Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai
Dr

Pratheep Kumar Annamalai

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Background

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).

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.

Availability

Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Bioprocessing, bioproduction and bioproducts Chemical Sciences Civil engineering Composite and hybrid materials Construction materials Crop and pasture biomass and bioproducts Crop and pasture production Engineering Food sciences Forestry biomass and bioproducts Forestry sciences Functional materials Industrial biotechnology Macromolecular and materials chemistry Materials engineering Nanomaterials Non-Newtonian fluid flows (incl. rheology) Polymers and plastics Timber, pulp and paper Wood fibre processing Wood processing

Qualifications

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

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.

Search Professor Pratheep Kumar Annamalai’s works on UQ eSpace

145 works between 2003 and 2025
All (145) Journal Article (90) Book Chapter (10) Conference Publication (42) Book (1) Other Outputs (2)

121 - 140 of 145 works

2011

Journal Article

Studies on the feasibility of recycled polystyrene doped with NLO active meta-Nitroaniline for optoelectronics applications

Sureshkumar, M. S., Goyal, R. K., Negi, Y. S., Pratheepkumar, A., Reddy, K. Raghunatha, Singh, R. P., Dadge, J. W. and Aiyer, R. C. (2011). Studies on the feasibility of recycled polystyrene doped with NLO active meta-Nitroaniline for optoelectronics applications. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 22 (12), 1865-1871. doi: 10.1002/pat.1685

Studies on the feasibility of recycled polystyrene doped with NLO active meta-Nitroaniline for optoelectronics applications

2011

Journal Article

Kinetics of mass transfer during vapour-induced phase separation (VIPS) process and its influence on poly-(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane structure and surface morphology

Annamalai, Pratheep Kumar, Pochat-Bohatier, Celine, Bouyer, Denis, Li, Chia-Ling, Deratani, Andre and Wang, Da-Ming (2011). Kinetics of mass transfer during vapour-induced phase separation (VIPS) process and its influence on poly-(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane structure and surface morphology. Desalination and Water Treatment, 34 (1-3), 204-210. doi: 10.5004/dwt.2011.2809

Kinetics of mass transfer during vapour-induced phase separation (VIPS) process and its influence on poly-(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane structure and surface morphology

2011

Journal Article

Bioinspired mechanically adaptive polymer nanocomposites with water-activated shape-memory effect

Mendez, Julie, Annamalai, Pratheep K., Eichhorn, Stephen J., Rusli, Rafeadah, Rowan, Stuart J., Foster, E. Johan and Weder, Christoph (2011). Bioinspired mechanically adaptive polymer nanocomposites with water-activated shape-memory effect. Macromolecules, 44 (17), 6827-6835. doi: 10.1021/ma201502k

Bioinspired mechanically adaptive polymer nanocomposites with water-activated shape-memory effect

2011

Book Chapter

Commercial aspects associated with bionanocomposites

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

Commercial aspects associated with bionanocomposites

2011

Book Chapter

Biopolymeric nanocomposites as environment benign materials

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

Biopolymeric nanocomposites as environment benign materials

2011

Conference Publication

Bio-Inspired Mechanically-Adaptive Polymer - Cellulose Nanofiber Nanocomposites,

Pratheep Kumar Annamalai, Mehdi Jorfi, Mahesh Biyani, E Johan Foster and Christoph Weder (2011). Bio-Inspired Mechanically-Adaptive Polymer - Cellulose Nanofiber Nanocomposites,. NanoEvent, Fribourg, Switzerland, 22 November 2011.

Bio-Inspired Mechanically-Adaptive Polymer - Cellulose Nanofiber Nanocomposites,

2010

Journal Article

Preparation and characterization of bioceramic nanocomposites based on hydroxyapatite (HA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)

Kumar, Annamalai Pratheep, Mohaideen, Kamal Khaja, Alariqi, Sameh A. S. and Singh, Raj Pal (2010). Preparation and characterization of bioceramic nanocomposites based on hydroxyapatite (HA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Macromolecular Research, 18 (12), 1160-1167. doi: 10.1007/s13233-010-1208-3

Preparation and characterization of bioceramic nanocomposites based on hydroxyapatite (HA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)

2010

Conference Publication

Kinetics of mass transfer kinetics during vapour-induced phase separation (VIPS) and its influence on PVDF membrane surface morphology

Annamalai, Pratheep Kumar , Pochat-Bohatier, Celine , Bouyer, Denis , Li, Chan Ming , Deratani, Andre and Wang, Da Ming (2010). Kinetics of mass transfer kinetics during vapour-induced phase separation (VIPS) and its influence on PVDF membrane surface morphology. 6th conference of the Aseanian Membrane Society in conjunction with the 7th International Membrane Science and Technology Conference (AMS6/IMSTEC 10), Sydney, NSW., Australia, 22-26 November 2010. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.

Kinetics of mass transfer kinetics during vapour-induced phase separation (VIPS) and its influence on PVDF membrane surface morphology

2009

Journal Article

Single Step Synthesis and Properties of M/MFe2O4 and PVDF/M/MFe2O4 (M= Co, Ni) Magnetic Nanocomposites

Deka, Sasanka, Joy, P. A. and Kumar, A. Pratheep (2009). Single Step Synthesis and Properties of M/MFe2O4 and PVDF/M/MFe2O4 (M= Co, Ni) Magnetic Nanocomposites. Science of Advanced Materials, 1 (3), 262-268. doi: 10.1166/sam.2009.1053

Single Step Synthesis and Properties of M/MFe2O4 and PVDF/M/MFe2O4 (M= Co, Ni) Magnetic Nanocomposites

2009

Journal Article

Effect of γ-dose rate on crystallinity and morphological changes of γ-sterilized biomedical polypropylene

Slariqi, Sameh A. S, Kumar, A. Pratheep, Rao, B. S. M. and Singh, R. P. (2009). Effect of γ-dose rate on crystallinity and morphological changes of γ-sterilized biomedical polypropylene. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 94 (2), 272-277. doi: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2008.10.027

Effect of γ-dose rate on crystallinity and morphological changes of γ-sterilized biomedical polypropylene

2009

Journal Article

Cell proliferation and controlled drug release studies of nanohybrids based on chitosan-g-lactic acid and montmorillonite

Depan, Dilip, Kumar, Annamalai Pratheep and Singh, Raj Pal (2009). Cell proliferation and controlled drug release studies of nanohybrids based on chitosan-g-lactic acid and montmorillonite. Acta Biomaterialia, 5 (1), 93-100. doi: 10.1016/j.aetbio.2008.08.007

Cell proliferation and controlled drug release studies of nanohybrids based on chitosan-g-lactic acid and montmorillonite

2008

Journal Article

Biocomposites of cellulose reinforced starch: improvement of properties by photo-induced crosslinking

Kumar, Annamalai Pratheep and Singh, Raj Pal (2008). Biocomposites of cellulose reinforced starch: improvement of properties by photo-induced crosslinking. Bioresource Technology, 99 (18), 8803-8809. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.04.045

Biocomposites of cellulose reinforced starch: improvement of properties by photo-induced crosslinking

2007

Journal Article

Photo-stabilization of EPDM-clay nanocomposites: effect of antioxidant on the preparation and durability

Lonkar, S.P., Kumar, A.P. and Singh, R.P. (2007). Photo-stabilization of EPDM-clay nanocomposites: effect of antioxidant on the preparation and durability. Polymers For Advanced Technologies, 18 (11), 891-900. doi: 10.1002/pat.925

Photo-stabilization of EPDM-clay nanocomposites: effect of antioxidant on the preparation and durability

2007

Journal Article

Novel hybrid of clay, cellulose, and thermoplastics. I. Preparation and characterization of composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer

Kumar, Annamalai Pratheep and Singh, Raj Pal (2007). Novel hybrid of clay, cellulose, and thermoplastics. I. Preparation and characterization of composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 104 (4), 2672-2680. doi: 10.1002/app.25659

Novel hybrid of clay, cellulose, and thermoplastics. I. Preparation and characterization of composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer

2007

Journal Article

Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers. Part II. Polypropylene matrix

Alariqi, Sameh A. S., Kumar, A. Pratheep, Rao, B. S. M. and Singh, R. P. (2007). Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers. Part II. Polypropylene matrix. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 92 (2), 299-309. doi: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2006.10.010

Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers. Part II. Polypropylene matrix

2006

Journal Article

Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers

Alariqi, Sameh. A. S., Kumar, A. Pratheep, Rao, B. S. M., Tevtia, Amit K. and Singh, R. P. (2006). Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 91 (10), 2451-2464. doi: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2006.03.010

Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers

2006

Journal Article

Preparation and characterization of novel hybrid of chitosan-g-lactic acid and montmorillonite

Depart, Dilip, Kumar, Annamalai Pratheep and Singh, Raj Pal (2006). Preparation and characterization of novel hybrid of chitosan-g-lactic acid and montmorillonite. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part a, 78 (2), 372-382. doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.30738

Preparation and characterization of novel hybrid of chitosan-g-lactic acid and montmorillonite

2006

Journal Article

Photo-/Bio-degradability of agro waste and ethylene-propylene copolymers composites under abiotic and biotic environments

Kumar, A. Pratheep, Pandey, Jitendra K., Kumar, Bijendra and Singh, R. P. (2006). Photo-/Bio-degradability of agro waste and ethylene-propylene copolymers composites under abiotic and biotic environments. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 14 (2), 203-212. doi: 10.1007/s10924-006-0012-9

Photo-/Bio-degradability of agro waste and ethylene-propylene copolymers composites under abiotic and biotic environments

2006

Journal Article

Biodegradation of γ-sterilised biomedical polyolefins under composting and fungal culture environments

Alariqi, SAS, Kumar, AP, Rao, BSM and Singh, RP (2006). Biodegradation of γ-sterilised biomedical polyolefins under composting and fungal culture environments. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 91 (5), 1105-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2005.07.004

Biodegradation of γ-sterilised biomedical polyolefins under composting and fungal culture environments

2005

Journal Article

Durability of natural fiber-reinforced composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer under accelerated weathering and composting conditions

Kumar, AP, Depan, D and Singh, RP (2005). Durability of natural fiber-reinforced composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer under accelerated weathering and composting conditions. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 18 (6), 489-508. doi: 10.1177/0892705705054411

Durability of natural fiber-reinforced composites of ethylene-propylene copolymer under accelerated weathering and composting conditions

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2020
    Addressing bio-composite technology gaps
    Composites Innovation Centre Manitoba Inc
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Preparation of Nanocellulose & Nanocomposites as Multifunctional Materials derived from Biomass towards Sustainable Developments (SPARC grant administered by Jamia Millia Islamia)
    Jamia Millia Islamia
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Advance Queensland Research Fellowship (Mid): Easily deconstructed spinifex nanofibres for the enhancement of high performance construction materials
    Advance Queensland Research Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai directly for media enquiries about:

  • Construction Materials
  • Nanocellulose
  • Nanomaterials
  • Nanotechnology
  • Polymers
  • Renewable Resources
  • Spinifex
  • Sustainable
  • Sustainable materials
  • Waste Recycling

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