Dr. Robert Allison

Project Leader, Developing Pilot Plant Facilities, and Solid Wood Initiative

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Bob Allison

Qualifications

PhD (Wood and Paper Science), NC State University; USA - 1985
BSc (Hons) (Pulp and Paper Technology), NC State University; USA - 1971

Research capabilities

  • Specialist in improved processing to enhance efficiencies and end-use fibre performance;
  • Extensive knowledge of the wider pulp, paper and packaging industries (technical, commercial, environmental);
  • Wide science skill-base, including process chemistry, kinetic analysis, computer modelling, statistical design and analysis, process evaluation and optimisation.

Career highlights

  • General Manager, Ensis Papro, Ensis, Rotorua, NZ and Clayton, Australia: Helped establish Ensis, a joint venture between CSIRO and Forest Research. Assumed general management duties of one of four strategic business units in Ensis focussing on research and technology development in pulp. paper and packaging with sites in Melbourne and Rotorua.
  • 2000-2004  General Manager, PAPRO, Forest Research, Rotorua, NZ : Managed the financial, administrative, strategic and science operations of a matrixed team of 30 researchers in pulp, paper and packaging research with a budget of $4 million. Success to date has been measured by group profitability, science quality and relevance to the technical needs of industry.  
  • L.R. Benjamin medal, Appita, 2000, “for contributing in an outstanding way to the technical progress of the pulp and paper industry in Australia and New Zealand".
  • US EPA’s 1999 Green Chemistry Challenge Award; bestowed for collaborative work with Prof Terry Collins of Carnegie Mellon University on the development of macrocyclic tetraamide iron catalysts for peroxide bleaching.
  • Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science, Board of Directors 2005/09
  • President of Appita (Australia and New Zealand Pulp and Paper Industry Technical Association) 1998/99

Selected papers

Leroy, N., Chirat, C., Lachenal, D., Robert, D.  and Allison, R., Extended oxygen delignification. Part 1 : effects of multi-stage oxygen bleaching on softwood kraft pulp and residual lignin. Comparison with chlorine dioxide delignification. Appita J. 57 (2): 137-140 (2004).

Leroy, N., Chirat, C., Lachenal, D., Robert, D.  and Allison, R., Extended oxygen delignification. Part 2 : multi-stage oxygen bleaching with intermediate hypochlorous acid stages. Appita J. 57 (3): 224-227 (2004).

Suckling, I., Allison, R., Campion, S., McGrouther, K. and McDonald, A.,  Monitoring cellulose degradation during conventional and modified kraft pulping.  J. Pulp Paper Sci. 27 (10): 336-341  (2002).

Gonzalez Molina, J., Donoso, J. Allison, R. and Valenzuela, C.,  Biotechnologies for kraft pulp production: results of experiences in Chile.  Proceedings of the 54th ATIP Congrès 2001, Grenoble.

Wong, K., Allison, R. and Spehr, S.,  Alkali and oxygen have different effects on the response of oxygen delignified kraft pulps to xylanase–aided bleaching. J. Pulp Paper Sci. 27 (7): 229–234 (2001).

Collins, T., Hall, J., Vuocolo, L., Fattaleh, N., Suckling, I., Horwitz, C., Gordon-Wylie, S., Allison, R., Fullerton, T. and Wright, J.,  The activation of hydrogen peroxide for selective, efficient wood pulp bleaching. In Green Chemistry, Challenging Perspectives , (Ed. Tundo, P. and Anastas, P.), Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp79-106 (2000).

Allison, R., Timonen, O., McGrouther, K. and Suckling, I.,  Hexenuronic acid in kraft pulps from radiata pine. Appita J. 52 (6): 448-453 (1999).