Innovative zero-energy membrane technologies to reduce water consumption in the dairy industry. The Australian dairy industry not only plays a critical role in our way of life, but processed dairy products contribute to 12% or $3.27b to Australia's export revenue. It has learnt to adapt to changing market demands through innovative membrane technologies, but now energy and water are key issues. This project aims to reduce water consumption in dairy processing by treating waste streams using nove ....Innovative zero-energy membrane technologies to reduce water consumption in the dairy industry. The Australian dairy industry not only plays a critical role in our way of life, but processed dairy products contribute to 12% or $3.27b to Australia's export revenue. It has learnt to adapt to changing market demands through innovative membrane technologies, but now energy and water are key issues. This project aims to reduce water consumption in dairy processing by treating waste streams using novel membrane processes including membrane distillation. The energy is supplied from low grade waste heat, offsetting the need to supply more power to the plant. Reducing the need for water in a zero-energy way will ensure the thriving dairy industry remains cost competitive and an integral part of Australia's culture and economy.Read moreRead less
Application of a Novel Reflux Classifier for Separating Nut Shell Fragments from Powdered Food Mixtures. An important operation in the food industry is the physical separation of valuable particles from a mixture containing waste materials, such as shell fragments. The purpose of this study is to investigate the application of a novel gas-solid fluidised bed system, utilising parallel inclined plates to radically amplify the differential segregation rates to produce separations based on particle ....Application of a Novel Reflux Classifier for Separating Nut Shell Fragments from Powdered Food Mixtures. An important operation in the food industry is the physical separation of valuable particles from a mixture containing waste materials, such as shell fragments. The purpose of this study is to investigate the application of a novel gas-solid fluidised bed system, utilising parallel inclined plates to radically amplify the differential segregation rates to produce separations based on particle size. Our aim is to develop a fundamental understanding of the principles governing the nature of this system. The project should result in considerable technological and economic benefits for the food industry, a well trained and educated person at the postgraduate level, and a stronger collaborative link between the University and Sanitarium.Read moreRead less
Plant based foods: Towards sustainable and acceptable meat analogues. The project aims to address the need for engineering plant-based food products to deliver a sensory experience akin to meat. The project expects to generate new knowledge on the structural drivers for emulating meat-like texture and taste within burger products. Expected outcomes of this project include new ingredients and food characterisation methodologies, including rheology and sensory, which can be employed in rational ....Plant based foods: Towards sustainable and acceptable meat analogues. The project aims to address the need for engineering plant-based food products to deliver a sensory experience akin to meat. The project expects to generate new knowledge on the structural drivers for emulating meat-like texture and taste within burger products. Expected outcomes of this project include new ingredients and food characterisation methodologies, including rheology and sensory, which can be employed in rational food structure design. This should provide significant benefits in enhancing the consumer acceptance of plant-based foods that is required to support the rapidly growing market opportunity for them and sustainable food production.Read moreRead less
The Development of New Carrier Technologies for Spray-Dried Fruit Extracts. This project aims to develop new carrier techniques for spray drying fruit extracts based on the use of natural fibres, with the aim of overcoming a key problem in the operation of spray dryers for producing powders, the deposition of particles on walls. Carriers are non-sticky materials that effectively dilute the stickiness of any materials. The significance is that it will use waste products from fruit processing (th ....The Development of New Carrier Technologies for Spray-Dried Fruit Extracts. This project aims to develop new carrier techniques for spray drying fruit extracts based on the use of natural fibres, with the aim of overcoming a key problem in the operation of spray dryers for producing powders, the deposition of particles on walls. Carriers are non-sticky materials that effectively dilute the stickiness of any materials. The significance is that it will use waste products from fruit processing (the fibres from skins) to overcome this problem, and it will also be possible to dry sticky materials using material from the fruit itself, rather than additives such as maltodextrin.Read moreRead less
Improving the scale-up of spray drying for bioactive extracts and fibres. The project will develop new processing techniques that will contribute to better functional foods and bioactive products from fruit and vegetable wastes. The total national crop of fruit and vegetables produces over 3 million tonnes of wastes, where the bioactive materials in the wastes have a potential value of $3 billion/year.
Design a Targeted Delivery System for Probiotics. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of probiotics by developing a targeted delivery system to the colon. This interdisciplinary research will generate new knowledge in the field of microbiota and develop new delivery systems for live microorganisms and other active compounds. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of the factors affecting the viability of probiotics during storage and passage through the gastro-intestinal tra ....Design a Targeted Delivery System for Probiotics. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of probiotics by developing a targeted delivery system to the colon. This interdisciplinary research will generate new knowledge in the field of microbiota and develop new delivery systems for live microorganisms and other active compounds. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of the factors affecting the viability of probiotics during storage and passage through the gastro-intestinal tract, the establishment of probiotics into gut flora, and how this incorporation affects the dynamics of gut microbiota. The new technology can be utilised across a wide range of therapeutics that target the colon to promote the well-being of our society through commercialisation by industry partner.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
Particle design and recovery of bioactives by crystallisation and precipitation. This project will develop new strategies for economically viable recovery of bioactives from complex solutions of biomaterials eg. separation of biopharmaceuticals from genetically engineered cell culture, food ingredient processing, functional food and nutraceutical extraction from natural sources. Crystallisation and precipitation will be used as primary separation techniques. We propose a new paradigm in which ....Particle design and recovery of bioactives by crystallisation and precipitation. This project will develop new strategies for economically viable recovery of bioactives from complex solutions of biomaterials eg. separation of biopharmaceuticals from genetically engineered cell culture, food ingredient processing, functional food and nutraceutical extraction from natural sources. Crystallisation and precipitation will be used as primary separation techniques. We propose a new paradigm in which molecular studies of protein interactions will be used to predict good crystallisation conditions and linked to process crystalliation studies. Studies will use a model system of egg white protein mixtures and a real system of industrial importance - the purification of valuable protein products from soy beans (valued at $500 million per year world wide). Soy beans studies will include pilot scale tests at Dupont's industrial reseach laboratories.Read moreRead less
Measurement and Prevention of Membrane Fouling for Water Reuse in Biorefineries. The effluent streams from molasses based fermentation contain dark-coloured melanoidins (recalcitrant COD) which limit discharge options and make water recovery via membrane technology challenging. Understanding membrane fouling to a level where its behaviour can be reliably predicted is a vital step in gaining widespread acceptance of this technology. Advances made here have a built-in multiplier effect, as insight ....Measurement and Prevention of Membrane Fouling for Water Reuse in Biorefineries. The effluent streams from molasses based fermentation contain dark-coloured melanoidins (recalcitrant COD) which limit discharge options and make water recovery via membrane technology challenging. Understanding membrane fouling to a level where its behaviour can be reliably predicted is a vital step in gaining widespread acceptance of this technology. Advances made here have a built-in multiplier effect, as insights from yeast production (core business for our industrial partner A B Mauri) can be readily applied to large-scale fermentation producing fuel alcohol from molasses as well as the emerging use of lignocellulosics. This project will contribute significantly to sustainability by reducing industrial water consumption.Read moreRead less
Advanced Stability Sensor for Anaerobic Digestion Processes. Australia is firmly committed to energy reduction and production, where possible, renewable energy production. Anaerobic digestion is the only in-use wastewater treatment option that not only can have net zero energy consumption, but that actually produces energy. This energy is from renewable carbon sources is therefore a zero contributor to greenhouse gases. Australia has some of the strongest environmental limit laws in the world. ....Advanced Stability Sensor for Anaerobic Digestion Processes. Australia is firmly committed to energy reduction and production, where possible, renewable energy production. Anaerobic digestion is the only in-use wastewater treatment option that not only can have net zero energy consumption, but that actually produces energy. This energy is from renewable carbon sources is therefore a zero contributor to greenhouse gases. Australia has some of the strongest environmental limit laws in the world. While this is reasonable - given our sensitive environment -assisting industry in meeting those limits in a cost effective manner is a priority. Given sufficient process stability and transparency, anaerobic digestion is a low capital and operating cost option. Read moreRead less