ASTech

The ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech) developed new capabilities and technologies that have the potential to progress the deployment of portable separation science systems into society, as well as training the next generation of industry-ready researchers.

Collaboration concept

ASTech was established as a $5.2M program over 3 years, including funding awarded by the Australian Research Council. Trajan was the sole commercial collaborator, in partnership with the University of Tasmania (UTAS), University of South Australia (UniSA) and La Trobe University; combining research and industry knowledge to innovate in product design, development and manufacturing techniques.

Like the Aztec Empire which began as an alliance of three Nahua city-states, Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan, ASTech is a triple alliance of academia, industry and government.

ASTech goals

ASTech keeps the end-user in mind, driving research innovations into industry production, ultimately for use by the scientific community and society – transforming research.

ASTech embodies a sustainable collaboration concept, a research partnership establishing a critical mass of HDR candidates, post-doctoral researchers, university-based and industry-based researchers, and business professionals to execute a research and development program with unique industry opportunities that crosses borders between academic and commercial worlds – transforming education.

Our focus is on developing new capabilities and technologies, looking for solutions that don’t exist in what we know now – transforming knowledge.

This will lead to the development of technologies that will drive the development of new, portable and affordable analytical separation systems, through transformation of analytical innovations into real-world applications, such as point-of-care diagnostics and environmental monitoring.

Research themes

ASTech encompasses research under three themes:

1. Sampling and preparation

  • Microsampling
  • Enzyme reactors and trap technology
  • Micro SPE (solid phase extraction)
  • Lab-in-a-syringe

2. Separation

  • Multidimensional strategies
  • Packed micro-channels
  • Microchip columns
  • Bio-selective phases

3. Detection

  • Interfaces for miniaturized MS
  • Optical biosensors
  • Platform integration

Collaborators

Collaborators

University of Tasmania

The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is Trajan's founding academic partner in ASTech. 

UTAS has a growing reputation as one of Australia’s foremost teaching and research institutions. With a history spanning 125 years, the university is ranked in the top ten research universities in Australia and in the top two per cent of universities in the world and has excellent facilities for research in separation science.

University of South Australia

The University of South Australia (UniSA) became an ASTech academic partner in 2016. 

UniSA has an outstanding track record in end-user driven research, and through the Future Industries Institute continues a commitment to conducting research that is deeply engaged with industry. UniSA is committed to solving complex, real-world problems in collaboration with government, industry, commerce, the professions and other community groups.

La Trobe University

La Trobe University (La Trobe) became an ASTech academic partner in 2017. 

La Trobe University is home to the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) and Centre for Materials and Surface Science (CMSS); with a commitment to solving global problems and improving the welfare of human societies.

Australian Research Council

The Australian Research Council (ARC) provided funding under the National Competitive Grants Program Industrial Transformation Training Centres Scheme to foster close partnerships between university-based researchers and industry to provide innovative training for young researchers vital to Australia’s future industry.

This includes ASTech, established by Trajan and UTAS.

People
Governance and management
Investigators
Industry supervisors
Past Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Outcomes

Work programs

1a. Micro‐sampling of whole blood and plasma-like fraction collection using porous Polymer Monolith Technology
1b. Micro-sampling of whole blood and plasma-like fraction collection of an accurate volume for PoCT
3. in vivo sampling strategies – development of a robust equilibrium approach
5a. For mixing and/or separation: Liquid- Liquid Extraction
5b. Electroseparations in a syringe
5c. Hand-held full blood count with differentiation
6. Smart Filters: Porous glass and composite biocompatible materials for frits, separation and extraction
7. Multi-dimensional chromatography: 2DLC
8a. Portable and capillary HPLC for biopharmaceutical analysis (I)
8b. Portable and capillary HPLC for biopharmaceutical analysis (II)
9. Novel mesoporous polymer phases for sample preparation
11. The development of affordable biosensors
11a. Raspberry Pi‐sensors: A new concept for low‐cost, portable sensing technology
16. Reduction Gas Detection for elemental mercury

Publications

Find in table:

Publication title Authors Publication Year
Compact capillary high performance liquid chromatography system for pharmaceutical on-line reaction monitoring Coates, L.J., Gooley, A., Lam, S.C., Riley, F., Paull, B. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2023, 1247, 340903 2023
Small footprint liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for pharmaceutical reaction monitoring and automated process analysis Hemida, M., Haddad, P.R., Lam, S.C., Sekulic, S., Paull, B. Journal of Chromatography A, 2021, 1656, 462545 2021
Small-Footprint, Field-Deployable LC/MS System for On-Site Analysis of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Soil Hemida, M., Ghiasvand, A., Gupta, V., Haddad, P.R., Paull, B. Analytical Chemistry, 2021, 93(35), pp. 12032–12040 2021
Hyphenated sample preparation-electrospray and nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for biofluid analysis Mikhail, I.E., Tehranirokh, M., Gooley, A.A., Guijt, R.M., Breadmore, M.C. Journal of Chromatography A, 2021, 1646, 462086 2021
In-Syringe Electrokinetic Protein Removal from Biological Samples prior to Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Mikhail, I.E., Tehranirokh, M., Gooley, A.A., Guijt, R.M., Breadmore, M.C. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 2020, 59(51), pp. 23162–23168 2020
Ultraviolet absorbance detector based on a high output power 235 nm surface mounted device-type light-emitting diode Lam, S.C., Coates, L.J., Gupta, V., Haddad, P.R., Paull, B. Journal of Chromatography A, 2020, 1631, 461540 2020
Miniature Multiwavelength Deep UV-LED-Based Absorption Detection System for Capillary LC Hemida, M., Coates, L.J., Lam, S., Haddad, P.R., Paull, B. Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92(20), pp. 13688–13693 2020
Modular, cost-effective, and portable capillary gradient liquid chromatography system for on-site analysis Coates, L.J., Lam, S.C., Gooley, A.A., Paull, B., Wirth, H.-J. Journal of Chromatography A, 2020, 1626, 461374 2020
Development of polydimethylsiloxane-microdiamond composite materials for application as sorptive devices Hasan, C.K., Wirth, H.-J., Gooley, A., Nesterenko, P.N., Paull, B. Journal of Chromatography A, 2020, 1613, 460669 2020
In-Syringe Electrokinetic Protein Removal from Biological Samples prior to Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Mikhail, I.E., Tehranirokh, M., Gooley, A.A., Guijt, R.M., Breadmore, M.C. Advanced Materials, 2020, 132(51), pp. 23362–23368 2020
Capillary gap flow cell as capillary-end electrochemical detector in flow-based analysis Islam, M.A., Lam, S.C., Li, Y., Atia, M.A., Mahbub, P., Nesterenko, P.N., Paull, B., Macka, M. Electrochimica Acta, 303, pp. 85-93 2019
Selective capillary electrophoresis separation of mono and divalent cations within a high-surface area-to-volume ratio multi-lumen capillary Nakatani, N., Cabot, J.M., Lam, S.C., Rodriguez, E.S., Paull, B. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1051, pp. 41-4 2019
On-line solvent exchange system: Automation from extraction to analysis Fornells, E., Hilder, E.F., Shellie, R.A., Breadmore, M.C. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1047, pp. 231-237 2019
Reversed-Phase Functionalised Multi-lumen Capillary as Combined Concentrator, Separation Column, and ESI Emitter in Capillary-LC–MS Rodriguez, E.S., Lam, S.C., Haddad, P.R., Paull, B. Chromatographia, 82(1), pp. 197-209 2019
Miniaturized micromachined gas chromatography with universal and selective detectors for targeted volatile compounds analysis Gras, R., Luong, J., Shellie, R.A. Journal of Chromatography A, 1573, pp. 151-155 2018
Low-Cost Passive Sampling Device with Integrated Porous Membrane Produced Using Multimaterial 3D Printing Kalsoom, U., Hasan, C.K., Tedone, L., Desire, C., Li, F., Breadmore, M.C., Nesterenko, P.N., Paull, B. Analytical Chemistry Volume 90(20), pp. 12081-12089 2018
Comparison of cation-exchange capillary columns used for ion chromatographic separation of biogenic amines Li, Y., Nesterenko, P.N., Stanley, R., Paull, B., Macka, M. Journal of Chromatography A, 2018, 1571, pp. 193-200 2018
Miniaturized capillary ion chromatograph with UV light-emitting diode based indirect absorbance detection for anion analysis in potable and environmental waters Murray, E., Li, Y., Currivan, S.A., Moore, B., Morrin, A., Diamond, D., Macka, M., Paull, B. Journal of Separation Science, 2018, 41(16), pp 3224-3231 2018
Flow injection gas chromatography with sulfur chemiluminescence detection for the analysis of total sulfur in complex hydrocarbon matrixes Hua, Y., Hawryluk, M., Gras, R., Shearer, R., Luong, J. Journal of Separation Science, 2018, 41(2), pp. 469-474 2018
Evaporative membrane modulation for comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography Fornells, E, Barnett, B., Bailey, M., Hilder, E.F, Shellie, R.A., Breadmore, M.C. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2018, 1000, pp. 303-309 2018
In situ methanation with flame ionization detection for the determination of carbon dioxide in various matrices Luong, J., Hua, Y., Gras, R., Hawryluk, M. Analytical Methods, 2018, 10(10), pp. 1275-1279 2018
Precise, accurate and user-independent blood collection system for dried blood spot sample preparation Neto, R., Gooley, A., Breadmore, M.C., Hilder, E.F., Lapierre, F., Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2018, 410(14), pp. 3315-3323 2018
Multi-channel capillaries and photonic crystal fibres for separation sciences Currivan, S., Upadhyay, N., Paull, B. TrAC – Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2018, 102, pp. 322-331 2018
Direct Measurement of Elemental Mercury Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography with Microwave-Induced Helium Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy Gras, R., Luong, J., Shellie, R.A. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2018, 2(5), pp. 471-478 2018
Positive Temperature Coefficient Compensating Heating for Analytical Devices Gras, R, Luong, J., Pursch, M., Shellie, R.A. Analytical Chemistry, 2018, 90(11), pp. 6426-6430 2018
Gas chromatography with simultaneous detection: Ultraviolet spectroscopy, flame ionization, and mass spectrometry Gras, R., Luong, J., Haddad, P.R., Shellie, R.A. Journal of Chromatography A, 2018, 1563, pp. 171-179 2018
Review of the structural characterization, quality evaluation, and industrial application of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides Wu, D.-T., Guo, H., Lin, S., Lam, S.-C, Zhao, L, Lin, D.-R., Qin, W. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 2018, 79, pp. 171-183 2018
High sensitivity deep-UV LED-based z-cell photometric detector for capillary liquid chromatography Li, Y., Nesterenko, P.N., Stanley, R., Paull, B., Macka, M. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2018, 1032, pp. 197-202 2018
Evaporative membrane modulation for comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography Fornells, E., Barnett, B., Bailey, M., (…), Shellie, R.A., Breadmore, M.C. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2018, 1000, pp. 303-309 2018
Recent advances in enhancing the sensitivity of electrophoresis and electrochromatography in capillaries and microchips (2014–2016) Breadmore, M.C., Wuethrich, A., Li, F., Phung, S.C., Kalsoom, U., Cabot, J.M., Tehranirokh, M., Shallan, A.I., Abdul Keyon, A.S., See, H.H., Dawod, M., Quirino, J.P. Electrophoresis, 2017, 38, 33-59 2017
Principles around Accurate Blood Volume Collection Using Capillary Action Lapierre, F., Gooley, A., Breadmore, M. Langmuir, 2017, 33(50), pp. 14220-14225 2017
The evolution of 3D printing Paull, B. LC-GC Europe, 2017, 30(11), pp. 611-612 2017
Membrane assisted and temperature controlled on-line evaporative concentration for microfluidics Fornells, E., Barnett, B., Bailey, M., Hilder, E.F., Shellie, R.A., Breadmore, M.C. Journal of Chromatography A, 2017, 1486, pp. 110-116 2017
High-throughput gas chromatography for volatile compounds analysis by fast temperature programming and adsorption chromatography Gras, R., Hua, Y., Luong, J. Journal of Separation Science, 2017, 40(9), pp. 1979-1984 2017
A simplified approach in flow controlled multi-dimensional gas chromatography Luong, J., Gras, R., Shellie, R.A. Analytical Methods, 2017, 9(19), pp. 2835-2839 2017
Gas chromatography with diode array detection in series with flame ionisation detection Gras, R., Luong, J., Shellie, R.A. Journal of Chromatography A, 2017, 1500, pp. 153-159 2017
Gas chromatography and diode array detection for the direct measurement of carbon disulfide in challenging matrices Gras, R., Luong, J., Shellie, R.A. Analytical Methods, 2017, 9(26), pp. 3908-3913 2017
Differential ion mobility spectrometry with temperature programmable micromachined gas chromatography for the determination of bis(chloromethyl)ether Luong, J., Gras, R., Shellie, R.A. Analytical Methods, 2017, 9(34), pp. 5003-5008 2017
A brief history and recent advances in ozone induced chemiluminescence detection for the determination of sulfur compounds by gas chromatography Luong, J., Gras, R., Hawryluk, M., Shearer, R. Analytical Methods, 2016, 8, 7014-7024 2016
Trace-level screening of dichlorophenols in processed dairy milk by headspace gas chromatography Gras, K., Luong, J., Gras, R., Shellie, R.A. Journal of Separation Science, 2016, 39, 3957-3963 2016
Thermal Independent Modulator for Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography Luong, J., Guan, X., Xu, S., Gras, R., Shellie, R.A. Analytical Chemistry, 2016, 88, 8428-8432 2016
Membrane assisted and temperature controlled on-line evaporative concentration for microfluidics Fornells, E., Barnett, B., Bailey, M., Shellie, R.A., Hilder, E.F., Breadmore, M.C. Journal of Chromatography A, 2016, 1486, 110-116 2016
New perspectives on the annihilation electrogenerated chemiluminescence of mixed metal complexes in solution Kerr, E., Doeven, E.H., Barbante, G.J., Hogan, C.F., Hayne, D.J., Donnelly, P.S., Francis, P.S. Chemical Science, 2016, 7, 5271-5279 2016
Cheers: Cracking open the bottleneck of extraction in bioanalysis Breadmore, M.C. Bioanalysis, 2015, 7, 3053-3055 2015
Direct Measurement of Trace Elemental Mercury in Hydrocarbon Matrices by Gas Chromatography with Ultraviolet Photometric Detection Gras, R., Luong, J., Shellie, R.A. Analytical Chemistry, 2015, 87, 11429-11432 2015

Citations and reports

ASTech papers have been cited over 150 times.

Co-authors on ASTech affiliated papers include:

  • Abdul Keyon, A.S.
  • Atia, M.A.
  • Bailey, M.
  • Barbante, G.J.
  • Barnett, B.
  • Breadmore, M.C.
  • Cabot, J.M.
  • Chen, W.Q.
  • Connolly, D.
  • Currivan, S.A.
  • Dawod, M.
  • Fornells, E.
  • Gooley, A.
  • Gras, R.
  • Haddad, P.R.
  • Hawryluk, M.
  • Hilder, E.F.
  • Hua, Y.
  • Kalsoon, U.
  • Lam, S.C.
  • Lapierre, F.
  • Li, F.
  • Li, Y.
  • Luong, J.
  • Macka, M.
  • Nesterenko, P.N.
  • Neto, R.
  • Paull, B.
  • Rodriguez, E.S.
  • Shearer, R.
  • Shellie, R.A.
  • Stanley, R.
  • Upadhyay, N.

Source titles for ASTech affiliated papers include:

  • ACS Earth and Space Chemistry
  • Advanced Materials
  • Angewandte Chemie - International Edition
  • Analyst
  • Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Analytica Chimica Acta
  • Analytical Methods
  • Bioanalysis
  • Chemical Science
  • Chromatographia
  • Electrochimica Acta
  • Electrophoresis
  • Journal of Chromatography A
  • Journal of Separation Science
  • Langmuir
  • LC GC Europe
  • Trac Trends in Analytical Chemistry
  • Trends in Food Science and Technology

International affiliations of ASTech affiliated papers include:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • Czech Republic
  • Bangladesh
  • Egypt
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Japan
  • Malaysia
  • Russian Federation
  • United States of America

ACROSS Annual Reports (includes highlights for ASTech)

Opportunities

Research

11 Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Scholarships and 3 Post-doctoral Research Fellowships (3 years funding) were recruited on a global basis, with research primarily undertaken at University of Tasmania and University of South Australia. Candidates and post-doctoral researchers also spent a minimum of one of the three years within industry, at Trajan and/or Trajan’s partner organizations around the world.

Partnerships

ASTech played an important part in Trajan’s mission to develop collaborative partnerships. Trajan engaged global business partners in some specific research themes. Supplemental agreements included exclusive engagement in a specific project element, deployment of a Centre research candidate within partner organization.

Commercialization

Explore our website to browse our product range, or learn more about specific innovations such as hemaPEN® (initial product concept developed through ASTech, with further development by Trajan).

More
Academic partnerships
Collaborations and technologies
Related news