Professor Milton Hearn

Professor Milton Hearn is the Director of the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Green Chemistry at Monash University.

The Centre was established in 2000 with the aim to research and develop chemical processes and products that have little or no environmental risk and are economically and technologically feasible. It is Professor Hearn’s belief that green chemistry is critical for the future of industry and the environment.

The Centre is able to design chemical products and processes at the molecular level which reduce or eliminate by-products and hazardous waste. This not only avoids potential environmental problems, but also saves money. The Centre follows the 12 Anastas-Warner-Zimmerman principles of green chemistry* and is focused on investigating a wide range of products. This includes developing new anti-cancer drugs, eliminating corrosion, reducing soil toxicity and producing solvent-less paints.

In particular, recent research has focused on a new high-resolution separation method. The work has involved the analysis of biological molecules on a nanoscale. From a green chemistry perspective the process is much more efficient, as it produces less waste because of its miniaturised scale and also yields a more precise analysis of the sample. "For example, in the past, this work would have required larger cylinders - approximately half an inch across filled with solvents - but it is now possible to use capillaries, smaller than a strand of hair."

How do you measure the benefits of Green Chemistry? One of the techniques the Centre adopts - the weight of waste versus the weight of product produced - is known as the E-factor, which can be applied throughout the whole manufacturing process. Not only does this produce advantages in green chemistry, but also can be applied to other industries and fields, from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, to agriculture and mining. In addition, public perception has been an important driving force in the development of green chemistry technologies as the world demands less hazardous emissions and industrial by-products.

Professor Hearn maintains strong collaborations to ensure the Centre’s on-going success. Within Monash, he works closely with Professors Doug MacFarlane and Alan Bond in the School of Chemistry, and Dr Terry Turney. He has an association with Professor Dan Nicolau from the University of Swinburne.

An extensive network of industrial partnerships and collaborations has been developed with Australian and multinational companies specialising in chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological areas as well as with other emerging nanoscience-based industries. The Centre has established a significant collaboration with various divisions of CSIRO, FoodScience Australia and the University of Melbourne. Internationally, the Centre has developed strong alliances with industry and Universities in Taiwan, Japan, India, Italy, Singapore South Africa and the US.

*The widely recognised criteria by which chemical technology is assessed as 'green' are the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and 12 Principles of Green Chemical Engineering proposed by green chemistry pioneers Anastas, Warner and Zimmerman.

Publications