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PhD (Queensland University of Technology), Master of Engineering Science (James Cook Uni. of North Qld)
Darryn Rackemann has over 22 years experience in undertaking R&D and consulting for raw sugar mills and other clients. Over this time he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of the sugar industry in the areas of clarification and filtration technology and evaporation and crystallisation vessel design and operation. Dr Darryn Rackemann has developed CFD modelling tools and knowledge (including multi–phase and multi–component flows) to evaluate enhanced process vessel designs and has also trained other staff in CFD modelling techniques. Darryn has completed a Masters in Chemical Engineering on heat and mass transfer in crystallization unit operations and was responsible for the design of proprietary circulation and heat transfer assistance technology (SRI Jigger Tube System) for improving the performance of crystallisation pans. This technology is promoted worldwide. Darryn completed a PhD program exploring environmentally friendly and efficient solvolysis processes to target bio-chemical products (e.g. platform chemicals and biofuels) from the carbohydrate content of lignocellulosics.
Recently Darryn has been involved in a number of sugar factory and refinery design and review projects undertaking activities including developing Process Flow Diagrams, Heat and Mass Balance considerations and Process and Instrumentation Diagrams and preparing and reviewing proposed sugar factory and refinery process and equipment design, equipment selection and equipment layout. Darryn is also currently involved in research projects examining biomass pretreatment and processing strategies, and production of renewable fuels, biochemicals and biomaterials at both laboratory and pilot scale.
Projects (Chief investigator)
- Investigations to mitigate the effects of juice degradation in factory evaporators on sugar recovery and quality, corrosion and effluent organic loading
- Mercurius Australia
Projects
- Assess operations at each Australian factory to identify opportunities for improvement
- Australian sugar industry training
- Biorefineries for Profit
- Development of factory training for the Australian Sugar Industry
Additional information
- 2022 to Current Associate Professort, CAB - Bioprocessing, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology
- 2017 to 2021 Senior Research Fellow, CTCB - Bioprocessing, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology
- 2014 to 2016 Research Fellow, CTCB - Bioprocessing, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology
- 2005 to 2014Research Fellow, Sugar Research and Innovation, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology.
- 2000 to 2005 Process Engineer, Sugar Research Institute
- Shi, C., Xie, C., Zhang, Z., Rackemann, D., Wei, B., Hang, F., Lu, H., Li, K. & Doherty, W. (2021). Sugar and value-added products derived from retentate concentrate of sugarcane juice. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/205170
- Athukoralalage Don, K., Atanda, L., Moghaddam, L., Rackemann, D., Beltramini, J. & Doherty, W. (2020). Heterogeneous catalytic conversion of sugars into 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid. Frontiers in Chemistry, 8. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/203850
- Shi, C., Rackemann, D., Moghaddam, L., Wei, B., Li, K., Lu, H., Xie, C., Hang, F. & Doherty, W. (2019). Ceramic membrane filtration of factory sugarcane juice: Effect of pretreatment on permeate flux, juice quality and fouling. Journal of Food Engineering, 243, 101–113. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/123063
- Rackemann, D., Bartley, J. & Doherty, W. (2019). Solvolysis of sugarcane bagasse: Strategy to increase the yields of secondary fuel precursors. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 58(38), 17736–17745. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/132959
- Howard, J., Rackemann, D., Bartley, J., Samori, C. & Doherty, W. (2018). Conversion of sugar cane molasses to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using molasses and bagasse-derived catalysts. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 6(4), 4531–4538. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/223652
- Moghaddam, L., Rencoret, J., Maliger, V., Rackemann, D., Harrison, M., Gutierrez, A., del Rio, J. & Doherty, W. (2017). Structural characteristics of bagasse furfural residue and its lignin component: An NMR, Py-GC/MS, and FTIR study. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 5(6), 4846–4855. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/107561
- Zhang, Z., Harrison, M., Rackemann, D., Doherty, W. & O'Hara, I. (2016). Organosolv pretreatment of plant biomass for enhanced enzymatic saccharification. Green Chemistry, 18(2), 360–381. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/91323
- Rainey, T., Thaval, O. & Rackemann, D. (2014). Developments in mud filtration technology in the sugarcane industry. Sugarcane: Production, consumption and agricultural management systems, 263–292. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/75614
- Rackemann, D., Moghaddam, L., Rainey, T., Fellows, C., Hobson, P. & Doherty, W. (2012). Hydrothermal technologies for the production of fuels and chemicals from biomass. In V. Singh & R. Sanghi (Eds.), Green Chemistry for Environmental Remediation (pp. 291–342). John Wiley & Sons. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/50775
- Rackemann, D. & Doherty, W. (2011). The conversion of lignocellulosics to levulinic acid. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 5(2), 198–214. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/40645
- Title
- Pan Design and Operational Changes to Suit Australian Pan Stages Operating on Low Pressure Vapour (4342)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- RB015
- Start year
- 2018
- Keywords
- Low Pressure Vapour; Massecuite Circulation; Sugar Crystallisation; Sugar Manufacture; Vacuum Pan Design
- Title
- Investigations to Mitigate the Effects of Juice Degradation in Factory Evaporators on Sugar Recovery and Quality, Corrosion and Effluent Organic Loading (4300)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 2017/007
- Start year
- 2017
- Keywords
- Title
- A profitable future for Australian agriculture: Biorefineries for higher-value animal feeds, chemicals, and fuels (RnD4Profit 14-01-044) (4207)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 2015/902
- Start year
- 2016
- Keywords
- Agriculture; Bioproducts; Biorefinery; Diversification; Value Chain
- Title
- Develop a Blueprint for the Introduction of New Processing Technologies for Australian Factories (4220)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 2015/043-RB003
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- Crystallisation Pans; Falling Film Evaporators; Juice Evaporation; Steam Economy