Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai

Adjunct Senior Fellow

School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Faculty of Science

Overview

Dr. Pratheep Annamalai is a polymer and nanomaterials scientist with a keen interest in engineering materials for sustainable living. He is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. He has extensive expertise in both translational and fundamental research using nanotechnological tools towards sustainability. Currently, he is interested in alternative proteins and valorisation of agricultural crops and food waste into reactive, building blocks for improving the performance and utility of bioproducts. Thematically, his research focuses on

  • Food Processing (plant-based food products)
  • Bioproducts (from agri-food waste)
  • Sustainable building blocks (for advanced materials).

He also contributes to teaching and learning in the areas of food processing and nanotechnology applications in food.

Before joining UQ, Pratheep studied Chemistry in University of Madras, received PhD in Chemistry from University of Pune (India), then went on to work as a postdoctoral researcher on hydrophobic membranes at the Université Montpellier II (France), and on ‘stimuli-responsive smart materials’ at the Adolphe Merkle Institute - Université de Fribourg (Switzerland).

Upon being instrumental in the discovery of ‘spinifex nanofibre nanotechnology’ and establishing Australia’s first nanocellulose pilot-plant, he has been awarded UQ Excellence awards for leadership and industry partnerships for 2019. Recognising his contribution to the nanomaterials, polymer nanocomposites, polymer degradation and stabilisation regionally and globally, he has been invited to serve as a committee member for ISO/TC229-WG2 for characterisation of nanomaterials (2016), a mentor in TAPPI mentoring program (2018), guest/academic editor for various journals (Fibres, Int. J Polymer Science, PLOS One). He has served as a member of the UQ-LNR ethics committee for reviewing the applications (2017-) and a member of the AIBN-ECR committee in 2014

Research Interests

  • Bioproducts / Sustainable Building Products
    * Agri-food waste recycling & upcycling for circular economy * Nanocellulose from non-wood sources, fundamentals, and applications * Recovery of value-added materials from biomass
  • Engineered Materials (2012-2023)
    * The use of lignocellulose biomass and natural oils in insulation foams * Engineering the microstructure of foam for improving performance * Spinifex-based advanced materials * Elastomers and gels Advance Queensland Research (2016-2019) * Nanoparticles for improving performance and sustainability of cementitious materials (cement, mortar, concrete, and gypsum) * Nano-modified and polymer-modified bituminous materials ARC-Discovery Project (2015-2018) * Lignocellulose carbon precursors (fibre and anode material) UQ-Dow Centre (2014-2015) * Chemically engineering polyethylene for carbon fibre TenasiTech Pty Ltd (2012-2014) * Clay reinforced polymer nanocomposites * Polyurethanes: insulation foams, barrier sheets, golf balls and durable seals Acrylics: Anti-scratch materials

Research Impacts

Spinifex nanofibre nanotechnology The spinifex nanofibre nanotechnology has led to: 1) the benefit-sharing landmark agreement between Indigenous Australian community and UQ in 2015 ensuring the ongoing equity and involvement of their indigenous community in the project, 2) establishment of first nanocellulose pilot-scale plant in UQ Long Pocket Precinct with a 5kg/day production capacity by the support of both state and federal governments, and 3) promotion of the systematic harvesting of spinifex grass in regional Australia potentially providing training, jobs, and education in regional Australia, aligning with the major effort 'Closing the gap' by government. Over last seven years, this partnership has single-mindedly supported further R&D for utilising it as renewable functional additive for improving strength and durability of a wide range of materials spanning from rubber, recycled papers to building materials like cement and concrete.

Industry engagement

  • Dugalanji Aboriginal Corporation
  • Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)
  • Australian Road Research Board
  • Dow Chemicals USA (polyethylene)
  • TenasiTech Pty Ltd (Nanoclay Nanotech)

Pre-UQ

  • Polyurethane-Cellulose nanocrystals nanocomposites based Shape Memory Effect had become the thrust of further research and funding.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Pune
  • Masters (Research) of Science, University of Madras
  • Bachelor of Science, University of Madras

Publications

View all Publications

Publications

Featured Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Ramanujam, B.T.S., Haridass, Reshma, Muralidharan, Pranesh, Nanjundan, Ashok Kumar, Dubal, Deepak and Annamalai, Pratheep K. (2023). Electroactive polymers and their carbon nanocomposites for energy harvesting. Nanogenerators: basic concepts, design strategies, and applications. (pp. 361-396) edited by Inamuddin, Mohd Imran Ahamed, Rajender Boddula and Tariq Altalhi. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003187615-15

  • Abbasi, Arshiya, Aggarwal, Shalu, Akhtaruzzaman, M., Amin, Nowshad, Annamalai, Pratheep Kumar, Asim, Nilofar, Badiei, Marzieh, Bhat, Aabid Hussain, Chakravarty, Archana, Chaudhary, Shivani, Chaudhry, Saif Ali, Chawla, Harshita, Chhabra, Arvind, Chisti, Hamida-Tun-Nisa, Chopan, Nisar Ahmad, Choudhary, Gaurav, Csóka, Levente, Dabas, Neeru, Garg, Seema, Hosakun, Worakan, Ikram, Saiqa, Ingole, Pravin P., Jain, Vijay Prakash, Jaiswar, Gautam, Koser, Kulsoom, Mangla, Divyanshi, Martin, Darren J., Mohammad, Masita, Pennells, Jordan ... Yudha, S. Salprima (2022). List of contributors. Innovation in Nano-Polysaccharides for Eco-sustainability. (pp. xi-xii) Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823439-6.00020-9

  • Pennells, Jordan, Martin, Darren J. and Annamalai, Pratheep Kumar (2022). Nanocellulose: a sustainable nanomaterial for controlled drug delivery applications. Innovation in nano-polysaccharides for eco-sustainability: from science to industrial applications. (pp. 217-253) edited by Preeti Singh, Kaiser Manzoor, Saiqa Ikram and Pratheep Kumar Annamalai. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823439-6.00010-6

  • Ramanujam, B. T. S, Nanjundan, Ashok Kumar and Annamalai, Pratheep Kumar (2021). Nanocellulose-based carbon as electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Nanocellulose based composites for electronics. (pp. 295-312) edited by Sabu Thomas and Yasir Beeran Pottathara. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-822350-5.00012-6

  • Ramanujam, B. T. S. and Annamalai, Pratheep K. (2017). Conducting polymer-graphite binary and hybrid composites: structure, properties, and applications. Hybrid polymer composite materials: applications. (pp. 1-34) edited by Vijay Kumar Thakur, Manju Kumari Thakur and Asokan Pappu. Duxford, United Kingdom: Woodhead Publishing. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100785-3.00001-2

  • Annamalai, Pratheep K. and Depan, Dilip (2015). Nano-cellulose reinforced chitosan nanocomposites for packaging and biomedical applications. Green biorenewable biocomposites: from knowledge to industrial applications. (pp. 489-506) edited by Vijay Kumar Thakur and Michael R. Kessler. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press/Apple Academic Press.

  • Jorfi, Mehdi, Annamalai, Pratheep K. and Weder, Christoph (2014). Preparation of cellulose nanocrystal/polymer nanocomposites via sol-gel processes. Handbook of green materials: processing technologies, properties and applications. (pp. 23-34) edited by Kristiina Oksman, Aji P. Mathew, Alexander Bismarck, Orlando Rojas and Mohini Sain. Singapore, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing.

  • Jorfi, Mehdi, Amiralian, Nasim, Biyani, Mahesh V. and Annamalai, Pratheep K. (2013). Biopolymeric nanocomposites reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose. Biomass-based biocomposites. (pp. 277-304) Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom: Smithers Rapra Technology.

  • Annamalai, P.K. and Singh, R.P. (2011). Biopolymeric nanocomposites as environment benign materials. Cellulose Fibers: Bio- and Nano-Polymer Composites. (pp. 519-535) edited by Susheel Kalia, B. S. Kaith and Inderjeet Kaur. Verlag, Germany: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-17370-7_20

  • Lonkar, S.P., Kumar, A.P. and Singh, R.P. (2011). Commercial aspects associated with bionanocomposites. Nanocomposites with Biodegradable Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Future Perspectives. (pp. 400-419) edited by Vikas Mittal. Oxford UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199581924.003.0016

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Note for students: Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai is not currently available to take on new students.

Current Supervision

Completed Supervision