Dr Robert Franich

Contact

Research capabilities

• Research and development of novel “wood material to products” processes using green chemistry principles;
• NMR and NMR applications including localised spectroscopy and imaging; Polymer and supramolecular chemistry;
  
• Supercritical fluids applications to chemistry and wood processes and products;
  
• Chemical science and technology-based enterprise creation

Career highlights

• Chemistry science related to wood hardening and modification transferred to create new venture enterprise start-up and the Indurite process. Business in Tauranga NZ manufacturing and Osmose UK IP licensee to Indurite plc, UK.
• Design and synthesis of H3 hazard class boron wood preservative and testing for performance over a 10 year period. Science transferred to Zelam Limited, New Plymouth for Locked-in-Boron wood preservation technology.
• Science of green wood material dewatering using a patented supercritical carbon dioxide process as an alternative to conventional wood drying with aim of wood modification of the product and recovery of all wood sap water, sugars, cyclitols and resins as wood processing by-products with value.
• Corresponding author for the International Academy of Wood Science.

Selected papers

Hill, S. J., Kirby, N.M., Mudie,S.T., Hawley, A.M., Ingham, B., Franich, R.A. and Newman, R.H. (2010). Effect of drying and rewetting of wood on cullulose molecular packing. Holzforschung, 64: 421-427.

Hill, S.J., Franich, R.A., Callaghan, P.T. and Newman, R.H. (2009). Nature's nanocomposites: A new look at molecular architecture in wood cell walls. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 39: 251-257.

BOOK CHAPTER: Robert Franich (2009). Maximising your doctorate in entrepreneurial settings, in "Beyond Doctorates Downunder - Maximising the impact of your doctorate from Australia & New Zealand". Denholm, C. and Evans, T. (eds). Acer Press, Camberwell, Vic 3124, Australia.

Love, K.T., Nicholson, B.K., Lloyd, J.,  Franich, R.A., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Mansfield, S.D. (2008). Modification of Kraft Wood-Pulp Fibre with Silica for Surface Functionalisation with a Primary Amino Nucelophile. Composites Part A -Applied Science and Manufacturing 39(12): 1815-1821.

Vesentini, D., Steward, D.,  Singh, A.P.,  Ball, R., Danie, G. and Franich, R.A. (2007) Chitosan-mediated changes in cell wall composition, morphology and ultrastructure in two wood-inhabiting fungi. Mycological Research, 111: 875-890.

Torr, K.M., Singh, A.P., Franich, R.A. (2006). Improving stiffness of lignocellulosics through cell wall modification with chitosan-melamine co-polymers. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 36(1): 87-98.

Torr, K. M., Chittenden, C., Franich, R.A. and Kreber, B. (2005). Advances in understanding bioactivity of chitosan and chitosan oligomers against selected wood inhabiting fungi. Holzforschung, 59: 559-567.

THESIS: Franich, R.A. (2005) Chemipreneurship: A comparative case study of process, people and context of a chemical science-based new venture enterprise in New Zealand. Master in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Unitec New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand.