Dr Michael Kauter

Academic Background:
BE (Chemical Engineering) - UNSW, Hons IIA (1987)
PhD (Chemical Engineering) - UQ (2003)

Current Position: 

Currently working with Nestle in Switzerland   

Background with PSDC:

Graduated during early 2003 from a PhD in Chemical Engineering with the successful completion of the research project entitled "The effect of impurities on lactose crystallization" advised by Prof Jim Litster and E/Prof Ted White.

Previous Research Project Outline:
Research on lactose crystallization in this group has previously focussed on the growth of lactose crystals. In this research project I will focus on nucleation (ie the formation of) lactose crystals. It is thought that natural impurities present in concentrated whey permeate solutions may have an effect on the nucleation kinetics of lactose. The research program includes characterising nucleation rates in pure lactose solutions, and investigating the effect of process variables such as supersaturation, stirrer speed, and solution temperature. Nucleation rate measurements will also be done using solutions containing various soluble and insoluble impurities that exist in whey solutions. The data from this project will be used to enhance a model for industrial lactose crystallization that was developed within this group. The lactose manufacturing factories in Australia utilise this model. The Dairy Research and Development Corporation fund this project.