Research
Research
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Our current research interests cover: (1) Crystallization from solution. We will pay special attentions in the crystallization of biomolecules (e.g., sugar, amino acid, and protein), active pharmaceutical ingredients, polymorphic compounds, drug coating by crystallization, and encapsulation of bioproducts by crystallization. (2) CFD in Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering equipment. (3) Production of biochemical products from agricultural materials (e.g., amino acids, sugar).
>> Crystallization of sugars is a separation, purification, or finishing step which is required in many industries. There found in many industries, for example, sugar industry (crystallization of sucrose), dairy industry (crystallization of lactose) and value adding for the starch industry (crystallization of fructose and glucose).
>> Many amino acids and active pharmaceutical ingredients occur as several crystal polymorphs (the same chemical in a different crystal structure) and/or pseudopolymorphs and solvates (the same chemical, but with a water or solvent molecule in the crystal structure. Polymorphs and solvates can have different mechanical, thermal, physical, and chemical properties, such as compressibility, melting point, crystal habit, color, density, dissolution rate, and solubility. Because of the different properties of polymorphs, it is advantageous to choose the proper polymorph for desired application. Therefore, in the crystallization processes involving polymorphs, the formation of the desired polymorph has to be controlled and such a process should be robust and reproducible. In the polymorphic crystallization, relative nucleation rates, relative growth rates, and the transformation of crystallizing polymorphs should be controlled individually.
>> There is an increasing use of the crystallization of proteins in the biopharmaceutical industry. This is since a high degree of purity of protein crystal is suitable for pharmaceutical products that have very stringent purity constraints. Moreover, the crystal is highly stable, facilitating transportation and storage of products. Below figure is solvent freeze out crystallization of lysozyme.
>> The encapsulation of therapeutic proteins is crucial need to increase the stability, control release, and control target a specific tissue. Crystallization is encapsulation process for maintaining the protein activity, and it is mild encapsulation process and suitable coating material is preferred.
>> CFD method is a body of knowledge and techniques to solve mathematical models of fluid dynamics on digital computers. Analysis of the different quantities in the process, and graphical solutions can be made by this method. This allows researchers to understand the flow phenomena, and to develop or alter design in the computer until a desirable solution is obtained before constructing a real system or model. This method reduces cost and time, there is no waste and no risk, it consumes less energy and is safer, etc. when compared to the experimental method. Below figure obtained from Wirapong Wantha and Adrian Flood. (2008). Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Flow in a DTB Crystallizer. Chemical Engineering Communication. 195(11): 1345-1370.
>> Bioprocess is any process that uses living cells to produce a product. Our research focus on the using the science and engineering for planning, designing, controlling, and building of biological processes to produce biochemicals (e.g., amino acids, sugar).
Current Research and Fund
Current Research and Fund
2021 – 2023 “Process Development for the Production of Bioenergy, Biochemicals, and Green Materials” the project is under the support of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) (Fiscal Year 2021-2022). [Project Leader]
2020 – 2022 “Purification of Protein Using Solvent Freeze Out Crystallization” the project is under the support of National Science and Technology Development Agency (Fiscal Year 2020). [Project Leader]
2020 – 2021 “Purification of Protein Using Crystallization Process” the project is under the support of Suranaree University of Technology Research and Development Support Fund (Fiscal Year 2020). [Project Leader]
2020 – 2021 “Effect of Additive on the Crystallization Process for the Purification of Amino Acid” the project is under the support of Suranaree University of Technology Research and Development Support Fund (Fiscal Year 2020). [Project Leader]
2018 – 2019 “Crystallization Phenomena of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Chemical Compound in the Model System of Human Body” the project is under the support of Suranaree University of Technology Research and Development Support Fund (Fiscal Year 2018). [Project Leader] (Finished)
2013 – 2015 “A Study into the Effectiveness of Crystallization Process in Purification of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients” the project is under the support of Thailand Research Fund through the New Researchers Grant (Fiscal Year 2013). [Project Leader] (Finished)
2013 – 2015 “Purification of Biomolecules Using Crystallization Process” the project is under the support of faculty of Engineering of BUU Research and Development Support Fund (Fiscal Year 2013). [Project Leader] (Finished)
2012 – 2014 “Crystallization Kinetics of the Polymorphs of Amino Acid” the project is under the support of faculty of Engineering of BUU Research and Development Support Fund (Fiscal Year 2012). [Project Leader] (Finished)
2012 – 2014 “A Study of the Growth Kinetics of Cane Sugar Crystals from Batch Crystallizer” the project is under the support of faculty of Engineering of BUU Research and Development Support Fund (Fiscal Year 2012). [Project Leader] (Finished)
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