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.

Research themes
ASTech encompasses research under three themes:
- Sampling and preparation
- Microsampling
- Enzyme reactors and trap technology
- Micro SPE (solid phase extraction)
- Lab-in-a-syringe
- Separation
- Multidimensional strategies
- Packed micro-channels
- Microchip columns
- Bio-selective phases
- Detection
- Interfaces for miniaturized MS
- Optical biosensors
- Platform integration
Collaborators
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.
Collaboration concept
ASTech (Analytical Separation Technologies) is the ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies. 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
Transforming Research, Education and Knowledge
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.
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) is committed to providing 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
The governance and management of ASTech consists of the Training Centre Director and the Steering Committee.
Training Centre Director
Steering Committee
- Prof Brett Paull, UTAS (Director)
- Prof Emily Hilder, UniSA (Deputy Director)
- Prof Michael Breadmore, UTAS
- Prof Brigid Heywood, UTAS
- Prof Simon Beecham, UniSA
- Mr Stephen Tomisich, Trajan
- Dr Andrew Gooley, Trajan
- Dr Rick Barber, Trajan
- Mr Robert Lyon, Trajan
- Assoc Prof Robert Shellie, Deakin
Investigators
ASTech Investigators are responsible for the intellectual conduct of the Project and for any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results.
- Prof Paul Haddad, Chief Investigator, UTAS
- Prof Emily Hilder, Chief Investigator, UniSA
- Dr Dario Arrua, Chief Investigator, UTAS
- Prof Michael Breadmore, Chief Investigator, UTAS
- Prof Brett Paull, Chief Investigator, UTAS
- Prof Pavel Nesterenko, Chief Investigator, UTAS
- Dr Rosanne Guijt, Chief Investigator, Deakin
- Dr Conor Hogan, Chief Investigator, La Trobe
- Dr Andrew Gooley, Partner Investigator, Trajan
- Assoc Prof Robert Shellie, Deakin
Industry Supervisors
ASTech Industry Supervisors are experts in the field of the subject matter and provide support from technical and commercial perspectives.
- Dr Andrew Gooley, Chief Scientific Officer, Trajan
- Dr Rick Barber, General Manager – New Product Introduction, Trajan
- Dr Hans-Jürgen Wirth, Principal Scientist, Trajan
- Dr Jason (Wei Boon) Hon, Research Scientist and Blood Lab Manager, Trajan
- Mr Andrew Uhe, Technology Manager, Trajan
Past Postdoctoral Research Fellows
ASTech Postdoctoral Research Fellows undertake research and assist with the supervision of HDR candidates.
Outcomes
Work programs
- ◄1a. Micro‐sampling of whole blood and plasma-like fraction collection using porous Polymer Monolith Technology
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Ricardo Neto
HDR Candidate -
Emily Hilder
Academic Supervisor -
Dario Arrua
Academic Supervisor -
Paul Haddad
Academic Supervisor -
Jason (Wei Boon) Hon
Trajan Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄1b. Micro-sampling of whole blood and plasma-like fraction collection of an accurate volume for PoCT
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Florian Lapierre
Post-doctoral Research Fellow -
Michael Breadmore
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor -
David Bailey
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄3. in vivo sampling strategies – development of a robust equilibrium approach
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Neeraj Verma
HDR Candidate -
Emily Hilder
Academic Supervisor -
Michael Breadmore
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor -
Hans-Jürgen Wirth
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄5a. For mixing and/or separation: Liquid- Liquid Extraction
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Masoomeh Tehrani-Rokh
Post-doctoral Research Fellow -
Michael Breadmore
Academic Supervisor -
Brett Paull
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Uhe
Trajan Supervisor -
Robert Shellie
Academic Supervisor
-
- ◄5b. Electroseparations in a syringe
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Ibraam Mikhail
HDR Candidate -
Masoomeh Tehrani-Rokh
Post-doctoral Research Fellow -
Michael Breadmore
Academic Supervisor -
Rosanne Guijt
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄5c. Hand-held full blood count with differentiation
-
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James Chan
HDR Candidate -
Emily Hilder
Academic Supervisor -
Michael Breadmore
Academic Supervisor -
Rick Barber
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄6. Smart Filters: Porous glass and composite biocompatible materials for frits, separation and extraction
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Chowdhury Kamrul Hasan
HDR Candidate -
Pavel Nesterenko
Academic Supervisor -
Brett Paull
Academic Supervisor -
Mike Bailey
Trajan Supervisor -
Hans-Jürgen Wirth
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄7. Multi-dimensional chromatography: 2DLC
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Elisenda Fornells Vernet
HDR Candidate -
Michael Breadmore
Academic Supervisor -
Emily Hilder
Academic Supervisor -
Mike Bailey
Trajan Supervisor -
Robert Shellie
Academic Supervisor
-
- ◄8a. Portable and capillary HPLC for biopharmaceutical analysis (I)
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John (Shing Chung) Lam
HDR Candidate -
Estrella Sanz-Rodriguez
Post-doctoral Research Fellow -
Brett Paull
Academic Supervisor -
Paul Haddad
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor -
Hans-Jürgen Wirth
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄8b. Portable and capillary HPLC for biopharmaceutical analysis (II)
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Lewellwyn Coates
HDR Candidate -
Brett Paull
Academic Supervisor -
Paul Haddad
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor -
Hans-Jürgen Wirth
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄9. Novel mesoporous polymer phases for sample preparation
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Sara Thomas
HDR Candidate -
Emily Hilder
Academic Supervisor -
Dario Arrua
Academic Supervisor -
Pavel Nesterenko
Academic Supervisor -
Rick Barber
Trajan Supervisor -
Hans-Jürgen Wirth
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄11. The development of affordable biosensors
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Gregory Barbante
Post-doctoral Research Fellow -
Emily Hilder
Academic Supervisor -
Hans-Jürgen Wirth
Trajan Supervisor
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- ◄11a. Raspberry Pi‐sensors: A new concept for low‐cost, portable sensing technology
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Conor Hogan
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor
-
- ◄16. Reduction Gas Detection for elemental mercury
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Ronda Gras
HDR Candidate -
Paul Haddad
Academic Supervisor -
Robert Shellie
Academic Supervisor -
Andrew Gooley
Trajan Supervisor -
Andrew Uhe
Trajan Supervisor
-
Publications
Find in table:
Publication title | Authors | Publication | Year |
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Reports and citations
ACROSS Annual Reports (includes highlights for ASTech)
- ACROSS Annual Report 2018 (web viewer) or download PDF
- ACROSS Annual Report 2017
- ACROSS Annual Report 2016
- ACROSS Annual Report 2015
- ACROSS Annual Report 2014
Citations of ASTech affiliated papers
ASTech papers have been cited 142 times to-date so far, with 74 of those citations in 2018, and 37 to-date in 2019.
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.
International affiliations of ASTech affiliated papers include:
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- Czech Republic
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- Germany
- Ireland
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Russian Federation
- United States of America
Source titles for ASTech affiliated papers include:
- ACS Earth and Space Chemistry
- 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
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.
To discuss partnership opportunities please contact us.
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).