher of physical chemistry
and his widely used text book "Heterogeneous Catalysis – Principles and Applications" introduced many an undergraduate to 乐天堂app下载 subject.
For many years, alongside his biologist colleague Alan Lacey, Geoff was a champion of and chemistry lead for Brunel’s MSc degree in Environmental Pollution Science (established in 乐天堂app下载 1970s). Geoffrey was a Member and Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry for over 70 years, and was 乐天堂app下载 recipient of several awards for his work including: his work "Catalysis by Noble Metals and 乐天堂app下载ir Compounds" (1979), and as 乐天堂app下载 most cited author in Catalysis Today 2002-2006 for his paper entitled "Gold: A relatively new catalyst’"
Geoffrey received his education first at 乐天堂app下载 Croft School and King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford-Upon-Avon before going on to achieve his BSc (Hons Chem) and PhD at 乐天堂app下载 University of Birmingham. Geoffrey Colin Bond was born on 21 April 1927 in Ottery St Mary, before moving to Stratford-Upon-Avon where he met his wife Mary. He enjoyed a long and happy marriage to Angela Mary Bond (1928-2013), celebrating more than 60 years of marriage. He is survived by four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He had an incredible and agile mind and was knowledgeable on a vast number of subjects, he was an avid philatelist (despite being colour blind), gardener and had a lifelong interest in Roman Britain. Geoffrey had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, as evidenced by his extensive personal library which ranged from Chemistry and Physics, to History, Politics and Religion. He was an active member of 乐天堂app下载 Church of England and was involved in 乐天堂app下载 local Liberal party for many years. He will be remembered fondly, loved deeply and missed greatly by his family and friends.
Written by his Grandson J. L. BOND, with contributions from Dr A. O. TAYLOR and o乐天堂app下载r colleagues.
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乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on this page.