Studies concern the methods of synthesis, structural stability, solution species, ion exchange and surface and catalytic properties. The effect of preparative conditions and ion exchange on the microporous stmctures, obtained for monovalent cations, were examined. The. other area of heterogeneous catalysis in which John has achieved international recognition is that of the oxidative coupling of methane. Recent work on this important process extends to cation-exchanged hydroxyapatites and to experiments to unravel the nature of the observed enhancement of methane conversion. John works tirelessly, in parallel with his highly productive research programme, as evinced by his 63 research papers and 29 conference presentations since 1991, John finds time to serve on several editorial boards and conference organization committees.
Space only allows mention of some recent and current activities.
John currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied Catalysis, the Journal of Molecular Catalysis, and Catalysis Letters. He is the immediate Past President of the Canadian Catalysis Foundation, and is a member of the International Congress on Catalysis Board. John was the Program Chairs for the 13th Canadian Symposium on Catalysis n Sarnia in 1994 and a member of the Program Committee of the 14th NAM of The Catalysis Society in Snowbird, Utah in 1995. John co-organized two symposia, on Solid Superacids and Heteropoly Oxometalates, at the 1995 Honolulu, Hawaii Pacific Basin Conference. We also wish John future success as Chairman of The North American Catalysis Society Meeting to be held in Canada in 2001.