Scaling-up microfluidic drying as an efficient route to manufacture uniform and functional particles as high-value products. This project aims to scale-up microfluidic spray drying and demonstrate the method as a viable option to manufacture monodisperse microparticles as bioactive carriers or microencapsulates, with better functional properties and uniformity. It aims to transform the manufacturing of high-value products for pharmaceuticals, functional foods and biotechnology applications and l ....Scaling-up microfluidic drying as an efficient route to manufacture uniform and functional particles as high-value products. This project aims to scale-up microfluidic spray drying and demonstrate the method as a viable option to manufacture monodisperse microparticles as bioactive carriers or microencapsulates, with better functional properties and uniformity. It aims to transform the manufacturing of high-value products for pharmaceuticals, functional foods and biotechnology applications and lift productivity by managing innovation for Australia’s industries.Read moreRead less
Towards New Functionality in Dairy Ingredients. The Australian dairy industry plays a significant part in the nation’s economy, with almost $3 billion in export revenue in 2016-2017. Powdered dairy products extend shelf life and ease of transport, with >20% annual growth in premium products, such as milk protein concentrates and infant formula powders. This project aims to support the development of value-added dairy powders by investigating the impact of a novel high pressure processing technol ....Towards New Functionality in Dairy Ingredients. The Australian dairy industry plays a significant part in the nation’s economy, with almost $3 billion in export revenue in 2016-2017. Powdered dairy products extend shelf life and ease of transport, with >20% annual growth in premium products, such as milk protein concentrates and infant formula powders. This project aims to support the development of value-added dairy powders by investigating the impact of a novel high pressure processing technology in enhancing the properties of dairy powders and/or introducing new functionality. Successful outcomes will help expand the offering of high value dairy ingredients and thus increase the global competitiveness of Australian dairy manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Breakthrough technologies for energy-efficient manufacture of dairy powders. The outcomes of this project will form a significant change for the dairy industry in Australia (as represented by Dairy Innovation Australia Ltd.). In particular, the enormous cost-saving and environmental benefits due to a more efficient drying process are attractive for the competitiveness of the industry internationally. The innovation gained is also applicable to food and pharmaceutical industries where spray dryin ....Breakthrough technologies for energy-efficient manufacture of dairy powders. The outcomes of this project will form a significant change for the dairy industry in Australia (as represented by Dairy Innovation Australia Ltd.). In particular, the enormous cost-saving and environmental benefits due to a more efficient drying process are attractive for the competitiveness of the industry internationally. The innovation gained is also applicable to food and pharmaceutical industries where spray drying and fluidised bed drying are integral parts of the manufacturing process. The project will train graduates to be able to make a high-level contribution to these industries.Read moreRead less
Immune-imprinting nanoparticles (iNPs). This research promises new classes of immune-imprinting, biodegradable nanoparticles (iNPs) with anti-inflammatory properties. The engineering of such particles requires fundamental understanding of their properties that enable specific cellular interactions to regulate immunity with new anti-inflammatory pathways. For pulmonary delivery, spray-dried amino acid microspheres with tailored surfaces as carriers can be generated using the innovative microfluid ....Immune-imprinting nanoparticles (iNPs). This research promises new classes of immune-imprinting, biodegradable nanoparticles (iNPs) with anti-inflammatory properties. The engineering of such particles requires fundamental understanding of their properties that enable specific cellular interactions to regulate immunity with new anti-inflammatory pathways. For pulmonary delivery, spray-dried amino acid microspheres with tailored surfaces as carriers can be generated using the innovative microfluidic drying approach. The potential applications of iNPs are wide-ranging and are not restricted to pulmonary targeting. The potential commercial implications for Australia's emerging biopharmaceutical industry are substantial.Read moreRead less
Modelling of Slug Pneumatic Conveying with an In-situ Microprobe Sensor. This project aims to develop a particle-scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of particle behaviours for pneumatic conveying. Slug flow pneumatic transport of granular materials such as mineral particles and food grains is extremely popular across the processing industry. However, without the fundamental understanding of the conveying mechanism at the particulate level, pneumatic conveyors are over-designed and ....Modelling of Slug Pneumatic Conveying with an In-situ Microprobe Sensor. This project aims to develop a particle-scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of particle behaviours for pneumatic conveying. Slug flow pneumatic transport of granular materials such as mineral particles and food grains is extremely popular across the processing industry. However, without the fundamental understanding of the conveying mechanism at the particulate level, pneumatic conveyors are over-designed and energy intensive. The project aims to enable accurate measurement of the motion, inertia and force information at the particle scale, so as to produce more accurate design protocols for such a conveying system. Improved pneumatic conveyors may have the potential to reduce the energy consumption in such systems by up to a factor of 10.Read moreRead less
Modelling and characterisation of biomass materials for pneumatic transport. This project aims to develop a particle scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of biomass compaction, dilation and associated airflow for pneumatic conveying and potentially beyond. Low velocity, dense phase pneumatic transport presents the ideal method for transporting delicate biomass feedstocks. However, without the fundamental understanding of the compactive and dilative response of biomass ensembles, pn ....Modelling and characterisation of biomass materials for pneumatic transport. This project aims to develop a particle scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of biomass compaction, dilation and associated airflow for pneumatic conveying and potentially beyond. Low velocity, dense phase pneumatic transport presents the ideal method for transporting delicate biomass feedstocks. However, without the fundamental understanding of the compactive and dilative response of biomass ensembles, pneumatic conveyors will be over-designed and energy intensive. This project will enable accurate measurement of the motion, inertia and force information at the particle scale, to produce more accurate design protocols for dense phase biomass pneumatic transport.Read moreRead less
Mudstones as methane sources: gas production from coal seam interburden. Carbonaceous mudstones associated with coal measures already exploited for gas present an attractive reservoir of methane. This project seeks to provide methods for accessing this gas. Mudstone associated with coal seam gas developments are very extensive and gas quantities may exceed even that in the coal itself. Further infrastructure and access permits are already in place for coal seam gas recovery. Unlike shale, which ....Mudstones as methane sources: gas production from coal seam interburden. Carbonaceous mudstones associated with coal measures already exploited for gas present an attractive reservoir of methane. This project seeks to provide methods for accessing this gas. Mudstone associated with coal seam gas developments are very extensive and gas quantities may exceed even that in the coal itself. Further infrastructure and access permits are already in place for coal seam gas recovery. Unlike shale, which is fissile, mudstone is much softer, more malleable and plastic, and consequently will respond abnormally to hydraulic fracturing and propping, so new methods proposed to be developed in this project are needed for stimulation.Read moreRead less
Predictive Tools for Effective Spray Drying of Heat Sensitive Dairy Powders. This project is a joint international effort between Monash University, the Institute of Dairy Ingredients Processing at South Dakota State University, and the Dairy Research Institute to address challenges in achieving optimum spray drying conditions for heat sensitive dairy powders, such as milk protein concentrates and whey powders. The new modelling tool aims to help in predicting effective spray drying conditions t ....Predictive Tools for Effective Spray Drying of Heat Sensitive Dairy Powders. This project is a joint international effort between Monash University, the Institute of Dairy Ingredients Processing at South Dakota State University, and the Dairy Research Institute to address challenges in achieving optimum spray drying conditions for heat sensitive dairy powders, such as milk protein concentrates and whey powders. The new modelling tool aims to help in predicting effective spray drying conditions to produce powders with improved solubility, emulsification, and heat stability properties. It is expected that the dairy industry will benefit from the use of this technology to deliver milk powders with improved quality, functionality, and shelf-life.Read moreRead less
High value micron-sized particles from a novel antisolvent vapour spray drying system. Convective antisolvent precipitation is a novel route in producing particles from spray drying by adding an anti-solvent to the drying medium. This project will allow conventional spray dryers to produce more sophisticated ultrafine and encapsulated particles for use in food, pharmaceuticals and other high value applications.
Powder blending for dry powder inhalers: a new approach for direct control of powder structure. Over 80 per cent of pharmaceutical products involve the processing of powders. This project will generate new knowledge of how to assemble fine and cohesive particles into the structure required for dry powder inhaler products, leading to the development of new low-cost medicines in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.