Centre for Molecular and Materials Sciences
The Centre for Molecular and Materials Sciences
investigates fundamental molecular processes occurring at gas-solid and
liquid-solid interfaces to help develop solutions to a wide range of
industrial, health and environmental challenges.
The centre was founded in the year 2000 to bring together UniSA’s extensive expertise in porous materials and food separation processes.
CMMS activities can be categorised into four broad fields: gas-material interfaces, solution-material interfaces, nano-bio-technology, and process and instrumentation analysis.
Headed by the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences’ Associate Professor Phillip Pendleton, the CMMS conducts both fundamental and industry oriented research, attracting support from a variety of government sources and commercial clients.
From control-release drugs to naturally-sourced food additives, to chemical purification processes that reduce industrial pollution, the range of applications for research conducted by the CMMS is remarkably broad.
Researchers
Associate Professor Phillip Pendleton - director
Dr Alexander Badalyan
Dr Jung-Hee Kim - visiting scholar
Dr Gunter Klass
Postgraduate students
Sun-Young Park
Sheng-Fu Fang
Lin Chen
Xiaoxia Qiu
Karyn Jarvis
Associate and adjunct members
Dr Gordon Wilkinson (Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Adelaide, Australia)
Assistant Professor Byung-Soo Chun (Department of Food Engineering, Pukyong
National University, Korea)
Professor Katsumi Kaneko (Department of Physical Chemistry, Chiba
University, Japan)
Professor Duong D. Do (Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of
Queensland, Australia)
The CMMS enjoys productive relationships with a number of partners, collaborators and clients including:
Universities
- The University of Adelaide
- UniSA’s Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies
- The University of Queensland
- Griffith University
- Chiba University (Japan)
- Pukyoung National University (Korea)
Government and industry
- The Defence Science and Technology Organisation’s (DSTO) Platform Research Group
- Alcoa World Alumina
- PICA (France and Australia)
- Norit
- Rio Tinto
- SA Water
- Klein Research Institute Pty Ltd
- GlaxoSmithKline (Australia, England)
Below is a selection of current and recent CMMS research projects
-
A physicochemical approach for optimizing drug delivery from BioSiliconTM
-
Development of an improved 29 degree Celcius PCM and encapsulation system
-
Investigation into three phase-change materials (PCMs) with melting/freezing point of 4°C
-
Extraction and purification of essential oils and extracts from selected fruits and vegetables
Preparation, quantification and preservation of
specified health-promoting extracts/compositions from broccolini and
mangosteen
Researchers: Phillip Pendleton, Alexander Badalyan,
Jung-Hee Kim
Client: Klein Research
Institute Pty. Ltd.
The potential health benefits of extracts from
Broccolini containing L-sulforaphane, and extracts from mangosteen fruit
containing a-,
b-,
and g-mangostins
are widely documented. This project aims to develop new, health promoting
extracts from these plants, with a focus on establishing
non-synthetic chemical extraction methods and identifying techniques and
solvents to extended shelf-life.
A physicochemical approach for optimizing drug
delivery from BioSiliconTM
Researchers: Clive Prestige, Phillip Pendleton,
Allan Evans, Bill Skinner, Tim Barnes, Ivan Kempston, Alexander Badalyan,
Frank Peddie, Agnieszka Mierczynska-Vasilev
Client: pSiMedica Limited
BioSiliconTM is a novel class of
nanostructured biomaterial with exciting potential for developing a range of
controllable drug delivery systems. Existing medical applications of
BioSilicon deliver only small molecules for very specialised uses. By
applying modern techniques and a multidisciplinary approach, this research
will develop an understanding of drug loading of BioSilicon at a molecular
level, potentially creating new drug delivery systems with many innovative
applications in medical, veterinary and bio-diagnostics fields.
Ordered nanoporous manganese dioxide monolith
synthesis: a novel approach towards liquid-phase VOC and substituted phenol
catalytic decomposition
Researchers: Phillip Pendleton, Jung-Hee Kim
Client: Alcoa World
Alumina, Kwinana, Western Australia
This project aims to develop an adsorption system for
effective removal and decomposition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from
liquid emissions of industrial units. A new ordered nanoporous manganese
dioxide monolith based adsorption system will be developed which will lead
to a large breakthrough capacity due to transport through the larger
unidirectional mesopores within the monolith structure, and to a strong
physical adsorption leading to enhanced catalytic activity.
Towards the separation and purification of selected
morphine adducts by adsorption by porous materials
Researchers: Associate Professor Phillip Pendleton,
Dr Jung-Hee Kim
Client: GlaxoSmithKline
Ltd.
Morphine recovery and
purification via classical unit operations is often expensive and/or
unviable. This project will investigate solution adsorption from single
component solutions by activated carbons exhibiting relatively low,
intermediate, and relatively high surface oxygen content. Our proposed
adsorption unit operations method will perform economical purification of
mixtures with low concentrations of impurities in morphine.
Development of an improved 29 degree Celcius PCM and
encapsulation system
Researchers: Phillip Pendleton, Jung-Hee Kim,
Alexander Badalyan (in association with Frank Bruno and Martin Belusko from
UniSA’s Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies)
The phase change material (PCM) currently used in the
electronic and telecommunication industries as a back-up to refrigerated
air-conditioning systems cannot perform effectively during long times of
power shut-downs. This project will include a fundamental analysis of ACME’s
current 29 degree PCM and encapsulation, develop modifications to the PCM
and its encapsulation to achieve a narrower melting/freezing range, and
improve PCM’s physical properties.
In situ small angle neutron scattering (SANS) study
of aromatic molecule adsorption by activated carbon cloth
Researchers: Phillip Pendleton, Lin Chen
This project aims to develop
a better understanding of complex aromatic molecule removal by activated
carbon cloth with various pore size distribution and modified surface
chemistry. It will involve the measurement and analysis of SANS of activated
carbon cloth subjected to controlled surface chemistry modification and of
simple aromatic molecules adsorbed from D2O2 solutions, and assess the
effects of surface chemistry and pore size distribution on the location of
the adsorbed phase within the pore network.
Past projects:
Investigation into three phase-change materials (PCMs)
with melting/freezing point of 4°C
Researchers: Phillip Pendleton, Jung-Hee Kim,
Alexander Badalyan
This research provided valuable experimental
information to help identify the most suitable PCM with a melting/freezing
point of about 4 °C for specific industrial applications.
Extraction and purification of essential oils and
extracts from selected fruits and vegetables
Researchers: Phillip Pendleton, Alexander Badalyan
Client: Klein Research Institute Ltd.
This research qualitatively identified chemical
compounds in several fruits and vegetables (including broccolini, persimmon,
pomegranate, mangosteen, and a blend of açai-persimmon-agave juice) which
potentially could provide benefits for human health. Identifying these
naturally-occurring chemical compounds will assist in their future
quantification, leading to their use as natural food additives.
The CMMS offers contract research and development services, with specific expertise in:
- Measurements of BET specific surface area, pore size, and pore size distribution (Automatic Manometric Gas Adsorption Apparatus, Gravimetric Vapor Adsorption Apparatus)
- Preparation, quantification and concentration of health promoting extracts from fruits and vegetables
- Analytical services involving GC, GC-MS and HPLC techniques
Publications, patents and conference presentations
UniSA researchers are indicated in bold type
Journal articles
Fang ShF, Pendleton P, Badalyan A. ‘Effects of surface functional groups of activated carbon on adsorption of triclosan from aqueous solution’. International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, (in press 2007).
Pendleton P. ‘Uncertainty in amount adsorbed and surface excess from uncertainty in high-pressure gas adsorption data’. Surface Science and Catalysis, Characterisation of Porous Solids VII, 2007, pp 575-582.
Pendleton P, Badalyan A, Bromball R, Skinner W. ‘Effect of oxidizing agent on activated carbon cloth porosity and surface chemistry’. Surface Science and Catalysis, Characterisation of Porous Solids VII, 2007, pp 575-582.
Badalyan A, Pendleton P. ‘Uncertainty in αS-analyses and pore volume from uncertainty in gas adsorption data’. Surface Science and Catalysis, Characterisation of Porous Solids VII, 2007, pp 383-388.
Pendleton P, Badalyan A. ‘Uncertainty in pore volumes derived from αS-analyses and from the theory for volume filling of micropores’. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 300 (2007), pp 253-258.
Pendleton P. ‘Adsorption by Porous Surfaces: Surface Thermodynamics to Interpret Surface Chemistry’. GIT Laboratory Journal (Europe), 10, (2006), pp 43-45.
Pendleton P, Chen L. ‘Small-angle neutron scattering study of activated carbon and ammonium persulfate-modified activated carbon cloth: Effect of oxygen content’. Physica B: Condensed Matter, pp 385-386, (2006).
Kim JH, Wu SH, Pendleton P. ‘Effects of surface properties of activated carbon on surfactant adsorption kinetics’, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 22, (2005), 705.
Badalyan A, Pendleton P. ‘Sample Container Temperature Gradient Influence on the BET Specific Surface Area’, J. Colloid Interface Sci, 283, 605 (2005).
Pendleton P, Badalyan A. G’as Adsorption Data Uncertainty and Propagation Analyses’, Adsorption, 11, 61 (2005).
Patents
Liquid nitrogen level control system
Name in which registered: Pendleton P, Badalyan A (Australia)
Year: 2007
Conferences
Chen L, Pendleton P. Effect of surface chemistry changes on neutron scattering for activated carbon cloth. IPE2007 Conference (Individual Protective Equipment), Poster Presentation, Melbourne, Australia, 16-19 October 2007.
Kim JH, Pendleton P, Badalyan A. Uncertainty in equations of state and their effects on the calculated surface excess adsorbed by activated carbon at high pressures. The 9th Fundamentals of Adsorption International Conference (FOA9), Giardini Naxos, Sicily, Italy, May 20-25, 2007.
Jarvis K, Barnes TJ, Prestidge CA, Badalyan A, Pendleton P. Porous silicon – a nano-structured delivery system. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, July 2006. ISBN: 1-4244-0453-3 Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/ICONN.2006.340672.
Fang SF, Pendleton P, Badalyan A. Adsorption of triclosan from aquatic solution by commercial powdered activated carbon. CRC for Water Quality and Treatment Postgraduate Conference, Melbourne, July 2006.
Fang SF, Pendleton P, Badalyan A. Abiotic removal of triclosan from aquatic solution: adsorption and oxidation. Workshop: Antimicrobial agents in waste and waste water: potential effects on soil processes and attenuation of contaminants, 31 October 2006, CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide.
Pendleton P. Activated carbon: Surface chemistry-pore size distribution and solution adsorption, Korea Carbon Festival, 2006, Chungnam, Korea, Nov 2006.
Pendleton P. Best practice and uncertainty analyses in isotherm measurements, Carbon 2006: Nanoporous Carbons, The Key to High-performance Filtration, July 2006, Aberdeen, UK
Park SY, Badalyan A, and Pendleton P. Synthesis of ordered mesoporous materials using supercritical carbon dioxide for drug delivery application, International Conference on Self-Assembly, June 2006, Seoul, Korea
Chen L, Pendleton P. International Conference on Neutron Scattering, 27 November-2 December 2005, Sydney, Australia.
Park SY, Badalyan A, Pendleton P. Controlled-release of allyl isothiocyanate from locally ordered mesoporous materials. 25 Australian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference, 6-10 February 2006, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia.
Fitzgerald F, Buff J, Badalyan A, Holmes M. Online disinfectant residual analyser evaluation. South Australian AWA Water Operators Conference, 6 April 2005, Educational Development Centre, Adelaide, Australia.
Holmes M, Chow Ch, May R, Badalyan A, Fitzgerald F, Nixon J, Dandy G, Maier H. Developing tools for improved disinfection control within water distribution systems. 2005 WEF/AWWA/IWA Disinfection Specialty Conference, Mesa, Arizona, 6-9 February, 2005.
Chun BS, Pendleton P, Badalyan A. The effect of supercritical fluids on the preparation of mesoporous silica. 7th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids (ISSF2005) (poster presentation), 1-4 May 2005, Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Pendleton P, Effect of uncertainty in pore volumes on the uncertainty in amount adsorbed at high-pressures on activated carbon cloth, Carbon for Energy Storage and Environment Protection, CESEP’05, October 2005, Orleans, FRA
For more information on the Centre for Molecular and Materials Sciences, please contact centre leader Associate Professor Phillip Pendleton on:
Phone: +61 8 8302 2188
Fax: +61 8 8302 1087
Email:
phillip.pendleton@unisa.edu.au