We integrate molecular scale understanding of ionic and molecular transport in membranes with process design to advance separation technologies for industrial applications across food and bioprocessing, water purification, resource recovery and decarbonisation.
Transport Behavior in Polymeric Membranes
Mechanistic insight into molecular and ionic partitioning and migration within polymeric membranes underpins the performance of membrane separations. We integrate materials characterisation, quantitative studies of sorption, diffusion and permeation, and transport model development to derive predictive structure-property relationships that guide membrane design and process optimisation for food and bioprocessing, water treatment, gas separation, resource recovery, and electrochemical conversion.
Electro membrane Systems for Challenging Separations
We engineer electromembrane systems to facilitate the separation of charged species from large, neutral compounds, involving complex speciation, electrode reactions, high salinity and stringent selectivity requirements. Current research is focused on electrodialysis (with and without bipolar membranes), electrodeionisation, membrane capacitive deionisation and CO2 electrolysis, for water purification, organic acids and proteins separation, brine management, lithium extraction and recycling, and CO2 reduction.
Sustainable Membrane Processes for Food & Bioprocessing
We have a strong track record in developing membrane processes that intensify dairy, food, and downstream bioprocessing operations, reducing water, energy, and salt footprints while adding value to by-products and enabling circular economy practices across industries. Our research ranges from conventional pressure-driven systems (MF, UF, NF and RO) to emerging processes (e.g., forward osmosis, membrane distillation, electrodialysis) for whey valorisation, saline wastewater management, protein fractionation, and plant-based protein processing.
Academic collaborators
University of Texas at Austin (USA)
A*STAR (Singapore)
KU Leuven (Belgium)
University of Surrey (UK)
University of Dublin (Ireland)
RWTH Aachen University (Germany)
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (Japan)
University of Science and Technology of China (China)
Hebei University of Technology (China)
CSIRO (Australia)
Monash University (Australia)
University of Technology Sydney (Australia)
RMIT University (Australia)
Victoria University (Australia)