Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA)

Our mission

To promote Australia's sustainable development through innovation in Bioproducts and Bioresource processing. BioPRIA provides value to its partners by developing new products and markets through research, and by increasing operation efficiency and product quality by training.

Vision

BioPRIA is committed to the conversion of Biomass into advanced materials, chemicals, energy and food using sustainable processes and novel technology.

History

BioPRIA is the BioProduct innovation centre from APPI. APPI was created in May 1989 from the memorandum of understanding signed between Monash University and the Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Federation of Australia (PPMFA). APPI’s home was built in June 1991.

Academic Staff

• Prof. Gil Garnier, Director
• Dr Warren Batchelor Deputy Director
• Dr Wei Shen Senior Lecturer

Research Staff

• Dr. Ping Peng (Wet-end and colloid chemistry)
• Dr. Emily Perkins (Cellulose-moisture interaction)

Other staff

• Janette Anthony, (Administrator)

Students

• Tina Arbatan
• Mohid Khan
• Matthew O'Connor
• Ying Hui Ngo

Research

BioPRIA’s Research Activity is articulated around three platforms:

Biosurfaces

1. Bioactive Enzymatic Paper
2. Manufacturing paper based bioassays and Diagnostics
3. Engineering Biosurfaces with inkjet printing

Performance Materials

1. Conductive Graphene Paper
2. Zeolite Paper for CO2 Adsorption
3. Superhydrophobic Paper
4. Paper as Sustainable Material
5. Controlling the Interaction water-cellulose
6. Novel Colloid and Polymer Concept for Papermaking under water recycling
7. Lint free Newsprint
8. Polymer-nanoparticle complex for Engineering Paper Strength
9. Biopolymer Non-Wovens
10. Engineering the fiber-fiber bond
11. Functional Printing

Biorefinery and Sustainable Processes

1. Biorefinery
2. Lignite Packed bed for Wastewater colour removal
3. Engineering Pitch Stability

Recent Grants

• ARC Linkage Novel Cellulosic Products and Sustainable Processes
  BioPRIA staff were recently awarded a A$1.15 million dollar ARC Linkage grant jointly funded by the Australian Research Council and the Australian paper industry. We have still have available two postgraduate scholarships funded by this grant.
• ARC Linkage Polymer-Nanoparticle Complex for Performance Packaging
• ARC Paper making under high water recycling
• LIEF Biomaterial Facility
• ETIS lignite

Associated Staff

• Prof. Paul Webley, Head, Chemical Engineering (Particle Technology)
• Dr Ravi Jagadeeshan, Reader, Chemical Engineering (Computational modeling of coating flows)
• Prof George Simon Head Materials Engineering (Polymers)
• Prof Doug Macfarlane Head, Chemistry (Properties of amorphous substances)
• Dr Leone Spiccia Reader, Deputy Head, Chemistry (Sol-gel Chemistry) Dr Peter Junk Assoc Prof, Chemistry (Supramolecular architecture)
• Dr Stephen Langford Senior Lecturer, Chemistry (Self assembling systems)
• Dr Janet Scott Senior Lecturer, Chemistry (Host-guest inclusion compounds)
• Associate Professor Phil Andrews , Chemistry (Chemical sensors and indicators)
• Dr Karen Hapgood, Senior Lecturer, Chemical Engineering (Particle Technology)
• Dr Gareth Forde, Senior Lecturer, Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering)
• Dr Cordelia Selomulya, Lecturer, Chemical Engineering (Nanomaterials)Assoc Prof Raman Singh, Chemical Engineering (Corrosion)