
Professor Ian O'Hara
Science and Engineering Faculty,School of Mechanical Medical & Process Engineering
Personal details
- Name
- Professor Ian O'Hara
- Position(s)
- Principal Research Scientist
Science and Engineering Faculty,
School of Mechanical Medical & Process Engineering - Discipline *
- Chemical Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology
- Phone
- +61 7 3138 1551
- i.ohara@qut.edu.au
- Location
- View location details (QUT staff and student access only)
- Identifiers and profiles
-
- Qualifications
-
PhD (Queensland University of Technology), Master of Business Administration (Technology Management) (Deakin University), Bachelor of Engineering (University of Queensland)
- Professional memberships
and associations Member, Institution of Engineers, Australia (MIEAust)
Certified Professional Engineer (CPEng)
National Professional Engineers Register (NPER)
Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ)
Member, Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
- Keywords
-
Bioeconomy, Bioenergy, Biofuels, Biomass utilisation, Biorefining, Bioproducts, Industrial biotechnology, Lignocellulose, Pilot plant, Techno-economics
Biography
Ian O’Hara is Deputy Director of the QUT Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy (CAB). Ian is a leading expert in technologies and systems for development of the bioeconomy and bio-based products including biofuels, bioenergy and biomaterials. In addition to his academic role, Ian also represents the Queensland Government as the Biofutures Industry Envoy and acts as an ambassador for Queensland’s biofutures industry and industrial biotechnology sector. As the Envoy, Ian provides strategic advice to government and assists in securing domestic and international investment to grow the Biofutures sector. Ian is the Australian representative on the International Advisory Committee for the Global Bioeconomy Summit and is a Senior Editor for EFB Bioeconomy Journal.
Ian led the development of the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant (MRBPP) – a unique publicly accessible pilot scale research facility in Australia for the development and demonstration of processing technologies for the manufacture of biofuels and bioproducts.
Ian is a Chemical Engineer with extensive experience in research, consulting, policy development, operations management, process design and engineering. Ian works closely with industry and undertakes consulting projects globally in areas including bioeconomy development, technology optimisation, development of agricultural precincts, techno-economics, business strategy and process improvement.
Key Research areas
Ian’s current research interests include:
- bioeconomy development
- industrial biotechnology
- biofuels and bioenergy
- biorefining and biochemicals production
- process engineering
- pilot plant development, scale up and process demonstration
- techno-economic assessments
Recent research has focussed on the technical and economic development of biofuel and bioproduct production systems including feedstock supply, bioprocessing technologies, techno-economics and systems analysis. In particular this includes:
Biomass pretreatment
- Use of green solvents for biomass pretreatment including glycerol, other polyols and ionic liquids
- Lower cost production of fermentable sugars via pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass
- Pilot plant demonstration of a wide range of pretreatment technologies
- Mathematical modelling of dilute acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse
Production of bioproducts
- Production of organic acids, lipids and alcohols via microbial fermentation
- Extraction and utilisation of lignin for the production of bioproducts
- Production of biodiesel from new feedstocks and improved production technologies
- Production of enhanced animal feeds
- Economic and techno-economic modelling of biorefinery and bioproduct systems including use of complex decision analysis techniques
Bioeconomy systems – feedstocks, technologies and markets
- Conversion of agricultural and livestock wastes into valuable products
- Valorisation and reduction of food wastes
- Technical and economic modelling of integrated sugar and biorefining processes
- Synthetic biology markets and products
- Regional bioeconomy development
Selected keynote and plenary presentations
- Bundaberg Bioeconomy Conference. Bundaberg. 2020
- 1st Indo Asean Oceanic Business Summit & Expo. 2020
- Local Government Association of Queensland. Future Economy Series. 2020
- Thai Institute of Chemical Engineers and Applied Chemistry Conference. 2020
- Queensland Asia Pacific Bioeconomy Policy Summit. Brisbane. 2019
- Queensland Advanced Biomanufacturing Forum. Brisbane. 2019
- 7th International Yeast and Synthetic Genomes conference. Sydney. 2018
- Renewable Energy Asia. Thailand. 2016
- Asia Biohydrogen and Biorefinery Symposium (Asia Biohylinks). Malaysia. 2014
- 1st ASEAN Conference on Microbial Biotechnology. Thailand. 2014
Representation
- Queensland Biofutures Industry Envoy
- Queensland Biofutures Industry Advisory Committee
- International Advisory Council, Global Bioeconomy Summit, Germany
- External Advisory Board, Biomass Energy Network, Alberta, Canada
- Cleaner Fuels Alliance, Bioenergy Australia
Teaching
Lecturing
- ENB363 Safety and Environmental Management (for Process Engineers)
Industrial training
- Sugar Industry Chemical Process Supervision course
- Sugar Industry Advanced Chemical Process Supervision course
- Understanding the Sugar Industry Value Chain, Sugar Advisory Services Development Program (SASDP)
Experience
Over my career I have worked for many years in industry and developed a robust understanding of the demands and challenges of agricultural and manufacturing industries. Many industries are challenged by the reliance on traditional commodity products in global markets. In these industries, there is a strong need for agricultural and industrial transformation and product diversification in new markets. Opportunities exist through innovation in biotechnology and green chemistry to develop new environmentally sustainable processes and products which meet consumer needs and enhance economic sustainability of industry, and hence grow the global bioeconomy.
Research
I have experience in leading large complex multi-party research projects. Increasingly, this work is focussed on the conversion of agricultural, livestock and food industry wastes into new products of commercial value. Understanding and analysing the economic opportunities for the growth of the bioeconomy and the benefits in regional growth and jobs is a key focus.
Key research areas include:
Organic solvent-based pretreatment of biomass
My work is widely recognised internationally for contribution to the development and demonstration of technologies for the pretreatment of biomass using organic solvents. As program leader for the Bioprocessing team within the Syngenta Centre for Sugarcane Biofuels Development, I led a team to develop biomass pretreatment technologies based on high boiling point organic solvents including glycerol and other polyols. The technologies developed resulted in publication and granted patents in 3 patent families. The technologies were also scaled up to a pilot scale and these studies were published.
Scale up of bio-based technologies
As designer and program leader for the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant, I have worked to advance bioprocess engineering through technology scale-up. Over the past decade, the facility has demonstrated a wide range of technologies including biomass pretreatment, fermentation and downstream bioprocesses to produce organic acids, microbial lipids, and probiotics.
Techno-economic assessment of bio-based technologies
I have worked extensively on understanding the factors affecting the development of bio-based technologies for the production of bio-based products. My work has advanced knowledge of the availability of biomass feedstocks in Australia including through participating with state governments in the development of the Australian Biomass for Bioenergy (ABBA) assessment which is displayed on the Australian Renewable Energy Mapping Interface (AREMI). I have undertaken assessments of biomass availability for technologies and / or regions. This work has explored the key factors influencing yield, efficiency and profitability of process technologies including through the use of multi-criteria decision analysis for the selection of optimal processes.
Publications
- Ketsub N, Latif A, Kent G, Doherty W, O'Hara I, Zhang Z, Kaparaju P, (2021) A systematic evaluation of biomethane production from sugarcane trash pretreated by different methods, Bioresource Technology
- Jayarathna K, Kent G, O'Hara I, Hobson P, (2020) A Geographical Information System based framework to identify optimal location and size of biomass energy plants using single or multiple biomass types, Applied Energy
- Gebbie L, Dam T, Ainscough R, Palfreyman R, Cao L, Harrison M, O'Hara I, Speight R, (2020) A snapshot of microbial diversity and function in an undisturbed sugarcane bagasse pile, BMC Biotechnology
- Cox S, Parker R, O'Hara I, Sinclair S, (2021) Coordination and legitimacy in the Australian biofuels innovation system 1979 - 2017, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions p54-67
- Hassanpour M, Abbasabadi M, Strong J, Gebbie L, Te'o V, O'Hara I, Zhang Z, (2020) Scale-up of two-step acid-catalysed glycerol pretreatment for production of oleaginous yeast biomass from sugarcane bagasse by Rhodosporidium toruloides, Bioresource Technology
- Cai G, Moghaddam L, O'Hara I, Zhang Z, (2019) Microbial oil production from acidified glycerol pretreated sugarcane bagasse by Mortierella isabellina, RSC Advances p2539-2550
- O'Hara I, Glenn D, (2017) The economic case for bioeconomy development in Australia, Industrial Biotechnology p65-68
- O'Hara I, Mundree S, (2016) Sugarcane-based biofuels and bioproducts, Wiley-Blackwell
- Zhang Z, O'Hara I, Mundree S, Gao B, Ball A, Zhu N, Bai Z, Jin B, (2016) Biofuels from food processing wastes, Current Opinion in Biotechnology p97-105
- Zhang Z, Harrison M, Rackemann D, Doherty W, O'Hara I, (2016) Organosolv pretreatment of plant biomass for enhanced enzymatic saccharification, Green Chemistry p360-381
For more publications by this staff member, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.
Awards
Awards and recognition
- Type
- Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Senior editor of EFB Bioeconomy Journal
- Type
- Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Invited Speaker - 1st Indo Asean Oceanic Business Summit & Expo. India (via zoom)
- Type
- Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Plenary speaker, Thai Institute of Chemical Engineers and Applied Chemistry Conference. Bangkok, Thailand - Via zoom
- Type
- Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
- Reference year
- 2019
- Details
- Session chair, invited speaker, and conference co-organiser, Life Sciences Queensland. Asia Pacific Bioeconomy Policy Summit.
- Type
- Assessor, Examiner or Supervisor Role
- Reference year
- 2018
- Details
- Judge at Energy Labs Hackathon
- Type
- Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
- Reference year
- 2018
- Details
- Invited speaker, Panel session on synthetic biology. 7th International Yeast and Synthetic Genomes conference
- Type
- Advisor/Consultant for Industry
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- Appointed as Co-Chair of the R&D Implementation Advisory Committee of the MLA Supply Chain Sustainability Program
- Type
- Appointment to Prestigious Positions
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- International Advisory Committee - Global Bioeconomy Summit
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- Chair of the Biofutures Industry Advisory Committee
- Type
- Appointment to Prestigious Positions
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Queensland Biofutures Industry Envoy
Research projects
Grants and projects (Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants only)
- Title
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- CE200100029
- Start year
- 2020
- Keywords
- Title
- Biorefineries for Profit - Phase 2 (RnD4Profit 18-04-016 | 2019/902) (4207/4395)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 4-BA20OPM
- Start year
- 2019
- Keywords
- Agriculture; Bioproducts; Biorefinery; Diversification; Value Chain
- Title
- Cost Effective Renewable Hydrogen through Materials, Modelling and Process Innovation
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- MG030
- Start year
- 2018
- Keywords
- Battery and Solar Power, Hydrogen Production, Microgrid Integration, Renewable Energy, Water Electrolysis
- Title
- Wastes to Profits: Value Propositions for Better Management of Wastes in Animal Industry Supply Chains (4303)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- V.RDP.3010
- Start year
- 2018
- 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
- Integrated technologies for economically sustainable bio-based energy(Grand Challenges)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- GCF020010
- Start year
- 2013
- Keywords
- Biomass; Biofuel; Biorefinery; Ethanol; Alkanes; Lignin
- Title
- Revenue diversification from sugarcane fibre: novel technologies for the processing of bagasse for low-cost biofuels production
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- QUT051
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Pretreatment; Biofuels; Ethanol
- Title
- Developing a New Renewable Fuel and Food Industry in Australia: Sweet Sorghum
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- PRJ-005254
- Start year
- 2010
- Keywords
- Sweet Sorghum; Milling; Biofuels; Ethanol; Food; Fermentation
Supervision
Current supervisions
- Microbial colonisation of low-quality forage in the bovine rumen
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Mark Harrison, Dr Kevin Dudley, Associate Professor Junior Te'o - Hydrothermal Treatments of Sludge for Dewaterability Improvement and Value-Adding Applications
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Zhanying Zhang, Dr Kameron Dunn - Multi-Criteria Tool to Support Decision-Making for Waste Processing Technologies in the Red Meat Industry
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Robert Speight, Dr Kate Helmstedt - Production of biobased textiles and polymers from Australian seaweed species
PhD, Mentoring Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Lalehvash Moghaddam, Professor William Doherty - A GIS-Based Integrated Modelling Framework for Optimal Positioning of Bioenergy Plants
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Geoff Kent - Opportunities for reducing horticultural food waste using biorefining approaches
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Jo-Anne Blinco, Professor Robert Speight - Development of Integrated Processes for Biogas Production from Sugarcane Trash
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Zhanying Zhang, Professor William Doherty - Biosynthesis of fructo-oligosaccharides and other value-added products from sugarcane molasses
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Zhanying Zhang, Associate Professor Mark Harrison, Professor Robert Speight - Microbial conversion of low value co-products from the Australian red meat industry into probiotics or nutritional supplements
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Robert Speight, Dr James Strong - Selection, characterisation and optimisation of codeinone reductase for codeine manufacture
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Robert Speight, Dr Cara Mortimer
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Biorefining of Sugarcane Bagasse Based on Acid-Catalysed Glycerol Pretreatment (2021)
- Mathematical Modelling of the Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Sugarcane Bagasse (2016)
- Microbial Oil Production from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (2016)
- Experimental and Statistical Investigation of Australian Native Plants for Second-Generation Biodiesel Production (2015)
- Microalgae: an alternative source of biodiesel for the compression ignition (CI) engine (2014)